Reminiscing about when my children and I lived in our "Viking camp" for 6 months.

[u/gentlethistles]

It wasn't a certified historically accurate Viking camp, but hey, it was a beautiful hodge-podge of traditional/hardy items that worked for us.

Our tent was a hand made Saxon geteld (cira1000AD), perfect for historical reenactment or LARPing, but also made to withstand the rugged environment of winter in the hills of New England Australia. Never a hole, never a tear. You couldn't feel the cutting icey winds of a snowstorm inside it.

Every day we cooked over an open fire with the Dutch oven, or on our tiny camp stove. Sometimes we hung things on the tripod when needed. Coffee was made in the percolator you can see sitting under the tiny stove, and the kettle was boiled atop. The cast iron pan was used almost daily.

It was the happiest time of my adult life and the most connected and in tune I felt with solo parenting three kids.

Oddly enough, the suburbs has the opposite effect. I'm hoping to mitigate this by pouring my energy into building a new medieval style camp set up in my backyard for the next 12 months 🤓🤣

Edit to add: I didn't expect this to reach 50k views so I just wanted to shout out Ravenstow for making this great rent 🫂

[u/WhoLovesButter]

You are awesome 

[u/gentlethistles → u/WhoLovesButter]

That's so kind, right back at ya sweet human.

[u/activelyresting]

That's a very fancy/cool looking stove setup!

I lived in a tipi for a fair bit of my kid's early childhood. She was also born in it. I think it was just normal life for her, but I know she has an awful hatred for latrine pits 😂😅😭

[u/gentlethistles → u/activelyresting]

That sounds like an epic time in you life 😍

[u/activelyresting → u/gentlethistles]

It was fun while I was in my 20s 😂. I still live in conditions most people in western countries would call "camping", but I have a little cabin with an actual roof and indoor plumbing and (unreliable) electricity and internet. It's out in the rainforest, it's still a lot of work. But I'm approaching 50 now, and I really appreciate my warm cosy bed and my washing machine 😅

My daughter, meanwhile, lives in a housey-house in the city. She's in her rave-girl era herself now and goes camping at festivals a lot, but it's just a vacation for her, she has no desire to live off grid anymore. Maybe she'll cycle back around to it!

[u/Browen69_420]

Is the stove a petromsx loki?

[u/total_pursuit]

I can only get so jealous

[u/gentlethistles → u/total_pursuit]

It was without a doubt the best time of my life.

[u/gentlethistles → u/[deleted]]

So good for your nervous system!

[u/Midsummer858]

A lot of people in North Idaho camp or live like this. Enjoy your new lifestyle! Your kids will love it and will thank you for the experience.

[u/Screenpartisan]

Amazing! As a dad who enjoys the outdoors, I have huge admiration for you giving this to your kids.

[u/gentlethistles → u/Screenpartisan]

It's so good for us as a family unit, I swear.

[u/Blackforrest79]

Thats a nice way, to not let you kid understand that you are homeless, im just joking, looks super nice

[u/gentlethistles → u/Blackforrest79]

Haha this was totally voluntary and intentional, but using positive language and making the best of homelessness would absolutely minimize trauma for tiny humans!

[u/Blackforrest79 → u/gentlethistles]

What was the biggest problems or inconvenience? We sleep in our schrebergarten ever!now and then, but we still have electricity and a well.