Living the van life seems to be something reserved for Instagram or a dream that’s just out of reach. Ask my friends and their excitement about my journey would all indicate the same!
It actually came about in mid-January. I’m sure many of you can relate, but 2021 was a terrible year. I tried to buy a house. That fell through. I found the perfect yellow jeep to buy. That didn’t work. My dog died. I started seeing a guy (and by “a guy” I don’t mean a therapist, though I probably should). That ended rather abruptly. It sounds like all those country songs, doesn’t it?
Cue New Year’s Eve. I was ready to move on from all that and dance in the new year. Start 2022 off on a good note. 2022, however, had different plans.
The concert I was planning to attend got cancelled (Covid, of course – we didn’t forget about you) and between my friends bailing on me and inclement weather, let’s just say my mental health was not the best. This was quickly followed by the abrupt end of a blossoming relationship. The most imperfect of perfect storms.
Finding a Van
A week later and I was driving up a mountain side with a couple of friends, and out the window I saw this little yellow VW bus that I’ve driven past a hundred times. I made the comment “maybe I should just buy a van and live in it”. Haha, right? But that was the seed, and now we are growing a garden.
I brought it up to my teenage niece as a half-hearted joke but she met it with such enthusiasm. I met it with the jaded heart of a 32 year old – too many moving parts to become a reality. Have to have the van, first. Only a VW bus will do. If I’m going to live in a van it has to be the van I’ve always wanted. All or nothing. A few mere moments later, she found a 1973 VW bus on Facebook Marketplace and that VW bus just so happened to be LuLu.
Now that I had possible living arrangements, I had to get confirmation from my friends that I was indeed crazy. Unexpectedly, friend after friend after friend thought it was a GREAT idea and they all encouraged me to do it. I couldn’t, and still can’t, believe it.
The Test Drive
It was about a week later when I made the drive to meet Robert and take a test drive. I can’t actually drive a stick and I know next to nothing about what to look for in a used car other than “doesn’t sound like a train”, so I needed to enlist the help of someone. My cousins were there at the ready and I’m so thankful. Robert was the nicest person and maybe its a sign of the Volkswagen community, but he was so friendly it felt like meeting a friend rather than making a transaction.
The cousin who came along gave the approval that it seemed to run and drive well, but unfortunately, no more than a few miles into our drive, the back tire blew and left us (and Robert) stranded. We figured it out and it wasn’t the end of the world, but I think it made my decision a little more difficult. Thankfully, Robert let us know that tire needed replaced beforehand, so I felt like he was at least being honest with me.
The Decision
The next few days were absolutely grueling. It was at this time that people started to discourage me. You’re going to have to put money into it. Van life isn’t easy. Why would you spend money on this when you still have debt to pay off? Just buy a new van that already has all the amenities. How are you going to shower? Haggle more.
It was all so overwhelming. Being faced with not only the decision to spend a large sum of money but having to really evaluate if my plan was crazy after all. They didn’t understand van life. They didn’t understand the dream.
This decision was not one I made lightly. I don’t really make any decisions lightly anyway – I’m horrible at them and I really don’t enjoy it. I’ve never been able to just accept the outcome of my decisions, either. I always have to make sure I have something in place if things go sideways, if failure is imminent.
My back up plan was effectively:
1. Enjoy your new car, you’ve always wanted a VW bus
2. Sell it, people eat these up
So, spoiler alert, I was able to get him down to a more comfortable number and I decided to pull the trigger!
It came down to this – I’m tired of people putting their ideas of who I am onto my being. Instead of supporting me in my goals and interests and dreams, others want to tell me who I am. That I don’t like this or I’m not like that or I can’t do it when clearly, I’m constantly improving myself and expanding my tastes and learning why I don’t like some things and how to overcome those things. I’m evolving.
The Journey
For anyone considering living the van life or starting your van journey, don’t let others tell you you can’t! Do your homework, find something you like, have a plan and if it makes sense…go for it! It isn’t as out of reach as it might seem and sometimes the stars align in just the right way to give you your opportunity. Its all about the journey, anyway!
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