The Truth About VanLife: Challenges No One Talks About
Living Van Life isn’t always unicorns and rainbows. The reality of living this lifestyle comes with its own set of challenges but it’s all about embracing the journey and learning from our experiences.
Today, I’ll share some of the challenges I’ve faced and how I’ve overcome them to continue living my authentic, free-spirited life on the road. Being aware of the challenges and preparing for them makes these bumps in the road a little more manageable.
Challenge #1
Adjusting to having no familiarity:
Pre-van life, you likely had neighbors or friends and family you saw occasionally. You probably had some sort of daily routine. If you needed to make a grocery store run, you knew which side of the store the milk was on. When you went to get coffee, the barista might have known your name, or at least the route you took to the coffee shop was familiar.
When you go on vacation, you expect to see all the new places and faces, but living van life is not vacation and the lack of familiarity and routine hits differently.
It takes a bit to adjust to this and the sooner you can find a routine that works for you, the better. On the bright side, the lack of familiarity does give you the opportunity to spread your winds and fly and you will become more resilient through it all!
Challenge #2
Fully embracing the less is more mentality:
I’ve always been somewhat of a minimalist, and I don’t get attached to things, but until you try putting everything you own into one minivan you don’t realize just how much “stuff” you have.
Conveniences generally available when not living in a van had to go. No computer printer, no Keurig coffee maker, no Ninja to make smoothies, no box of Christmas decorations. It’s not that you can’t have those things, but your priorities do change. Clothing has been the biggest challenge because it’s hard to get rid of those things you may not wear often but like having for just the right occasion.
During the first month of van life, I found myself purging regularly. Your mentality changes and space becomes more valuable than some of the conveniences you thought you needed.
Challenge #3
Adapting to Weather Conditions:
No matter where you live, I think the weather during the months of Spring and Fall can vary from one extreme to the other, but living in a van and moving across different states has made me experience weather at even greater extremes! I’ve gone from being so hot I move the fan a few inches from my face to so cold I have to unpack another blanket – all within the same week.
Planning ahead and being prepared will help you the most.
Challenge #4
Maintaining a Healthy Diet:
When you are traveling, you find so many new restaurants. Even new fast food restaurants can be new – but let’s face it aren’t most fast food restaurants all basically the same?
Eating out can quickly become a huge expense. You might have to remind yourself regularly that you are not on vacation – Van Life is your lifestyle.
You have the opportunity to find local farmers markets for fresh produce. Keep fruits and veggies on hand for when you get those driving munchies, and say no to the typical road trip snacks.
The good thing is grocery stores are plentiful and you might find yourself visiting them more frequently due to limited refrigerator space.
Challenge #5
Managing Finances:
You don’t escape the dreaded budget, just because you are living van life. Living van life might actually make having a budget even more important. I’ve said it before - You have to remember that van life is your chosen lifestyle, not vacation otherwise it can be easy overspend.
And don’t forget about having money put away for the unexpected. You never know when you might have a break down or unexpected event. When your van is your home, repairs can’t generally be put off and major van repairs might mean extra expenses for a hotel.
Be prepared for the unexpected.
Challenge #6
Building a Supportive Community:
Connecting with like-minded individuals and building a supportive community can be challenging while constantly on the move, but it’s important to find a tribe. There are so many facebook groups. It’s easy to want to join all the groups and at first it’s a great way to see which ones provide the most value to you, but start narrowing it down and find one or two groups that you regularly interact with. This will help you see regular names and is a new way to build connection. Sometimes our Friends or family just don’t have the same understanding when it comes to our lifestyle and having a community of like-minded people is so important.
You will meet people along the way, but how you think of community may change a bit. You have more virtual connections than in person community connections with your community.
Challenge #7
Staying Connected:
The online world can be tricky while living on the road. I’ve got a good and reliable jetpack, but even so, there are times when you get to places that just don’t get a signal. I like to listen to podcasts and books, but I have to think ahead and make sure I download those when I have a good connection. It gets dark so early and when you are trying to be stealth, it’s nice to be able to listen to a good book or even watch a downloaded movie.
We are so used to being connected now a days that it can be frustrating when you can’t get internet or you’ve used up all your data.
Be prepared to disconnect from the digital world sometimes.
Challenge #8
Maintaining a Comfortable Living Space:
I don’t mind living in a small space, in fact I prefer it. When you live in a small space keeping it clean and organized is critical. Your van is your sanctuary and just like a larger home, you want it to be comfortable, Clutter and disarray are magnified in small spaces. You can’t be lazy about putting things back where they go.
Make your van cozy by adding pillows or fairy lights. Your van has to be somewhere you like being, especially on rainy days!!
These are some challenges I've faced and learned from in my van life adventure. What about you? Share your experiences below.
Remember, van life, with all its challenges, is about embracing the journey and growing from our experiences.
Until next time, stay wild and free!
