When I left for Schoolies in 2000 (seriously, how can that be 15 years ago?) I had no intention of living at home again. I was moving out. See ya later alligator. My parents helped me tow my caravan to the Sunshine Coast, where I would be living, and we said our goodbyes. I was a free agent. I moved out of home and into a caravan. On my own (thankfully, it wasn’t really big enough for two). Finally, out on my own and living in a caravan park across the road from the beach and my part-time job the water slides.
Life was good. The best, in fact.
Moving into a caravan isn’t high on a lot of first-time home leavers but it was a great option for me. I had about three months until I started University and had planned on living in the offered accommodation. It was the perfect short-term solution. It’s important when looking to move out of home for the first time to consider all options.
For some, staying home and saving some money for the coming year would’ve been a great option. But I wanted to get integrated with my new surrounding, make some friends, find my feet before the school year started. And did I ever!
You would never believe the people you meet living in a caravan park. There were the people my age who were on holidays with their family, the stayers who live in the park and the staff who run it. I got to know lots of people because of my three months there, and I’m glad I did it. It was an adventure.
Plus I had a killer tan. Though I’m pretty sure in 2015 that’s not as cool as it was in 2000. Skin sun damage and skin cancer and all that. But it mattered to 17-year-old me. A LOT. Silly girl. Faux tanners people, get on board, and I don’t mean the sun-bed variety.
Wait, where was I? Oh yeah.
I loved being a beach bum; it is still some of the best times of my life. Would I go back? Hell no, I’m a 30 something now, I’m pretending to be a grown-up thank you very much. And that’s the number one thing I learnt from moving out of home and into a caravan park was that success in life looks different to everyone. The elderly couple I met with the van covered in potted plants, permanent annexe attached to their blocked up van, were living their dream life.
I sometimes wonder if they still live there. Walking to the beach and back twice a day, getting their supplies from the local shops and reading their paper in the sunshine. I bet they are, unless Father Time has taken his toll. I mean, why would you want to be anywhere else?
Have you, would you, move into a caravan park? Lived somewhere unusual on your leave home adventure?
Tell me about it in the comments.
Melissa is the Leave Home Blog Boss. She is living the high life in her hometown, didn’t finish her marketing degree & drinks too much on a Thursday night. Blogging since 2009, Melissa decided to put everything she knows into making The Leave Home Blog a light & easy how-to guide for being a grown up.
Tags: BEACH, CARAVAN, CARAVAN PARK, SUMMER, SUMMER JOB, WORK
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