What makes a caravan feel like a home?
What makes a caravan feel like a home, what is the psychology that underlies the feeling of permanency?
Since we started long-term camping in January 2023 I repeatedly caught myself thinking, “when are we going back?” and “how long will this last?”. All my thoughts were based in the fact that camping, in my mind, is associated with vacation, in other words, a temporary activity.
I was also interested in what drives long-term campers to start gardens on their campsites. We had the privilege of buying some of the best spinach grown by a camper with green fingers when we camped at Yellow Sands.
The only thing is, long term camping in our case started as a one-year experience and 6 months into our tour became an indefinite long-term camp.
This change took place in our minds so our language changed. If people asked how long we were camping we usually said “a year”. That started changing to “a year, but we are thinking of renting out our house for another year”.
I was alert to these changes taking place because I am interested in how changes in language show changes in people’s thoughts, even before they themselves become conscious of these changes.
Img: Los Muertos Crew
Assistance by Chat GPT
To assist me in gathering my thoughts, I used Chat GPT the artificial intelligence platform and “new” Google.
If you want to know more about Chat GPT this is where you find it. Join and test it out with simple everyday questions or ask it to explain complicated concepts “on a grade 8 standard”. It is a lot of fun!
I asked Chat GPT this question: “What could make a temporary camping caravan feel like a home? What is the psychology that underlies the feeling of permanency?”
This article is based on the reply I received.
Attachment and Familiarity
Humans have a natural tendency to form emotional attachments to the places and objects they interact with regularly.
This attachment is rooted in our need for security and a sense of belonging.
When we spend time in a particular place, such as a camping caravan, and engage with the objects within it, they become familiar to us.
This familiarity brings a sense of comfort and stability, making the temporary space feel more like a home.
Sense of Control
The feeling of control over our environment is essential for establishing a sense of permanency and home.
In a temporary setup such as camping in a caravan, RV or tent, individuals have the ability to arrange and personalize their living space according to their preferences.
This act of customization allows them to exert control over their surroundings, making the space feel more like their own and increasing their sense of ownership and permanency.
Personalization and Identity
Personalizing the living space is a powerful way to create a sense of belonging and identity.
By adding personal touches, such as photographs, artwork, or cherished items, individuals can create a space that reflects their personality and history.
This personalization helps to establish a connection between the individual and the space, making it feel more like a home rather than just a temporary shelter.
Social Connections
Human beings are social creatures, and our relationships and interactions with others greatly influence our sense of home.
Even in a temporary camping caravan, forming social connections and fostering a sense of community can contribute to the feeling of permanency.
Engaging in shared activities, spending time with loved ones, or developing relationships with fellow campers can create a supportive and familiar social environment, reinforcing the sense of home within the caravan.
Emotional Adaptation
Humans have a remarkable capacity to adapt emotionally to different environments and circumstances.
Initially, a camping caravan may feel unfamiliar and temporary, but over time, as individuals spend more time in the space, they adapt emotionally.
This emotional adaptation involves adjusting one’s perception, attitudes, and responses to the environment.
As individuals become accustomed to the lifestyle and routines associated with the caravan, it can start to feel more comfortable, familiar, and like a home.
These five points interact and reinforce each other to create a sense of permanency and transform a temporary camping caravan into a space that feels like home.
It’s important to recognize that these factors are subjective and can vary from person to person based on their individual preferences, past experiences, and psychological needs.
Things to do to make caravan life feel more permanent
Making a temporary camping caravan feel like a home involves both physical modifications and psychological adjustments.
The sense of permanency is often rooted in our sense of security, familiarity, and comfort, which are elements that can be introduced in a temporary environment like a caravan.
Here’s how you can make a camping caravan feel more like a home:
Personalize
Personal items such as family photos, personal mementos, favorite books or even familiar scents can make a space feel like home.
These items evoke memories and emotions tied to our identity and past experiences, thereby creating a sense of familiarity and continuity.
Comfort
Incorporate elements of comfort such as soft furnishings, cozy bedding, pillows, and rugs.
Use temperature control methods appropriate for your environment, like fans, heaters, or insulation.
Functional Spaces: Even in a small space like a caravan, creating designated areas for specific activities such as sleeping, eating, relaxing, and working can help mimic the structure of a traditional home.
Decorate: Decorate your space according to your personal aesthetic preferences. Adding curtains, wall decor, indoor plants, and appropriate lighting can significantly enhance the homeliness of your caravan.
Cleanliness and Organization: Keeping your space clean, tidy, and organized can contribute to feelings of calm and control, mimicking the care and maintenance we typically apply to our permanent homes.
Cook and Eat Homely Meals: Cooking your favorite meals and maintaining regular mealtimes can bring about a sense of routine and normalcy, which is associated with home life.
We eat somewhat differently from home, possibly because we are more active walking on the beach every day. But small things like eating the same “beskuit” that Wifey bakes with extra seeds every morning help create a camping comfort zone.
Familiar Sounds and Smells: Use sounds and smells you associate with home. It could be a specific brand of coffee, a favorite scented candle, or the sound of a specific playlist or podcast.
Permanency is linked to feelings of stability
From a psychological perspective, the feeling of permanency is deeply linked to the idea of security and stability.
We perceive our homes as stable, safe places where we can relax, be ourselves, and have control over our immediate environment.
Moving from campsite to campsite every month or two disturbs the feeling of permanency. That is why it is important to create permanency in your caravan. It lets you “carry the permanency with you”, rather than having to find it in new places every time you move camp.
To create a feeling of permanency, it’s important to establish routines and habits that promote a sense of safety and predictability.
Our sense of home is tied to our identity and the idea of a personal space where we can express this identity. This is why personalization of the space is so important.
Moreover, social connections also play a significant role in our perception of home.
Staying in touch with loved ones and incorporating reminders of them in your space can contribute to feelings of permanency.
Lastly, keep in mind that it may take time to adjust to a new environment and feel at home.
Patience and open-mindedness are key in the process of adapting to a new living space.
Patience is important because it can take time to adjust to a new space, even if you’ve made physical modifications to make it feel more like home.
It’s not unusual to feel out of place or even a bit homesick when you first start living in a new environment, especially one that is significantly different from what you’re used to, like a caravan.
It’s a process of adjustment, and it may not happen immediately. This process includes not just adapting to the space itself, but also establishing routines and habits that suit the new environment.
Open-mindedness refers to the willingness to accept and embrace change, and adapt to the new living situation.
There will likely be aspects of caravan living that are different from living in a more traditional home, and being open-minded allows you to accept these differences rather than resist them.
For instance, you may need to deal with smaller storage space, less privacy, or changes in your daily routine. Seeing these changes as a new adventure or as an opportunity to simplify your life can help you adapt more easily.
In other words, being patient means giving yourself time to adjust, and being open-minded means being willing to adapt and find new ways to enjoy your living situation.
By combining these two attitudes, you’re more likely to feel at home in your caravan over time.
The more you treat the caravan as a home, rather than a temporary space, the more homely it will feel.
Conclusion
I hope it helps other long-term campers to grow an awareness of what they are experiencing and to enjoy the moment, a moment they may never again have the privilege to experience.