Free space when traveling - How we get along well on 9.5 m²
People who travel are often looking for a big adventure – the vastness, the unknown, the feeling of freedom.
But what you quickly learn is that freedom starts in your head – especially when you live together 24/7 in 9.5 square meters.
Welcome to our little kingdom: the Unimog Mambo – home, office, kitchen, living room, bedroom and retreat all in one.
And yes: sometimes the space is simply too small for two opinions.
Two zones, one home: our "room concept"
We have two clearly defined areas in our Mambo:
The fixed bed, affectionately known as the box
The seating area, which we proudly call the ballroom
Getting out of the way? Not really possible, but creating space while traveling is still possible. You just need a few strategies – and a sense of humor.
Noise canceling = peacekeeping
Our biggest discovery in terms of withdrawal: noise-canceling headphones.
If someone snuggles up in the box with headphones on, that’s a silent sign for us:
I need a bit of peace and quiet now.
That doesn’t mean you’re angry – just that you want to switch off for a moment, surf, listen to music or immerse yourself in a series. And that’s allowed. In fact, you have to.
Plan time alone - even if you are traveling together
Monika likes to hike. And sometimes she just sets off – without a destination, but with the desire to clear her head.
Christoph then stays at the Mambo, enjoys the silence and perhaps looks at who is walking past the stand, usually making contact with the country and its people.
When Christoph meets new overlanders, Monika likes to take advantage of this for a few quiet hours for herself.
The most important realization: It’s okay if you don’t want to do anything together.
Openness & honesty - talking (really) helps
If something is annoying us, we talk about it – preferably immediately, before frustration builds up.
And if we have an „I just don’t want to talk“ day?
Then we say that too. And that’s perfectly fine.
Rituals that connect - and let you connect
What grounds us emotionally are our little rituals:
Coffee ritual via video: Every two to three weeks, we chat with our best friends. Relaxed, just like that – about life, the weather, cake.
Essential oils in the Mambo: Monika regularly sets the mood – sometimes with citrus, sometimes with lavender, and at Christmas of course with the scent of spruce. Even the dusty Andes pass feels a bit like home.
Homesick? Less than expected. Closeness despite distance.
In fact, we rarely feel homesick.
Why? Because we are in regular contact with family and friends via video call – and because we simply feel at home in our little Mambo.
We’ve already written something about communication when traveling.
Personal quirks? Yes. And that's a good thing.
Each of us has our own idiosyncrasies – and we have learned not only to accept them, but to integrate them into everyday travel life:
Monika has her „messy box“ in which she collects whatever she needs. Christoph isn’t allowed to touch it – it’s just her creative chaos.
But Christoph is the tidy one. The one who prefers to arrange everything nicely.
And: Christoph takes care of the „pretty“, Monika takes care of the „practical“.
9.5 m² – that sounds cramped. But if you allow yourself space in everyday life, respect and attention in small moments as well as honest conversations, life in it feels bigger than you think.