It's safe to say over the last 12 months we've all had that moment as you stare out the window, coffee gone cold next to your humming laptop, fighting that uncontrollable urge to just hit the open road and escape.
In a year when most months any place beyond your five-kilometre radius can seem utterly exotic, it can be a battle to resist the urge to just pack up and drive away.
But for the Duggan family in Co. Galway - or the 'Buggans' as they're fondly known, a hybrid of both parents' surnames (Carrie Budds and Malachy Duggan) - they realised it doesn't have to be a battle. They actually did what so many of us have pondered, bought themselves a camper van and began a truly nomadic lifestyle with daughter Easkey a year and a half ago.
"You've so much freedom with it. In the last 12-18 months, though we haven't been able to leave Ireland, we have been able to go to lots of places," Budds is quoted as saying in an article on the Irish Mirror.
"During the pandemic, when you were only able to travel within your own county, we did day trips around Connemara or within Galway. Then when lockdown lifted, we went to loads of different places. We went down to Mountshannon which is in Clare, we went down to Leitrim - we did a big trip for about two weeks which was brilliant."
Whilst on their travels the family have been lucky enough to stumble upon a few hidden gems across the Emerald Isle. "There are outdoor heated swimming pools around Ireland that we didn't even know existed which are brilliant," she mentioned. "You could be in Spain!"
We're going to take that last part with a teeny, tiny grain of salt but regardless, there's no denying - the Buggans have bossed Irish lockdown.
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Not content with simply living a life of travel and adventure, the family have even found a way to monetise their lifestyle in the form a nifty new cookbook they're releasing via Indiegogo entitled 'Camping Soul Food'.
Inspired by their life on the road, 'Camping Soul Food' is full of delicious recipes, also including recommendations on which legendary soul tracks to listen to while you cook.
The book promises to hold all you need to know about 'cooking hacks with limited space, using the fridge to store beers for [you and your] friends, and how much more enjoyable brilliant tunes are when you're outdoors with tasty grub.'
If you'd like to grab a copy you can order the book here from just €18.00. In the meantime, Buggan family - we salute you!
Featured Image Credit: Julia Dunin Photography (Instagram - @juliadunin)Topics: Ireland