Waking up for the first morning after starting my new life on the road to the chirp of birds and the soft sound of the morning breeze, I realised that my life would never be normal again, and I was okay with that. The minimalism of van life, and stripping back everything that I once had, is not only freeing but makes you think and live life differently, forcing you to change what you think is important and what really matters to you. Freedom of life’s usual conventions can be hard at first, but once you realise the absolute beauty and adventure outside of cramped life in big cities, you question why it took you so long to leave.
After stepping outside of my comfort zone and making the leap to finally be happy, life has a new sense of purpose which I want other people to experience too! So without further ado, here’s what van life has taught me about simplicity and things I wish that I knew before I started life on the road.
What drove me to van life (no pun intended)
Unhappy was the only word to describe my life before being on the road. Trapped in a tiny apartment and working full time at a chain restaurant, life began to become stagnant. After graduating from University with a degree in English Language, I was keen to go into the adult world and find a post graduation job. However, after a year and over a thousand applications to countless jobs, I had no luck and stayed at my restaurant job.
I started to feel defeated, working 5 days a week and 9 hours a day just to eat and pay rent, with no sign of any change soon. Until one day, I was watching youtube after a long shift at work and saw a vlog about van life and all of its freedoms, and then I knew that something had to change. This is when I decided to make a change and save up and sell anything I could, to buy a mini van and get my licence, and started dreaming about life on the road.
Finally, after a year of saving, I finally had enough to buy my perfect van on eBay and was ready to start my new life.
The reality of the road
My first day on the road was hectic. Physical aspects, such as figuring out how to store everything in the van so that it doesn’t slide around when I turn a corner, were tricky. Emotionally, the process of driving away from everything that I had ever known was the hardest part. The uncertainty of what was to come really started to hit as the miles passed by, until at one point, this dread turned to relief and a weight off my shoulders. As I headed towards the channel crossing and onward to France, nerves turned to excitement. I didn’t know what lay ahead, and for once in my life, this was a good thing.
After a few weeks in the south of France, the realities of van life started to set in. After living in a flat for so many years, I had got used to the amenities such as running water and a toilet, and even just floor space, which are not available in my tiny van. I also realized how scary it can be, traveling as a woman solo. Some nights were a bit scary; every crack of a twig could be a stranger, but I learned to only park in well-lit and populated areas, to calm my nerves.
After a few weeks, I started to let go of the luxuries that I was still clinging onto and got used to being alone and loving my own company, in my tiny space. I started to actually love my van. Cleaning was easier, and cooking and washing outside made me feel connected to nature. This was when minimalist living really had grown on me, and job searching and busy city life felt far away.
Lessons of my journey
After two years on the road now, I’ve learned some valuable lessons about minimalistic living and living the life of simplicity.
Lesson 1- An open mind : The best thing that you can do is to go into minimalist living with an open mind and no expectations. Simplistic living is about relaxing your mind and enjoying the small things in life, so setting expectations can lead to disappointment. The best thing that you can do is take each day by day and treasure every moment.
Lesson 2- Letting go : Letting go of physical possession can be one of the most difficult parts of simple living. Things that you once thought were important no longer have value, nor can they fit into your small life. Freedom from possessions and consumerism is part of the nomad lifestyle, so letting go of meaningless objects and ideas is a necessary (and practical) part of van life.
Lesson 3 – Resourcefulness : Going back to basics means being prepared for all occasions is very important, as you never know what might happen, or when you might need to use practical skills. Before embarking on my trip, I learned some basic skills, such as how to make a fire and orientation skills; however, resourcefulness comes with living on the road. Sometimes dinner will be a mixture of canned food from the van, but improvising is part of the fun!
Challenges I faced
Getting started on your journey can be tough. Doing up the minivan was hard while working, and I had to learn a lot of DIY skills to keep expenses down. Also getting my mini van licence from the Lifft Group was part of the journey and took a large chunk of my savings.
Loneliness was a challenge that was hard to overcome. From speaking to people all day as part of my job, to barely speaking to anyone for days at a time, took some time to get used to. However, I began to love my own company and started meeting other travelers who had the same passions as me, which really made a difference.
Conclusion
Leading a simple life on the road has taught me so much about myself and placed a whole new view on life. I’ve learned to let go of everything superficial, such as corporate life and instagram likes and the freedom of the road has given me a whole new lease of life, which I never thought was possible. I no longer feel trapped and obligated to live a ‘normal’ life, exploring the world has taught me to see beauty and be grateful for the small things in life, like the sound of waves or the sky on a stormy night. Liberation has given me a new lease of life, amazing new friends, and an appreciation for the world we live in, which I never thought I’d have. And I’m never going back! Next stop, East Asia.
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