At home wherever I go.
Why I Built the Van
I was facing a serious situation—I needed to find a place to live that I could actually afford. At the same time, I was juggling significant financial responsibilities: providing for my son, contributing to my daughter’s college expenses, and managing my own student loan payments.
I didn’t build the van just for adventure or escape.
I built it because I needed freedom—the kind that comes from having a place to live without answering to a landlord or a roommate, while still staying financially responsible.
What started as a housing solution slowly became something else — a space for inward exploration, solitude, and self-reliance.
As Henry David Thoreau said:
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately…”
I went to the van because I wished to live deliberately — and not needing to mow the lawn is a plus!
The Unexpected Reality
What I didn’t anticipate was this:
It’s not peaceful by default.
Space is limited. Van life is not simple. It’s not easy.
Systems fail.
Water pumps refuse to behave.
Batteries can be negative while they are being positive.
And when everything is condensed, so are you.
The difficulties and complications created the need for the Practice.
When the electrical system fails, you learn things about the components, the makers and their customer service (or lack thereof).
Learning how to live in a van
When space feels small, you regulate. I learned to let go of things that I did not use, to leave things in storage that I needed but didn’t use often. Now I plan stops to storage to prepare for the next trip, coming weather or whatever may be happening during the week.
When isolation grows loud, you stabilize. I learned to get comfortable being alone. I learned to rely on myself as much as possible (but I still rely the expertise that comes from knowledgeable friends).
The van became resistance. Things went wrong and systems failed. Water constantly needs refilling and weather becomes a subject to be aware of, continually. Resistance revealed imbalance. Temper flared. Sleep deprivation occurs. Stress is magnified in small spaces.
As Marcus Aurelius wrote:
“You have power over your mind — not outside events.”
After three and a half years of living this way, everything began to change—the van, my life, and me.
I developed new mindsets to handle the stress and learned to practice humility in the face of failure—at least most of the time. As the years passed, the space seemed to shrink, especially as my son continued to grow.
Adaptations were made to the van. Battery and electrical system upgrades, dining table/work area created, antenna booster and outdoor shower was installed among many other improvements.
All the while, in the back of my mind, I kept imagining what Van 2.0 might become.
What systems would I change? Which manufacturers would I avoid? What would I add that I didn’t include the first time around? And, more importantly, did I really need those upgrades—and how often would I actually use them?
The more I think about it, the more I think about the level of effort and the amount of stress that comes with a van build; the more I fear the reality of the project. It’s easy to procrastinate.
As Confucius said:
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
The Future
Let the project Van2.0 commence!
I created the first generation Van in a hurry without much research, relying on my own abilities and knowledge from friends. It wasn’t perfect but it was available for habitation on time, with lots of bells and whistles. I’m proud of what I accomplished.
I will be researching much more this time. I’ll learn about systems, manufacturers and experiences other van lifers have learned from.
This journey/project will have details on Patreon and I hope you follow, comment, share and grow with me as I work in this new community.
Photos from the original build
