A father who moved into a motorhome after a divorce says it is the best thing he has ever done. Ian Reeves said he now enjoyed a completely new lifestyle where he travelled the UK, had open air breakfasts and met fellow owners. The 57-year-old said the decision was the latest during his "midlife crisis" and he had not looked back.
Originally from the Wirral, his business took a downturn during the pandemic but his downsized lifestyle meant he could continue to work remotely while exploring the open road. He became attracted to the freedom of a nomadic lifestyle travelling up and down the country, and said he enjoyed visiting areas all across the North West.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Mr Reeves said: “When I turned 50 I bought my motorhome, I went through a midlife crisis. At 51 I did my motorbike test, at 52 I went paragliding — it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
“I just loved the lifestyle. I loved travelling around. I went around Anglesey, Scotland, I’ve done a bit of Northern Ireland and I loved it. I loved the freedom to get up in the morning and cook breakfast in the open air when it’s not raining, go for a nice long walk and do whatever I want to do.”
He made the decision to move into a motorhome full time after his divorce. The impact the coronavirus pandemic had on his business selling hair loss products also affected his decision to switch to van life. He said: “During Covid, my income went down 80 per cent, so I found it a lot cheaper to live in my motorhome. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. I still do a bit of work on my laptop in my motorhome because I’ve still got to work to earn a bit of money.”
The motorhome community, he said, was made up of people of all ages, including those who had converted vans on a budget and others who bought modern motorhomes kitted out with all the amenities. He said: “I dreamed of getting a motorhome, it’s such a nice way of life.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’ve still got worries, because everything you own is in a motorhome. If it gets broken into everything you own is in the same space so you have to be careful where you park. But there’s never any trouble; there’s always good camaraderie. We have a good laugh and a joke, everyone is always there to help everyone out. If I’ve ever got a flat tyre or flat battery there’s always a motorhome owner around to help you out.”
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