A FAMILY of five who were looking to buy a house in 2019 unexpectedly had their heads turned by a fellow boat blogger and never looked back. Alice Elgie reports
Mum Annabel told me: “We fell in love with the tiny lifestyle, slower pace of life, more freedom and closer connection to nature, all of which the canals offered, along with the chance to live a more intentional, adventure-filled life as a family.”
Alongside husband James, their little boy, Bodhi, and two dogs, Willow and Mabel, Annabel is pleased with how life on the waterways has turned out. They capture their adventures on social media under the combined name of Just Us Wandering, and as Annabel says: “One of our favourite parts of boating life is being able to just leave whenever we want to and explore. It does make me laugh, though, that a five-minute drive down the road takes three or four hours in the boat, but that’s what it’s about!”
After starting out on a 34ft narrowboat the family now live aboard a 60ft semi-trad named Waterside. “She’s full of character and charm and we absolutely love making her a cosy little haven for our family.” Moored as they are in a marina, they are also able to fulfil a little more of their off-grid leanings by having an allotment just a 10-minute walk away, somewhere Bodhi is encouraged to explore, dig holes and look for bugs while Annabel and James lead the growing of herbs, salad greens, tomatoes, courgettes, a wide range of fruit and plentiful flowers: “We love the idea of growing more of our own food and reducing our reliance on shops as it’s a beautiful way to live seasonally and intentionally.”
In addition to these local connections, the family also have a penchant for adventures further afield and so when they’re not cruising their narrowboat, you’ll find them behind the wheel of their 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter named Scooby: “Our van feels like the perfect land-based extension of our wandering lifestyle and we love being able to wake up by a beach one day and in a forest the next, chasing the sun wherever it goes.” Sixteen-month-old Bodhi is certainly benefiting from his parents’ curious and flexible approach to life, having enjoyed his first trip to Europe at just four months old.
However, I know from experience, having raised my now 18-year-old daughter on narrowboats and in vans, that social norms can sometimes put pressure on young parents who choose a different path. When I talk about this with Annabel she is quick to dispel the genuine worries of those who might question Bodhi’s upbringing, particularly on water: “I always say that I actually think bringing him up on the boat is safer than a house as I can see where he is at all times!” It’s clear this delightful family see their chosen lifestyle as a gift: “Bodhi is growing up surrounded by nature, adventure, and a strong sense of togetherness and he gets to say hello to the duckies every morning, which is one of my favourite parts of the day.”
Funding their lifestyle through Annabel creating online content about their adventures as well as James working full time as an electrician, means the couple generally squeeze boat and van trips in on the weekends and annual holidays: “We’ve learned you don’t need a lot of time or money to make it memorable. Pack simple meals, pick a spot with water or trees, and bring as little tech as possible!” Fireside dinners, wild swimming and opportunities for creating connection – with each other as well as nature – this family’s compass points firmly toward their slow, intentional, adventurous ethos.
“To us, slow and intentional living means choosing presence over pressure, simplicity over excess, and making room for joy in the little moments. Adding adventure into the mix doesn’t have to mean big trips or huge changes, it’s more about curiosity and courage.” The inability to rush on the canals means boat life naturally fosters this mindset, inviting a sense of slowing down, and Annabel shares with me that having access to this lifestyle has shaped her and James’s entire approach to family life.
With a European van trip planned for the end of August and dreams of a longer cruise slowly drifting through the English canal network, there’s no doubt mum and dad will have plentiful opportunity to grow their adventurously nurturing parenting style in all the right directions: “One year we’d love to spend a whole summer exploring, letting the days unfold without much of a plan. It’s a way of living that reminds us what really matters.”
TikTok: @justuswandering
Instagram: @justuswandering
