«Happiness travels with you:» A new home in the Cévennes

Somewhat confused, they ask: «But you're moving to Portugal, aren't you?» Yes, we're still planning to settle there for the long term. But you don't fall in love every day. Last summer, we lost our hearts to a cottage in the Cevennes. It's where we had our base when we were travelling, where my parents live and where my great-grandmother comes from.

And no, we don't want to live there permanently. At least not at the moment. The children had given the place an extra low number in our points distribution. The result was to be pulled down so that it would not be considered as a place to live. This is understandable, as there is no secondary school in the mountain village after primary school and other young people are generally few and far between.

For parents, however, it is the perfect French village. In the national park, with a river and mushrooms and wild chestnuts. It connects us with a part of the family that goes back several generations. Besides, Portugal is pretty far away for us Central Europeans. Somehow it feels good to have a retreat that is a little more central.

Attention, ready, tidy up...

In December 2022, the time has come: we leave our caravan «Dicker» in Portugal and drive to the south of France to sign the purchase contract and take over the house.

First of all, it is emptied of what feels like 100 years of junk. Fortunately, there are a few treasures to be found among the tonnes of bulky waste.

Preparing the attic for the clear-out becomes a bit of an adventure. We rummage through the boxes and crates that the previous owners had left behind. In addition to some antique furniture, we also find military medals, an old medical kit with glass ampoules and syringes and even a box of ammunition. There are no limits to the imagination when it comes to spinning crazy stories out of them.

Up there, 150 years ago, caterpillars were bred for silk production and an almost faded biblical saying on the wall tells of secret meetings between Huguenots, the Protestant minority in France that was persecuted until the end of the 18th century. We have acquired a little piece of history.

Then comes the cleaning. Many years of dirt are scrubbed away and cobwebs are removed from the corners. We get to know every nook and cranny of this little house where no wall is straight. The plumber has to fix a few dripping siphons. Then we're ready.

The big reunion

Here it is at last: our container. It should no longer be standing around in the border triangle near Basel and there is still nowhere to store our belongings in Portugal. Without further ado, we fill the house again with almost as much stuff as we had just cleared out. Oh dear.

It's like a double Christmas when the girls unpack their boxes. A large cardboard box is immediately filled again with all the objects that have lost their significance during the travelling period. Dolls are clearly no longer very popular. In the summer, when we return, they will be sold at the «Vide Grenier», the flea market. And all the Chasperli and Linard Bardill CDs? No-one in France will probably want to buy them. Although I still enjoy them.

A three-generation playground

The house is like a big playground. There is so much to do. We will be able to do some of it ourselves and the grandparents, who renovated their own house a few years ago, will be on hand with help and advice. The girls have the green light to furnish the house to their heart's content. They choose one of the rooms and are already planning the furniture and colour scheme in detail.

First of all, the wallpaper, which is coming off in large bubbles, will have to come down. The foundations of the house date back to the 16th century. Each wall has several layers and there is at least one more under each floor covering. All three generations are involved in the dreaming and planning.

The younger girl says apologetically: «Today I would give the village a lot more points. But only if we didn't live here all the time.». After the strain of their new social life in Portugal, the girls enjoy some undisturbed sister time and the wild nature of the surrounding area. There is snow on the mountain at the foot of which our village lies. A beautiful contrast to the Atlantic.

Halfway settled again

Since our departure in April 2020, we haven't had a home of our own apart from the caravan. For two and a half years, we were allowed to stay with our parents or grandparents on and off. During Corona, we spent many months under one roof and even now, when our new house is still cold and uninhabitable, we can always go back to the warm fire.

We are slowly moving our temporarily stored belongings from my parents' house to our new home. Even if it's only a few houses away this time, it feels like I'm moving out of home for a second time at the age of 45. From now on, we'll be visiting again.

Suddenly the pain of separation sets in. The temporary three-generation house had worked out very well and many fond memories will remain. Nevertheless, it's also great to have our own home again. Knowing that we can return to our house at any time gives us a deep sense of security. After more than 400 years, it will probably outlive us.

And so we happily get ready to head back to the westernmost country on the European continent, to school and to our easy life, with little stuff.

The itinerary at a glance:

Unpleasant news from Portugal

Shortly before our departure, we receive unexpected news from Portugal. Our beloved campsite is being closed. All the long-term tenants, who have spent decades tending their little gardens and building walls around their caravans, have to pack up and leave within six weeks. A new sports park is planned for the community and only short-term camping - with new tariffs from summer 2023.

Shortly afterwards comes the next piece of bitter news: short-term campers, that's us, have to leave the site immediately. But we are just 1600 kilometres away from our caravan with the awning, where the pegs are anchored particularly deep in the ground.

Find out in part 8 how the family gets to know Portugal from different angles and forges new life plans. This will be published in mid-April.