Why We Turned Our Lives Upside Down

It all began with a feeling.

That quiet, nagging sense that there had to be more. More than layers of obligations, appointments, and things we didn’t really need.

We were two people – and a dog – living a functioning life. House, work, daily routine. Everything was running smoothly. And yet, it felt like we were rushing through life without ever truly arriving in it.

The longing for freedom

What did we really want? Time for each other. Togetherness. Closeness. Joy. And that feeling of being alive – now, not someday. Before we might be too old or too tired to truly feel it.

Letting go to be free

So we decided to change our lives. Not step by step, but radically. In two months, we’re moving into our camper van. Our belongings are being reduced to the essentials – and with every box we let go of, we feel lighter. Letting go isn’t a task, it’s liberation. Fewer things – more room to breathe.

We’re not fully stepping out of the system, but we want distance. Time to think, instead of just consuming. To make choices that are truly our own. Self-determined, not externally controlled.

Vanlife, for us, isn’t an escape – it’s a conscious decision. For less baggage and more meaning. For morning coffee in nature instead of at a desk. For campfires instead of Netflix. For new paths – instead of old walls.

The three of us, on new roads

Of course, we’re not traveling alone. Our dog is right in the middle of it – sensitive, alert, and freedom-loving. We’ve made sure from the start that our dog feels just as comfortable and safe as we do.

Our route? We don’t have one. We want to explore Europe first, drift, stop wherever it feels right – and grow together.

It’s not about making every day spectacular. It’s about living it consciously.

And now?

Now the countdown begins. Eight weeks left, then we roll out. No fixed plan, but a clear feeling: this is our path.

We’ll share our journey here on the blog – honestly, unfiltered, and full of hope. Maybe because you, too, sometimes feel that there must be more than all the “shoulds” and “have-tos.” Maybe because you’re already on your own path. Or maybe just because you're curious.

However you got here – we’re glad you did. Welcome to Wege statt Wände - Paths instead of walls