At 69, a former lorry driver lives permanently in his Fiat Ducato

After a career spent travelling across Europe, a former lorry driver has made his converted vehicle his permanent home.

In Lescure-Jaoul, in Aveyron, this 69-year-old speaks candidly about a daily life far removed from a conventional home. His decision is neither a temporary break nor an extended trip. He has lived on the road for almost two decades, building routines, meeting people and managing his money in a way that protects his freedom.

A settled life had become impossible

Before retiring, this former transport worker spent forty-two years driving along Europe’s main routes. His working weeks followed the familiar lorry-driver pattern: leaving on Sunday evening, returning on Saturday, then taking on another load and setting off again.

He drove through many countries for several employers, carrying every kind of freight. That existence fundamentally shaped his relationship with time and space. When he stopped working, the prospect of remaining alone in his flat in Villeneuve-sur-Lot was unimaginable.

After four decades living to the rhythm of journeys, he could not imagine spending his days sitting in front of the television.

His former working life also affected his marriage. After thirty-five years together, the repeated separations eventually weakened the relationship. Nevertheless, he says he remains on good terms with his former wife. The family still gets together regularly, particularly with their four children.

His mobile lifestyle is not, therefore, presented as an escape. Instead, it is a continuation of the life of a man accustomed to departures, unexpected stops and conversations with strangers.

A €2,000 pension but few fixed costs

The former lorry driver receives roughly €2,000 each month. In his view, this lets him enjoy his day-to-day life fully because a home on wheels removes some major expenses. There is no rent to pay, no electricity bill for a large property and no local residence tax on a flat occupied throughout the year.

His budget is still subject to several demands: fuel, insurance, mechanical maintenance, roadworthiness inspections, water, gas, food and repairs. He keeps around €3,000 in reserve for a serious breakdown. This is a necessary safeguard, as work on the engine, brakes or interior equipment of an older or heavily used vehicle can quickly cost several hundred or even several thousand euros.

Costs that do not disappear

Living in a converted van does not mean living without expenses. The actual cost depends heavily on mileage, the type of parking used and the level of comfort sought.

• Fuel is often the largest expense for people who drive extensively.
• Maintenance must be planned for: tyres, oil changes, the battery, heating and waterproofing all require regular attention.
• Fresh-water supplies and waste-water disposal mean finding suitable service areas.
• Insurance for the vehicle and its contents remains essential.
• Restaurant meals, leisure activities and travel can all add to the budget.

In his case, restraint does not appear to be an absolute rule. He enjoys going to restaurants, dancing, playing boules and attending motor rallies. These outings are even one of the driving forces behind his lifestyle.

Meetings at every stop

Loneliness, often linked with an itinerant existence, is not what he takes away from his experience. On the contrary, he says that he speaks every day with local residents, travellers and other regular users of stopover areas. Some conversations last only a few minutes, while others develop into lasting friendships.

He now mainly travels within France. Having covered so much of Europe during his career, he would rather take his time in the regions he passes through. Pétanque competitions, motoring gatherings and local festivals provide plenty of reasons to stop without following a rigid plan.

His vehicle is not simply a roof over his head: it is also a way of choosing his days, his encounters and the places where he stops.

He travels with his dog, Shalima. She keeps him company and also acts as an alert when an unfamiliar presence comes near the vehicle at night. For many solo travellers, having a dog provides a daily point of reference, but it also requires them to adapt their outings, plans during hot weather and choice of permitted places.

A Fiat Ducato decorated to stand out

His mobile home is a Fiat Ducato purchased before he retired. He customised it with Tintin-inspired drawings, following a suggestion from his daughter. She felt that the famous reporter’s adventures suited his strong taste for setting off and ever-changing horizons.

The illustrations on its bodywork draw attention whenever he stops. They also make conversation easier: a visual detail is often enough to start an exchange with curious passers-by or fellow travellers.

Free parking does not remove the need to follow the rules

The former lorry driver says that he favours free places to stop and avoids paid car parks. However, this approach requires a clear distinction between permitted parking and prohibited camping. In France, a local authority can regulate or ban overnight parking by converted vehicles, especially near the coast, in protected natural areas or in certain car parks.

Using levelling blocks, putting out chairs, extending an awning or taking up several spaces can turn a straightforward stop into a set-up regarded as camping. It is better to check signs at the entrance to towns, comply with local authority orders and use designated waste-disposal areas.

After almost twenty years on the road, this former driver has no intention of going back to living within four walls. He says that even a new relationship would not be enough to make him give up this mobile life. His choice rests on a personal balance: keeping fixed costs low, maintaining a financial reserve and retaining the option to set off again every morning.