Two weeks ago, on September 26, 2025, Donetta and I entered into a brand new phase of our lives together, one that could test our resiliency as a digital nomad couple and the strength of our marriage.

We moved into a camper van.

Having spent the last five years of our road life adventure by living in hotels and a rooftop tent, it was finally time for the Next Chapter in our journey.

Van life has been a dream of ours for years. Whenever we saw someone passing by in a camper van, we always thought, "those lucky bastards." We believed that experiencing that kind of freedom would significantly improve our lives.

So, has this lifestyle lived up to our expectations so far?

A resounding YES!

The stressful days of spending hours searching for a good and reasonably priced hotel, as well as the constant struggles to set up and tear down our overlanding gear at campsites, are finally over. Traveling is so much easier now.

I know our van life adventures are still in the infancy stages, but it has been a game-changer for two Generation X people on a budget.

The camper van experience so far.

In full disclosure, I'd like to say living in a camper van has been far from perfect, and there have been a few times I've wanted to scream violently into a dark abyss.

Learning how to drive a new and tall vehicle has been tough, especially in high winds, and pissing people off because I'm moving so slowly has been stressful. Negotiating with my wife about how to organize or pack things has been even tougher. Learning to move around each other in tight spaces while constantly shifting our belongings to different sections in the vehicle has been maddening.

Van life has been an adjustment for me.

But I wouldn't change it for anything! I know Donetta feels the same.

In the last week alone, we've camped next to the water at three beautiful lakes, a fantastic brewery, and a woodsy KOA at Lake of the Ozarks, and we've spent an average of $28.47 per night for 11 nights so far. That's a hell of a lot cheaper than hotels, plus we've had a way better overall experience.

Additionally, we park in our spot, plug in if there is power available, and then settle in to work or relax. It's been glorious.

I know it won't always be this way and that there will be other challenges, but having our home self-contained and ready to roll at a moment's notice has been worth it all so far.

Even as I write this, we've pulled into Three Story Coffee to work and get an Americanno. The van fits easily into a regular parking spot, and when I get tired, it's a short walk to the bed for a nap. Living in a camper van is not a bad way to go!

If you want to see more about our van, here's a video from our YouTube channel.

What's Next?

I'm currently working on a full review Next Chapter Camper Vans, including what we like and don't like so far, as well as the rest of our buying a camper van experience. I can't wait to share that.

But I want to wrap up this article by asking you two questions.

Have you ever lived in a camper van and what was your experience like? We'd really love to know. Please drop us a comment below.