I love being over 60, but it does come with a few downsides. When I travel, I sometimes need an afternoon siesta, often need to find a loo quick, and my body thermometer fluctuates in an instant. Imagine having a comfy bed and toilet close by, somewhere to stash additional clothes – or just a place to sit and make a nice cup of coffee. :)
As a lifelong traveller and adventurer, I found there were things I was no longer able to do, but I still wanted to have some adventure. After doing thorough research, I decided that a micro camper is exactly what I needed as I can go wherever I want, whenever I want!
Choosing what to convert into a micro camper needs a little consideration. Obviously, it has to be long enough to lie down, but also consider head height (when sitting), width, ease of driving, door/window openings. Having conducted quite a bit of research I have found that there are a few disability cars that would work well, as they provide ease of access and extra height.
Of course you can always buy a vehicle that is already converted, but for me, this is half the fun. :) There are kits you can buy which just slot into your car and are easily removable. They are relatively inexpensive and you can buy extras, as and when you feel you need them. These might include awnings, porta potty, cooker, sink unit, heater, chargers, solar panels.
Personally, I would prefer to build a bed with underneath storage, and have a unit on the other side for table top cooker and a removable bowl.
I have seen hundreds of converted micro campers on YouTube, and it is so easy to make them personal. Bedding, cushions, photos, picture, plants, etc. all add your own personality and individuality.
Once your micro camper is ready you have so much freedom. You can go for a day trip, overnight, weekend, or even for weeks. In the UK you can put your camper on a ferry, or train, and explore the whole of Europe. :) Imagine leaving the cold winter behind and driving south!
There are so many new places to see, people to meet, adventures to be had. Stop off whenever you want for a leisurely lunch, or light a BBQ for dinner. You can stop at campsites, overnight parking and even pubs. Many pubs allow you to stay overnight for free if you buy a meal there. Being a small camper you also have the luxury of ‘stealth camping’.
I am finding airports a little more difficult now, so I love the idea of travelling with my mini home. I don’t have to worry about long queues, flight delays or cancellations.
Although I have travelled extensively, there is still much of the UK I haven’t seen, and my bucket list grows daily! The Lake District, Scottish Highlands, The Norfolk Broads, Cornwall…
And if I want an adventure a little further afield, I can take my camper on the Eurostar train to France in under and hour – or catch a ferry to France or even Spain.
I am still at the planning stage, but I hope by next winter my gorgeous little micro camper will be ready for a trip to Europe. Who knows, I might even pop over to Africa! :)
Imagine sending yourself a postcard from each of the places you explore! Wouldn’t they be lovely to read in your old age? :)
Have you considered a micro camper? Have you converted one yourself? Where have you gone camping?
I live in the US and spent 50 years living in Atlanta Georgia, which has lots of space. So I had a camping RV, recreational vehicle. It was very small, only 15 feet long and the first one I had collapsed flat. The last one I had was taller I could stand up and it was sort of egg shaped. I had three altogether. I belonged to two groups. One was a national group of women with similar campers. I never totally crossed the US but I did go north and south a few times. We would meet with our kayaks and we had a wonderful time.
I started getting really handicapped by my chronic problems so I ended up selling it all, but it was a wonderful way to travel. One of my sons now has an RV so that his family can travel all over the West Coast and across the country.
Hi Susan, thank you for joining the conversation. I love American RV’s!! I imagine you have thousands of wonderful memories and stories about your travels. Sorry to hear your health is not, but hope your memories bring you joy. Lily x
Oh Lily! I love you! I have a feeling you do not have grandkids, but if you did, they’d be
saying, “I’m going to be like Grandma someday.” I will be the US version of you in
my days to come. I talk to my son all the time about hitting the road in my cab-over-camper. And you can visit whomever you want but THEY can’t force themselves on YOU because, “Oops—I don’t have room Bye-bye! Gotta go!” HAHAHA
Hi Catherine, thank you for your lovely comments! You sound like a lady who really knows how to enjoy life :) Lily x
Amazing what you managed to fit in that relatively small vehicle!
Hi Diane, thanks for doing the conversation. It is amazing how creative (and clever!) people are when designing them! Lily x