Where was the first place you drove to when you took off for the first time? And I'm not talking about the gas station! What was the first thing on your travel itinerary?! And, if you're so inclined, why did you choose the van/RV life?
Personally, I'm choosing it to take back the freedom of my time. I'm not choosing it for the challenge of it, or to prove anything, or even to "be green." I want time to myself to discover who I am again. I've allowed myself to get beaten down to the point that I've been a hermit for 15+ years and forgot how to dream or dare to have any goals! 15+ years of just existing like wallpaper, there for the benefit of others. My time has always been at the mercy of others and I've reached my limit. I'm exhausted.
I discovered van life when I was searching the internet for ways to get free rent. I'm the caretaker of my apartment complex, which covers my rent. But the building is for sale and there's a chance the new owners may not keep me on, depending on their plans. If that happens, I have nowhere else to go. That's why I was searching for ways to get free rent. In my search on Bing, one of Bob's YouTube videos came up. I forget which one but it was just him and he was talking about freedom vs. comfort. I had no idea folks did this! I found video after video and couldn't stop watching them! I. was. hooked! No doubts whatsoever in my mind. Each day that passes only strengthens my excitement and my resolve to live the van life! I actually have more opportunities available to me living the van life than I do as a 52 year old man trapped in the system! The simple act of deciding to do this made me happy and gave me a reason to get up the next morning! So, if I use a lot of exclamation points on this forum, or post too much, it's my enthusiasm for having a new lease on life! And I promise, my long posts will soon get shorter. You gotta remember. I've been a hermit for so long, with nothing to look forward to, no one to relate to, and hardly anyone to talk to! So I hope you'll forgive my TL;DR indulgences for now. If you've even read this far into this post, bless you.
I plan to use my first year to travel the country and enjoy myself! The first place I am longing to see is Yellowstone Park! First in Wyoming and then up through Montana until I get to Glacier National Park! Then I want to see Coeur d'Alene Idaho! From there, a pit stop in Washington and Oregon to see and hear the ocean again. I'd like to see a desert, too. I've never seen one, and I lived in Zambia, Africa for a time. Other places high on my list are Alaska, Canada, and Maine.
I want to attend gatherings and meet other people living this life and hear their stories!
After a time, I'll continue to chase 70°F around the country because I'm the world's biggest heat wimp. :blush:
Look, I realize that van life isn't glamorous. I'm smart enough to know that social media shows van life in the same way that people show their own lives -- the photoshopped, exaggerated version of it. I'm okay with that. I'm not looking for glamor. I'll be pooping in a bucket for gosh sake! But that first night I can fall asleep looking at the stars, knowing that I don't have any obligations the next day... that's the stuff! (I'm in Minneapolis. My night sky consists of seven satellites.) I can enjoy a cup of coffee at 5pm because it doesn't matter if it keeps me awake until 3am. It's the little things.
In full disclosure, my biggest "fear" about van life is spending my first night in the van and waking up that first morning. That's my least favorite thing about every time I've ever moved. I have a lot to learn but I'm teachable. I'm not thin-skinned. I appreciate honesty and don't require false encouragement. Most of all, I'm very grateful.
Personally, I'm choosing it to take back the freedom of my time. I'm not choosing it for the challenge of it, or to prove anything, or even to "be green." I want time to myself to discover who I am again. I've allowed myself to get beaten down to the point that I've been a hermit for 15+ years and forgot how to dream or dare to have any goals! 15+ years of just existing like wallpaper, there for the benefit of others. My time has always been at the mercy of others and I've reached my limit. I'm exhausted.
I discovered van life when I was searching the internet for ways to get free rent. I'm the caretaker of my apartment complex, which covers my rent. But the building is for sale and there's a chance the new owners may not keep me on, depending on their plans. If that happens, I have nowhere else to go. That's why I was searching for ways to get free rent. In my search on Bing, one of Bob's YouTube videos came up. I forget which one but it was just him and he was talking about freedom vs. comfort. I had no idea folks did this! I found video after video and couldn't stop watching them! I. was. hooked! No doubts whatsoever in my mind. Each day that passes only strengthens my excitement and my resolve to live the van life! I actually have more opportunities available to me living the van life than I do as a 52 year old man trapped in the system! The simple act of deciding to do this made me happy and gave me a reason to get up the next morning! So, if I use a lot of exclamation points on this forum, or post too much, it's my enthusiasm for having a new lease on life! And I promise, my long posts will soon get shorter. You gotta remember. I've been a hermit for so long, with nothing to look forward to, no one to relate to, and hardly anyone to talk to! So I hope you'll forgive my TL;DR indulgences for now. If you've even read this far into this post, bless you.
I plan to use my first year to travel the country and enjoy myself! The first place I am longing to see is Yellowstone Park! First in Wyoming and then up through Montana until I get to Glacier National Park! Then I want to see Coeur d'Alene Idaho! From there, a pit stop in Washington and Oregon to see and hear the ocean again. I'd like to see a desert, too. I've never seen one, and I lived in Zambia, Africa for a time. Other places high on my list are Alaska, Canada, and Maine.
I want to attend gatherings and meet other people living this life and hear their stories!
After a time, I'll continue to chase 70°F around the country because I'm the world's biggest heat wimp. :blush:
Look, I realize that van life isn't glamorous. I'm smart enough to know that social media shows van life in the same way that people show their own lives -- the photoshopped, exaggerated version of it. I'm okay with that. I'm not looking for glamor. I'll be pooping in a bucket for gosh sake! But that first night I can fall asleep looking at the stars, knowing that I don't have any obligations the next day... that's the stuff! (I'm in Minneapolis. My night sky consists of seven satellites.) I can enjoy a cup of coffee at 5pm because it doesn't matter if it keeps me awake until 3am. It's the little things.
In full disclosure, my biggest "fear" about van life is spending my first night in the van and waking up that first morning. That's my least favorite thing about every time I've ever moved. I have a lot to learn but I'm teachable. I'm not thin-skinned. I appreciate honesty and don't require false encouragement. Most of all, I'm very grateful.