If you don't live in a standard "normal" way, how do you live?

[curiositykilledthecatsplat]

Curious to know how people live if you don't live in "standard" way, how do you live? ie you live in a commune, you travel the world with your family etc etc

I have a wildflower garden! My neighbours find that abnormal.

@clairethewitch70 sounds amazing!

@itsgettingwierd

Are you fluent in all languages of the countries you've lived in?

Is your narrowboat stationary?

Up snowdonia sounds fascinating. How do you feel about them looking to change the name?

7 kids is unusual in this day and age but my mums one of 7!

My life's pretty boring and unconventional but I did spend 6 years living and working abroad as a children's then holiday rep which was a great experience when young.

Re Snowdonia they aren’t changing the name. It is in Wales, it has always had a different name .

I don't have kids and have been single my entire life - no dates or anything. Have lived alone since I moved out of my parents at the age of 20.

Can't imagine anything else and absolutely no desire to find a partner.

@Sometimesfraught82

Single parent here

With very very wealthy ex

So afford me and children a quality of life that would not even be close to possible otherwise

Generally goes down like a sack of spuds on mumsnet re this kind of thing!

@Sometimesfraught82 Haha. I bet you get jealous women saying snide things about that. Hope you're ex is good to you and the kids in other ways too though.

Divide our time between two homes.

Home A in a city of roughly 58,000 or so built in the middle of a boreal forest. The nearest city is a 4.5 hour drive.

Home B is an 8.5 hour drive (which is a quick trip down the road by Canadian standards) in the Rocky Mountains. Still firmly on the grid though.

I don’t know if it counts, but I’m an only child of an only child, married to an only child… and we have an only child. I don’t know any one else like this but I’m sure it must actually be more common than I think.

Not sure why the photos didn’t attach. I’ll try again. Spare time photos, not taken at work this time.

@June2021 that is his job in the UK love not outside of UK!

@itsgettingwierd

Are you fluent in all languages of the countries you've lived in?

Is your narrowboat stationary?

Up snowdonia sounds fascinating. How do you feel about them looking to change the name?

7 kids is unusual in this day and age but my mums one of 7!

My life's pretty boring and unconventional but I did spend 6 years living and working abroad as a children's then holiday rep which was a great experience when young.

@itsgettingwierd They're not changing the name. They might be using the Welsh name (the actual name) on marketing or official materials and such from now on (which seems to have upset a few narrow minded, uncultured individuals, or those who don't know any better), but they idea that they're 'changing' the name is very strange indeed. It's always been 'Eryri' (Snowdonia) and 'Yr Wyddfa' (Snowdon) to us. I'm sure people will manage

@PandemicAtTheDisco

I have a wildflower garden! My neighbours find that abnormal.

@PandemicAtTheDisco Are you surrounded by neatly cut lawns by any chance or geometric gardens?

I spent quite sometime as a Female Caravanner, Towing all over the U.K. with my DDs, Rallying and staying in some very nice locations as part of the Caravan Club. When l met DH, l introduced him to the Hobby, but still remained the one who did all the Towing and organising right up until he retired, and he felt confident enough to do it Solo himself.
Next year will be our 30th Anniversary of the Hobby, but we have now decided to retire from it for good, and stay more local for Health reasons due to Arthritis.

Not now but because of my dad’s job I grew up in Africa, regularly living in remote bush areas where there were no other non-Africans.

@Svag

I moved last year to the far north of Norway, up inside the Arctic Circle. I work as a government vet here and sometimes spend my days driving through spectacular scenery, still amazed that someone is paying me for the privilege!

@Svag Sounds awesome.

On a superyacht, serving the wealthy and seeing the world!

Loving reading these!
Interesting that some are chance, some are choice.

My grandparents and some extended family (huge family) are all old-colony mennonite (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Colony_Mennonites). My great great great great grandfather was the leader of the colony in Russia, and responsible for leading the emigration out of Russia and into Canada, setting up the new colony (commune) in Manitoba, and later some family set up a similar commune in Mexico. My mother grew up in the faith, only speaking low-german, and my uncles weren't educated beyond primary (which is customary, as you work the farm). I recall going to church with my grandparents where men and women still were sex segregated, and they dont believe in musical instruments; women still cover their hair and dress modest. My mother left though, and raised us outside - so it was extremely odd growing up, spending summers and holidays with my mennonite family - having to dress differently, and speak a different language. However, the community aspect of it / looking after each other is amazing, and something I quite miss now. I love their village and have an interest in the faith, and am trying to keep some mennonite traditions alive in my own family.

I've just realised I have the single most conventional life it is possible to have, down to the 2 kids - 1 boy, 1 girl, 3 bed semi in the London suburbs, both me and DH have super conventional jobs... My punk teenager self would be horrified 😂

I'm well happy though.

May your weed hatch never leak!

I am from a family travelling show people (fairgrounds) sixth generation. I have always lived in a caravan. I don't have any friends from outside of the business/way of life. I don't consistently travel anymore. I have a 'flattie' (non showman) job nowadays but still go to carnivals etc with a stall.
We are a cultural minority as opposed to an ethnic minority.
Although we often get compared/likened to gypsies or circus people we are completely different.

Every Wednesday morning I get up and travel an hour down the motorway to the beach to live with my partner of 6 years who has an apartment there, while my gay exH moves into my house, (he has a room there) to look after the (teen) kids. I come home on Friday night having caught up on work, had walks on the beach, and (now) evenings out. I can strongly recommend this lifestyle to everyone.

I’m a White Witch but only my DH & parents know. My mum is also a witch, & I was raised in an unconventional but inspirational & compassionate way. We lived on a boat, & were quite insular as a family but very very happy.

I was only rumbled once - funnily enough by a Senior Manager at work!! She was a lovely lady; very intuitive herself.

Now I’m married to a Roman Catholic & I live in a house in Surrey with two young boys. I work for my local authority so very very “normal” these days. My husband jokes that I’ll burst into flames if I step inside a church. His friends jokingly call me a witch which is fine - they are nice people & have no hate in them!

Great thread, would love to hear these people’s jobs, if you live off grid.. where do you work?