Embracing Minimalism: A Full House to Van Life
Our Van Life Motivation
Eager for adventure and a life without borders, we chose van life for its freedom and excitement. It's our ticket to live everywhere, meet amazing people, and embrace the unconventional.
The Joy of Downsizing
Thomas reveled in decluttering, while Kristen found liberation in letting go. Our belongings, though cherished, were replaceable. Our real treasure? Memories with loved ones and the joy of exploring new places.
The Estate Sale Saga
Embracing full-time van life meant saying goodbye to most of our stuff. With a six-month head start, we boxed up beloved keepsakes (hello, future home library!) and planned a mega estate sale with help from our pro-friend, Jacqueline. Unlike a yard sale, an estate sale means everything's up for grabs – from fence to fence!
We advertised savvy (estatesale.net for the win!) and strategized like pros: helpers, cashier tables, and pricing plans. Here's the gist: be prepared, be flexible, and get ready for some haggling.
Cataloging and Selling
Thomas's meticulous records set the stage for our sales strategy. We considered original prices, current value, and our desired earnings. Day one was a hit, day two started slow but ended triumphantly.
Here’s the basic template that we used to inventory everything:
By the price we paid for it originally
Current value (the silver lining from inflation in our case)
What we wanted to get out of each item
Any notes about the item (like if we would go down in price on day two)
If the item needed an individual tag or a blanket price sign
Packing with Purpose
Our mantra? Keep it sentimental or unique. With limited storage, we chose items that truly mattered. Plus, van life was a chance to redefine our style when we settled again.
The most challenging thing for our transition was that our van was being built out in Canada and when we went to pick her up we’d be seeing it for the first time.
We worked closely with our builders before the project was finished to get exact measurements for almost every space that we were going to have for storage. Even with that, we decided that the best bet was to start small, with only the essentials, live in the van for a couple of months to get the feel for it, and keep lists of everything we needed. That plan included a multi-week stop at a parent’s house to order everything we needed and restock.
The Emotional Ride
It wasn't the stuff we missed, but the people and memories in Santa Monica. Thankfully, a long goodbye helped us transition.
The adjustment to a minimalist lifestyle was pretty seamless. If you ever stepped foot in our place either in NC or in CA you know that Kristen can be a bit of a maximalist (think jungalow vibes). Now, we're learning the art of living minimally and meaningfully – with a few plants, good books, and great company.
