I feel wanderlust in my soul. I love to travel and I’ve barely even gotten my toes wet. That’s a feeling at the core of my van life journey, and I think all van lifers can relate. Honestly, we can all relate I’m sure.
For me, the journey is the destination. It’s going to be awhile until I’m out on the road full time, but I hope to be able to visit all the lower 48. I’m not sure how long it will take me and I’m okay with deciding that along the way. I plan on chasing fair weather and keeping summer near and dear.
When I find it time to disembark, I’ll be leaving from here in Colorado. Originally, I was tentatively going to leave in January 2023. I figured what better time to seek the warmth provided by the South than the middle of winter? My timeline isn’t set in stone, though. Just yesterday, I learned that my niece won’t be able to live in my house until probably spring 2023. If she’s living in my house for me, I have to take her schedule into account, so I’m okay with that.
Chasing Summer
In my mind, I’ve divided the US into 4 quadrants: the South, the desert (otherwise known as the Southwest), the North, and the Northeast. If I leave in winter, I’d head directly to the Florida area and travel west, working toward getting to Arizona come spring time to see the cactus bloom.
From Arizona, I plan to work my way up the west coast and across the PNW, then look to reach North Dakota come summer.
My next destination would be to hit New England come fall so I can leaf peep the maples.
Down the Atlantic coast and then across the midwest would be the last leg of my journey, headed back to Colorado.
If I do need to wait until spring, I’d make my way toward Arizona first. The only time I don’t want to leave is the end of summer. I think it would make it too hard to reach Maine and travel back down in time for the leaves changing come September.
Along the way, I plan to stop in and spend time with friends and family. I have a cousin in Texas. An uncle in Missouri. I have friends in Arizona, Oregon, North Dakota, Ohio, New Hampshire. I have more family in New York and Maine. So much of this journey is about community, so I’m excited to be able to visit the people I can’t see every day.
If you’d like to see me along my travels, reach out and let me know! It’s always nice to have a local show you the ropes when you’re new in town.
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