Chapter 1

What Is Van Life?

IN THIS CHAPTER

Discovering why van life is so popular

Becoming a vanlifer

Downsizing your life

All good adventures start somewhere, and yours is about to begin right here, right now, in the very first chapter. You've seen all the pictures and dreamed about opening that sliding van door onto an ever-changing paradise, and now you've taken the plunge and officially embarked on your van life journey.

In this chapter, you explore the origins of van life and how this global phenomenon has captured the hearts and minds of people everywhere. I show you how to begin thinking like a vanlifer and - most important of all - how to begin downsizing for your new minimalistic way of life.

Introducing Van Life

Van life might be all over your social media feed and spread out across your desktop screensaver like an ode to wanderlust, but the concept of living in a vehicle equipped with basic amenities full or part time has been around a lot longer than you might have originally guessed.

Many think the pinnacle of van life occurred during the Swinging Sixties and the Summer of Love, with Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys wishing for California Girls while cruising down Big Sur toward the golden sands and twinkling ocean. Still, you have to go even further back to find the roots of this movement, back even before the illustrious 1950s when the camper van was widely believed to have been invented.

So who do we have to thank for sparking this unique movement?

Back in 1855, a certain traveling medic from Scotland called Dr. William Stables designed the first-ever touring caravan. He named it "The Wanderer," and while they say that not all of those who wander are lost, the two horses that pulled The Wanderer probably spent most of their time trying help it out of a ditch rather than finding great spots to boondock along the glorious sights of the North Coast 500. (I've thrown a wrench in the works already by mentioning boondocking in the very first chapter, but stick with me; in Chapter 16 all is revealed!)

Fast-forward to today, and Dr. Stables's Wanderer has paved the way to a world of exciting adventures in all manners of different vehicles from off-grid truck campers to beautifully converted panel vans, Volkswagen busses, travel trailers, and many more. One thing is for certain, however; the concept of van life and the freedom it brings has forever remained the same.

Van life is more than just a means of exploring the planet we call home. It's that feeling you get when heading out on the type of expeditions you just can't buy from a travel agency, hitting the open road in search of excitement and adventure, and searching the unknown for unique memories that will last a lifetime. It's more than just grabbing the ultimate picture by the beach or the obligatory forest campfire; van life is that all-encompassing feeling that grabs young and old, rich and poor alike, those who are seeking a life that doesn't revolve around Black Friday sales or the latest air fryer with added egg-cup holder. It's a call to the explorers, the curious, those who strive for more.

That's van life in a nutshell.

Of course, if you want a more literal explanation of van life, you don't have to delve too far into the name itself for an answer. Moving your life into a van is an incredibly rewarding experience, whether you plan on just heading out to your local campsite for the weekend, driving into the mountains for a month-long retreat in the summer, or exploring the world full time after leaving the daily grind behind.

More time spent outdoors; what's not to love?

If you're anything like me (and the fact that you're holding this book in your hands suggests you are), then I imagine you're already bursting with questions about solar panels (Chapter 9) and window placements (Chapter 7). Perhaps some of you have just gulped incredibly loudly and are now finding the whole concept of living in such a small space a little daunting and confusing, but don't worry. I guide you through the whole process from start to finish and get you on your way to fulfilling your true travel potential.

Why Van Life Is Such a Popular Movement in Today's World

Van life, and "vandwelling" in general, are more than just movements that have been ticking away in the background since The Wanderer clunked over its very first pothole. It's safe to say that van life is a cultural phenomenon, and one that isn't showing signs of slowing down any time soon.

No matter where you live around the world, the general idea of "the dream life" is changing. Whereas at one time getting a perfect job with the local firm and securing a mortgage would have been the ultimate goal for many people, the concept of working to live rather than truly living is slowly dying out. People are sitting up and realizing that there is more to life than waiting patiently for the next paycheck to arrive.

There is a whole world out there to discover, and for many, the idea of being tied down by mortgages and contracts just doesn't sit true. For many of the people I've met on my van life journey, living in a van has allowed them to call any country or state home, waking up to oceans or deserts outside their front room without the worries and stresses of a "conventional life."

Sounds pretty good, right?

Joining a Global Community

Okay, I know what you're probably thinking: "This is just a phase that lazy hippie kids go through, isn't it?" And while I admit it's true that there is an element of "rebelling against the norm" with van life, there are so many different reasons that bring this vibrant and bustling community together.

I've had the pleasure of meeting vanlifers of all ages and from all walks of life, and I have chatted with them at length about their stories and reasons for taking the road less traveled. For some, van life is a means of living a more self-sustainable, eco-friendly lifestyle once the workweek ends, while for others, van life means having the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream now that their kids have flown the nest, leaving all their possessions and their nosey neighbors behind for a slower pace of life.

And speaking of community, the van life community is made up of some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. What bond could be greater than one forged with people with whom you share the same ideals and life plans? We help each other on the road, recommend places to camp and eat, look out for one another when the going gets tough, and always have supplies hidden away in the back of our vans to fix everything from a leaky roof to a squeaking hinge. In essence, van life is like having the whole world as your neighborhood!

Alternative living isn't just something your grandpa will tell you layabouts used to do "back in the day" anymore. House prices are skyrocketing all over the world, and unlike during the 1970s when buying a house was a plausible notion, today many people struggle to get the funds together to buy a home of their own.

I spent £3,000 (around $3,600) buying my first van and around the same amount doing it up. It was my full-time home for four and a half glorious years, which makes it the longest-occupied abode I've lived in since leaving my parents' house all those years before. Getting on the property ladder is incredibly tough, but buying a school bus and converting it into a tiny home . now that's much more achievable!

Becoming a Vanlifer

Do you just wake up one morning and decide to become a vanlifer? Can you catch the wanderlust bug like you would the number 52 bus into town?

For me, it was less of a eureka moment than you might think. I was working at a music venue in Yorkshire, U.K., not entirely sure about my current career and feeling a little lost. I'd spend hours scrolling through pictures of people embarking on van life adventures on Instagram, just wishing that I could work from the cusp of a beautiful forest or on the edge of a glistening lake like the smiling people staring back at me.

You might not believe it, but I couldn't even drive when the idea of van life first hit me, which I think we can all agree was a major flaw in this potential new life plan. I'd spent my life thus far taking trains, taxis, and busses everywhere I needed to go, and I was more comfortable behind a pair of rubber-coated handlebars than behind the wheel of a car.

So at the age of 27, I found myself purchasing my first ever vehicle: the long-wheelbase panel van that I would end up converting and driving all over Europe. Most people buy a rickety, old Ford Fiesta or something small like a Mini Cooper as their first vehicle, but not me. Try doing your first ever three-point-turn without your instructor sitting beside you in something that most people rent when moving house. Might as well jump straight in at the deep end, right?

Still, becoming a vanlifer isn't just as easy as rolling out of bed and straight into a brand-new way of life. Van life is as much about changing your mindset and opening yourself up to new possibilities as it is parking up in beautiful locations with the wind in your hair.

This lifestyle can be challenging and is often demanding. You've got to make sacrifices and...