DIRECTORY
What Is Van Life
Why Van Life Is Awesome
Why Van Life Sucks
What Is Van Life?
When you ask “What is van life?” you’ll get a lot of different answers. The most resounding answers involve travel, financial or spiritual freedom, and minimalism.
In my experience, van life is a movement of people across the world with the desire to travel in a cheap and convenient manner. Some dream of adventure. Some desire cheaper living in order to pay off loans. Everyone discovers this life in different ways and treks on for various reasons, and that’s what makes it so fascinating.
How Van Life Is Different Than Sticks & Bricks
Vanlife is not much harder than living in a house, it’s just different. You have different priorities. Sure, in a house you have your bathroom, kitchen, and more space, but when you’re on the road you have everything. The world is your kitchen, your bathroom, your space.
Instead of worrying about paying rent, you worry about where to park. Once you get the hang of it all, you stop worrying and start living.
There are always reasons you shouldn’t do something, a reason not to take the leap into the unknown, but trust us, the leap is way more fun than the safe bet.
Why Van Life Is Awesome
The best part of living in a van. Your house can’t be haunted. Unfortunately, my van is
Contentment
Wherever you are, is home. It’s so much easier to live in the moment and be happy with where you are. If you are unhappy, it is so much simpler to switch things up and drive off to the next great adventure.
Motivation:
You’ll be more motivated to accomplish goals and find it easier to get up and moving in the morning because you’re already out and about for the day.
Finances
Wouldn’t it be great to cut out your rent bill each month? Think of what you could do with all that extra cash? Bills are cheaper or you can make them cheaper. One bill that may be higher is gas.
<utilities comparison>
Traveling is cheaper, which brings me to travel opportunities.
Freedom, Travel, & Exploration
You have the ability to go just about anywhere & have everything you need with you at all times. No need to pay for hotel rooms. The most you pay for is gas and possibly food if you eat out a lot. You have your entire kitchen with you as well, saving money on food.
You may also be able to travel to faraway lands and visit people or places you otherwise wouldn’t have gotten the chance to experience.
< Compare road trip costs with or without van life: food, lodging, gas (might be higher) >
If you live a lifestyle where you’re traveling a lot already this is an incredible option. You’ll save money on hotels and have all your belonging ready to go and with you.
Networking & Community
First off, you’ll be out and about in the world. You’re almost guaranteed to cross more people in a day. You’ll also realize that there is an entire network of travelers that would love to have a chat. Some travel now, some travel part-time, some used to travel, and some are just interested in hearing about your journey. A van is also quite the conversation starter. The travels and stories that come as a result of this life also make great conversational lubricant.
Packing
All my stuff is with me wherever I go. I’ve got tabs on it.
Packing has never been easier! Everything you own is already with you at all times. When someone says “don’t forget ___” you never have to worry because you for sure have it somewhere in that mess of a van.
One of my favorite benefits of van life is having my home with me wherever I go. It’s so wonderful to be in the comfort of your own home 5 minutes before you have to walk into work for the day.
Tip: spending a few minutes a day to clean and organize your van will make your experience 100% better.
(NOTE: this is probably my favorite thing about van life.)
Safety
You are able to up and move your home whenever you need to. Sure someone could break into your home, but at least you can run away from unsafe situations. You also have more options in safer parts of town than if you were trying to afford rent in a better part of town.
Minimalism
You don’t need a bunch of junk. Having less really makes you take stock and realize what is actually important. You are so much less distracted.
You also appreciate what you have a lot more.
Test Yourself
You get to see what you’re made of. It’s time to learn new skills.
There’s a lot of time and space for self-reflection. This can be a good and a bad thing.
Why Van Life Sucks
It can be exhausting
Living in a confined space unattached to necessary resources is a full-time responsibility. Finding places to park legally, use the restroom, clean your stuff, attain water, etc. takes a lot of time and effort. Once you understand how to do these things, they’re just another house chore in place of cleaning your bathroom & kitchen, vacuuming, and dusting. However, these new chores allow you to live this incredible life and encourage you to be more productive because it makes these adventures possible & far more pleasurable.
Job Security
Finding steady work can be more difficult depending on your career. Sometimes it’s easier because your job requires travel and it’s nice to have everything you need with you & never need to pack. Sometimes your current job will allow you to “work from home”, which is the ideal situation. Unfortunately, not all jobs are so lenient. Make sure you find work that is cohesive with your lifestyle before jumping into a life of travel.
Safety
A question we often get as “vanlifers” is about safety. Aren’t you scared? You’re out on the streets. I’m in a locked up vehicle. It’s no more unsafe than walking down a street. I’d argue it’s safer because I have all my weapons in an arms reach.
Get a tracker for your vehicle. Cameras if you can as well.
Always lock your car.
One of my doors sometimes doesn’t close and there have been a few times I’ve come back to the van and the door has been open and no one touched a thing.
Stay in safe areas and use your intuition. Don’t leave your van alone in unsafe spots.
As far as being scared of people messing with your van, I would rather be in the van protecting it if someone were to mess with it than have it by itself ready to steal.
You can’t be messy
It can be easy to be messy in your home and put off cleaning for later, but you can’t procrastinate in a van. If your van is messy, you can’t really move around easily or find anything. It also makes you look like a homeless hoarder which is detrimental to your wellbeing as well as the “vanlifer” reputation.
Relationships
It may be harder to have friends over for dinner or to bring a date home (or more awesome)
<working on an article about relationships, will link here>
Misconceptions & Judgement
There are definitely people that will judge you and consider you a “homeless beggar” among other offensive, close-minded stereotypes.
more here
Repairs & Breakdowns
If your van is in the shop you may be stuck in that location for a while, but with the money you should have saved from not paying rent, you could get a hotel room or rent a vehicle for a few days until you get your home back.
Why You Should Say “F*ck It” & Do It Anyway
Something can ALWAYS happen. Whether it happens in your van on the road or your house or apartment. You could get robbed, deal with fire, anything. But at least in a van, you can drive away. And if it really does come down to it. At least you’re already good at minimalism.
The List I Made That Made My Decision Final
Why I am going to live in my car
• You have to sacrifice in life if you want to get ahead
• I know that I can do anything
• It’s all about adapting to new situations
• You can’t be picky.
• energy-efficient, cost, portability, nomadicy. Adds more to life, either work less or save more (win/win)
• fuck it why not man
• might as well try it out and if it’s terrible I’ll get an apartment.
• I’ll figure something the fuck out, but it’s something I’ve wanted to try for a few years now and there’s really never been a better time
REASONS NOT TO BE SCARED:
Freedom
You’re no less safe in a car than in a house
You’re making excuses based on fear– that’s not a way to live
It’s safer than you think it is and people will surprise you
It’s easier than you are feeling. Things will take care of themselves and you can 100% figure this shit out
Stop making excuses.
“There will always be reasons you shouldn’t go on adventures. Ignore them. Get out of your comfort zone and you’ll find better, less crowded waves. Make your choice, adventurous stranger.”
