First, let's make one thing clear to anyone wondering: yes, Luc Senay and his wife Janie Gaumond-Brunet were happy to live in their Mercedes-Benz 4×4 van for a year, a decision that, as they say, The trigger for her was a lot of “How do you do that?” In Florida, in Sarasota, we met this couple who have been together for 25 years so they could tell us about their lifestyle and projects.
• Also read: Here's what to expect in the final season of 5th Rank
• Also read: Luc Senay, who stars in several television series, says he is blessed by life
Their new nomadic life began when the couple decided to sell their home in Shefford in 2020 and get rid of a lot of things. For a year, the two spouses lived and worked aboard their vehicle, which transported them to travel the roads of Florida in the winter. “We walk around, we spend three or four days in the same place. “We were recently in Hollywood and came back to West Palm Beach,” Luc Senay tells us. In short, he and his partner Janie hit the road and visit Harvest Hosts regularly. “You can stay at a winery, a distillery, a brewery, or with people who have ample parking,” Janie explains. And we have access to electricity and water. We also visit state parks and Walmart parking lots when we can't find another place. There's a really good place in Hollywood called Bass Pro Shops (a chain of stores that sells, among other things, outdoor gear and camping supplies). We also discovered TY Park in Hollywood. It's huge and beautiful, there are other RVs, grills and picnic tables. There are over a hundred parks in Florida where you can park during the day and some of them also allow you to stay overnight.”
Act before it's too late
Patrick Seguin / TVA Publication
For many it is a dream, a project they want to achieve in retirement, but as time passes, a certain urgency to move forward disappears. “For three years we have had to watch our friends die in their sixties. Before there are too many aches and pains, it’s time to get moving,” emphasizes Janie. Luc is completely of the same opinion. “You think about it a lot, you wonder whether you should do it or whether you should wait. And we act because we have no idea what will happen in 15 minutes, in an hour, in a week. You have to take advantage of it here. In fact, it's not living in an RV that worries people, it's the loss of their possessions. You can live in an RV, but keep your house and come back. The decision that there will no longer be a house is something different. For those who have children and grandchildren, their home is often the central focus of the family and I understand that making the decision to change your lifestyle can be more difficult.
Not retired!
Patrick Seguin / TVA Publication
After a year, do you realize that living in your converted van has more advantages than disadvantages? “I would say yes,” Janie replies. What's complicated for us is working at the same time.” And Luc adds: “The people we meet are on vacation, but we are working on projects and I also have texts to learn.” To give an honest assessment First of all, it has to be said that this was the first year of installation. Building a production studio and permanent residence in a 22-foot van is quite an organizational challenge!” Their way of life fascinates people. “Many say it tempts them to adopt a lifestyle like ours, but taking the step is something,” says the actor. The suggestion we can give to people is to rent a vehicle and live in it for a month or two, not just on weekends. A month is already something, and they will see if they feel good and if they have the ability to adapt to this situation.
Every day a new challenge
The couple, who spend all their time together, have adapted well to their new life. Janie says: “We are so similar and so different! We adapt, of course we cannot always say that it is complete harmony. It's normal, the two of us live in a small space. I'm hyperactive and Luc is the exact opposite. But we continue to develop.” As Luc so aptly says: “We are nose to nose! Every day was a new challenge emotionally and technically. Between my 64 years of sedentary life and my first year of nomadic life, I am the same Luc. A free spirit, like Janie. But we are definitely growing because relationship problems in a small space need to be resolved immediately, otherwise it is toxic. To the rhythm of the cities and villages that pass before our eyes, we try to get the best out of each other and, above all, to have fun,” admits the traveler.
When work takes him to Montreal, Luc jumps on a plane and returns to his lover's side after his work is done. “I traveled to Montreal for five days in January and returned in mid-February to make a short film with Kathleen Fournier and Marie Gignac.” The couple will travel to Quebec at the end of March. “We will continue to live the same lifestyle and move from one place to another. Except for places where we have to work (e.g. around a set).
filming), we go for a walk. “It's a house that moves,” explains Luc. “We,” he continues, “were more sedentary, we sometimes went to people's houses, but we invited them into the house.” We said to ourselves, that we would see them a little more with the vehicle, and that's exactly what happened. We can't cook big and prepare meals for six or seven people. So what we do is we ask friends if they are available and go to their house for dinner but then invite them,” he says. A great idea that leads to good times. “He does the shopping, he buys everything he needs and we arrive at people’s houses and Luc takes care of preparing the food. And we sleep in our vehicle in the parking lot,” Janie adds. “This gives us more time to chat while we prepare the food. It's very nice!” says his partner.
Various stimulating projects!
Patrick Seguin / TVA Publication
The actor will take part in the show Lucky Pierre: From Valleyfield to Hollywood, which follows the impressive career of Pierre Cossette, a Quebec-born producer and agent who, in particular, came up with the idea of televising the Grammy Awards. He was the producer of this gala for more than 30 years. “For 150 years
In the town of Valleyfield they are celebrating the 100th birthday of Pierre Cossette, who I will play. I will tell anecdotes to advance the story, they will be short interventions, blocks of life that will be linked to the songs played. And these songs are all Grammy hits!” In this promising musical revue by presenter Mike Gauthier and his partner Geneviève Gélineau we will mainly find Virginie Cummins, Matt Laurent and Gardy Fury. Furthermore, this year we will be able to see Luc in the film Ababouiné by André Forcier, which also stars Éric Bruneau, Rémy Girard, Réal Bossé and Noémie O'Farrell.
However, the couple has several ideas in mind: They have been working on a project called “The Star and the Other” for some time. This is a documentary series in which we talk about the changes in their lives, see them in different situations and follow them on the street. “We want to conduct interviews, both with people we meet so that they can talk to us about, among other things, their perception of Quebecers, but also with personalities. We don’t want to do a project with a purely tourist character or just a celebrity project,” explains Luc.
Follow Luc Senay in the final season of 5e rang, Mondays at 8 p.m. on Radio-Canada. The Lucky Pierre show will be presented on September 6th and 7th at the Salle Albert-Dumouchel in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield (Info: valspec.com).