Vanlife FAQ

The list of questions I get from people regarding living in the van is never-ending and typically pretty entertaining. Here are a few of the most common, along with some of my favorites.

Where do you shower?
I have gym memberships at a few nationwide big box gyms. It’s really cheap (Planet Fitness is $20 a month and they’re 24 hour and they’re EVERYWHERE) and a lot less of a hassle than I expected. Plus, I feel pretty shitty for going in and not working out, so it helps keep me in better shape. I try to do a minimum of a bit of time on the stair climber and some pull-ups before I allow myself to shower.

Do you have a toilet?
Not quite yet. But I do have a really functional wide-mouthed Nalgene pee bottle. Works like a charm!

How do you cook?
I have a regular ol' Coleman two-burner camping stove and a refrigerator and that's about it as far as a kitchen. I've never been much of a chef and I'd say I cook in the van about as often as I ever have before.

Where do you park?
My van is pretty stealthy, so I have it fairly easy. When I’m on the road, I park at rest stops or truck stops. If I’m in a town, I try to stay in middle-class neighborhoods. I try to park on a corner, or on the side of someone’s house, not directly in front of anyone’s house. I also try to get there later at night and leave as soon as I get up in the morning, so I don’t raise any suspicions. When I’m in the town where I live, I park at apartment complexes where the tenants park on the street. That way, I just blend in as if I live there. It also has the added benefit of having people coming and going all night, which makes me feel a bit safer.

Did you build it yourself?
This question is almost exclusively directed to my boyfriend (or any other male in the vicinity of the van when the question is being asked). Yes! I built it MYSELF! I did have friends help with some parts, but it was my project and I did the vast majority of the heavy lifting.

How much did it cost to build?
My best guess is around $5,000. I wish I’d done a better job of tracking the build, but I’m just not that organized! I didn’t own a single tool before I started this build and I had to buy a drill and a few saws, as well as your standard tools. That added up pretty quickly. I also bought higher end electrical equipment and my refrigerator is pretty badass. And as with most projects, the build is never done. I’m constantly changing things around, upgrading things and rearranging my storage solutions. I actually just did a big overhaul on my back storage today and am really happy with the results!

How do you make money?
I have a full-time job and work 9-5 just like everyone else (well, lots of other people, anyway). I am a speech therapist and have the luxury of a wide open job market, so it’s easy to find jobs wherever I want to be. I’ve been working in schools for the last few years simply because the schedule can’t be beat. Looking forward to my summer trip to Colorado, the South and Canada!

So, are you saving a ton of money?
You’d think, wouldn’t you? Unfortunately, I took out a loan to buy a lemon on Craigslist last January and had to sell it for parts. Now I’m paying off that loan AND making payments on this brand new shiny van. I’m actually paying a few hundred more a month than I was on my apartment in Sacramento. Does this make me want to move back into an apartment and get rid of the van? Hell no!

Why would you want to do this?
I’ve never been much of a homebody. When I lived in apartments, I would get off of work, run errands, go to the gym and be home around 8 or 9. Sometimes I’d meet a friend for drinks before going home. On the weekends, I’m always out of town. It makes no sense for me to pay for a place to live AND pay for hotels when I travel. Plus, one bedroom apartments in California are expensive and I really prefer to live alone. This gives me the occasional alone time that I crave and allows me all the freedom in the world for weekend travel.

In Tioga Pass, on a quick trip up to Yosemite last fall. It's just so easy to get away!

How long have you been doing this and how long do you plan to keep going?
My official move-in date was July 20th of last year, so it’s just now been about 6 months. It already feels so normal, like I’ve been doing vanlife for years! As for how long I’ll live in it, I can’t really predict that at all. I’m not one to make life plans because they always change as soon as I plan them. So who knows! I’m on a contract here in SoCal through the beginning of June and I’m doing a big road trip for the summer, so at least through then and probably longer!

Aren’t you scared in there all alone?
Oh, yeah. All the time. I’m a huge wuss and I’m scared of everything. I couldn’t even make it through the whole Harry Potter series. I haven’t had anything truly scary happen yet, but I talk myself into being scared about two or three nights a week. I rationalize this by telling myself (something that I do honestly believe) that people breaking into a vehicle don’t expect to find a human in there. Anyone who tries to break in will likely freak out and run away when I start screaming my head off.

Do you have a weapon?
Ha! I’m an extremely passive person. I do have a tactical flashlight that could blind my attacker for up to a minute, but that’s all I have. I keep saying I’m going to get a taser or something, but I can’t see myself actually using it. For now, I’m just being your average millennial and hoping it won’t happen to me.

Like….are you okay?
This is my favorite question, especially when people look at me with true concern in their eyes. YES! I’m loving life! I live in my van by choice, not because of financial necessity (more on that later). I have a wonderful job and a wonderful life. To answer the question, I’m much better than okay! I mean, wouldn't you be okay if this were the view from your bed?!?!

That's it for now! Let me know if you have any more questions! I love sharing my experiences with vanlife. It's a much more approachable lifestyle than people expect and it's been way easier than I ever imagined!