This N.S. couple sold everything and now lives in an Airstream trailer

Crystal Garrett chats with a couple who downsized to live full-time in their Airstream trailer.

It was always Tyson Breland’s dream to live full-time in an Airstream trailer but when he met his partner Alicia Simms, she was living in a big house she “thoroughly loved.”

“Then we decided to rent an RV for a couple of months in the summer,” Simms said. “That really gave me a taste of tiny living.”

After the summer the couple bought their own trailer with the plan that they might move into it full-time. They made that move three years ago.

“It’s basically everything I thought it would be,” said Breland. “Couple little hiccups along the way but that’s life. Otherwise, mostly I’ve just been really happy that Alicia’s adjusted to it so quickly.”

Simms said she committed to a year when they moved into the Airstream and took a trip every month during the trial.

“It was phenomenal,” Simms said.

After the first year, they decided to keep their freedom instead of building a new home.

“It’s really amazing what you can do with your life when you’re mobile and mortgage-free,” Simms said.

The couple drove the trailer from the Rockies to the Atlantic coast and down into the U.S. Breland said they’ve probably put 15,000 kilometres on their home.

“I think we’ve spent more time driving in our relationship than not,” Simms said.

Other than the small size, there are a few adjustments that come with moving into a trailer. Simms said it might be hard for new couples to survive the experience.

“If you’re bathroom-shy at all, your toilet in this model is literally like six inches from the bed.”

She said if you need your own space, trailer life is not for you.

Breland said it helps that he works from home – wherever it’s parked.

Some of their favourite spots in the region are Bear River and a campground on Graves Island near Chester, N.S.

“One of the great appeals to camping in Nova Scotia is there’s so many places where you can have an oceanfront view,” said Simms.

This summer they plan to stay on the north shore near Brule, N.S., to be close to Rushton’s Beach.

“It is one of our favourite places to go,” Simms said.

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