BY: SAMANTHA TAPP
More and more stories are popping up about people ditching the typical 9-5 life and opting for something a little more unconventional and definitely more exciting: the van life. From young, single millennials to families complete with kids and a dog, people are downsizing and living with the ideology that experiences are worth more than things.
Some choose to hit the road in converted school buses, some opt our for a regular ole van, but seemingly the most popular and definitely the coolest are the VW vans that people are transforming into their home on wheels. Saving money, seeing the world and lusting for freedom, the people that have chosen the van life are too busy travelling and enjoying life to worry about things like a mortgage or their next promotion.
These 10 quotes will inspire you to join the van life:
“As you start traveling down that road of life, remember this: there are never enough comfort stops. The places you’re going are never on the map, and once you get that map out, you won’t be able to re-fold it no matter how smart you are. So forget the map, roll down the windows, and whenever you can, pull over and have a picnic.” – Jim Hensen
“We’ve realized you can live with really limited things—just the most essential things. We started with a van full of stuff, and every week we just throw away or give away some of our belongings—clothes and books—trying to just carry as few things as possible. We also changed our life perspective. We are now more flexible, totally open to new adventures, and the best thing: we are the owners of our lives. Something we are learning everyday is getting to know different people, different lifestyles and cultures.” – Eva & Victor
“At the moment, we see no end to our nomad days. We are joyful and on fire for life every day. If that ever changes, we’ll make a change. But why fix what’s not broken? This lifestyle isn’t for everyone, but has been the best life choice we’ve made so far. We wouldn’t change a thing.” – James & Rachel
“While there may come a time when we want a homebase, we foresee van life always being part of our life. We will always explore this amazing planet and what better way than in a VW Vanagon named Boscha! Furthermore, this lifestyle for us has become much deeper than driving from point A to B. We feel this lifestyle represents an openness not just to exploring the many beautiful places and people along the way, but exploring ourselves as beings of infinite possibility.” – Emily & Corey
“On the road, you are stripped of so many outside filters and your intuition is your best, most vital gift. We are in love with the breadth and diversity we’ve encountered on the road. We adore high mountains and warm oceans, the cultural delights in big cities and the slow charm of small towns, deep forests and vast deserts so life on the road suits us quite well, wherever that may be.” – Adam, Colette, Emily & Sierra
“I met her on Tinder, but got to know her in a camper trailer.”- Greg
“We were wasting our lives going to work everyday, putting our kids in daycare all just to have a nicer car, comfier couch, bigger TV and flashier house. So we have decided we want out. We want out of the prescribed life, we want to be free. Free to spend as many of the hours we have left together. Watching our kids grow up, having amazing experiences and truly living.” – Andrew, Amber & kids
“The times we have spent in our van have been our happiest by far.” – Lauren & Calum
“Nothing is really permanent in life really, and this is one thing I’ve learnt from doing this. The feeling of permanency isn’t really real. For now, I really want to carry on like I am.” – Mike
