I’m John Heaney, a 28 year old living in a caravan with my partner Holly and our old dog Buster. We both currently work for the Scottish SPCA as animal care workers, and we are also both photographers.

Some people see us as strange. “Why would you want to live in a caravan”, they ask. While at the same time I ask them, “Why live in a house? Why live in an apartment? Why go home to the same place night after night?” We have the option to move whenever the feeing takes us, whenever we would like a change of view from our little living room windows.

I look at people around me living their life, all the same, getting the same results, very little room for variants, playing it safe almost. I fell into this trap myself; I had the Monday to Friday job I couldn’t stand, the apartment I paid far too much for each month. I was doing the same as everyone else because that’s what your supposed to do, right? I thought to myself that there had to be more to life than living this way, that this can’t be my only option. So, I started looking at different ways to live, trying to incorporate my passions in life into a style of living. My passions being my love for photography, as well as my love for animals and nature. I wanted to find a way to be close to nature but still be living comfortably, practically and cost efficient. Then the idea came to me, why not live in a caravan? It’s cheap, makes travelling easier, and it means I live closer to the outdoors.

My partner and I both loved the idea. So, we set upon looking into caravans and how it was to live in them. We loved the concept of living in a small space and cutting down on ‘stuff’. We wanted to live a less materialistic life and didn’t want to have things for the sake of having them. We finally found a 4 berth caravan with everything inside we would need; a double bed, microwave, shower ect. We spent a few weeks making it homely, and before we knew it, we had moved in full time. I wondered how long it would take us to adapt, and if we even could, but after living in the caravan for some time now I can honestly say its the best decision we’ve ever made. The smaller space feels a lot more comfortable and homely for both of us. I get it may not be the same for everyone, but for us its perfect.

Most of our days when we’re not working are spent walking in forests or beside lochs, or sitting in our caravan relaxing, watching the birds eat from our bird feeders attached to the window, or trying to spot a rabbit in the trees across from our caravan. We don’t have a t.v and don’t intend on getting one. We like to chat and hear each others thoughts and ideas, and plan new trips and adventures together. We hope to head into Europe in a motorhome in the future and live on the road, volunteering in animal shelters as we go, meeting lots of different people from different places and hearing their stories, documenting it all through photography.

I would encourage anyone else thinking of living alternatively to go for it, and to not overthink it, to take the leap and do what makes you happy. Life is short and before you know it the option to make that change may be gone. I don’t know where our life will take us, but our plan is to just take things as they come, and to keep on exploring.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnheaney_/

Website Coming Soon: http://lifeinournature.com

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