fairdare
  • blog
  • Fairdare
  • ethical brands
  • zero-waste
  • zero-waste meals
  • about

short-term van life

8/19/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
I'm an avid student of simple, alternative lifestyles...tiny living, nomadic souls, living off the land, van life. And...I grew up camping in a pop-up camper with my family of six...campfires, long hikes, pit toilets + bathing in lakes. My little tribe has been tent camping for years, though rainy days + nights have dampened my enthusiasm. But nature's call is strong, and I still want to get out there (minus the rain soaked tent). A van vacation has been a dream for a looooong time.
Picture
obviously no special staging or clean-up was done for these photos :) I took them just for my reference, but thought you might like to take a peek :: the grid patterned portion of the bed shown here folds up into the back seat
After years of researching rental campers, VW vans + other vehicles (often covered with huge howling wolf advertisements)...and this year deciding to visit Oregon...I found the perfect rental for us. So the four of us lived in a van for a week!

Things we love about this van:
-the size...small enough to fit in parking spots...big enough for four full-sized people  :)
-all the amenities...sink, stove, fridge, solar panel, pop-top with lots of screened windows, swivel front seats, lots of storage space, heater (didn't need), lights
-everything we needed was included (+ even some things that we didn't use)...we each packed a backpack + bought some groceries when we got there...and that's all we needed!
Picture
the rest of the top bunk would be lowered from the ceiling :: two burners are under the shiny rectangle on the counter
All that we used (for my notes):
-pan + lid, french press 
-4 bowls, 1 plate, 4 spoons, 4 forks, 4 mugs
-1 pop-up storage container (could just use an emptied hummus container instead)
-lighter, scissors, can-opener, knife + cutting board
-kitchen towel, cleaning spray, dish soap, trash can, hand broom 
-4 bath towels, 2 sets of sheets, 2 Rumpl blankets, 4 camp pillows (we put these on top of our rolled up towels to sleep)
-atlas (cell service is not always available), lantern, 1 camp chair

(the van came loaded with lots more)

Would add for us personally:
-tea ball
-wash cloth + hook to dry it 
-I'd use an empty yogurt container to collect compost + keep it in the fridge until disposal, if a collection site was available 

What we brought from home:
-bug spray, sunscreen
-toiletries, clothes
-book, notebook, pen, phone, charger, water bottle, 2 baggu bags
Picture
I loved the van for all the reasons that I thought I would. We could be sheltered from the blazing sun, heavy winds or hungry mosquitoes with the doors + windows open + the breeze blowing through. We were dry when it rained, raised off the ground + were left with no wet, muddy tent to put in the car with the rest of the stuff we were trying to keep clean + dry. The beds were comfortable + we were warm (though two grown girls sharing the top bunk was tight). We marveled at the stars...hung out next to the river or ocean some days...heard waves + seals from our beds...and slept in a new spot every night. 

We're not really in the market for full-time van life at the moment, but I would definitely love to do it more long-term in the future...especially for just two of us. We had all that we needed right there in that pretty compact vehicle...with space left over! We could go with a bit smaller van, if there were only two of us. 
And just so you know that the opinions here are not just my own...here are some things (besides repeating much of what I've expressed) my companions had to say about van life:
Mr: Do it.
Jo: I could live in a van.
:)
​
Love,
Jane
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    on a journey toward zero-waste, simplicity, + compassion :: daring to choose fair one choice at a time
    Picture
    Picture


    categories

    All
    Fair Brands
    Fairdare
    Garden
    Made
    Reads
    Simple Budget
    Simple Holidays
    Simple Home
    Simple Wardrobe
    Simply Said
    Sustainable Self
    Wanderings
    Yum
    Zero Waste

    archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    all images by jane unless otherwise noted. copyright 2023.
    subscribe via email

    RSS Feed

    Follow