Why We Live In A Van | Buying Land in Ireland Update | Vanlife Family

In this weeks Vlog I explain what happened to us that made us seek an alternative life living in a van and an update on the land that we have bought in Ireland. We are in Quarantine at the moment so thought i would take the opportunity to explain why we chose this life and how much happier it has made us as a family.
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We are- a family of four,
Mum- Annie,
Dad-Bruce
Two children Elsie and Betsy
One dog - Doug
and we decided to trade our busy life as home and business owners to chase the dream we’ve harboured for 10years.
Pickles the van-
We first bought our Mercedes MWB sprinter van for £700 back in 2012 and converted it ourselves on a very tight budget! After 6 years of awesome adventures we needed to find a van that was better suited to us as a growing family of four and one all important van dog!
We all felt too attached to Pickles to get rid, so we stripped him bare and started again.
We cut the roof off to maximise our space and created what we now proudly call our home on wheels.
Check out our van build on our Instagram stories ~ thenomadicals
How did we get here
After years of saying one day, we finally realised that these opportunities don’t just land in your lap and if we seriously wanted to travel Europe as a family in our self converted sprinter camper van then we were going to have to be brave and make it happen.
We sold all our stuff, our house and our camper conversion business and landed in a dream come true.
Our timing may be a little of what with a global pandemic and Brexit round the corner but I know that when we set our minds and hearts to something we always make it work.
Now we’ve made this dream a reality there is no stopping us! our plan is to travel to new places, see new things, meet new people and learn new skills that will guide us on our journey of finding land and creating a way of life that sings to us, one where we aren’t bound to the banks, working every hour and outsourcing all of our needs. A simple way of life, with connection to ourselves, each other, the earth and our community.
Vlogging with
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Lens Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14 mm F2.8 PRO Lens
Lens Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40 mm F2.8 PRO Lens
Mic Rode VideoMicro Compact On Camera Microphone
Final Cut Pro
DJI Mavic Air

[@ruthcook5927]

We took a lot longer to realise how little "stuff" you actually need to be happy. It took a life crisis to make us get rid of the mortgage and live properly. Wish we had done it when the kids were home. Many people say it, and dream, and it seems like a huge step when you start but once done it is a no brainer. Happiness comes from within, from people, not possessions. The biggest lesson we learned is that you cannot control life but accept what happens and go with it. Just the fact that, even with all the pandemic threw at you, it still was right, shows you made a great decision. I am positive you and your family will continue to happily achieve the lifestyle you aspire to. 💕

[@OffGridBruce]

Your story is truly inspiring. I have since retold it to others. You guys also helped back up what I thought and has given me confidence to carry on pursuing a different way of life. We are so happy to be doing this with the kids. Totally with you on trying to control life. My current mantra is trust in the mystery of life. It seems to fit every situation life throws at me. Thanks for your comment :)

[@hcsokas]

Yay! It’s both!😊

[@richardomalley1746]

Englands loss is irelands gain. Welcome we need more people like you. Best of luck to you and your family😊😊

[@OffGridBruce]

Thanks very much Richard. I absolutely love it here. Never felt so at home

[@kirstybasford8076]

Thank you so much for sharing your story, your an inspiration to us, we have a very similar situation (young family, husband working away, debating starting a business, lovely house but no time to spend in it etc) watching this video has confirmed what path we have to take.

[@OffGridBruce]

This is amazing! Honestly go for it, I am so happy we took a leap of faith.

[@iamsophieleone]

Thank you for this wholehearted share, this is so valuable, so needed xx

[@OffGridBruce]

Thanks Sophie, It felt like a good time for a video like this. Thanks so much for putting us in contact with your friend and helping us out of a jam x

[@andreamajai4337]

Well done for bravery, authenticity and pushing forward into the unknown. Life is not about being still but about traveling and going forward xx

[@OffGridBruce]

Totally agree 🙏

[@P100pickup]

Just come across your channel & having a watch, think you've done what a lot of people dream of, lives too short to be a slave to money, constantly working to pay the bills for the "stuff" society programs you to think you must have to be a success!!!! Been there & done it!! Bit of a different route to you, wife of 26 years walked out on me & took me for half of everything! Struggled to get back on my feet but a lucky property gamble paid off & now have 18acres of beautiful west wales land, a big shed with a caravan in it, scope to make a flat in one end & enough room to grow plenty of food, keep chickens & enjoy life in the slow lane, never been happier!!! Anyone else thinking about it, DO IT!!!! wish I'd have done it when I was younger. Will be following your journey, all the best!!!!

[@dbcooper7326]

West of Ireland is full of abandoned houses. Wonderful to see people like yourselves to come and give them new life. Communities and rural schools also in decline, they must be so happy to have new folks arrive.

[@OffGridBruce]

Thanks. I absolutely love my community round here. Some lovely neighbours

[@The_Mitchells]

Great to hear more about your ‘why’. It definitely resonates - it’s been a very similar situation for us 😊

[@OffGridBruce]

I think so many people have a similar situation going on. Feel so grateful that we found a way out :)

[@diaryofavanpandapaddys6520]

Thanks for sharing Bruce, Happy birthday 🎂🎂we wish you and ur family all the happiness in the world in your new home.

[@OffGridBruce]

Thanks very much 🙏

[@niamha301]

First off, Happy Birthday man. And this was a very good talk, thank you so much. Can't wait for you guys to arrive at your new home and be able to start this new part of your adventure.

[@OffGridBruce]

Thank you 🙏 we are so excited for what’s coming up

[@MrMike353]

Welcome to Ireland to you and your family. I just found your channel tonight and am looking forward to seeing more of your adventures.

[@OffGridBruce]

Thank you 🙏

[@zoe440]

Happy birthday! Thank you for sharing, really appreciate hearing how you came to make these decisions, it's really inspiring. Looking forward to hearing how things go in Ireland. Good luck with everything.

[@OffGridBruce]

Thanks Zoe! 🙏

[@marcusoutdoors4999]

Well done for getting out of the rat race. Very interesting video which did resonate with me. It is always good to hear of people finding their own path and I would add from my limited experience that finding ones own way is always work in progress. What I mean by that is that one phase in life follows the other, so I’m looking forward to seeing what the next phase of your journey brings + super interested to see the new house.

[@OffGridBruce]

Thanks, yes there is no actual finish line in all of this I guess. I will put a vid out soon just been busy away in the van and not had any signal. The house and land are awesome! We got to see it for the first time this week

[@stewartroberts6866]

Hi Bruce you may or may not remember me, way back from High Legh Primary school, Stew Roberts? I spotted these videos on here and think its great what your doing and great to see what an old mate has become , you seem to be doing great for yourself and very humble. Look forward to more videos of your journey. Take care

[@stewartroberts6866]

P.s Happy Birthday

[@OffGridBruce]

Hey Stew! Yeah I remember you. Thanks for watching my videos. In one of them I actually am back in high legh visiting Ben :) hope you are doing well

[@OffGridBruce]

@@stewartroberts6866 FAMILY VANLIFE | QUAD BIKES AND WATERFALLS

[@dreadedscotslass]

We are just in the process of creating an online business from selling item we make while travelling and doing what we enjoy. Next steps after that is move into our van full time.

[@OffGridBruce]

living in my van was one of the best decisions of my life. Came with some difficulties but so worth it

[@trevorread9115]

Happy birthday bruce

[@lazycarper7925]

this was a great video, honest, and really good insight into ,its not about material things but family and a simple life, i have lots of stuff like carp fishing tackle etc, and when i look at it all its like a ball and chain on my neck

[@OffGridBruce]

It’s honestly liberating to get rid of all the stuff :) now we have a fixed home we just need to make sure we keep it that way

[@lazycarper7925]

@@OffGridBruce agree and thanks for the private message on facebook,id be happy with just the basics now also, im ready to get rid and do the same as you, infact i think i need to,thanks

[@OffGridBruce]

@@lazycarper7925 no worries! Good luck. It’s scary but so worth it

[@nikip9161]

Happy belated Birthday 🌻

[@OffGridBruce]

Thank you

[@ALsoutNabout]

Happy Birthday Bruce and thanks for another inspiring video, I just need to convince the other half to put these plans into action. I am ready but she not so. Any ideas on that one. Best Wishes to you and your family.

[@OffGridBruce]

Ah thank you! I would be happy to talk to your partner :) I was not keen for this in the beginning I had convinced myself I was happy/secure doing the “norm” honestly the best decision I ever made was quitting the rat race. That doesn’t mean I haven’t had moments of thinking “what have I done” but I can promise you my life feels like a whole experience and I meant what I said. You couldn’t pay me to live in that way again. The level of connection we have as a family now we have let go of social conformity is beyond what I could have imagined. Hope that helps

[@jenkilpatrick1]

How are things going now guys?

[@OffGridBruce]

Things are great! We are settling in and getting loads done :)

[@johhny711]

Very interesting how people are conditioned to believe that we need lots of Stuff, and we have to work so hard for all this stuff that we don't have time for ourselves.

[@OffGridBruce]

I know it’s definitely a societal conditioning I think that starts very young in school

[@TerryTerryTerry]

To have a mortgage is to be a slave

[@OffGridBruce]

that's what it felt like to me thats for sure

[@1991irishpride]

Don't move to Ireland it's fucked here

[@himwotdus]

big request - no more profanity please - I watch your vlogs with my very young grandsons.

[@OffGridBruce]

I will try my best. And if I make a mistake I will bleep it out