Tent life- 15 things

So, we have completed a bit of a trip as a family staying in a tent. It seems some time ago we sold up and headed east to see what we could find. We found a lot, over here and on the way. There is a certain lifestyle in living in a tent for a period of time, so I have reflected on some of the things I have learnt along the way;

1. What we are doing is not all that unique. We have met people who have upped and left to try something different, a few heading west to try their luck on the mines, families traveling for 6 months around Australia before heading back home, a family who had been on the road for 3 years! It’s not unique but I still think that it is special, or perhaps, important. In the conversations we had the common themes with these ‘travelers’ were family, time, get away from things, try something different, have fun. Like minded spirits.

2. Needs and wants are interchangable, based on circumstances. Important to remember, as a real need for something may not necessarily be a need. Maybe you just have to change the circumstance you find yourself in?

3. If your circumstances find you being in a tent, I’m here to tell you, a morning coffee IS a NEED!

4. The roomy tent you think is fantastic when you see it in a shop, with all that head room, seems less fantastic when it is getting hammered by 50 km hr winds. Think deeply about decisions, but ultimately live by them.

5. Some people in this world have little sense of their relationship with those around them. How else can you explain people playing loud music until 12 o’clock at night in a crowded campsite?

6. Tents really do bring nature to your front door (or zip). Light drizzle is a pleasant pitter patter, a shower sounds like a hail storm, and when it rains, you have to be yelling at each other inside a tent.

7. Kids needs are simple, they revolve around love and food. Show them love with time, consideration, balance and fun. Give them food, often. Get those two things right and they would travel anywhere.

8. If you want the days, and evenings to seem longer, if you want to have more ‘time’, turn off the TV. 

9. You will meet some of the friendliest people on the road. From locals to ‘Grey Nomads’, we have met so many helpful, friendly people over the last few months.

10. There are good playgrounds and GREAT playgrounds. There are also pretty rubbish playgrounds. We found them all. Kids have fun at all of them, they just have more fun for longer at the great ones.

11. Fishing is a great thing to do. Brilliant to get out side, great way to feed your family, spend time with your kids, enjoy nature.

12. I am useless at fishing!

13. Doing is so important. There were plenty of places where we decided to go and ‘check something out’ and were rewarded with amazing scenery, a beautiful town, a fun park or met interesting people. There were also times when we decided not to bother, and we probably missed out on some of those things.

14. There is a science to working out when you have to stop drinking (coffee, beer, water) at night to ensure you don’t need to unzip the 50 odd zips and walk the 1 km to get to the campsite toilet. I haven’t quite worked out the science yet.

15. It has been amazing to spend time in a tent with my amazing wife and kids!


Below is the tent Em and I used in Iceland. Yes, it's that small! 
We have moved up in the world.