Why Is Everyone Quitting Van Life? (it’s not what you think)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ค. 2024
- Why I Am Quitting Van Life (and everyone else is, too)
Have you ever wondered why everybody quits van life? Why is it that so many vanlifers are selling theirs vans and building tiny homes on big properties, and why are all of your favourite van life TH-camrs simply not van dwelling anymore? Let's talk about it in this video - as Nick and I hae decided that we're going to be moving on to the next phase of our travels and life - these are some of the cons of van life, a little van life reality if you will - and some of the reasons why I think people are quitting van life in 2023. #vanlife #vanlifereality #quitting
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chapters:
00:00 let’s talk
00:49 what van life is to us
02:09 acknowledgments
03:24 stability (or lack thereof)
04:35 the next chapter
05:48 van life + covid
06:53 taking more risks
08:18 a response to 2020
08:30 what it’s NOT
09:11 outro
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➤ ABOUT US: Hi! We’re Nick & Raychel, the couple behind the blog Not Luxe - where we write travel guides & help people open their eyes to alternative living, whether that be teaching English online, moving to Cambodia, taking advantage of working holiday visas (like in Australia) or building a DIY stealthy camper van to live & work on the road. Right now, we’re living the van life and travelling throughout Canada and the USA.
Our goal here is to bring you weekly content where we hope to inspire you to break free & live the life you desire. On this channel, we talk everything from finances to minimalism to working online to mindset and post a weekly vlog of our daily lives. We hope you join us on our journey to see the world, save money, live minimally, and most importantly, have fun.
So if you're looking for a channel about van life and budget travel, you're in the right place.
Love,
That couple that lives in an ambulance
#vanlife #alternativeliving #budgettravel
If anyone does or keep doing vanlife all their reasons are valid. Anyone leaves vanlife for any reasons their reasons are also valid. Following your dreams is a great goal, and sometimes those dreams change. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next for you guys!
Totally true!
I completely agree with you! Following your dreams is important, and it's okay for them to change over time. I'm also excited to see what the future holds for those who are transitioning from van life. By the way, if you're into outdoor adventures like camping or RV trips, I highly recommend checking out the Segway Cube Series Portable PowerStation. It's an impressive power backup solution with a massive capacity, fast recharging, and versatile sockets. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts like us!
I totally agree with your comment! Everyone's reasons for quitting or continuing van life are valid, and it's important to follow your dreams and adapt as they change. By the way, if you're into outdoor camping and want a reliable power source, I recommend checking out the Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series. It has a massive capacity, fast recharging, and waterproof technology, making it perfect for outdoor enthusiasts like us. Keep exploring and enjoying the great outdoors!
This is probably the 10th video I have watched on why people are quitting van life, most of the videos just keep repeating each other. But none of them talk about the financial end of van life. Most of the channels are quitting because they are dependent on the adsense revenue from TH-cam and for the last 2 years the content creators revenue from TH-cam has dropped drastically so it's not worth the effort to continue making videos. A lot of young van lifers source of income has dry up, whether it be a savings account, insurance payout, trust fund, or whatever the case maybe. For me, I just started van life, I recently retired from the Air Force with an E8 retirement payout, so my monthly income will be average, but because I have no debt I will be fine. I paid cash for a used van that has low miles and in excellent shape, I only spent $3000 on the build out, my needs are very basic. I joined the Air Force right out of high school and spent my whole career at the same base, so I really didn't get to travel that much, for that reason I think I'm going to enjoy it greatly, but I do have a backup plan, if for what ever reasons I find myself no longer enjoying this lifestyle I will move on to a little piece of property I purchased in southern Alabama. I mainly bought this property to have a home base and a permanent address. What's nice about this property, it's 2.76 acres, it sits on a 800 acre private lake and has no deed restrictions and is considered an off-grid residence.....
Well done. Good luck to you.
Exactly what I’m looking for.
Beware of squatters who may occupy your “home base” while you are away. If it is over a long enough period of time, they can actually attain “squatters’ rights” to continue to stay there. Also, you may need to have the property somewhat maintained per local ordinance. Something to check on.
@@pmurphy12 Not happening, squatters like to live close to town, this property is miles from any town. It's totally fenced in with military style fencing with a double roll of razor wire on top. I have camera's installed everywhere, plus my neighbor is a Deputy Sheriff that will shoot first and ask questions later. The thing is, people in Alabama don't act like that, we respect each others properties. My cousin maintains the property for me while I'm on the road.
Exactly. Said perfectly. Most people did it on a whim and as a “trend” with no plan on the financial portion. I have a remote job and plan on starting van life soon. I know it won’t be forever, so enjoy it while it lasts and move on. Just because it doesn’t work for some doesn’t mean it won’t for others.
I think people get confused between van life and van travel. If all a person can afford to live in is a van or a person chooses a van as their home then there’s no quitting. It’s called regular life.
#this! Most of these folks are just stationary folks who are on a road trip. This has nothing to do with living a nomadic like which like you said, regular life. One issue I have when I meet these kind of people is that you know eventually, they'll give up because they act like they're on a road trip. I tell folks all the time, I'm not on a road trip. I live life on the road. There's a difference. I have a job, businesses, get mail, medical services, etc. all on the road... normal life stuff.
I live in Portland. Lots of 'van life' here that's not on TH-cam lmao.
@timforgot TH-cam used to be an awesome place to share and learn valuable information... and it still is... but it seems like Instagram and tiktok have turned these younger generations very superficial and wannabe-narcissistic... It's so bizarre. But I'm glad these people get to abandon typical society for a while to learn about themselves and about the world outside of their hometowns. These people annoy the hell out of me, but I'm sure I annoy the hell out of a lot of people as well. I think we should just try to remain open to receiving and guiding these temporary tramps... and I think they ought to pass down their vehicles when they're done living on the road. May as well pass it onto a new aspiring greenhorn tramp.
BTW, I have 2002 Tundra SR5 if anyone wants it. It needs work, but it's a great start. I'm also happy to do or help with the mechanical work as long as you can afford the parts. Toyota parts are insanely expensive and I'm just over it. I prefer older chunkier vehicles with less tech😅 I'm used to rucking it... I'm NOT used to dropping a grand on a OEM remanufactured steering rack... and that was just for the rack... NOT for installation.
Speaking of all this... that's one way to avoid "boredom" whilst rubbertramping... just do all your own maintenance and mechanics... and help others when you are graced with the opportunity
Great response. I don't do fun activities every day. I work, go home, shower, eat, sleep ... Now and then I go somewhere fun. I also think people quit van life because their TH-cam channel never took off.
@@timforgot My man, this is funny but not funny if you know what I mean LOLOLOL. I concur though. Plenty of van lifers around that aren't on TH-cam at all.
Yep. Vanlife is great but it's not anyone's forever. I'd guess 90% of people stop vanlife within 5 years. While vanlife is great, it's harder than living in a house and it gets old. It's a chapter, not the entire book. Plus living in a van, by itself, is not really the goal. The purpose of van life is to help people reach their goal, whether that's traveling, saving money, creating a new start, getting away from certain people, finding a community, getting outside their comfort zone, whatever. Once that goal is met, that chapter is closed, and people move on. I think the fact that people started TH-cam channels that revolve around their living in a van is why quitting is such a big deal. Before TH-cam, van dwellers would come and go from the lifestyle at the drop of a hat, no explanation necessary. Now with TH-cam and the glorification of vanlife, not doing vanlife is a big deal because they've chained themselves to the label vanlifer, even though one of the main positives of vanlife is the freedom to live the way you want to live. People really have to fight hard to escape the matrix and not allow themselves or others to trap them back in it.
Well said 👍🏴🇬🇧
Add the expectations of an audience on TH-cam that for some ties their income to their van. That's an unreliable, dependant life.
Because you are a poser
Hopefully so
So are the other 10% unable afford a sticks and bricks home?
I absolutely love you guys. When I was 19 in 1992 I began hitchhiking to every state & would grab a rock from every state marking them with a sharpie. I feel fortunate to have done this extreme unconventional adventure. I say this because at 38 I got ALS . Sucks cause I have 2 girls 10 & 12. I have lived so many adventures. I’m glad because my memories are all I have as I’m currently 95% paralyzed & can’t speak & look like a freak…. fuk ALS…… so when I see you guys I’m just glad that you’re living life & marching to your own beat.
That made me tear up as I was reading it to Nick - thanks for sharing that with us ❤️
I most likely lived more actual life than 90% of us out here, man.
@@cheflifevanlife without a doubt man. You probably lived three more lifetimes than others lolhaha
Vaccine damage?
My Dad battled MS. They said I'd be a fatherless child and yet he kept fighting and got to see my wedding, my girls born and raised to teenagers. Keep fighting the good fight and stick around for your kids. Even when my Dad couldn't do the things Dads want to do- teach me to drive, walk me down the aisle, he was alive, present and told me he loved me. That's what is important. Never ever let ALS get you to give up. Just keep loving and living each day, it's a gift. Praying for you and your family. Glad you had adventures young. My Dad got to fly around the world before he was grounded. Treasure memories 🌟
I’ve lived van life, not by choice. But by ending up homeless. And it can be liberating, however it’s a full time job. I can say that after a full year including a Canadian winter, I’m done with van living. And I have perspective on how lucky I am. God speed to anyone who is homeless, I pray for all of your safety.
Me too, before "vanlife" was a thing. I would never want to live in a van/homeless again and am soooooo Thankful for my apartment. #Gratitude
@@melissagoodwin4042- was it that bad? I lowkey wanna try it cuz I’m a pretty adventurous person and i wanna travel to most of the states and see the whole us because it is very large
@@R3MMY I could not sleep in my tiny van due to health reasons, I have constant chills and very cold after last covid last summer. So, I left my apartment in WA and decided to live out of motels to travel, that is how hard the desire to see the USA was. I drove from WA , through OR, CA, AZ, TX, LA, Missisippi, Alabama and the entire Florida and guess what? I hated it. I thought I would buy a cheaper home in FL, nope. Being on the West Coast all my life, I have lived in CA, OR and WA the rest of the states did not feel like home to me. I love hiking and West Coast has the most trails. Some states were outright scary like LA. And the hotels were the most stressful part. I stayed mostly in Best Western with some local motels sometimes and it was horrible due to chemicals they use to clean and I cannot stand the smell, musty odors, unsafe areas, noise in hotels. Also Florida had the worst drivers and I was not feeling very safe driving there at night. I also tried sleeping in my van one night with the electrical cord from my motel because motel stunk like insecticide, I guess they had roaches problem, and despite the air in the van being warm, my bed, my walls, my mattress were ice cold and I got very sick. I am back to CA now, looking for a place to buy in Oregon as CA is too expensive, but I am finally feeling safe and in peace and never want to hear about vanlife or travels again, maybe once in a while for a few days but not uprooting myself, getting rid of my belongings and living on the road. I was a fool believing that I would feel free. Far from it, I was scared, depressed, feeling unsafe, vulnarable etc. I went to travel to find inspiration, to reinvent myself and after 3 months on the road I have returned with PTSD from travelling. The political situation, the crime in this country is out of control. I drove through TX El Paso when the truckers were driving to the border to support TX and I was terrified. I lived through CA storm and my hotel lost power and I drove in crazy storm at night to another hotel, and many many more things that made me hate travelling full time. I cannot believe I am feeling this way but I am.
vans are expensive . I've seen lots cheaper than a van
@@R3MMY it's definitely different . It's worse if you live in one within the town or city. It's kinda lonely tbh , unless you are in a group of van lifers
I agree with your statements earlier in the video regarding other people's "Why I Quit Van Life" videos. I've seen videos like this as well and it's painfully obvious as to why many of these people quit.
Most of the reasons I have found people who quit van life after only a few months stems from the following reasons:
They don't have location-independent income or only can support themselves by spending their savings.
They don't have a reliable van that can handle the milage and are always having to make repairs and suffer breakdowns.
They don't have a way to clean themselves or use a toilet.
They enjoy the comforts of a home-based lifestyle and can't adapt to camping in a van.
They require consistency in a lifestyle that makes it infinitly harder to have consistency which leads to travel burnout.
They get tired of never knowing where they will be able to sleep at night.
I agree. To sum it up though, vanlife just wasn't for them. Nothing wrong with that...Also people love those types of videos. So if you're going to quit and have a youtube channel you're going to make that video. Case and point.
so if we can sum it up: they planned poorly following a trend.
We tried it and gave it up within six months. It was really hard on our relationship. Not having a home base was a terrible idea. It was often claustrophobic, nothing was ever truly clean and you were always limited on something, water , electricity, food storage, a full toilet cassette, camp site hire etc. We had 2 pets and they hated being in there for long periods which was difficult for relaxing. Only one of us was handy which made them feel responsible for everything. We worked on the road which was crap on our backs/ neck, working out how to charge all the electronics and being disturbed by Zoom calls. Every single time you move you have to pack every single thing away to avoid things flying around or banging or breaking. Heating/cooling is expensive if not already set up properly or breaks. Don't get me started on water leaks. You constantly buy things to upgrade the van whilst it depreciates. Yearly maintenance, insurance, rego, petrol, site hire - it's a moneypit. It took us a long time to forgive and move on and sell the van for a loss. It is not as sunny skies as they show on TH-cam for sure.
These are all the signs of poor planning. You should have bought a rig that was large enough for the two of you and the animals. You should have saved and spent enough money to have all of the things you needed to be comfortable. You didn't do any of this and so your plan failed. It's literally like going on a long expedition without the right gear or vessel. This has nothing to do with the lifestyle or if it would have worked for you and everything to do with the fact that you didn't do what was necessary to make it work.
defo not for you luv :)
Van life is for rich people. The reason you struggled was because you don't have the money for it. It all comes down to money, and a lot of these van lifers have money, something that they don't say it in their TH-cam channels.
Been doing it for 3 years and don’t plan to quit anytime soon
honestly i only find the idea of cramming as many things a possible into a van interesting, otherwise the people who do these things do look a bit stressed and un-anchored... Perhaps in the same way a rock band has to tour for months or something. I find the idea of unpacking and packing things over again tedious even in my own house!
I know a guy who has been living in his van for fourteen years out of love for the life and not fore economic reasons. This is his 15th year and he has no plans of quitting at all. He says he wants to die in his van (a warning to all you drivers on the road!). But seriously, when he explained to me why he loves van life so much I could really see his viewpoint. It's not for everyone. You have to have the personality for it; that's for sure.
"I know a guy who has been living in his van for fourteen years out of love for the life and not fore economic reasons."
Bullshit. You know a guy with a lot of pride that doesn't want his friends and family to pity him.
What was his explanation like?
I'm interested.
I mostly just want to have a van so I can live in a cheap place with roommates that are noisy and not have to worry about being homeless and to be able to travel locally cheaper without having to get a hotel, etc.
Mostly I want to be able to sleep and take naps whenever I want, though.
It definitely feels like Van life was a huge trend. It got views and it got people curious on someone’s life on how they lived in a van when we are all used to houses where we can have almost anything. It gets people a glimpse of a different life on someone’s adventures but if you doing it to tour America eventually your journey will come to an end after you’ve explored everything you wanted. Van life sounds so nice for a tour around America but at the same time it be nice to just settle down in one place after that tour. That’s my view on it tho as someone who has never done van life
It's just different things for different people at different times. All reasons are valid.
@@cheflifevanlifenot all reasons are valid, and these people are ruining it for the rest of us.
my feelings exactly
I think a lot of people think of vanlife as the destination, when for most people it's only one part of their journey. For myself, I know that vanlife allows me to both travel and save money. I do plan to buy some property in a few years (for cash, with the money I save from not paying rent), and at that time I will most likely build a tiny home and be a lot more stationary. When that happens I won't be "quitting" fulltime vanlife, I will simply be finishing that phase of my journey and starting another one. And that's a good thing. It's progress. It's what people do as they mature.
This is my plan exactly, how have you been working towards the property? I haven't started vanlife yet but i was looking towards getting something remote so i could work full time and save lots of money. What about you? Any tips or advice would be really appreciated!
@@alkassel2793 The only advice I have is what you probably already know: Keep your expenses as low as possible and save any money left over towards buying that property. The first few months on the road you will have some expenses as you figure out exactly what items and/or services you need to purchase in order to be reasonably comfortable. After that, just live as frugally as possible and save, save, save your money.
Saving money from not paying rent. I found out that house prices are going up faster than I can save! Should have just bought sooner. The previous owner of my house mades 100,000 in a year. I cannot save that much.
@@lorneserpa5888 I can appreciate that. What I have planned isn't really traditional. It will take some time and is something I can afford, but is probably well below many peoples' standard of a "home."
I'll be buying rural land in a county where I can build any building under 200 square feet without a permit. I plan to get a shed that size and turn it into an art studio/lounge space, and still sleep in my van. It'll take me 3 or 4 years to save up for the land, then another 1 or 2 years to purchase the shed, and probably another year to fix it up.
At the end of 5-7 years I'll have something that meets my needs and is completely paid for. It won't be a 3 bed/2 bath in the 'burbs, but it will be mine.
Only so many sunsets you can see before you become bored. Life has more meaning than that to be fulfilled.
I just want to see sunsets in other countries :)
I live beside a mile long Pacific Beach . It would never occur to me to EVER go down there and look at it again . I put up with hearing it 24/7 365 days a year.
I full time and luckily have the ultimate nomad rig and I don’t see ever quitting. The ones I see quitting are the ones without a functioning bathroom and shower and very limited water supply. They get tired of “camping “. I have helped many of them with everything from meals, showers, and putting them in here overnight when unexpected freezing temps happened. I even have a clothes washer. I would never quit van life to rent. Happy travels everyone!
People who don’t think about what van life is hour by hour can be shocked by daily life in a van. We are planning to do some van lifeing but we are not selling our house.
I find it funny that so many are quitting when I’m just beginning. I’ve been following since 2019 but have just been able to start doing weekend trips. Hopefully this doesn’t happen to me. 🤞🏾
It won't happen to you if you are able to 1. have a plan for an income source that works 2. spend whatever you have to spend to have all the comforts of a home or better 3. you understand that you're not on a damn road trip. There' nothing hard about this lifestyle at all. I work remotely, I have businesses, I have a ton of hobbies (indoor and outdoor) and I meet the most awesome people and have nomadic friends I meet up with regularly. You can be happy long term out there and there are tons of us who are.
@@CS-uc2oh thanks. I’ve got no excuse on saving since I’m waiting until my daughter is grown to go full time and she’s only 10 now. 😅
Thanks for the insightful video! We've been following you guys since Cambodia, about 5 years or so. Good luck with future plans!
You are real ones!!! So appreciate you!! ✈️✈️
I like the message. I’ve been thinking about doing van life for a couple years now. I haven’t even started and I already know, it’s not a forever thing. Everything in life changes- that’s just life. We move onto new phases. I wanted to do it to get out for a few years and roam, but I know I’ll eventually want a place to call “home” because that’s just who I am. But I’m also very adventurous and love to travel. Like you said, two things can be true at once. Nothing in life is permanent and just because you embrace van life doesn’t mean it NEEDS or has to be permanent or for a lifetime. Enjoy it while it lasts and move onto a new phase in life when you’re ready for it. We don’t have to have everything planned out.
I’ll take some of that van clam Amber.
Yeah life is a journey and sometimes you need to make changes. I just retired and have always loved camping. I bought an Ember off road trailer. So far it’s going well. I enjoy being by myself with my dogs. Good luck and have a great summer
Thank you so much for this commentary-esque video! I really appreciated your view, it's a wall I already know I would hit (ie, boredom), even though I still like the idea of challenging myself to learn how to build out a van. I think I'll end up treating it more like an RV, only using it for trips just to make it easier to travel with my dogs. But thank you for your honesty and good luck on the next adventure!
There's a reason why humans stopped being nomadic and put down roots.
Stability.
Even "Paul in the Philippines old dog new tricks" did. He was planning on moving from city to city in the Philippines, but ended up staying in his $360/month house in Dumaguete, Philippines. Just hoarding away money each month for travels around Asia from his home base.
Historically nomadic behavior became a problem during the Industrial Revolution as the need to corral workers near factories became "necessary" along with the discovery that congested human waste lent itself to sewage control.
@@navmarroaming2292 Did you know only 4% of the buildings in India have a toilet?
@@MyLifeThai371 Yes. There are also serious sewage problems there.
My ultimate van life would be traveling to new areas over a years time and then picking 3-4 different small properties ,owner financed and build as an rv site so I would always have a place to stay for an extended period if I wanted to!
That’s a great goal!
godspeed, we are just beginning our "van life", and looking forward to it! goodluck on your next adventure!
That is amazing!!! You will absolutely LOVE it xx
Valuable insights and analysis/ opinions. I appreciate you separating and focusing on van life as a choice apart from van life as a necessity. This allowed your message to be clear and concise. That said, there is significant crossover in terms of daily chores and challenges.Great job on this video.
Awesome video guys thank you, we just started "RV Life" in Canada and it is giving us a lot of challenges already but we are loving it.
The first 6 months is definitely the hardest. After a year, it’s smooth sailing (for the most part) - at least that’s our experience. Enjoy every moment of it!!! xx
@@nickandraychel Thanks guys!
@@LloydandMandy I'm currently looking into "RV life" here in Canada as well! I'm not even really sure where to begin lol but I'm looking at trailers and learning everything I can!
@@Tess.of.all.trades amazing! We’ll stay tuned because we are learning too and we will share all of our secrets experiences along the way
@@LloydandMandy yes! I just discovered and subscribed to your channel! Love it 😊👍
I was intrigued by this title noticing the market supply of boats and RV's increasing since the pandemic boom of RV's (Land and Sea) as you mentioned. This makes sense. I have lived full time on Boats and RV's consecutively since 2019 and many years off and on before that. I have to give it to you van life folks. I couldn't do that haha I have always been blessed to have most the creature comforts of a home in my vessels or vehicles and stay in one location for a while. That being said, although I could load up on debt and get a home, I don't see having anymore than a PO Box anytime soon. (You never know though.... haha) Good luck to you two in your next chapter and God Bless!
Thank you for stopping by!
I do not think everyone is quitting van life or rv life. People are just changing how they want to live or travel, they may want part-time travel, or international travel, or travel from a home base. It’s not for everyone, never has been, but neither is staying in one place. It’s just an option, and an option for short time or long time.
Great you can be honest about it. Best hope and prayers for your next dream!🎉
When I was deciding on what to build a van was quickly crossed off the list, they might be the way to go if you plan on doing a lot of miles but are simply to small for long term living. A box truck is twice the size for half the price where you can fit things like 2000w of solar, not many ppl can get through winter with what you can fit on a van roof. 4 years in and I know I will never live in a regular house again because it has worked out just that well, no landlords, no house mates, no moving house, no stress and lots more free time. Its fantastic!
excited for your future plans 👀🧡💛
eeeekkk!!! me too!!!!! ✈️✈️
We love you and look forward to the new adventures. Let’s do it!
Can't wait!!!!
There's nothing worse than these kind of people thinking they speak for everyone and trying to convince us that "everyone is quitting" just because they are. I've been on the road for almost 5 years with no end in sight. You couldn't blast me out of this lifestyle. I live well out here. It's an easy life. But I've also had a long career and have lived overseas on my own, etc. So when I hit the road, I already had a sense of what needed to happen for me to have all of my needs met on the road and then some. I'm not on a road trip out here. I live my normal life... on the road.
yes. they are click baiting. youtube is not helping nomadic life so there is no money to get them incentivize them to keep on going.
They did it the wrong way and think everyone is like them.
Nick and Raychel aren't talking about you.
My husband and I live in a 30 ft shuttle bus on an acre of land that we own for almost 3 years. Although our objective was to travel full time in our bus, we still wanted a home base that we could come home to and eventually build a house on. Unfortunately I started getting sick shortly after we moved onto our property and I ended up having 3 major abdominal surgeries and constantly being in and out of the hospital. For this reason I'm so glad we have a home base. We also have a 20 ft trailer our neighbor gave us. We gutted it and it needs to be repaired and restored, but we do have a comfortable bed and an air conditioner in it and we also use it for storage. Living in a 30 ft bus completely off grid certainly presents it's challenges so I can't imagine how difficult it would be to live in a van. Many people that do it can't imagine themselves living any other way and I think that's awesome, but some people start with unrealistic expectations. When they see it's not the perfect life presented in Instagram pictures they realize it's not for them. There's just a certain type of person that it's meant for that loves the freedom and is prepared to face the challenges. The love for the nomadic life far outweighs the challenges that come with it. It's not the life for everyone and that's ok.
Your van life dream is awesome. You did it and now you have grown and are looking for another adventure with different out comes.
Oftentimes I lust after the simplicity of Van Life for all the reasons you and everyone else had and more, however I completely understand while after 2.5 years you are ready to move on. Being that I currently have a home, lucrative job, and look forward to starting a family, Van life for me (If ever) will likely be a part-time endeavor. I'm more likely to build a van for some 2-week vacations to National Parks or epic camping adventures and so forth.
Like others have previously commented, this is just a closing of a chapter in your life, a chapter that a guy like me will look from afar, reflecting on the opportunities that I've missed, wondering if given the opportunity to start over; would I jump early into the rat-race to "get ahead" or follow in your footsteps and live life to its absolute fullest?
So long and Good luck in your future endeavors.
Thank-you for your candor. This is my first visit to your channel and I'm glad I didn't visit two weeks earlier or I would have fallen victim to sending you a couple thousand dollars to help support your lifestyle and then you announce afterwards that you were abandoning that lifestyle.
Thanks for saving me from myself. You will have to somehow make amends to all before me who you fleeced tho....
What? Lmao we’ve been living in our van for nearly 3 years. Did you watch the video?
I love the way you articulate things ❤
thank you so much 🫶🏼✨
I was noticing that to. She doesn’t say uhhhh and ummm. She knows how to say things and get her point across
@@n3wt I agree, you're right, not to say that anyone who drops an uhh here and there doesn't know how to get their point across.
I love your attitude about a growth mindset! Love this positive content 🙂
Thanks so much!!
日本はvanlifeではないですけどcampingが今時の流行りです。
世界的なCOVID流行が影響した事も一つの理由でしょう。
人生には色々なfazeがあり始めるも止めるも大きな自分の人生の流れの一部で
有ることには賛成します。
In Japan we have camping movement instead of van life.
pandemic had alot to do with it here too.
Everybody has different faze in own life. I too respect your decision
and thnks your honesty.
lovea n.support from Japan.
Good luck into ur new chapter. Then again, u can always come back into the mobile lifestyle😊
Thank you!
Great insight thank you!! Good job!
Thank you ❤️
Loved this and the honesty!
Like any trend, people do it for awhile and find out that either it's not for them or just enjoyed it for what it was and moved on.
Yes I’m not sure it’s necessarily just a trend, but a life phase for some people. Just like I used to live with roommates for 4 years and absolutely loved that time in my life, but would prefer not to do that again ❤️
I greatly prefer a mid sized Motorhome. With a wonderful shower and large home sized Frig
Larger space. And I like plugging in and enjoying the peace of lovely space in lovely nice looking RV parks. Free coffee and some have breakfast for folks. Lovely grass and trees. Also park on Concrete everything stays cleaner. Between $25, and $50.00 a night or weekly rates are less and if your in an area you want to explore stay a month for even less per day unhook your car 🚗 you brought along and have some fun seeing beaches or mountains or National points of interest. I think lovely RV Parks are a blessing. Safe to park at. Quiet and peaceful most of the time.
I have only had wonderful experiences. I leave a place clean and enjoy this much better.
great insight!
I have been doing this 30 yes and still do it.
Also I have met so many kind and polite lovely people that are friends to this day.
The first year my husband died I went to a nice resort and I helped them sing Christmas carols and the activity center I went to Costco and brought some lovely things for the Christmas dinner the next day we have just had a ball I was given a bunch of roses for my contribution of both song and laughter it was fantastic I decided I didn’t want to stay home when my husband died I had to get out and be with people it’s a memory I will never forget
So true Kathy! A motorhome not a van, with shower, heated grey tanks, electricity, maybe a scooter in the back to explore, camp in proper campsites, go slow, take your time, explore the area and then move on. And when the season's over, go home, take a breather, plan the year ahead. That's why you're doing this 30 years but you'd be hard pressed to find a vanlifer with 30 years of vanlifing.
I don't have a van, but just traveling in my car it's made me realize how expensive it can be and unhealthy. Buying food on the go is expensive and you don't have blenders or veggies juicers available to stay healthier. The water system is less healthy too than a R/O system in your home. Also, you spend more in fuel driving a larger fuel inefficient vehicle than your car.
Oh wow I was not expecting to see our faces on here haha thank you for mentioning our video! You make such great points. People want one answer for everything and the truth is most things are way more complicated than that. Best of luck for you in this next chapter!! 😊
Of course! Your video was so well done and loved the commentary feel to it. Best of luck to you guys too as you carry on with your biz xx
I wish everyone were quitting. I hate being a negative social stereotype especially as I’m old and love being a nomad.
I understand you reflexion about stability. I am been living in differents vans for more than 5 years and I had the same problems. I needed stability but, I still wanted to be free. So I found a solution. Half/half, half of the year in a house half of the year in my van or traveling. Getting stuck in you freedom can be awful, so half of the year settling down somewhere helps me to sort all the things I need to do without depending of my environment.
Everyone need to find his/her way to live his/her own life :)
Great watch as always!
Thank you!!
Well at least you got out and experienced it. Good on ya for doing that that's what lifes all about Your experiences .And you never know what you're guna do next.
You are very well spoken, clearly comfortable in front of the camera. I watch a lot of vanlife channels. Somehow never found you. So what's next? You didn't say. Yes, I agree something's in the air. A lot of the vanlifers I have enjoyed watching are now settling down, building a homelife, having babies, etc. Seems life is all about striking a balance. I was a homelifer most of my life -- career, children, mortgage, animal rescue work. But 2004 - 2007 I lived full-time in a little motorhome, driving around the U.S. Loved it and still so much I'd like to see; but timing is important... I'm almost 70 now. Anyway, the best to you both in your life's journey. Enjoy!
I'm joining Van Life.... I've been renting for 35 years.. and now nearing retirement in the next 10 years.. and need to save more and van life gives me that chance plus it might give me something to actually retire in..
The reason I don't do van life, is that it is so cheap to just buy a $10,000 city lot and put a tiny home on it, where I can store my belongings and have a home base. I sleep in my Honda FIT, while I travel the U.S.A. and then also have a free place to store my car, while I live overseas. I still do like watching van life videos though.
interesting!!! ❤️ totally, different strokes for different folks
@MG You need to move to a different state. I know people from Missouri that moved into their garage with a big water tank cystern and rented an out house. They then rented out their main house.
@MG FAIRIES MUST BE SNIFFING SOMETHING😂... MOVED IN GARAGE WHICH THEY OWN? LOL 😅 HOW IS THAT MINIMALIST? CHEAP?😂😂😂😂😂
My wife & I enjoyed your take on VL; well said. She and I mindfully moved into our (then, two custom vans) a few months before retiring in 2018. We used a Chevy Express AWD for supply runs and off-road day trips, and "Lived In" a custom 2017 Promaster. We ABSOLUTELY LOVED the ~2.5 years we spent exploring the SW USA. We built a Tiny-House on foundation on property we owned in southern Nevada and moved into the house in fall of 2020... Timing was perfect as the B.S. of 2020 buggered up future build costs, and our contractor stated that had we waited until summer of 2021 our build would have been well over 50% greater.... So THAT was the Silver Lining for us during that time. We still adventure out in the Promaster (we sold the Chevy), but like you and yours, we were ready for a change as we had never actually even wanted to own a home...and we just celebrated our 40th anniversary :)
I love that. Thanks for sharing your story, and happy 40th anniversary!!
@@nickandraychel :) THX... a blind date, and def my BFF!
Been lurking on this life style for about 7 years or so.. i never thought about quiting work or anything but at one time I thought about keeping my house and doing something like this for a 1 year or so.. now im hard set on keepimg my house and just doing family trips with my build..just got to find a shuttle bus about 20-24 feet long...and the journey begins.
It's better than being homeless.
Thank you for sharing your life and know how on van life 😊
Extremely insightful!
Thanks for watching 🙏
Don’t move into a van unless you need to. All others is a experience. Even if you want to travel, it only last so long. It can be difficult, but doable if you need to.
Thank you so much for this video! My bf and I are almost done with our shuttle bus conversion, a dream we’ve been saving up since 2019 lol, and every “quitting van life” video is exactly the same but thank you for your views on it! Can’t wait to see what plans you guys have next!
Also, for every person quitting there is a new person starting. It's not slowing down and with the cost of housing in Canada and the US there will be more "vanlifers" than ever. Good luck with your bus! 🙂
That’s awesome!! You will absolutely love living in your shuttle bus!!
I feel like I've come late to the party..... New here, I really understand the place your in, married 37 years, we've lived in a number of homes and I moved our family of 4 cross country on a split-second gut decision 20 years ago. Happy to say we never looked back. Lives are built like books, it contains chapters, it's exciting to jump into a new phase, it's also scary to close a chapter too. Please continue to build your extraordinary book. Imagine filling it with many different kinds of genre, share it with your community help us find pieces to fill our own chapters. Keep talking document everything if needed a cup of tea always does wonders.
☮✝✡
peace, love & faith
Francine J
Seems like van life is probably most fun if you make at least 150 - 200k per year and have a high-end van with more amenities.
Trips to the mechanic aren’t traumatizing if A) the cost is no big deal and B) you stay at a cool hotel or Air B&B while it’s getting fixed. Maybe catch a meal at 3 star restaurant.
If you’re a really high net worth individual, you probably own several homes, too. Van life sounds fun, for example, if you have a condo in Manhattan…a shore home in the Keys…maybe a small ranch in Montana and of course a cozy bungalow in Malibu. That way you have several nice bases to operate from.
I really liked your personal account, especially when given so humbly. You pursued what thrilled you, saw it through, reaped the rewards at it's fruition, grew from it, gained new insights. We all should be so brave! If you continued that lifestyle, you might stymie your growth. Besides, could you be missing out some new joys, like mowing!? 🤣. I was just surfing by and popped in as a voyeur, I'm happy I did :)
Haha thank you! I love your input. Appreciate you watching!
Here in SoCal van life is bigger than ever. No one is quitting here lol
I’m bout to start again soon lol
One issue that i see, is that it's still a vehicle at the end of the day, therefore the vehicle should be maintained regularly. The other real issue is disposal of bio waste properly. Still another is many people think that they can live where they want and go where they please, however there are rules and regulations against that mindset. People don't seem to like it when there are actually safety, health and liability reasons. I'm weighing my options still. One is building a container home in the Ozarks, the other is full time nomad living. Neither really seem practical. I'm still praying about it.
Most people don't move around place to place, it's not a sustainable way of living. That's why van livings not a long term thing. If you have a piece of land or somewhere you can permanently place your van and live there, that's more reasonable.
Interesting video however every single point you made you could relate to living in a home, van, boat, everything you will do in life becomes a chore no matter how exciting it seems in the beginning. Good luck with your new adventure.
this is true!
whatever you do, i hope you keep making your well presented videos
We will never stop!!
Van life for me is convenience. I drive over three hours one way at night and being able to have a 3 hr nap really helps me stay alert on the trip back with my load. I don't have any shower, cook area, storage. What I do have are the VERY important stuff. A comfortable mattress and a heater. If I am not driving, well I am sleeping.
i totally agree with you. living in a van is the same as living in a house, only everything is smaller and more uncomfortable. you better live in a comfortable house and if you want a little freedom and adventure, you go on holiday for three weeks.😀
Good content! Thank you.
Wow, didn't see that coming!!! Time to explore more of the world :)
yes!! let's gooooo!! :)
The traffic is getting pretty bad. People forgot how to drive after the pandemic. Everyone is in a hurry to go nowhere. That is the #1 reason we have gone back to our home. However we still go out for no more than two weeks at a time and that has kept the excitement and curiosity strong and alive.
How much do you spend on gas, propane, insurance (if it's more than a regular car), however you get internet (if it's other than hotspotting off your phone), any other unknown costs vs renting an apt? Curious.
You had some valid points ,I was curious on the interior View of van right around the 6 min 30 second segment looked like a freshly built wood wall and ceiling and later looked like you painted or stained to a really dark top coat. ?? Why Why Why. Would have looked so much better clear coated ? Covers up all the natural beauty of the Wood , thanks for making the Video.
There's NO need to make a big fuss about it.
Van life like everything in life.. Gets boring after a while.
When I go on the road I have 100% excitement. But after a while. My "battery" is drained
Vanlife is for single people, Utterly ludicrous having two people live in a van full time.
lol
thats the truth crazy having these 2 people in one van
We travel in a Sprinter 4 months at a time. 2 nights in hotel every 6 weeks gives breathing room to 48 year marriage
Despite the nose ring, you seem like a nice couple. Thanks for your soberminded perspective.
I have travelled by horse - thinking it the best, and lived from bikes to oil rigs and a Kombi. I enjoyed every phase and have happy memories. May do another trip on bike or horseback, but living in a house does not prevent an occasional trip.
It's not a choice for many in Australia. I see vans, RVs, trucks and cars parked in every beachside town carparks I've been through. You can see some don't even move. In one carpark near the beach that I frequent is full of vans, trucks, two buses, and cars with tarps between them. They never leave. I presume their vehicles are unregistered or broken. Further down, a big bus just moves between three spots in the area. He's been there for 20 odd years. I saw him as kid and still see him there now.
It did seem to be a trend, young attractive people who seem to have parents to fall back on or just run to.
I have done van life and it is hard work, but the rewards outweigh the challenges.
Blessings to everyone, even former van lifer's who are about to join the corporate world again.
I figured it would be something like you described. Living in a van definitely has a shelf life for most people....
I'm not quiteing van life I'm just getting started and I love it so far❤️
halfway into the video and I'm still waiting for you to make YOUR point for quitting. So far all I'm hearing is a recount of everyone else's reasons. (Which I can view on their channels) I did van life for 3 years, quit, now I'm headed back out. Good luck to your new adventure, but...what everyone learns eventually...is how to speak less and say more
I get why anyone might want to quit full or even part time vanlifing, or even just vlogging about vanlifing, as either has lots of drawbacks and downsides and in any case people often decide to do something different with their lives from time to time, like moving to a new city or country, changing employers, jobs or careers, going back to school, breaking up or divorcing, and so on.
But it seems like a whole bunch of TH-cam vanlifers have quit either vanlife or vlogging about vanlife recently and I'm just wondering why and if something happened to bring this on, like TH-cam or Patreon (or IG, Twitter, FB, TT, etc.) making it harder or less profitable to vlog about vanlife or putting more pressure on vanlife vloggers to produce new content, or perhaps vanlife essentials like diesel fuel, parking, showers, etc., becoming prohibitively expensive, impractical, difficult, stressful or even dangerous (e.g. Walmart and Cracker Barrel ending their free overnight parking policies)?
Also, there seems to be this competition among vanlife vloggers to get the most views, subs, likes, comments, etc., and perhaps that's been causing a lot of burnout?
OMG that is our vulcano in Tenerife, the mount Teide. !! Have you been to visit this beautiful island? Do you have a video about it? I am a follower resident in Tenerife, Canary Islands! Best wishes !! XXXX
Comment: Wow, this camping video looks like a lot of fun! I absolutely love spending quality time outdoors with my family. And speaking of camping, I recently discovered the Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series. It's a versatile powerhouse that can keep your devices and appliances running for extended periods while camping. It has a massive capacity, powerful output, and even supports solar charging. Definitely worth considering for all you outdoor enthusiasts and RV lovers out there! Happy camping!
I have been living in my 2000 kia sportage for about 2 year going 3. I decided i was tired of roomates and living in Denver was way too expensive. I saved up a lot of money and enjoy the peace. Living in any vehicle deffinatly is not a luxury. But i would be so estatic if i had a van. My biggest challenges has been winter, parking and power. I just recently moved to maine sonits going to be a lot kore dofficult. But its a choice i kade beacuse i wanted to be by the ocean. And i did it beacuse i was in my vehicle.
I feel like van life was for a lot of people spiritually the minimalism movement. You remember how for a hot few years in the 2010s it really blew up (I know it’s Been around for longer but I mean the hashtag stuff that flooded feeds for a whole). It’s again about escaping materialism and conventional house norms. It was not sustainable after the pandemic because people like having things and I think the economy we live in does not work with that. Van life I think is an extension of that same idea but fell into the same problem is sustainable. Also the same issue the pandemic made travel extremely difficult and with all the uncertainty I think people want just something basic to fall back on. A safe house and stable income.
I wouldn’t want to live in the van full time, but I really want to buy one just to go somewhere on the weekends further away so I don’t have to rush back home after a few hours.
Girl you can talk fast. Good monologue. Good luck on your new journey
Thank you! ✈️✨
It's also an age thing, have fond memories of backpacking around the world in hostels and living in and out of camper vans in my 20's but as you get older a solid base is preferable and I couldn't imagine doing that now, I mean I could if needs be and am not rigid but it just doesn't have the same appeal anymore. Of course then kids need to go to school, your parents start to age and all the rest that comes at you such is the natural cycle of life. Regardless, today some of the most interesting and happy people I know are those that tried different avenues and had the courage to break the status quo experimenting until they settled on the unique lifestyle that made them happiest. It's all about trying different things until you find what works and am sure you can take that camper out whenever you feel the itch.
I think alot of it is based on (age or situation) As a twenty something, you have a lot to figure out about yourself. It is a great time in your life to just go... explore... and adventure. And if you have a dramatic shift in life (job loss, divorce, etc.) it is a burst of freedom. But in this small space, mostly alone, you figure out yourselves, and what you want, and you grow as a person too.
Can I ask you if on your adventures you ran into people with box truck conversions with dogs ..is it too bumpy of a ride back there for dogs?
I tend to travel a lot for work, I was thinking of using a camper as a cheaper hotel option, as well as having much more enjoyable breaks than just sitting in my car.
not to mention, with enough amenities and tax knowledge, you can offset taxes with it, as opposed to a traditional car.
Sounds great!
Vanlife is an exciting phase of life but people as we are...time will come that we need change. This is a normal thing. You can always go back to a traditional lifestyle then have a weekend camping in a nearest park with a smaller van. City life with 8 working hours/day can be stressful as well. Keep the balance. 😊
Great vid. It could be though longer and more detailed even! Keep it up.
❤️❤️
Vans are so expensive now! I would love to be a weekend warrior part time van lifer and get away from the city. But even used vans are now 25K! And that’s without the bed and kitchen buildout
Vanlife is nice, and I would love to have one for a long term camping. But a live like that for a long time??? With how social and restless I am, I would go crazy under six months. How do they able to do this more than a year?
im trying to look for a van to build and or buy i have lived in a caper before and travel so i know i would love it!!!
I think you touch on a topic that I rarely see in van life videos and that is that van life is more often than not is a temporary lifestyle. Not that that’s bad or good it’s just what it seems to be for most people. I myself did van life for three years, but held onto the van for seven total got rid of it. I love living in the van but it limits you in someways with working and things you can do. It’s a great lifestyle and it’s a great exercise in minimalism but it’s not going to be everyone’s full-time lifestyle from here on out and that’s kind of how the Internet showcases it ,like I do van life now I’m gonna be a van lifer forever. And that was not my experience and not the experience of the people I met on the road and in the community.
Totally! We always, always said "we're doing this for a few years, not forever" yet people seemed to still be shocked when we announced we may be quitting soon. Many people go through many phases in life, and full-time van life in North America was exactly that for us.
It's still really hard to get a decent price on a used van around here.
There's something to be said for a van being a more affordable starter home for some people. If they can find a reliable vehicle that they can afford for cash and build up into, as you said, a "turnkey RV" as a means to earn, or even just save a home down payment by not paying rent, then they've found a pretty good loophole.
For my family, I've just always loved campervans. The vans themselves. And a van is a very functional utility/daily driver vehicle and is therefore better than a cabin you use once or twice every 3-5 years. Maybe one day after our kids grow up I'll convince my wife to sell our house and use the money to head out and hang with those geezers in Arizona.
❤️