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The Insecurities of Living an Alternative Lifestyle
Her campervan seemed to be a zone of confidence and assurance — unlike mine
Last weekend I was parked up in one of the unofficial ‘wild’ spots I found in an app for vanlifers. It was a beautiful parking area on top of a hill with a wide view over the rolling English landscape.
There were mostly normal cars parked around me. Couples come here in the evenings to enjoy a romantic sunset from within their cars, and local people with dogs start their daily walks here. Another small van was tucked away in the corner and was also gratefully enjoying one of the rare parking lots without a height restriction barrier and with a good view.
In the early evening, I could hear the roaring engine of another large vehicle climbing up the hill and when I looked over I saw an old white van turning into the parking lot. It looked like one of those old English delivery vans converted into a campervan with solar panels welded onto the roof.
I felt a sense of delight and pride when I saw a girl about my age behind the wheel. Her dashboard was covered in loose-laying feathers, all different colours and sizes, which gave the van a colourful alternative hippy look.