When people learn that I’m building a van to live out of it, they are naturally inclined to ask questions. After all, its an interesting thing to be doing and humans are naturally curious! Here are five van life questions I get asked on the regular and the answers, followed by the number one comment I get.
How did you decide this was something you wanted to do?
Living in a van was something I was interested in for a long time before I decided to actually do it. The real thing that was holding me back was having a job to support myself, so when COVID rocked the world and changed the workforce, it actually made it easier for me to accomplish my goal and work remotely. There were other factors that really gave me the push (like the fact that I wasn’t happy in my current lifestyle), but ultimately things came together all at once and it made so much sense. You can read more about my decision HERE and HERE.
Aren’t you scared to live in a van by yourself?
“Aren’t you scared?” and “What about Gabby Petito?” are two really common van life questions I get, usually from folks who would never consider living nomadically. Gabby Petito‘s tragic death really changed the conversations about van living, but I think what people forget most often is that her murderer was her boyfriend. We need to abandon the narrative that her killer was some crazy fan who was following her travels on Instagram because its just not true. It’s important to make smart decisions, but we need to focus on what really happened – death by intimate partner.
Aside from that, the short and sweet is – no! I’ve lived alone and I really enjoy it. This is really no different than that. I probably get more nervous camping in a tent. At least in my van I can look out my window from the safety of my van without having to unzip. If I’m being perfectly honest, the only thing that really scares me is the potential to get a knock from a police officer. That kind of confrontation puts my stomach in knots and its probably my top reason for avoiding urban/stealth camping at all costs.
How are you going to shower?
This was the first question I ever got. That, and comments about how smelly it gets when you’re in your van and haven’t showered for a week. Spoiler alert – I’m not an every day showerer. There are, however, a million and one ways to make sure you stay clean. For me, I’ll be relying on gyms and solar showers outside my van. In the absence of an easy option, baby wipes really come in handy, too!
To learn more about the many options, check out my Shower Guide.
Where are you going to use the bathroom?
This is probably the question I get the most now and the answer is so simple: gas stations, rest areas, grocery stores, etc. These places exist and have bathrooms for a reason so I intend to take full advantage of them. If those options aren’t available, I also have a back-up toilet. It folds out and uses a bag/powder combination for waste. Then, you just tie the bag and throw it in the trash.
Interested in learning more? I wrote about the toilet, too! Everything you need to know can be found HERE.
What if you break down?
This is a hot topic, especially when the van in question is an old VW. First, I’m working toward learning basic repairs so I can perform them myself. It’s important to have a toolkit with items for small repairs, so I’m building that, too. Second, that’s what tow trucks are for! It might be costly and less than convenient, but its honestly the easiest option overall if you’re able to do so (make sure to plan ahead!). There is insurance and supplemental coverage for specifically these type of vehicles. As for mechanics, most mechanics can deal with many issues a VW might have. If they can’t, I’ve mapped out all of the VW mechanics in each state. There aren’t as many as general mechanics, but they exist!
And the number one comment I get…
“That’s so awesome! I wish I could do that!”
…and you can! It’s more accessible now than ever before and there’s really an option for everyone. From part-time to full-time, solo to family, RV to car, if you can dream it you can make it happen. Here at A Bus Named LuLu, I have a growing library of resources at your disposal. Trying to decide what van you want? There’s a blog for that! Trying to figure out how to shower? There’s a blog for that, too! So check it out, stay awhile, and this is the perfect place to ask all your burning van life questions!
Questions? Ask me down below!
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