#vanlife - the reality behind the popular hashtag
A discussion about #vanlife including the things you should know before embarking on a long-term camper van road trip
#vanlife is a rabbit hole for pleasure-seekers, for dreamers, for wanderlust intriguers. You only need to type those seven letters into Instagram to be flooded with inspiration, to be awash with tales of mind-blowing adventures alongside posts of camper vans parked in dreamy locations, of van lifers eating breakfast overlooking the ocean, of couples soaking up the views from the top of a mountain, of bikini clad women baring all to the world - oh that’s a mountain behind? It’s enough to make anyone want to set off along the open road without a care in the world. But it’s also a trap, a deadly ruse for setting your expectations to precarious new heights.
Before my husband and I decided we wanted to try #vanlife for ourselves, we sat and watched many a YouTube video of like-minded people travelling to far-flung places, regaling their eager audience of their van lifestyle and how it has opened up their mind and eyes to the world around them. We were drawn in, fascinated by the freedom this lifestyle was offering, mesmerised by the many adventures, charmed by the ever-changing scenery and opportunities which lie ahead.
Van life has exploded over the past few years thanks to the growing millenial urge to live a nomadic lifestyle; to be more minimalistic, more mobile and less materialistic. It has many perks. You get to travel the open road, parking in places you could only dream of, witnessing mountain sunrises and beach sunsets, creating memories to last a lifetime. It gives you freedom, simplicity, a break from the norm, the removal of responsibilities, the chance to experience a different way of living, to build a new lifestyle away from the hustle and bustle.
But as with anything, there is a flip side. There are sacrifices to made, comforts to be given up. We need to remember that what we see on social media is a highlight reel, showing us things through rose tinted glasses, for the clicks and the likes and the followers. We didn’t want to fall into the trap so we did our research, hitting those click bait titles around the dark side of van life, why van life sucks and things people wish they had known. I even came across one article which described van life as glorified homelessness! Well, it certainly isn’t for everyone.
We thought we knew it all, that we were armed with all of the information, or at least could handle whatever was going to be thrown our way. But it’s not as simple as that. You can’t be prepared for every eventuality or for how you are going to think, feel or react to the complete unknown. No matter how hard you try, you are going to be drawn into the van life dream and, you know what, that’s ok. But it also doesn’t hurt to face up to reality from time to time and to be as prepared as can be for what awaits.
Fewer things and fewer space
I may be stating the obvious here but living and travelling in a camper van means your home is now a small metal box on wheels with only a finite amount of space. Living in a tiny home can take some getting used to depending on the living situation you are leaving behind. We went from a three-bedroom semi-detached house with a big garden and plenty of space so it was definitely an adjustment. You will have plenty of outdoor space but on the days where it rains for hours on end, you are going to be stuck inside your vehicle where you will learn the true meaning of cabin fever.
And then of course you can only take a certain amount of stuff with you. It can be a challenge converting to a minimalistic way of living and it’s hard to let go of stuff at first. I must admit though that I do feel better for it and one thing I have learnt is that I don’t need half as much of the stuff I thought I needed.
Up, close and personal
You may think you are close to your travel partner now but nothing can fully prepare you for how close you are going to get. You are already having to grow accustomed to living in a smaller space but this may also mean living in that smaller space with another person. They may be the only person you speak to, or even see, for periods of time. You need to like them. And I would also advocate the agreement of a strategy beforehand such as a schedule for van chores, asking for space, or leaving them to poo in peace.
Speaking of poo…
We have a Porta Potti on the van but we try and nature wee wherever possible to avoid it becoming full and having to continuously empty it. It isn’t always possible to nature wee but you certainly get used to weeing in strange places! And although, annoying as it may be, it’s definitely much easier for men to nature wee than it is for women. The emptying of the toilet isn’t exactly thrilling either and you have to make sure you are thinking ahead as you really don’t want to get caught short. Nature pooing is not for the faint-hearted…
Staying clean
We have an outdoor cold-water shower at the back of the van and we also have a solar shower which we can fill with water and place in the sun, heating the water up. But it’s not quite the same as showering in a house! There may be days where you can’t shower, days where you feel unclean and you might even, can you believe it, smell. But that’s when baby wipes, deodorant and dry shampoo come in handy.
Keeping clothes and bedding clean is a new experience too. We are so used to the comfort and ease of a washing machine in our homes but when living in a van you have to plan when you are going to do laundry, seek out a laundrette and spend a small fortune for the luxury of keeping your clothes clean.
A lack of routine
I thought I was ready for the removal of a routine, thinking that routine was mundane, monotonous, the road to a boring life. I do however miss elements of routine. It’s hard to have any kind of routine when you are travelling in a van, when no two days are rarely the same, when you don’t know where you are heading or what may lay in store for you. Every day can pose new challenges and even though you may be able to build pockets of routine into your day, if you are a person who thrives from routine and scheduling, you may need to think about how you are going to deal with it. I don’t have the answer I’m afraid as this is something I still struggle with - all I can manage is a fragment of a morning routine which I try and stick to where possible - so if you have any suggestions please let me know!
Flexibility and adaptability is key
Things change, you have to go with the flow, you may have to adapt to new plans as you are dealing with uncertainty on a regular basis. The weather might mean you can’t do something you had planned. You might turn up to a place expecting to get water but the water tap no longer exists and now you have to find another place. There might be an issue with the van that you need to get sorted - vehicle maintenance is so important when your vehicle is your home. You have to stay patient and be willing to be flexible with whatever is thrown your way.
You also have to be aware of your feelings and adapt to your own needs and the needs of your partner. We have grown to realise that we need space out of the van from time to time, that we can’t handle being in the van when it’s raining for days on end, so we rely on Air BnB’s for periods of respite, of rejuvenation.
Feelings of loneliness
As I mentioned before, you are travelling with one other person, or perhaps you are travelling alone, and you might not see anyone else for a while. Make sure you speak to your partner when you are having feelings of loneliness (communication really is key!) and make sure you stay in touch with people back home. You might even meet new people along the way too. My husband and I are both introverts so this is one part we have found difficult. On the flip side, it has brought us closer, if that was even possible. And if we can make it through the challenges we have faced on the road, we can make it through anything!
Battling boredom
I struggle with this the most and it’s something I’ve had to get used to or at least learn to manage. If you are a person with always something going on, always something to do, the amount of time spent doing not a lot may come as a shock to the system. The excitement will slowly diminish as living in the van becomes the norm, it becomes the everyday. You have to see the van as the tool for you to explore, as the vehicle for your adventure, and remember what it is giving you and the reason you chose to be here.
I battle my boredom in a number of ways, from reading and writing, to running and hiking. But, if you are anything like me, there will be days when nothing will be enough to stimulate you. I realise now why some van lifers create an Instagram platform or a YouTube channel to share their journey as I imagine it gives meaning and purpose to their day. But that’s just not my bag. I tried the Instagram (For the love of van life if you want to check it out) but I know my skills and it sure ain’t that.
Finding places to stay
We get the most out of travelling in the van when we are parked in amazing locations where you would never normally dream of going. But wild camping does pose a number of challenges. For one, finding somewhere to park every night takes up a lot of head space, more than you can probably imagine.
Secondly, you may think you have found the perfect spot only to arrive alongside an uneasy feeling in your stomach, the comings and goings of other vehicles making you feel wary and unable to settle resulting in you leaving to find another spot for the night. Our number one rule is to always trust your gut.
And lastly, despite what you might see on social media, you won’t always be parked in picture-perfect locations. There are times when you may be parked in a car park or in a nondescript location because, well, that’s all there is.
Living on a budget
Unless you are extremely wealthy, it is likely you will have a budget to stick to whilst you are travelling. We certainly have and I would be lying if I said it was easy. We estimated what we would need for food, for fuel, for occasional campsites, for things such as laundry, phone contracts, and other miscellaneous costs such as a dinner out or a gym drop in. You will find that some countries are cheaper than others so the budget goes a long way or in some places the opposite happens. It’s a balancing act for sure! We don’t work on the road but many van lifers do so for those people I imagine the regular income is a huge help.
Letting go of expectations
Wow, I had so many expectations. Thank you #vanlife. I had ideas of gallivanting around Europe, full of glee, climbing mountains, parading around cities, meeting like-minded people who become friends for life. Sometimes things don’t always work out as you expect them to. I have been full of glee, at times. We have climbed mountains but not half as many as I would have wanted. I haven’t been to all of the cities I thought we would. Meeting other travellers is hard, meeting any other English people has been even harder as they don’t seem to exist. A lot of my expectations were squashed but new experiences have been formed in their place. You tend to find that the best experiences are the ones you least expected, and that’s the silver lining, and that’s why this mode of travel is so fulfilling.
Despite the challenges, we have had amazing experiences, we’ve learnt a great deal and I couldn’t think of a better way for us to take some time out, giving us the space to think, to reflect, to plan. I suppose one final point is that you start to realise quickly that the things you take for granted suddenly become the challenges you have to face. You become grateful for the little things, for the small wins, for the ray of light through the rain, for the freedom and simplicity in an otherwise complicated and fraught world.
I hope this is helpful or insightful, and if you have anything to add or any questions, please drop them in the comments below! If you think this may help anyone you know who may be thinking of going on a camper van adventure, please feel free to share it with them. And if you haven’t already, check out my previous articles on travel by clicking the links below. Much love always!
You have amazing perspective considering you’re still travelling. I think most people would need a period of time to reflect back on their experiences before being able to give such a balanced view. I think anyone considering vanlife would benefit from reading this article as it wouldn’t tarnish their rose-tinted glasses (an essential item when planning your dreams) but it definitely enlightens xx
Great post. I always wanted to go 'on the road' but I think I've missed that particular life adventure now as time has passed by. I applaud you for doing it. BTW, you might want to hook up with some friends of mine who have just started their journey. They have a Substack - https://happylifeonwheels.substack.com/p/day-7