How Are We Adapting?
We are adapting quite well!
This week has been lots of fun, and we are nearing a month of living in the camper. We made it further than people thought - haha! Questions we keep hearing quite a lot include; How are we adapting to this new lifestyle of living in our camper full-time? How do you handle living in the small space after you downsized from your 6,000 sq ft home? Well, the good news is that Kevin and I haven’t killed each other yet - yay!
In all seriousness, I wasn’t sure we’d make it this far - especially Kev, who likes his space and is working remotely. But we’ve been making it work, having incredible family experiences, and I try to keep the kids out of his hair most of the day so he can focus. It's been raining the past couple of days, so that was challenging, but we made it through.
St. Germain Bike & Hike Trail
This 12 mile paved trail runs throughout St. Germain, connecting bicyclists, hikers and birdwatchers with the 50-mile Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail. The gentle terrain makes for leisurely walking and pedaling.
S’mores by the Fire
When is the last time you had a S’more? There are so many cool new ways to try them. For example, we’ve had chocolate marshmallows with a chocolate filling and Reese’s Thin Peanut Butter Cups in place of a Hershey’s Bar - both so good!
Notice the handy organizer gift from our awesome friends Brandi & Jorge - a perfect way to keep all of our fun ingredients and tools in one spot.
Organization has been vital for me. I can’t handle too much clutter in this small space, so I try to clear off the countertops every day, ensure the floors are clean and make our beds religiously. Things that we brought that has helped with this include:
Dyson vacuum and Floor Dok - before, we were using a handheld vacuum, and it has made a night and day difference to have this bad boy ready - especially at our current campsite where we have a lot of sand.
Tubs and baskets - big tubs, little baskets, medium tubs - anything and everything in between have been super helpful to keep items in a good spot in cabinets, closets, under beds, and couches - it has saved us and created so much space.
Command Hooks - these are my new jam; I feel like I’m finding new spots every day to hold keys, my purses, towels in the bathroom - to name a few.
Folding/collapsable laundry basket - this helped so much; before, we used a netted bag, but this is required use by everyone in the family, so there aren’t clothes everywhere, and I can fold it to clean or make space.
Go Henry - this sounds silly, but Hazel got a debit card for her birthday that gives her a weekly allowance to get paid for doing chores and helps her understand money skills. Her chores include organizing the shoes, vacuuming, getting and putting groceries away, daily help with meals, and sweeping the outdoor rug. Gavin brought in some dirt the other day, and on her own, she grabbed the vacuum and started cleaning. I almost fell over when this happened, but she’s done it a few times now, so it’s working!
Here are some of the fun family experiences we’ve had over the last week:
Biking to the Grocery Store from our Campsite - 5 miles round trip and no complaints from the kiddos
S’mores around the campfire with a deer visit
Evening Boat Cruise
Jetskiing with the Family
Arts and Crafts Festival
St. Germain Independence Day Parade
Fantastic Fish Fry at Murmuring Waters
Kids Learning the Art of Cleaning the Car
Overall, we’re doing great so far…we’ll keep you posted if things start to change. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
