Man Lives His Entire Life As If It Was 1946

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Man Lives His Entire Life As If It Was 1946

HuntsPost

During the day, Ben Sansum is a busy jet-setter who works as a cabin crewman for British Airways.

But when the working day is done, he leaves our hectic, modern world and steps back into the 1940s. And as you can see from his vintage-inspired home, living the simple life is not so simple these days.

Sansum's home was built in the 1800s.FameFly

The 35-year-old Sansum says that from an early age he was interested in the past. His great-uncle once gave him a 1940s radio as a birthday present, and his first car was an antique from 1939. His parents never understood their son's obsession for a time before he was even born, but Sansum says they've learned to accept it.

Everything in Sansum's home was invented before 1946.Hunts Post
Sansum still does all his cooking on a 120-year-old range.Hunts Post

"My parents probably thought I would grow out of it, but I know I will always live like this now. I shall probably die living like this." But despite admitting his interest is "strange," Sansum also tells his parents that he's "ensuring their way of life isn't forgotten."

Sansum buys modern groceries, but also keeps this collection of vintage food packages.Hunts Post
This isn't a vaccum, it's a electricity-less Ewbank cleaner.Hunts Post

But of course, living in a time before our many modern conveniences were invented is tough. Sansum does all his cooking on a restored, 120-year-old cooking range. And while he has managed without a dishwasher or a microwave, he caved and bought a modern mini fridge

One of Sansum's few modern conveniences - a mini fridge - is hidden behind a tea towel to hold up the illusion.BBC

Still, if you remember an older relative's home from this era (or your own childhood home) the rest of Sansum's house is a treasure trove of memories.

Of course it's easy to find an old-fashioned Victorian home in England, but Sansum has made sure that every little detail of his home is period-accurate, down to the vintage light switches.

Most of the furniture in Sansum's bedroom dates back to the decades before the 1940s.Hunts Post

He has a pair of antique telephones (he can receive phone calls, but has to use a modern phone to call out), still uses a backyard outhouse, scrubs his clothes using a washboard and a 100-year-old "mangle" cleaner, and listens to vintage music from his antique radio (which has an iPod hidden inside it).

Sansum still does all his washing by hand.Hunts Post
A hand-powered "mangle" washing machine.BBC

So why choose to live in the 1940s? Sansum can only say that he loves everything about the era. "I loved the music, and the cars, and the fashion," he explained. But finding someone else to love when you're stuck more than 70 years in the past isn't easy.

The antique telephone still works, but Sansum uses a modern set to make calls.Hunts Post
This radio is a 1940s original, but there's an iPod hidden inside. Hunts Post

"I think years ago I used to hope that one day I'd have someone live with me and we'd be sort of compatible, but I think my interest is so extreme, so my partner has a modern house and I have a period house," he says.

"Not everyone wants to live like that, I appreciate that."

Sansum's collection of antiques overflows into his backyard shed, which is also from the 1940s.Hunts Post
Some of the titles in Sansum's vintage library.Hunts Post

Still, we bet there are lots of people who would trade our modern conveniences for Sansum's cozy 1940s den. Though be prepared for the biggest change of all: no smartphones allowed.

"The world moves so incredibly fast," says Sansum. "I mean I'm 35 and I can't keep up with it. I don't understand Twitter and iPhones."

Would you trade your modern life to live in a 1940s home? Share this story and tell us!

[H/T: BBC, Hunts Post]

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