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Original poster

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

422 replies

curiositykilledthecatsplat · 02/06/2021 17:49

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

OP posts:
ufucoffee · 02/06/2021 21:52

@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!

Not with me it doesn't. Lucky you. But what will happen when the children are grown up. Will he still give you money?

shewalkslikerihanna · 02/06/2021 21:53

@21Flora

I don’t anymore but I’ve spent my 20s managing country estates. I was provided a house, all bills were paid for. Basically a modern day Downton Abbey with butlers, drivers, gardeners etc... All the families were old money multi million/billionaires. It’s an entirely different way of life as everybody lives within the grounds.
Wow I love reading about other people’s lifestyles There’s a very small , estate, near our second home, you couldn’t call it a stately home, but I wouldn’t turn my nose up at it. It’s very charming, with beautiful grounds and stunning lake We were served afternoon tea by the very down to earth lord of the manor on one visit During lockdown, I passed one day and he was in the grounds playing with his children I always said the landed gentry had a different lockdown to the rest of us
ChrisQuean · 02/06/2021 21:54

@CallMeCleo

From reading thousands of MN posts I think I am unique (on here at least!)

I am an only child and never met my grandparents. I have no aunts, uncles or cousins, and my parents died years ago.

I have never been married and have no children and don't live with a partner.

In other words, I have no living blood relations whatsoever (that I know of).

I also have no workmates; I have my own one-woman small business and have not been employed in a workplace for 20 years.

My friend sounds similar. She is the only child of two only children, both long dead, one of whom was an orphan. No siblings, cousins or aunts/uncles. Has no memory of grandparents. She had no DCs, but is divorced.
ArabellaScott · 02/06/2021 21:56

I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you.

shewalkslikerihanna · 02/06/2021 21:58

Some wonderful posts and amazing lives here
I love reading them

pooiepooie25 · 02/06/2021 22:00

@BananaLlamaFarmer

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.
I'm an only child with an only child. My mum and grandma were also only children.
babbaloushka · 02/06/2021 22:08

@whatwasIgoingtosay

I live in a small Scottish castle/tower. It has a LOT of stairs! It's hugely inconvenient as a house, but it's in a wonderful setting with sensational views. We'll stay as long as we can, until our legs give out.
Do you have any pictures? I've dreamed of living in a castle since I was a little girl!
deste · 02/06/2021 22:11

We too live 4 days in one place and three in another for 7 months of the year.

Bobbiebigbum · 02/06/2021 22:13

Like @shewalkslikerihanna I live between 2 homes 2 and a half hrs apart. Neither are holiday homes. The family home with the kids dad is where we go holidays and some weekends. The other smaller home is near my work and so the kids go to school there in the week. It's a commuting with kids model. Smile. Has pros and cons!

israidc · 02/06/2021 22:13

I'm an only child of an only child of an only child!

BetterThanKleenex · 02/06/2021 22:18

I moved out of our big family's (11 kids) house young, lived on a boat with a hippy old lady who would make love potions to try to get herself a 'sailor soulmate'. I worked 3 jobs to get by and lived off beans on toast, and sold almost all of my possessions to get myself a flat. Then met my husband and we moved to a grade 2 listed building in the middle of nowhere on the other side of the country. We got married 4 months after meeting. We reno'd the building, filled the land with sheep and now I'm a 25 year old housewife who is finally safe, secure and very happy.

We bought the boat when she passed away and have plans to rent it out. For now we've turned it into our staycation getaway.

loubieloo4 · 02/06/2021 22:18

@Svag
We had the privilege of touring Northern Norway for our 20th Anniversary! Fell in love 💜 We loved Alta. Can't wait until we can go again!

Hawse · 02/06/2021 22:19

@PigGondola - yes Miriam Toews is a fantastic writer and has really shown a light on mennonite life and culture and the intersection with today's life. I have only seen clips of Silent Light (the film she starred in), but it was brilliant to see a film in low-german (given it's such a dying language). She grew up in Steinbach, another key mennonite village and somewhere I spent loads of time growing up, my aunt/uncle live there and its also where my greatx grandfather's memorial statue is. Pretty sure we are related too Wink Literally we're all related - it's a very insular community Shock.

pinkearedcow · 02/06/2021 22:20

BetterThanKleenex I initially misread your post and thought you had moved to a boat with your 11 children!

Blossominspring2021 · 02/06/2021 22:20

There are some fascinating stories here. Love the ones of the woman who sleeps outside and treks all the time. I have lived in many unconventional places, including a tent and a shed whilst traveling.

I also lived as a single parent with another single parent, we both advertised online, met as strangers and shared a home for a couple of years - it was fantastic being able to share childcare and I could have a social life. It was scary too, could we trust each other? But we never once fell out, all the housework was equal, the kids well looked after and very secure.

AlfonsoTheMango · 02/06/2021 22:23

These posts are fascinating.

AvonCallingBarksdale · 02/06/2021 22:32

Really interesting reading these, especially at a time when imagining myself away has been a real godsend!

BreakingtheIce · 02/06/2021 22:36

[quote loubieloo4]@Svag
We had the privilege of touring Northern Norway for our 20th Anniversary! Fell in love 💜 We loved Alta. Can't wait until we can go again! [/quote]
Would LOVE to do this but not quite sure how to go about it!

Sarahlou63 · 02/06/2021 22:38

I also retired in my 40's. Burned out professionally just before the financial crisis, and moved (without any plans!) to central Portugal 14 years ago. Met DP online 2 years later, now have a small farm with horses, goats, chickens, dogs and cats. Have learnt to deal with death, floods, intense heat, mad expats and scary power tools.

Irishterrier · 02/06/2021 22:42

@deste

We too live 4 days in one place and three in another for 7 months of the year.
Having a second home isn't quite what I'd describe as unconventional or interesting!
GeorgeAnneAndTimmytoo · 02/06/2021 22:46

Lived in a Royal Castle with a Royal Family in my 20s.

GeorgeAnneAndTimmytoo · 02/06/2021 22:55

@Svag

Some pictures taken when working.
Stunning
BetterThanKleenex · 02/06/2021 22:56

@pinkearedcow

BetterThanKleenex I initially misread your post and thought you had moved to a boat with your 11 children!
Crikey, I think we'd need to extend the boat ever so slightly for that!
LemonadePockets · 02/06/2021 22:58

I live on a caravan site next to all of my dad’s family. My daughter is growing with her cousins all around her, just like I did.

HrhMargie · 02/06/2021 23:01

I now have a conventional-is life, but I lived in a squat for 6 years in what is now a very desirable post-code in London. I also worked in a bit of a posh environment and no-one ever knew of my living arrangements. Loved every minute of it!