Why do people choose to live in a van?
If you’re reading this, you may be stuck in place right now, looking for a more inspirational way of living. Maybe you are tired of your daily grind, tired of spending so much money on rent and utilities, and tired of not feeling fulfilled. Maybe you feel like it’s time to find more meaning in your life.
For all of these reasons and more, many people, myself included, have left behind the conventional way of life to spend everyday on the open road.
In this article, I hope I can show you the best parts of van life: the “why”s behind our lifestyle.
WHAT IS THE VAN LIFE?
Before we jump in, let’s define what van life is, exactly.
Picture having your own tiny home and being able to take it almost anywhere. That is van life.
Many people from all over the world are living in these tiny mobile homes. Some live in these vans full-time, others part-time. Some travel full-time, others do not.
The cool thing about the van life is that it is centered around personal agency, the ability to make your life into what you want it to be.
If you want to know more about the van life community and what the van life is, head over to my article all about van life culture. Click below.
WHY PEOPLE LIVE IN A VAN
Every van lifer has their own reasons for choosing the van life. Some do so out of necessity, some to experience life more fully. Although we can’t get into every reason why a van lifer may choose to live in a van, I can let you in on the overarching themes.
So. . . why live in a van?
#7: TO SAVE MONEY
Believe it or not, moving into a camper van can save you a lot of money! Depending on the vehicle you buy, how expensive your renovations are, how much you travel, and your lifestyle, you can really save up living the van life.
Some people living in a van do so out of necessity. With housing crises and job shortages happening across many wealthy countries, living out of a vehicle is unavoidable for some. And it can make a huge difference for plenty of others.
A good, cheap camper van vehicle costs between $3,000-7,000. In my case, I decided to purchase a more expensive vehicle because I want to travel a lot and for a long time. However, I took out a loan that only costs me $500/month. Either way, taking out a loan or paying a few thousand dollars out of pocket beats giving upwards of $10,000 to a landlord every year.
The cost of renovations depends completely on your budget. For me, I am saving up money for a complete build while living in my van that is almost completely un-renovated. I have plywood floors, a scrappy little countertop, and a bed frame that I literally threw together in a weekend. This basic renovation cost me $50.
And then, depending on which equipment you need and how much you travel, these expenses can also cost you a few hundred dollars. But the great thing about living in such a small space is that you can’t take too much with you, further decreasing your spending overall!
Check on this article on saving money living in a van if you want to know more.
#6: TO MEET INCREDIBLE PEOPLE
It may seem counter-intuitive to say that living in a van, sometimes by yourself, is a great way to meet people, but it’s true!
The van life community is full of some of the most eccentric, powerful, and fascinating people. For me, I began living the van life during the COVID-19 pandemic and therefore I haven’t been able to participate in the community as much as I’ve wanted to. However, The van life community online has been so enriching!
There is something special about meeting other van lifers. When you meet, you have an instant connection because of your shared lifestyle. Whenever I see another van lifer, my heart fills with excitement and hope that I get to talk with them. And when I do, we skip the small talk and jump right to discussing our rigs and our adventures.
Plus, van lifers tend to be like-minded in the sense that we decide to reject societal norms and take agency over our lives. The passion that lives in the hearts of van lifers is special and makes the van life community rich!
#5: BECAUSE IT’S ROMANTIC AF
Close your eyes. Imagine the soft breeze of a cool summer morning. Imagine the silence of the forest, only interrupted by the rustling leaves and the morning birds. You have just woken up and are sitting in your van, the door open, drinking your morning coffee. You are in your cozy clothes taking the morning slow, just like you have always dreamt of doing.
Whether you travel with one or more partners or you’re traveling solo, the van life is romantic af. When you live in a van, you get to live wherever it is your heart desires to be. Whether that’s in the mountains, the forest, the desert, or the beach.
Because of this prolonged romanticism of the van life, you experience deep grounding, healing, and joy. Many van lifers say that the lifestyle has helped them heal and grow as a person in ways they never would have otherwise.
Are you ready to up your date game? In this Valentine’s Day special, I have curated 5 van life inspired date ideas for your entertainment. From a movie night under the stars to pillow forts and more. Go read the article and have fun on your epic date adventures!
#4: TO FOCUS ON YOUR PASSIONS
What makes you feel alive? What makes your heart sing? Is it an art? Is it travel, mountain-scapes, and new cultures? Or maybe you love climbing, hiking, mountain biking, or something else?
Whatever it is that brings you to life, living the van life allows you to give more of your time and money to these things. In the van life community, there are a large variety of passions. There are artists, musicians, climbers, thru-hikers, content creators, digital nomads, and so much more. One thing is for sure: the people who choose the van life are people who decide to put loving life first.
Freedom, adventure, and embracing the best of life is central to the van life community. And this is what brings so many of us here.
#3: TO LIVE MORE SUSTAINABLY
If you’ve dreamt of building your own tiny home, then living in a van could be a great option for you.
Van builds are tiny homes on wheels. This means that many vans are built to be relatively self-sufficient. Lots of vans have solar panels, use composting toilets, consume water from springs, and some even use firewood for heat!
It is important to consider fuel emissions when discussing van life sustainability. Many van life vehicles burn more fuel than small cars and many van lifers travel full-time. Although there are no studies available looking at the carbon footprints of van lifers, it is important to note three things:
First, many vans use sustainable energy sources such as solar panels and wood heat and van lifers are scrappy about where they get their water and materials from. Second, even though many campers travel full-time, they often stay in one campsite without leaving for a few days or even a couple of weeks before moving on, making them travel a similar amount as commuters living a conventional lifestyle. And third, the van life forces you to live minimalistically and therefore makes you overall more aware of your consumption.
Plus, you personally can choose to make sustainability your intention!
#2: TO DEFINE YOUR OWN LIFE
What do you want from life? When do you want to wake up in the morning? Where do you want to spend your time and energy? Where do you want to go, what do you want to do next?
I don’t know a single young person who isn’t sick of the grind. All of my friends are tired of working in the job they hate, with people who don’t appreciate them, and for a company that exploits them, all to go home and pay too much for rent, water, utilities, gas, and food. Plus, we are all living in a society that expects too much of us, especially if you are BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, a woman, disabled, or a member of another underrepresented group.
Van life is deeply rooted in rejecting societal norms. If fact, that’s how it began. In the 1960’s and 70’s when van life became popular, the community was full of hippies wanting to fight the man. We can all thank the hippies for creating the glamorous van life!
The tradition of fighting the man through the van living style continues into the van life community today. We are all itching for more agency. And those who have chosen van life take control of their lives everyday.
#1: TO GIVE YOUR LIFE PURPOSE
Picture this: it’s the morning and you’re entangled in warm, cozy blankets. You get up, stretch, and make tea. With your tea mug, you climb back into bed and swing open the back doors of your van–and you are met with a dazzling view. The snow-capped peaks of distant mountains rise from the clear blue waters of a spring-fed stream. The cool breeze of the day meets your face but the warmth of your bed keeps you comfortable, content. You could stay here forever.
When you live in a van, you can’t avoid the healing it brings. The beauty awakens a kind of magic inside you that a conventional lifestyle doesn’t lend itself to.
On the other hand, there are days and nights that are less than ideal. Sometimes you get up after a sleepless in night in a Walmart parking lot to hit the road and get a flat tire. Other days you might get stuck in a ditch and you spend three hours trying to wave down help.
The serenity of the grand landscapes and the stress of the hardships work together to help you heal and grow. The van life is hard, but that’s what makes the good times more magical.
In this concert, the van lifestyle brings a feeling of divine purpose to your life.
CHALLENGES WHEN YOU LIVE IN A VAN
Now you know all of the best parts of van life, you may be wondering, what are the not-so-glamorous parts?
Like I’ve said, van life isn’t easy and there are going to be lots of road-blocks you encounter. From problems with the van build to burnout and not knowing what to do when you get a flat tire.
Even though there are challenges, there are even more solutions. People who burnout and give up living the van life often do so because they aren’t properly prepared.
Luckily for you, I have created this in-depth guide to navigating the challenges of van life. In it, I describe the major problems with living the van life, lots of solutions to each problem, and resources for you to prepare for the hardships you may face!
MAKE MONEY LIVING IN A VAN
One of the biggest concerns that get in the way of people pursuing van life is. . . money.
But I have good news for you! Believe it or not, there are so many ways to make money while living on the road in your van!
From short-term cash options like working side gigs and freelancing to making a career out of full-time travel.
In my article, How To Make Money Living in a Van, I go into depth about ways people can make money on the road. Plus, I give you so many resources to explore on your own!
So if money is getting in the way of your dreams, so check out my article!
GET MORE VAN LIFE INSPIRATION
So you want more van life inspiration. . . What next?
On my Bookshop site, I have reading lists to up your van life skill and fill your heart with wonder. Head over there to get your van living books now.
You Might Also Like:
- 5 Date Ideas to Make You Love Van Life Living
- Van Living: Is the Van Life Right for Me?
- Living in a Van Full-Time: 10 Things to Expect
- Why Live in a Van? 7 of the Best Parts of Van Life
- How to Make Money Living in a Van
CONCLUSION: WHY LIVE IN A VAN?
If you are someone who is deeply longing for a better, more fulfilling life, then the van life may be for you.
I encourage you to ask yourself why you are here reading this article. Do you wish for the things above? What is your motivation for dreaming about an alternative way of life?
The answers to those questions are exactly why so many young people are moving into vans and traveling the world. The yearning became strong enough where we had to make it happen. And you know. . . You can, too.
Introduce yourself in the comments! I would love to get to know you and if you’re considering living in a van. What are you most excited about? What do you fear? Let me know, below 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, see you again soon! <3
Affiliate disclaimer: by clicking on some links in this post and making a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
