Couple trades winter home for trailer travel
What do you do with the family cottage when the kids move out and you’ve developed a serious case of wanderlust?
If you’re Victoria and Bjorn Ramsvik, you sell up and take to the road in an Airstream trailer you bought a year ago.
“We’re going to grab these years of freedom,” said Victoria, 55.
The couple sold one of the two homes in their family compound on Big Boshkung Lake near Carnarvon, Ont., last week.
They will keep the three-season house that has served as a second residence and take to the road in the winter.
With 280 square feet, the trailer is cosy, Victoria said. “You find out you either really, really like each other or you don’t. For us, we found out we really, really love each other.
“What we’ve learned is we don’t need a home for the cold season because our new home is the Airstream for that time,” she said.
The Ramsviks have lived on the lake since 1991 and in their current home since 2003.
“When we saw these two come for sale side by side, we said, ‘we have to buy them.’ That’s back in the day when we had no money but could take a risk and find a way to afford things,” she said.
Over the years, the sunny house, built on the footprint of an old cottage, was improved to be a gathering place for people of all ages and physical abilities. It has three porches. The back porch is partially covered, so the family can enjoy the outdoors in the rain.
They don’t see their decision to part with the main house as risky. Their three children, scattered by careers and partners, are supportive.
“We don’t ever put any pressure on them to come home and see us. What we’ve discovered is they visit us on the road. One daughter did the Grand Canyon with us. Another daughter came and met us at Palm Springs. They bring their significant others with them and we all live in that tiny space,” Victoria said.
Last summer, the Ramsviks went to Whistler, B.C. Last winter, they went to Texas, Arizona, Utah and California.
“We are meeting people who live in their Airstreams full time, all different ages, people we didn’t know existed,” she said.
But while they are out meeting new people, it will be good to know they will see their neighbours again.
“In this community, you can’t be lonely or bored. If you are, it’s by choice. There are so many things to join,” she said.