Over the summer I was lucky enough to spend a few days traveling along the canal with my family up in Wales and thought I'd share with you why I completely fell in love with the whole way of life!
Firstly you're physically forced to slow down (which was really good for me because I'm always rushing about!)
It was a chance to connect with nature which is always soothing and healing. You find yourself right up close to all the birds, insects and wildlife as well as the foliage, flora and fauna that grows along the tow path.
I was reminded of my need to be with nature regularly in order to re-charge and re center and wondered how I could have left it so long.
Living on a narrow boat encourages a more zen and minimalistic approach to life. It teaches you to let go of worldly possessions because basically there's no room for them!
There is a focus and enjoyment of everyday tasks for daily living; essentials like water and power can not be taken for granted as they are living in a house. It's about going back to basics and living simplistically as we once would have done.
Another thing I liked about being on the canal was the sense of community (especially when moored up at the marina)
The only thing was remembering not to come across as a nutter by saying hello to everyone when popping into Tesco!
I would like to continue with some of the things I learned and enjoyed from the canal lifestyle though; like slowing everything down, finding enjoyment in the mundane daily tasks, finding time to chat with a neighbour, being mindful of energy/water usage, being less attached to material possessions and connecting more with nature. It just all seems like a more natural way to live!
