With global warming, weather is unpredictable anymore. We just need to face that fact and be prepared to trave accordingly. I travel in my van mostly in Texas and Southern Arizona and the weather is hot...dangerously so from May-Oct every year, so I plan to travel north with cooler temperatures. I have the AC and Heat figured out ahead of time wherever I decide to travel. The sun in Arizona can reek havoc on your immune system if you come unprepared. I enjoyed your post.
Just prior to Covid, my husband and I were looking at the Mercedes Revel. When the dealership finally had one on the lot, we went down to look at it. It took us all of two seconds to decide it wouldn’t work with two people. We ended up getting the Winnebago Ekko, and while it’s still close quarters, we’ve adjusted well to it. The first two years, there were numerous recalls, and we had those taken care of. Since then, the only issue we’ve had is a couple of windows not working correctly.
The Revel is great looking and more my “style” for adventure, but you’re right, it’s a lot smaller space and would be more of a challenge for two people living in it full-time. Not to mention trying to find mechanics who can work on a Mercedes! Glad the Ekko is working out for you. It’s a nice vehicle.
I think the freedom that it brings, of course, is great, and as a period of time, it's definitely something worth trying. But personally, I wouldn't do it forever, but that's just me.
Hey Danny, thanks for stopping by and sharing. I agree with you. We dreamed about it, tried it, and, aside from some challenges, we're enjoying the lifestyle. But we don't plan on doing it forever!
Love your eyes wide open writing. Do you find yourselves learning and growing through this or more of, I’m really frustrated with the dark side? Are you both good at communicating and sharing/supporting the mental and emotion health of both of you?
I can relate as my husband I were slow travelers together before transitioning to vanlife (small RV) and it simply isn’t the same. We wintered in Texas only for it to snow, everything does seem to break at once, and have run out of of propane in some annoying places. But it does get better! It sounds like you’re not done, just making sure you’re not Polly Anna -ing the experience with a glossy version of reality, and that’s for the best. People need to know life on the road it’s easy, even if it is rewarding. Good luck and cheers to no regrets!
Thanks Ruby! Even though we’ve traveled full-time for almost six years, the adventure is constantly changing and evolving. Van life was just different than we expected at first and it took time to get used to. After two months of sitting, we’re looking forward to getting back on the road.
Keep living your dream. Maybe we’ll see ya on the adventure. 🚐 ❤️
I’ve found life on the road is best balanced. Long spurts of traveling matched by quiet stints of staying put to enjoy luxarles like long showers and a closed door 😂
Holy moly, you got 161 comments and 359 likes? That's AMAZING! I never get that many. In fact, I get so few that it's embarrassing. But we are in the same boat, or van. I've been in van life much longer, almost 4 years now, and we are on the same routes, Big Bend and Padre Island in winter. Hope that the mechanical and electrical issues get resolved quickly and permanently. Good luck.
Yeah, haha, must’ve been dumb luck. We’ve been writing since 2020 and that may have been a one hit wonder. Just keep writing from your heart and enjoy the process.
You’ve probably crossed our path then. Who knows when we actually meet?! Thanks and happy travels to you as well.
Well, I think your blog is more practical and offers how-to advice, which is the smart thing to do, so of course, I don’t do that. I approach it from a “why do” angle. Why leave home, why travel, what is the purpose? I thought that is what was missing on-line, but I’m beginning to think I may be wrong… I have been through Marathon TX every winter for the past three years, and spent the last two Christmases at Padre Island. But I don’t think we’ve met.
It's funny because I never intended to write how-to type stuff. I wanted to be more of a storyteller. But because I wrote business and freelancing blogs for 15 years, I guess our travel stuff followed it. I'm trying to mix it up more.
I'm not sure what is missing or not anymore. I just know what I like, which can also be a moving target at times.
We were in Marathon back in January. I'll read your work. I'm sure one day we will stop at the same park or rest stop. LOL
Yeah we’ve been in our RV for about 15 months now and there are so many things you aren’t told. We researched like crazy and watched so many videos. But we are still surprised every day by the amount of things we didn’t expect to happen. There’s always good and bad, much like homeownership but at least we are mobile. Boondocking is really the most ideal way to do this if you’re on a budget. RV parks mostly suck and are always crowded. If you want scenery and peace, boondock. 💕
Oh that’s awesome!! And to your question, we haven’t had any issues at all with crowding. Quartzite can be crowded in the front sections during peak season but we never had an issue. If you head toward Quartzsite, go to Plomosa Road and drive about 3-4 miles in before settling down. It avoids the crowded areas. If you’re going to New Mexico, Silver City is great for quiet- Cattleman Trail off 90. Enjoy your travels!
That's great to know! We've been through Quartzrite a few times and didn't know much about boondocking there when we had our truck and rooftop tent. Several RV places wouldn't let us stay because RTTs weren't "allowed." We loved Silver City. One of my WWII Veteran friends lived there a few years ago before he died, but we never camped or boondocked there.
Thanks for these great recommendations! Maybe we'll see you out there someday. Safe travels to you as well. 🚐 ♥️
Yes, there definitely is good and bad, but I still think our lifestyle is better than being stuck in a place we hate. We’ve done a few boondocking spots and plan on doing it a lot more as everything gets more expensive. But now that gas is outrageous, sitting still might be more of the plan than driving. UGH! Appreciate your input.
Just a note - boondocking is amazing in Arizona and New Mexico, especially if the purpose is needing to land for a bit. Less restrictions and more privacy. 🙌🏼
We've spent a lot of time in AZ and NM, but never boondocked there because we have a timeshare in our favorite locations. Now that we have our van, we can't wait to get back out that way to boondock around Sedona, Cottonwood, Jerome, and other places. We've camped in New Mexico and loved it. Is it getting busier now that so many people are doing it?
I think my biggest learning experience was suddenly appreciating the more relaxed pace of sticks and bricks. There's a crack in my attic window. It's been there for 2 years. A crack in my van window would need to somehow be fixed as a number one priority before I even drove it anywhere. I broke a mug in my house the other day. Too bad, I liked that mug. I broke The Mug in my minimalist van, and had to choose whether to drink my coffee directly out of the French press, or ruin my water bottle. My car got a flat tire. I diddled and daddled and fixed it two days later. Flat tire in the van is a crisis.
Basically, living in such a small and portable space with so few things, and potential isolation, gives you almost no wiggle room for those things you might be a little lazy about. So unless you're a person who's never lazy at home, you're possibly in for a rude and tiring surprise to realize that every single thing which goes wrong and needs attention Immediately whether you feel like it or not.
I think we all have a preference for what we like or dislike, with many variables in between. There are things I like about a traditional style home, but overall I’d still rather deal with the van challenges than never experiencing the adventures we have had. Breaking a coffee mug sucks, especially when you need your java! That’s why I carry extras. LOL
Well, as a someone who has been living almost 7 years out of a Land Rover Defender 110 with my spouse and driven all over Africa, Europe, and now we are in South America, I have to say that if your relationship survives the (van) life on the road, it will survive anything! ;) And yes, it will always include various maintenance tasks with your vehicle, but that is inevitable, especially when you use your vehicle all the time. And you have to keep your home in a top shape!
This lifestyle certainly doesn’t suit for everyone, but it is highly rewarding. You will have to be ok with the constant uncertainty and unexpected happenings, but when you learn that, you will enjoy your time and all the adventures you will be having. No lifestyle comes without sacrifices, and only you will decide what you will want to do. I wish you a lot of great adventures - and don’t give up! :) Like we say in Africa; You can always make a plan! 😎
WOW!!! I have so many questions for you, but that all sounds epic. I applaud you for your adventures.
Donetta and I have been married 35 years, but together for 38, and we have endured some of life's biggest struggles and challenges. Van life won't make a dent in that. LOL! I guess part of my problem is that I have become too soft, complacent, and comfortable as I've aged, which is funny because I used to be the spontaneous, carefree guy, while she was the opposite. Now she's the spontaneous one. 🤷♂️
We've traveled full-time for almost six years, and it's been incredible, but for some reason, adjusting to the van was hard. It gets easier every day, though.
Thank you so much for sharing and your advice. It means the world to me. Hopefully, I get to read more about your adventures and wish you happy and safe travels as well.
Thank you so much! We’ll keep that in mind. We appreciate it. Overall, van life isn’t that horrible, just an adjustment to what we’ve been doing the last five years.
Your van life grief sounds justified to me—of course you probably know, navigating daily living changes and weather triggers the root survival centers of our bodies. I hope you find stability and comfort!
Thanks Andrew! We’re not new to the challenges of traveling full-time, but adjusting to the van has been interesting. We’re getting in the groove now though. Enjoy your day.
I live small and mobile in my truck bed for about half the year by myself. I leave the hubby at home in our small (650 sq ft) but affordable home. We do about one trip a year together for about 10 days. Upgrading to a 14×7 cargo conversion this year. But my travel is for work, not IG. And I do it with just me and my dog mostly. And, I have a home base. All that said, I've been doing this for a few years. It takes a lot of time to find your rhythm living mobile. I find my best refuges are libraries. They have just about everything you need when you need inside time thats not cramped. BTW, there's lots of free camping south of Mt. Rainier.
Having a home base and a home on wheels is the best of both worlds! We started almost six years ago with a truck, then a roof top tent for the truck, and now the van. It’s always a learning experience. The cargo conversion will be a new game for you going from a truck bed. Hope you like it!
With global warming, weather is unpredictable anymore. We just need to face that fact and be prepared to trave accordingly. I travel in my van mostly in Texas and Southern Arizona and the weather is hot...dangerously so from May-Oct every year, so I plan to travel north with cooler temperatures. I have the AC and Heat figured out ahead of time wherever I decide to travel. The sun in Arizona can reek havoc on your immune system if you come unprepared. I enjoyed your post.
Just prior to Covid, my husband and I were looking at the Mercedes Revel. When the dealership finally had one on the lot, we went down to look at it. It took us all of two seconds to decide it wouldn’t work with two people. We ended up getting the Winnebago Ekko, and while it’s still close quarters, we’ve adjusted well to it. The first two years, there were numerous recalls, and we had those taken care of. Since then, the only issue we’ve had is a couple of windows not working correctly.
The Revel is great looking and more my “style” for adventure, but you’re right, it’s a lot smaller space and would be more of a challenge for two people living in it full-time. Not to mention trying to find mechanics who can work on a Mercedes! Glad the Ekko is working out for you. It’s a nice vehicle.
I think the freedom that it brings, of course, is great, and as a period of time, it's definitely something worth trying. But personally, I wouldn't do it forever, but that's just me.
Hey Danny, thanks for stopping by and sharing. I agree with you. We dreamed about it, tried it, and, aside from some challenges, we're enjoying the lifestyle. But we don't plan on doing it forever!
Why don't you do some volunteering for a bit of a change instead of just driving around? Check out www.Workaway.info
Overall that’s not a bad idea but it’s not for us at the moment. Thanks for the recommendation.
Love your eyes wide open writing. Do you find yourselves learning and growing through this or more of, I’m really frustrated with the dark side? Are you both good at communicating and sharing/supporting the mental and emotion health of both of you?
I can relate as my husband I were slow travelers together before transitioning to vanlife (small RV) and it simply isn’t the same. We wintered in Texas only for it to snow, everything does seem to break at once, and have run out of of propane in some annoying places. But it does get better! It sounds like you’re not done, just making sure you’re not Polly Anna -ing the experience with a glossy version of reality, and that’s for the best. People need to know life on the road it’s easy, even if it is rewarding. Good luck and cheers to no regrets!
Thanks Ruby! Even though we’ve traveled full-time for almost six years, the adventure is constantly changing and evolving. Van life was just different than we expected at first and it took time to get used to. After two months of sitting, we’re looking forward to getting back on the road.
Keep living your dream. Maybe we’ll see ya on the adventure. 🚐 ❤️
I’ve found life on the road is best balanced. Long spurts of traveling matched by quiet stints of staying put to enjoy luxarles like long showers and a closed door 😂
Holy moly, you got 161 comments and 359 likes? That's AMAZING! I never get that many. In fact, I get so few that it's embarrassing. But we are in the same boat, or van. I've been in van life much longer, almost 4 years now, and we are on the same routes, Big Bend and Padre Island in winter. Hope that the mechanical and electrical issues get resolved quickly and permanently. Good luck.
Yeah, haha, must’ve been dumb luck. We’ve been writing since 2020 and that may have been a one hit wonder. Just keep writing from your heart and enjoy the process.
You’ve probably crossed our path then. Who knows when we actually meet?! Thanks and happy travels to you as well.
Well, I think your blog is more practical and offers how-to advice, which is the smart thing to do, so of course, I don’t do that. I approach it from a “why do” angle. Why leave home, why travel, what is the purpose? I thought that is what was missing on-line, but I’m beginning to think I may be wrong… I have been through Marathon TX every winter for the past three years, and spent the last two Christmases at Padre Island. But I don’t think we’ve met.
It's funny because I never intended to write how-to type stuff. I wanted to be more of a storyteller. But because I wrote business and freelancing blogs for 15 years, I guess our travel stuff followed it. I'm trying to mix it up more.
I'm not sure what is missing or not anymore. I just know what I like, which can also be a moving target at times.
We were in Marathon back in January. I'll read your work. I'm sure one day we will stop at the same park or rest stop. LOL
Yeah we’ve been in our RV for about 15 months now and there are so many things you aren’t told. We researched like crazy and watched so many videos. But we are still surprised every day by the amount of things we didn’t expect to happen. There’s always good and bad, much like homeownership but at least we are mobile. Boondocking is really the most ideal way to do this if you’re on a budget. RV parks mostly suck and are always crowded. If you want scenery and peace, boondock. 💕
Oh that’s awesome!! And to your question, we haven’t had any issues at all with crowding. Quartzite can be crowded in the front sections during peak season but we never had an issue. If you head toward Quartzsite, go to Plomosa Road and drive about 3-4 miles in before settling down. It avoids the crowded areas. If you’re going to New Mexico, Silver City is great for quiet- Cattleman Trail off 90. Enjoy your travels!
That's great to know! We've been through Quartzrite a few times and didn't know much about boondocking there when we had our truck and rooftop tent. Several RV places wouldn't let us stay because RTTs weren't "allowed." We loved Silver City. One of my WWII Veteran friends lived there a few years ago before he died, but we never camped or boondocked there.
Thanks for these great recommendations! Maybe we'll see you out there someday. Safe travels to you as well. 🚐 ♥️
Yes, there definitely is good and bad, but I still think our lifestyle is better than being stuck in a place we hate. We’ve done a few boondocking spots and plan on doing it a lot more as everything gets more expensive. But now that gas is outrageous, sitting still might be more of the plan than driving. UGH! Appreciate your input.
Just a note - boondocking is amazing in Arizona and New Mexico, especially if the purpose is needing to land for a bit. Less restrictions and more privacy. 🙌🏼
We've spent a lot of time in AZ and NM, but never boondocked there because we have a timeshare in our favorite locations. Now that we have our van, we can't wait to get back out that way to boondock around Sedona, Cottonwood, Jerome, and other places. We've camped in New Mexico and loved it. Is it getting busier now that so many people are doing it?
I think my biggest learning experience was suddenly appreciating the more relaxed pace of sticks and bricks. There's a crack in my attic window. It's been there for 2 years. A crack in my van window would need to somehow be fixed as a number one priority before I even drove it anywhere. I broke a mug in my house the other day. Too bad, I liked that mug. I broke The Mug in my minimalist van, and had to choose whether to drink my coffee directly out of the French press, or ruin my water bottle. My car got a flat tire. I diddled and daddled and fixed it two days later. Flat tire in the van is a crisis.
Basically, living in such a small and portable space with so few things, and potential isolation, gives you almost no wiggle room for those things you might be a little lazy about. So unless you're a person who's never lazy at home, you're possibly in for a rude and tiring surprise to realize that every single thing which goes wrong and needs attention Immediately whether you feel like it or not.
I think we all have a preference for what we like or dislike, with many variables in between. There are things I like about a traditional style home, but overall I’d still rather deal with the van challenges than never experiencing the adventures we have had. Breaking a coffee mug sucks, especially when you need your java! That’s why I carry extras. LOL
Well, as a someone who has been living almost 7 years out of a Land Rover Defender 110 with my spouse and driven all over Africa, Europe, and now we are in South America, I have to say that if your relationship survives the (van) life on the road, it will survive anything! ;) And yes, it will always include various maintenance tasks with your vehicle, but that is inevitable, especially when you use your vehicle all the time. And you have to keep your home in a top shape!
This lifestyle certainly doesn’t suit for everyone, but it is highly rewarding. You will have to be ok with the constant uncertainty and unexpected happenings, but when you learn that, you will enjoy your time and all the adventures you will be having. No lifestyle comes without sacrifices, and only you will decide what you will want to do. I wish you a lot of great adventures - and don’t give up! :) Like we say in Africa; You can always make a plan! 😎
WOW!!! I have so many questions for you, but that all sounds epic. I applaud you for your adventures.
Donetta and I have been married 35 years, but together for 38, and we have endured some of life's biggest struggles and challenges. Van life won't make a dent in that. LOL! I guess part of my problem is that I have become too soft, complacent, and comfortable as I've aged, which is funny because I used to be the spontaneous, carefree guy, while she was the opposite. Now she's the spontaneous one. 🤷♂️
We've traveled full-time for almost six years, and it's been incredible, but for some reason, adjusting to the van was hard. It gets easier every day, though.
Thank you so much for sharing and your advice. It means the world to me. Hopefully, I get to read more about your adventures and wish you happy and safe travels as well.
Hope things take a turn for the better soon! If ya ever need a spot to crash in Nashville, let me know!
Thank you so much! We’ll keep that in mind. We appreciate it. Overall, van life isn’t that horrible, just an adjustment to what we’ve been doing the last five years.
We have a van. Our motto is: Not always fun but always an adventure.
That's a great motto!
Your van life grief sounds justified to me—of course you probably know, navigating daily living changes and weather triggers the root survival centers of our bodies. I hope you find stability and comfort!
Thanks Andrew! We’re not new to the challenges of traveling full-time, but adjusting to the van has been interesting. We’re getting in the groove now though. Enjoy your day.
I live small and mobile in my truck bed for about half the year by myself. I leave the hubby at home in our small (650 sq ft) but affordable home. We do about one trip a year together for about 10 days. Upgrading to a 14×7 cargo conversion this year. But my travel is for work, not IG. And I do it with just me and my dog mostly. And, I have a home base. All that said, I've been doing this for a few years. It takes a lot of time to find your rhythm living mobile. I find my best refuges are libraries. They have just about everything you need when you need inside time thats not cramped. BTW, there's lots of free camping south of Mt. Rainier.
Having a home base and a home on wheels is the best of both worlds! We started almost six years ago with a truck, then a roof top tent for the truck, and now the van. It’s always a learning experience. The cargo conversion will be a new game for you going from a truck bed. Hope you like it!
Sure go to Oklahoma, Ohio, Texas, and Florida
There’s definitely a learning curve.
That’s for sure!