Embracing the Open Road: Our Journey into Vanlife
The Essence of Vanlife
Vanlife – it's more than a trending hashtag; it's a lifestyle of freedom, flexibility, and the open road. Forget the misconceptions; at its core, vanlife is about breaking free, exploring, and living on your terms. Ready to throw caution to the wind and dive into the adventure you've been dreaming about? Vanlife might just be your calling.
So, why did we choose vanlife?
Picture this: 2020, a year of chaos, remote work becoming the norm, and an insatiable craving for adventure. Our catalyst? Remote work and a deep yearning for connection. Enter the summer of 2020, when we quarantined with my mother-in-law in Wisconsin. That road trip became the spark that ignited our nomadic wanderings. From there, with Santa Monica as our home base and the open road as our escape, we ventured into the unknown. We spent the next year and a half visiting friends and family while working remotely.
The Decision to Choose Vanlife
Personal Motivations
Fast forward to the end of 2021 – booster shots, holiday plans, and a tragic turn of events. The sudden loss of my father shook us to our core. Grieving, and reflecting on life's fragility, we decided to seize the day. With no kids and endless possibilities, the question lingered: what path to choose? Vanlife emerged as a contender among the options, and financial planning became the compass guiding our decisions.
Freedom and Flexibility
Armed with financial insights, we delved into research, seeking a vehicle that offered the freedom to go almost anywhere. Vanlife, with its community and nomadic spirit, resonated with us. By the summer of 2022, our goal was set – find and finalize builders by year-end. A stroke of luck led us to claim a van just as our preferred builders began their next project. The decision was made, and our vanlife journey officially began.
Breaking Away from the Traditional Lifestyle
Originally, we thought of maintaining a home base in Santa Monica, but practical questions arose. Street parking, high rent prices, moving farther out, and realizing we spent half the year away prompted a rethink. The solution? A leap into full-time vanlife. Stay tuned for an upcoming article detailing the entire process.
In our next installment, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of customizing our van, the challenges we faced, and the freedom we found on the road. Join us as we navigate the twists and turns of vanlife adventures, combining practicality with a zest for life. The open road awaits – are you ready to embrace it?
