May 2026 Wrap-Up: Get your Protein, Van vs Tiny House, Offering Animals a New, Happy Life
May brought a focused mix of freedom-building ideas, reflections on vanlife, minimalism, practical nutrition, and supporting an animal rescue project on Menorca.
Hello from the mountains,
May was a month of keeping things focused and intentional. I published just a couple of articles and podcasts, but each one connected to the same bigger idea: how to design a life that feels freer, simpler, and more aligned with what really matters.
And at the end of this newsletter, I’m also sharing something very close to my heart: a crowdfunding campaign for the Trebaluger Equine Rescue Centre on Menorca, where I volunteer and draw a lot of inspiration from the work being done there. At the bottom of this post, I will also share a lovely video about a donkey called Matilda, which may tear you up from a strange sad/happy feeling.
If you haven’t subscribed to my publication yet, you can do so here:
Happy reading,
Manfred
Here are summaries of what landed this month:
Tiny House vs. Camper Van: Choosing Between Roots and Wheels
In this article I compare tiny house living and vanlife from both a philosophical and practical point of view, showing how each lifestyle creates a different kind of freedom. Since my own minimalism journey began with a camper van four years ago and later expanded into a tiny house, this piece also reflects the path that shaped The Rich Minimalist from the beginning.
Eating Healthy and Ethically as a Minimalist in Nature: The Protein Question
A practical look at nutrition for active, outdoor living, this article I explore how to think about protein, meat, plant-based eating, and ethics in a way that goes beyond ideology. It asks what is healthiest, what is most sustainable, and what is most honest when you care about animals, the planet, and your own physical reality.
May Podcasts
Vanlife or Tiny House? Choosing Freedom Your Way
In this episode I compare mobility and adventure against roots and stability, showing that both lifestyles can create freedom, but in very different ways depending on whether I want to roam or stay grounded.
Protein for the Active Minimalist
In this episode, I look at how to fuel an active, outdoor life with enough protein while balancing health, simplicity, sustainability, and the trade-offs between meat, plant-based foods, and processed options.
One last thing…
Supporting Trebaluger Equine Rescue Centre
This month, I also want to highlight something that matters deeply to me: the crowdfunding campaign for the Trebaluger Equine Rescue Centre on Menorca. I volunteer there, and the work is not only meaningful but also very inspiring. It is a place where responsibility, compassion, action, and challenging tasks come together in a way that fits closely with the Rich Minimalist ideas. A rich life is not just about having more time and less stuff, but also about meaning and choosing what deserves your time, care, and commitment.
In our centre, we mainly work with equines. We have 24 horses and 11 donkeys and we also take care of cats, dogs, chicken, ducks, pigs, goats… whoever needs a caring home. All of our “residents” were mistreated or strongly neglected. When they come to us, they get a new life full of happiness, food, shelter, freedom and friends.
Our goal with this campaign is to raise EUR 300,000.
Which I know is a lot. Very very a lot. But even if we get close to that amount, we get a shot at buying the land, which we currently rent. This would bring down our fix cost and reduce the dependency on any landlord. If a landlord decides to sell the land now, our centre, all our good work and most importantly the animals are doomed.
If you want to support the campaign, find it here:
Every tiny amount helps because every donation will move us up the rankings and increases visibility.
If you are curious about my perspective on the centre and why this work matters, I also wrote a longer piece about Less Victimhood, More Responsible Citizenship: Rescuing Horses on Menorca.
Thank you for reading, for supporting the publication, and for being part of this journey toward a freer and more intentional life.
Stay healthy, stay free,
Manfred