March & April: The Portal
Returning to the wild as I fumble my way through the dark
T u m u l t u o u s . S t r e s s f u l . C r a z y . W e t . B i t t e r s w e e t . T e a r s . T a n t r u m s . J o y .
We are in a particularly intense phase of our lives, and although you might not be able to relate to our far-from-normal living situation, I hope perhaps you find solace in the experience of navigating big life transitions.
We’re closing doors behind us as we are drawn forward into our vision for the future.
Life Update
After an almost four-month Bus Life hiatus—embracing friends and family in Germany and Queensland—late March saw us return to life on the road. We’ve been doing this dance for six years and the adjustment period never gets easier. It’s equally exciting and novel as it is a mindfck, as we try to re-navigate living as a family of four in a 14m² space.
Last year, as we explored Australia’s remote Western and Northern regions, an uneasy feeling began creeping in. By December, I was completely miserable, physically and mentally burnt out from full-time travel.
It’s been difficult for me to talk about, because I adore this life, and am immensely grateful for our experiences—for spending our time together as a family, for immersing ourselves in the most incredible landscapes, for learning about our country from the inside out, for having the time and space to work on my soul-led creative pursuits, for raising our children in the wild… the list goes on.
I feel significantly refreshed after our stint overseas, and being back out in the wild is feeling good again. I’m embracing quiet mornings with the birds, yoga practice down by the river, coffee by the camp fire and solo hikes.
I invite you to sit with me in this moment.
My latest rainforest Nature Immersion film is my new favourite child—a soothing soundscape filled with gentle birdsong, flowing waterfalls and lush greenery. Filmed and sound-recorded during our recent visit to the Bunya Mountains in Queensland, it’s perfect for grounding your nervous system and enhancing your space with a naturally calming ambience.
We’re dutifully weaving a homeschool curriculum into our daily adventures. I’ve also re-committed to my teenage sport of paddle boarding—in a vain attempt to reconnect with my youth, regain my confidence on the water, and strengthen my physical body.
I’m navigating feelings of being DONE with full time travel, while simultaneously trying to embrace each moment. I know I’ll miss this lifestyle dearly when it’s over (I’ll probably only remember the good bits—not the gastro-ridden drop toilets and rangers banging on the door at four in the morning).
Bus life has become tedious, and we’re all craving our own space and a new adventure.
Over the next four months, we will wrap up our very slow, very messy lap of Australia. Although we previously called Sydney home for seven years and have driven this coastline countless times, we have never taken the time to slow down and truly experience regional New South Wales. We’ll meander our way down eastern Australia during Autumn and Winter—the slower pace of travel better suits our collective family nervous system.
At the end of August, we will jump on the ferry from Victoria to Tasmania. For the first time in our six-year parenting journey, it’s finally time we put some roots down.
Portals
They sound scary, transitions are, but there is treasure to be found.
Some portals are wonderful gifts—like the six weeks (mostly) solo staycation I had the privilege of indulging in before entering motherhood, where I spent my time alternating between napping on the couch, napping on the beach, wrapping up floristry school and preparing my nest.
Some portals spring up on you, often an unwelcome surprise, like that whole covid debacle. Most people I know went through some sort of lifestyle upheaval or identity crisis. What transition did you go through during 2020/21?
Portals carry us from one phase of life to the next. A grand entrance stands before us, it’s enticing, terrifying, and we have no idea what will be our reality on the other side. Often, portals are mysterious tunnels weaving their way through our hopes and dreams, the shadows stripping off layers of our old selves as we brush past, preparing us for a new way of life.
I’m in the thick of it. This portal feels big, drawn out, with multiple timelines converging into one—an entanglement of lifetimes and souls, dipping and weaving between the physical and spiritual realms.
I’m shedding a past version of myself—and our family identity—as we close each door behind us. I’m realising, there are many doors to close. As we move physically across the earth, we’re leaving behind considered alternate realities, repairing family relationships, and letting go of past resentments and expectations.
Some doors softly close behind me, others shove me through with a swift boot to the ass and an almighty bang. I have experienced immense joy and acceptance, and many tears.
As we weave our way south, we are experiencing glimmers of the life we envision. Warming our spirits up to the idea of having our own spacious land to call home, an oasis filled with greenery, flowing water, and cosy campfires.
The vision - she draws me nearer and I trust her calls. This profound sense of trust in what lies ahead comes from a lifetime of navigating similar portals and experiencing the magic that awaits on the other side.
Maybe it feels extra intense this time around because it’s more than a portal—it’s also a pilgrimage home.
Stay curious and kind,
Simone
P.S. I’d love some camaraderie—how do you navigate life portals?
That sketch looks so cute
i think life carries you through these portals - it is like you often don't have a choice. I also trust that life carries you to where you need to be.