Van life is polarizing. The responses we get when sharing our lifestyle come in just two varieties: “I’ve always wanted to do that” and “I could never ever ever do that”.
And, yeah, vanlife is a little crazy.
And a little brave.
Also much more varied than social media would have you believe.
However you do it, there a few hard truths you really can’t avoid.
Though we have recently moved into the somewhat more comfy bus, these truths remain. But they’re frequently lost in the glitz and glamour of instagram, the sunset shots and back door shots and all the stereotypical vanlife pizazz.
When you’re dreaming of a nomadic lifestyle, it’s easy to put aside the challenges and focus on the awesome. Yes, beautiful vistas abound. And adventures, unexpected and planned. There is a certain amount of freedom… but within some very specific constraints.
Because we see so many posts from folks who aspire to van living, sometimes without quite grasping the more challenging aspects, I thought I’d share a few “van life” truths. If you are dreaming of setting off on your own nomadic adventure, this article is for you. But be forewarned: though we love vanlife, it isn’t all rainbows and kittens out here on the road.
There is No One “Vanlife” Lifestyle
First off, people talk about “van life” as if it’s one particular way of living. But the truth is, there are many, many “vanlives”. Some folks live almost exclusively in urban and suburban areas, traveling from town to ton, sleeping in parking lots, availing themselves of local libraries, Planet Fitness showers and Coffee shop workspaces.
Others, range far off the grid in remote wild areas, visiting towns only for supplies.
Others, still, work regular jobs in their hometowns, stealthily living in vans or other vehicles as a way to save money or because rent has become too expensive.
And then there are the folks in expensive RV type rigs who travel for a few months at a time, visiting more tourist friendly spots like national parks and beaches and heading back home now and then.
Truly, there are as many kinds of “vanlife” as there are van life individuals. However, no matter how you do it, there are some universal truths to all modes of van living.
Unknowns Abound!
Whatever your vanlife style, living in a van (or bus) going to test your sense of routine and comfort. At some point you’ll end up in a place where you don’t feel quite safe.
You’ll have to find a place to sleep, shower, eat, buy propane and watert, etc. It’s not always easy to find these things in an unfamiliar place. Sometimes, you need a medical refill or a doctor visit, an even more challenging proposition. And laundromat’s can be sort of fun… or sort of sketchy.
If you thrive on routine, and are enmeshed in a comfortable community, Vanlife might feel like like a kind of exile. Things you once took for granted will be part of your everyday challenge.
We kinda like this aspect, but it definitely isn’t for everyone.
Vanlifers deal in the new and novel. Unknowns abound! Even if you are the sort of nomad who books spots weeks out, or actually plans your route, there will be lots you don’t expect along the way. This can be unsettling… or invigorating. Or both. It really depends on how you feel about it.
You Will Be Affected By Weather as Never Before
On the road, weather is key.
In a house, you may be bummed if it’s windy or rainy or cold. But you have plenty of indoor options to keep you busy. Not so in a van.
Trust me. Especially if the weather persists for days. You will start to feel like a the van is as much cage as protection from the elements. And… borrrring! Being stuck in the weather can be sorta fun at first (an adventure!) But days and days of rain, snow or heat will test your resolve.
We suggest you develop some weather related strategies: plan activities for all weather conditions, chase that 70 degrees, make your inside space as comfy as you can.
All this helps, but sooner or later (and probably often!) you will get stuck in some unpleasant weather. And that weather will feel a lot….. bigger when you are living on the road. There is just no way around it.
We’ve been snowed and rained in more than a few times now. And it always sort of sucks.
Van Life is Not All That Cheap
It may be cheapER than living in a house. But there are still some pretty hefty expenses related to life on the road.
The first of these is the van itself. We recommend you buy one you can afford outright. Don’t saddle yourself with van payments. This is an added layer of stress that you really don’t need.
And put aside some funds for the inevitable repairs and upkeep.
There are ways to lower your cost of vanliving: move less often to save on gas, overnight for free rather than paying for a campsite, cook your own meals, shop Walmart. But some costs remain: Gas is an unavoidable expense, are are car and health insurance, food, and laundry.
In our case, Vanlife is definitely cheaper than the cost of living in our house. But my work wasn’t mobile, so I “retired” early which cut our income in half. So not really a financially sound decision. But, that’s okay.
To our way of thinking, time is more precious than money. And planning for “someday” was a gamble we didn’t want to take.
Van life did cut some of our costs. But cheap? Nope.
Worth the Challenges?
So, is living on the road all that? We think it is! But then, these hard truths feel more like challenges to us, and we really don’t miss the old routines we left behind. We have been bummed by bad weather. We have stretched our budget to breaking, and managed dozens of everyday van living challenges. But these challenges feel like part of the journey. And they make a good story later.
In short, we took to vanlife like ducks to water and never looked back.
Maybe you’ll feel that way too. But keep in mind the hard truths behind those glitzy vanlife images.
We’d love to hear from you. What are some of the hard truths of van living that we forgot to mention?
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