I’m eight weeks into Van Life… but staying in a house. Not exactly how I imagined it, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned already, it’s this: Van Life Rule #1 — Be Flexible.
For years, I followed #VanLife on Instagram, dreaming of the day I’d hit the road in a cozy, customized van. I made a commitment to myself: I’d begin my journey on April 1, 2025. I decided to purchase a pre-built van rather than convert one myself, and in July 2024, Dazzle came home with me.
We didn’t wait long—our first big trip took us to New England and Prince Edward Island, Canada. That adventure helped me face some fears, refine our systems, and begin to feel truly at home in the van.
In the fall, I took a few shorter trips and found a deeper appreciation for the freedom the van gave me.
As April approached, I packed up my house, moved everything to storage, and started planning both my route and my daily routines. Finally, Tootsie (my dog) and I hit the road.
Our first stop: Hungry Mother State Park in Virginia. We lasted about ten minutes before discovering a propane leak. Back to Richmond we went. Thankfully, it was a quick 24-hour fix, and we soon returned to Hungry Mother to start again.
Then, in Georgia, I accidentally backed over a tree root while camping. Harmless, I thought—until it snagged the generator and pulled it loose. Not completely off, but enough that after several days of driving, it hung just inches from the ground.
That was six weeks ago.
Since then, I’ve dealt with repairs, insurance calls, and a lot of waiting. I’ve been saying “the generator should be here any day now” for three weeks. Still, I remain hopeful. Once it arrives, the van will be repaired—and we’ll hit the road again.
I’m especially grateful to fellow vanlifers who’ve reached out to say, “This happens.” It’s reassuring to know I’m not alone—that this lifestyle demands a lot of flexibility and a good sense of humor.
This time off the road has also brought unexpected gifts. I completed an aromatherapy certification, researched more parks, recorded podcast episodes, and connected with others about nature and well-being.
In the end, this forced pause might’ve been exactly what I needed—to reset, prepare, and embrace the real lesson of Van Life: let go of control and keep moving forward.