Traveling in a caravan: responsible consumption on a daily basis

The caravan adventure makes many fans of escape or independence dream. Some covet the freedom that this way of living or traveling provides, while others are attracted by the novelty of the experience.

Be that as it may, beyond the feeling of autonomy or adventure, traveling in a caravan unquestionably invites us to review our way of thinking and consuming. A more ecological and responsible lifestyle imposes itself.

Last summer, my boyfriend and I bought an old 1986 motorhome. What an antique! Being already on the road to minimalism, we had no idea how much our new vehicle would allow us to become even more aware of our choices. Because yes, the VR life , whether you adopt it part-time or full-time, remains a way of life in itself.

Declutter

First, in an RV, space is limited. Ours is twenty-one feet long, including the van. Leaving for several weeks or months therefore requires some decluttering: clothes, kitchen equipment, cosmetics, food, everything must go through.

Very quickly, we realize that we can very well live with less. We quickly forget the (too) many pants, jeans, sweaters, jackets and shirts lined up in the wardrobe of the house. It's easy to cook a great meal with just one pot and two or three basic utensils. Our day cream becomes our night cream, and vice versa. Only the bare minimum, plus a few good books, of course.

Back home, inevitably, we realize all the superfluity accumulated over the years. So we sort, we donate, we recycle. We empty. We make air. What a great opportunity to declutter and start fresh.

Meet local producers

On the road, we often take secondary roads. Those that allow us to meet small local farms. We take the time to stop there. We buy fresh eggs here, a basket of organic vegetables there. But not too much. The (mini) refrigerator of the RV will quickly be very full. We refuel according to our desires and according to our needs.

Camelina oil from Olimega

Above all, this way of buying food as you go helps to avoid waste. The old soft cucumber at the bottom of the drawer or the forgotten leftovers on the last shelf of the fridge, piled up behind a ton of small jars that have been open for too long? It's finish! We plan our meals better, we only keep a few basic ingredients: quality oil , carefully selected spices , a good hot sauce . That's all, and that's good enough.

Fresh mix for salad and starter from La pincée

Sinai Gourmet Original Jalapeño Sauce

closer to nature

Inevitably, when we travel in RV, we think about the environment. Living so close to nature invites us to reflect on our daily actions. The amount of waste produced, the dish or laundry soap , the shampoo, the bar of soap , everything is scrutinized.

Favor organic soaps

No question of letting toxic products for the environment enter our house on wheels. Suddenly, the conscience lights up and tells us to pay even more attention to the planet that shelters us. Also, carrying our garbage with us allows us to realize everything we throw away. We are trying more to find ways to recover, reuse or, even better, avoid producing waste.

PLANETTE laundry detergent, ecological products

Water and electricity consumption

Life in RV also leads us to review our water and electricity consumption. A noble practice! Here, no hot water tank of forty or sixty gallons. A mere skinny six gallon tank. This avoids long showers of fifteen minutes, sometimes more, while the dishes are often done quickly, with cold or barely warm water.

In VR, there is no room for waste. Every drop counts. This is how we realize that it is possible to shower without necessarily using all our water reserves. The habits acquired persist once you return home. If I was able to wash myself in my RV in two minutes flat, why couldn't I repeat this feat at home? Now, at home, I turn off the water when I soap myself or shampoo my hair. A simple little gesture, but oh so ecological.

Also, unless we are seasonal on a campground (which is not our case and even less in our projects), life in RV teaches us to reconsider our electricity consumption. When we bought our RV, our goal was to make it as eco-friendly as possible. So my boyfriend installed a solar panel on the roof. Paired with an inverter, our solar panel allows us to transform the current from the battery into 120-volt current, like a household outlet. Thus, no need for a generator, which consumes a lot of gasoline. For us, it was essential. We wanted to limit our fuel consumption at all costs.

More time for what really matters to us

Living in such a small space inevitably brings us back to basics. No long (wasted) hours spent cleaning, washing, picking up. On the other hand, plenty of time to visit Quebec's national parks, stroll on the roads of the province, read a good book, enjoy nature, listen to music or simply relax and take time for yourself.

In addition, the purchase of our RV allowed us to continue our minimalist and responsible momentum. Our motorhome is in a way the extension, in a better way, of our daily lifestyle. Of course, everyone chooses their way of living or traveling. From the start, it was clear to us that we wanted to favor a responsible lifestyle, even when traveling in RV.

In the end, our expectations are more than met. Our new habits acquired while traveling are now transposed at home. And what about all the products discovered. This is just the start of a wonderful adventure. We can't wait for summer to hit the road again!

Other RV Essentials

Pure

This company offers several cleansing or body products with multiple uses. It's perfect for RV trips, when you want to save space. In addition, Pure offers the concept of buying in bulk thanks to its filling stations located throughout Quebec. At the same time, we reduce our ecological footprint. I like the essentials kit .