Why one family sold everything they owned and took to the road
Teacher and blogger, Brynn Burger and her family had a fairly traditional life.
With two children, full-time jobs, and a 2,000 square foot farm house with a large garden they seemed settled down for the long haul.
But one day, they gave it all up to live in a camper van.
While sitting at home after the birth of her second child, Brynn told Scary Mommy about the moment she changed her mind:
"Two years ago, while eating ice cream, nursing my newborn daughter, and binge watching episodes of Tiny House Revolution, I had an epiphany."
The Burgers then spent a year researching minimalist living and figuring out how best to make their next move.
They also found that minimalist living would have additional benefits for their eldest son, who has ADHD.
"Reducing his stimulation and options for everything has been an incredible help to his sensory processing, generalised anxiety, and ADHD needs."
After ridding themselves of everything from appliances to the actual house, the Burgers bought a camper van and moved three states over with all their remaining possessions.
"Our family has always lived the 'go big or go home' philosophy well," Brynn said.
"But this time the 'big' and the 'home' parts were a little subjective."
Two years on, Brynn is an adult educator in the inner city and her husband is a stay-at-home father.
They also 'roadschool' their son, now six. The children have also adjusted well to their new lifestyle:
"Sparrow, our 1 1/2-year-old daughter, climbs everything, rides bikes, and tags along on daily adventures while our son is able to use his best gifts for hands-on learning."
The children keep all their toys in drawers and the family have 50 items of clothing and accessories (including shoes) each. Brynn says that liberating herself from her bulging wardrobe was her 'favourite part'.
"I was able to free myself from the tote of clothes I haven’t squeezed into since my pre-birthing body and am now truly happy in every item I own."
Downsizing in space also means downsizing in chores, and the family can scrub their entire home now in 45 minutes, leaving more time for adventures.
"What used to take us an entire weekend to clean, only to be destroyed in seconds by the tiny humans we are raising, now takes under an hour, and we are then free: free to play, to climb, to run, to hike, to do anything we want. I have taken more naps in our hammock in the last two months than in my entire adult life."
"There is unbelievable power, freedom, and joy in this lifestyle," she continues to add.
"Tiny living has given us permission to say yes to what matters to us and to say no to what we just no longer have space for anymore."
Brynn keeps the children involved in whatever local community they happen to park in.
By staying connected to other people in this way, Brynn hopes to raise the children to be more in tune to the needs of others.
"Living tiny takes the focus off of self and stuff and puts the spotlight on service and freedom — liberation from that which we were once held prisoner…It is a messy, dirt-covered lifestyle with minimal room for 'things' but plenty of space for what really matters, and we happen to love that."
What do you think of the Burger's change? Could you give it all up and live minimally?