Malinda and her husband Darcy were living in the States when decided they wanted to leave the daily grind behind. And so they did! They’ve been travelling throughout Australia the past 16 months on a yellow school bus that they did the renovations on themselves (the majority being done in a few weeks too).
They live a low waste lifestyle, forage for food, get to swim in different creeks every day, and most importantly, have time for each other and their son Thyme.
Read on for a peek at their idyllic life on the road, and you can see why they inspire me to want to do the same.
What inspired you to live the van life?
This lifestyle has always made sense to me. It takes a lot of time spent working to pay rent or a mortgage and I would rather have that time to spend in other ways. The idea for our current living situation came to us when we were living in the US, just outside of Philadelphia. I was working as an artist and Darcey as a carpenter. The trip started out as an adventure but soon we were both busy with projects and we had also bought a fixer-upper in the suburbs to live in with the goal of renovating and eventually selling. Between our jobs and the house project, we had no free time. Thyme was born in the middle of all this and we realised quickly that we just wanted to be able to spend time together. We sold the house as soon as it was completed and, the day after settlement, flew back home to Australia and bought the bus we’d been looking at online every night for months. The plan was to travel, find some land and live slowly, intentionally, off-grid but 16 months later we are still travelling in our bus home…
What is a typical day like for you?
We’ve been travelling for a while now and the novelty of seeing new places has worn off a little. Our priorities have shifted to creating time for each other to explore our interests. Lately, days for me involve a lot walking, weaving, painting, stretching, foraging and making food. We are also in the hot tropics so we spend our afternoons swimming in creeks. It sounds idyllic and it really is. We’re in a period of not working so our days are relaxed and easy. We feel lucky and happy to have found a way to make this our reality.
What are some of your favourite things about it?
The freedom to move about as we please. The lower cost of living means less time working for money and more time spent on things we are passionate about. Also having all the comforts of home with us wherever we go is pretty great.
What’s your least favourite?
Sometimes the lack of personal space gets to me. I like to spend quite a bit of time alone and I love silence and stillness. These things can be tricky to get when living in such a small home. Lately we’ve really been working at creating that space for each other and we’ve found a good balance.
Has there been any hurdles overcome on the road?
Nothing has gone “wrong”, there have been no major disasters but we have taken on some crazy things. Back in April, to top up our cash, we converted a campervan to sell while we were living on the road. We were working in parks, driveways, forests, anywhere and everywhere. That was definitely the most challenging time for us so far and I kinda can’t believe we took that on and managed to pull it off.
Any zero waste tips for us?
We are not completely zero waste, still working toward it but I would say that changing where you shop makes the biggest difference. The temptation of chips and other packaged things in regular supermarkets is hard to fight! We try to buy most of our food in bulk and at farmer’s markets. Shopping at these places makes it a lot easier. Almost all of our food is made by us from scratch which feels like a lot of work at times but the satisfaction that comes from living in alignment with my values is worth the extra effort.
What are some of your favourite meals to prepare in the van?
It’s way too hot to cook in here at the moment! I’ve been making a lot of raw treats, salads and smoothies and the hot weather is magic for the fermented foods and drinks we are brewing. Up here you can find delicious tropical fruits like mangoes, passionfruit, red dragon fruit, lychees growing on the side of the road and we’ve been turning them all into probiotic drinks. We have a designated storage area for our bubbling bottles and jars!
Any advice for others who want to hit the road?
If it’s calling you then go for it. You don’t need a fancy set up, keeping it simple is key. Travel as slowly as possible and stay for long stretches in places where there is no internet coverage so you don’t get distracted from where you are. There is magic everywhere.
Who inspires you and why?
Right now, a lot of the Indigenous Australians we’ve been meeting. They were and are so well educated that they’ve been able to live in balance with this land for 60,000+ years. That’s so inspiring to me, having grown up in a Western culture that encourages competition, conquest and exploitation.
The weaving you do is fascinating Can you tell us a bit about it?
I’m a total beginner but I love it. I’ve been wanting to learn for years and living this way enables that to happen more easily as the materials are literally at my doorstep, all of the time. I love that there is no waste at all, the materials are free and it’s completely eco-friendly. Right now I’m learning to weave with coconut palm fronds and am working on some pieces for our bus. Again, all these skills come from indigenous traditions.
What is your best advice for loving yourself?
I’ve been noticing how much more compassionate I’m able to be with my child, Thyme, than I am with myself. If he is angry and having a tantrum, I look at what needs of his are not being met for him to be feeling and acting that way. I’m learning to do the same for myself when I’m upset. So, my advice would be – when you’re having a rough day, imagine yourself as a child and be a loving and compassionate parent to yourself.
Has learning to accept yourself been a journey for you or has it come naturally?
Lifelong journey! Totally worth it though, the more relaxed I am about the various aspects of my self, the happier I am, the more connected I feel and the more fully I am able to engage with the world.
What would you tell your younger self?
Keep going. You’re doing great.
