Pros & Cons of Living in a Mini Van
Living in a Mini Van is nothing short of an adventure. One filled with ultimate freedom and times of uncertainty. I have learned to thrive on a thin line of hesitation laced with carelessness. I am going to share through my personal experience the pros and cons I have experienced through this journey. :)
CONS
AIRFLOW/ SPACE
150 Cubic feet. That's it. I am a minimalist so I really don't own many belongings. For one person this works perfectly. When you add a second person it can get a bit tricky. Thankfully the person I 'Vanned" with is also a minimalist. That doesn't mean that things don't get messy or out of order though. Believe me, THEY DO. It can be easy to fall into the habit of throwing gear/clothes into the van when you're out and about. Things can also get a bit crowded.
Tip: Set aside 15 minutes every night to take out trash and organize. This will prevent things from piling up and will save you time & energy in the future. You will thank your past self.
Airflow is not so great when sleeping in the van. If you are in a warm spot there is no doubt that you will wake up every morning when the sun rises because it is so darn hot. Keeping windows or door open (if you can) helps immensely with this. Although, is not always super effective. Again, this depends on where you are geographically. When it's cold outside I personally find it easier to sleep comfortably because you can layer up and have as many blankets as you want.
Tip: Put some type of reflectix on the windows for insulation. This will help keep the cold out and heat in or vise versa.
AMENITIES
No shower, no laundry, no dishwasher.
Honestly, I love the fact that there are no showers. This means we get to shower on the beaches. (SHOWER WITH A VIEW) These showers tend to be quite cold but super refreshing. Also, in Hawai'i (Where I lived in a van for the majority of the time) there are public pools in almost every town which are completely free to use and are available to anyone. It is always nice to get in a good exercise and leave with a hot shower.
Some people like to get gym memberships so they can workout/ shower at the same place. This is a super effective method. I did this at the very beginning. Try to get a gym that is available everywhere.
Any dishes we had we would hand wash with water and Dr. Bronner's.
Laundry is done at local laundry mats.
Tip: See the beauty in every experience :)
CLEANING
It definitely takes more time and effort to clean your Van-Home. Once a week we would do a full inside and out clean of the van. We would also do laundry on this day. First we would take all of our clothes/sheets to the laundry mat. While those were in the wash we would drive the van over to the local car vacuum rest area. Here we would do a full clean of the inside and outside. This process meant completely removing EVERYTHING we owned from the van. Mattress included.
Tip: The more consistent you are with this process the smoother your #VanLife journey will be.
COMMUNITY
Constant travel means constant change.
You meet great people along the way who ultimately become great friends but you are no longer immersed in a group of friends that you see consistently. Personally, I do not experience homesickness anymore but I definitely did at first.
Tip: See the beauty in these brief encounters. Take from them and realize why they were. Or simply let it be what it is.
UNCERTAINTY
It can be difficult at times to find a place to park the van for the night. Most of the time if I am not near a National Park I will find a random place to park for the night. I have definitely had a few run-ins with the cops but nothing serious ever came from them. If you are honest about what you are doing they are quite understanding. At the end of the day we are all human and we are all looking out for each other. Realize that they are only concerned for your safety and for the safety of others. They may actually guide you to a safe place to park for the night.
Tip: Become friends with locals because they will show you the best spots to park.
Uncertainty can also come from the judgment of others. "What is this person going to think of me if I tell them I live in a van?" "What if they think i'm a homeless bum?" Okay, then. Let them think you are. That's okay. More times than not people will find it super intriguing and often it sparks some good story telling.
Tip: Be open and honest about everything always. It will get you far.
Okay, that's enough cons. Time for the PROS. Keep in mind that these are my personal opinions and certain topics may be placed under either pro or con.
PROS
SIMPLICITY
Living in a van forces you in a sense to completely simplify your life. You realize that you don't need everything you once thought you did. You gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the small things in life. You learn to thrive with the only thing you truly own, yourself.
Tip: Practice the act of letting go. Emotionally and Physically.
INEXPENSIVE/ ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
Overall, living in a van is very cost effective. You save on rent, electric and water bills. (This is if you are living in the most simplistic way) Food and Gas are the two main places that your money goes towards.
Tip: If you are able to get a job while living in a van.. MORE POWER TO YOU. There are an abundance of jobs online so you can work from anywhere.
Of course, driving is not exactly "Environmentally Friendly." But your overall your environmental footprint will be significantly decreased.
Tip: Get Solar Panels to attach to the roof of your van. BOOM.
FLEXIBILITY/FREEDOM
Your home is wherever you are. Literally.
Given that you take your house with you wherever you wander you never have to worry about where you are going to sleep. You have everything you own with you at all times. This is such a freeing feeling. If I want to change what i'm wearing or grab something I forgot at "home" it is always near. The same goes if you want to drop something off that you don't want to carry around.
If you're out and about you can take a nap ANYWHERE. This is my favorite aspect of van life. I have taken naps anywhere and everywhere. Whole Foods parking lot, random streets, Starbucks, in the middle of the boonies, etc.
Tip: Do not get too attached to people, places or things. They are constantly changing.
INSPIRATION
You are constantly meeting new people, exploring new places and having new experiences. Life never feels dull or repetitive. Taking all of this in everyday can sometimes be overwhelming. Keeping a journal to write down all my thoughts and experiences is incredibly beneficial. It is like emptying your brain to make space for new ideas and thoughts. With doing so I feel that it keeps me inspired and motivated.
Tip: Keep an open mind and open heart when entering new situations. This will allow more to flow through you.
APPRECIATION
Stripping your life down to the basics gives you an incredible appreciation for things you may have taken for granted previously. Hot showers, home cooked meals and even sitting on the couch seem like a luxury now.
Anything you do in life is going to come with ups and downs. It is all about what you are willing to fight for. What are you willing to experience both the highs and lows for? Determine what it is you are passionate about. Typically something that aligns with you morals and values. AND GO FOR IT.
Thank you for reading this post. I hope that you can take something from this to help motivate/ inspire you on your journey. Do something today to help get you where you want to be tomorrow. Lots of love.
And remember,
You Are A Bad-ass.
Yours Truly
Comments