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!
I think that it is vital for a nomad to personally know how to take care of and maintain and repair their own transport, whether that is a yolk of oxen and a covered wagon or a customized van or school bus
If you do not have these skills and wisdom you perhaps should work on developing them maybe even before you adopt nomad lifestyle
I think your view is short-sighted. Did we have the skills and wisdom to put people in space before we launched them? Did the pioneers crossing this country know how to deal with getting over mountains before they got there? I could name hundreds of examples. You learn by doing. There is no other way.
I turned 15 on a converted greyhound diesel off grid three bedroom home. I have owned three busses. I have one I need to bring home; I speak from experience
Last summer, we took a three-day trip while hauling our 5th wheel to the West Coast. My husband prepares like an Eagle Scout, so we were shocked when our truck began having major problems out in the middle of the desert. Then we got totally ripped off in a tiny town in Utah (to the tune of almost $1000), spent two days in another small town, and another $500. The truck still wasn't fixed and broke down outside Las Vegas. It was HOT outside. My son had to drive out from CA and rescue us. Then something happened to a wheel on our trailer, and we had to hire a guy to come to the campground to fix it. We spent thousands of dollars we weren't expecting, and both of us were very anxious about driving back across the desert to get home. It really did cure me of wanting to drive across the country any time soon.
OH MY! 😳 Now that sounds awful!! I also like to be very prepared (military and survivalist background) for whatever might happen, and when things go south, it’s stressful even with being “ready.” I can only imagine the stress you both felt at that time. Especially in the extreme heat.
Those issues are just one reason we avoided a trailer or 5th wheel — more things to fix if it goes wrong. Are you still planning on traveling?
We spent two and a half years non stop in our 7.5m Hymer. Plans were general, say setting off in March from the Algarve with the idea of driving to the top of Norway … we had no plan beyond that and took each day, day by day. When we got there we had a new plan … the bottom of Italy & so it went on.
The feeling of security will come with time. Terrified on the first night in the car park of a war memorial in northern France, we only ever packed up and moved on once …. we even stayed in a car park outside of a town in Italy observing what can only have been the local drug trade being acted out in the other side of the car park ! It’s a wonderful life
Thanks for sharing, Alistair! Now, if we were in Europe doing this, that might make it feel more epic, since we love it over there. But driving around Italy would terrify me, especially anywhere near Rome. I bet you've got more epic stories!!
I think you're right in that peace and security will come as we go. While I'm not as concerned about safety, I do dislike not having a plan or a place to stay in advance.
The van lifestyle looks attractive and exotic to us who do not have a van, for some reason. There are thousands of accounts on social media posting nice photos of their van journeys (especially on Insta).
There are many great ad”van”tages of this lifestyle, but it’s definitely not all those IG moments that are posted. I might hate it some days, but I have no regrets for trying it.
Great little peek into your experience. I did 'van life' before it had a name, nowadays my van life experiences is the short ride in the shuttle to the resort or cruise ship. ;). Enjoy all you have and the experiences it leads you. Safe passage.
Thank you, Bill! I appreciate it, and that’s awesome! I would rather do the cruise ship full-time or part-time, if I could swing it. Enjoy the sea and all-you-can-eat food. I’m jealous!
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!
I think that it is vital for a nomad to personally know how to take care of and maintain and repair their own transport, whether that is a yolk of oxen and a covered wagon or a customized van or school bus
If you do not have these skills and wisdom you perhaps should work on developing them maybe even before you adopt nomad lifestyle
I think your view is short-sighted. Did we have the skills and wisdom to put people in space before we launched them? Did the pioneers crossing this country know how to deal with getting over mountains before they got there? I could name hundreds of examples. You learn by doing. There is no other way.
I turned 15 on a converted greyhound diesel off grid three bedroom home. I have owned three busses. I have one I need to bring home; I speak from experience
Many pioneers died en route.
I’m not dismissing your experience, but disagreeing that every person should have all the knowledge or skills before getting started.
We’re all gonna die someday. I applaud those who aren’t scared to truly live.
Last summer, we took a three-day trip while hauling our 5th wheel to the West Coast. My husband prepares like an Eagle Scout, so we were shocked when our truck began having major problems out in the middle of the desert. Then we got totally ripped off in a tiny town in Utah (to the tune of almost $1000), spent two days in another small town, and another $500. The truck still wasn't fixed and broke down outside Las Vegas. It was HOT outside. My son had to drive out from CA and rescue us. Then something happened to a wheel on our trailer, and we had to hire a guy to come to the campground to fix it. We spent thousands of dollars we weren't expecting, and both of us were very anxious about driving back across the desert to get home. It really did cure me of wanting to drive across the country any time soon.
OH MY! 😳 Now that sounds awful!! I also like to be very prepared (military and survivalist background) for whatever might happen, and when things go south, it’s stressful even with being “ready.” I can only imagine the stress you both felt at that time. Especially in the extreme heat.
Those issues are just one reason we avoided a trailer or 5th wheel — more things to fix if it goes wrong. Are you still planning on traveling?
We spent two and a half years non stop in our 7.5m Hymer. Plans were general, say setting off in March from the Algarve with the idea of driving to the top of Norway … we had no plan beyond that and took each day, day by day. When we got there we had a new plan … the bottom of Italy & so it went on.
The feeling of security will come with time. Terrified on the first night in the car park of a war memorial in northern France, we only ever packed up and moved on once …. we even stayed in a car park outside of a town in Italy observing what can only have been the local drug trade being acted out in the other side of the car park ! It’s a wonderful life
Thanks for sharing, Alistair! Now, if we were in Europe doing this, that might make it feel more epic, since we love it over there. But driving around Italy would terrify me, especially anywhere near Rome. I bet you've got more epic stories!!
I think you're right in that peace and security will come as we go. While I'm not as concerned about safety, I do dislike not having a plan or a place to stay in advance.
The van lifestyle looks attractive and exotic to us who do not have a van, for some reason. There are thousands of accounts on social media posting nice photos of their van journeys (especially on Insta).
There are many great ad”van”tages of this lifestyle, but it’s definitely not all those IG moments that are posted. I might hate it some days, but I have no regrets for trying it.
Uuuuhhhh
Great little peek into your experience. I did 'van life' before it had a name, nowadays my van life experiences is the short ride in the shuttle to the resort or cruise ship. ;). Enjoy all you have and the experiences it leads you. Safe passage.
Thank you, Bill! I appreciate it, and that’s awesome! I would rather do the cruise ship full-time or part-time, if I could swing it. Enjoy the sea and all-you-can-eat food. I’m jealous!