VanDwelling Adventure – What is it?

Adventure VanDwelling is a little different than just camping or living out of your truck. Those who choose Adventure VanDwell often have a nomadic spirit. If the word ‘nomad’ doesn’t intrigue you or jump off the page, chances are you’re not the nomad type. Wikipedia and most dictionaries generally define a nomad as someone who moves from one place to another to work or earn a living, or a person with no fixed residence who wanders; wander. The adventure, of course, is whatever you decide it is. For me, adventure is traveling across the US, particularly to scenic and unique areas, and the silver lining that I really enjoy is documenting my travels through photos and journals. I love sharing the journey as much as (possibly even more) personally enjoying new discoveries and explorations. For others, adventure may mean kayaking, hiking, fishing, or visiting all of our National Parks or historic areas. What adventure is to different people is as diverse as the people themselves. For example, if you LOVE to fish and the thought of fishing in various waters of the US or in specific regions makes your heart race and put a big smile on your face, then chances are you are in the spirit! fundamental adventurer!

When it comes to Van Dwelling (also known as vandwelling), the van is generally considered to be used for camping and/or living in it for long periods of time. The term vandwelling has become popular in recent years both by those of us who do it, and by those who dream of doing it at some point in their lives. Vandwelling also refers to a lifestyle choice to enjoy the freedom of using the vehicle as your home (or hotel). Vandwelling is similar to what RVers refer to as ‘full time’ (living and traveling full time in one’s own RV). Although there are those with beautiful RV-like Roadtreks and Pleasure Way Class B Camper Vans, most of those who vandwell do so in self-installing vans and can do so without great expense. Additionally, a van is often a van dweller’s mode of transportation, as well as their home, and much less flashy and much easier to drive and park than more traditional RVs. Cost savings are also factored in (in most states) from reduced requirements and costs on truck registration and insurance compared to traditional RVs.

One can make a van quite comfortable if you configure your vans with your personal needs in mind. For some it is important to have a high top van to be able to stand and walk. But plenty of other vandwellers are happy and fine in standard-height vans. Just like a brick-and-mortar stationary, which van we choose and how we set it up is very much down to personal preference. Considerations should also include the amount of time we intend to camp or live in our vans, our individual needs and choices, and…yes…money available! The freedom that the vandwelling lifestyle affords to escape the confines and costs of hotels, rent or mortgages can be downright intoxicating! Vandwellians place great value on the amount of space they have and use it wisely and efficiently. Having everything you need configured to your preferences and in close proximity without having to carry clothing and other essentials in and out of hotels while traveling is also a great convenience for many. Many find that there is an added freedom in not having so many things around them to weigh them down. In general, the more space you have, the more stuff fills it up. Vandwellers rarely buy a lot of things they don’t need, as they don’t want to fill up their precious space with things that don’t matter!

When you combine adventures with vandwelling…it’s amazing! It’s worth learning to deal with the challenges (in most cases) of not having a full bathroom on board (I highly recommend a porta potty for most of us) and some of the other conveniences a traditional house provides. enjoy its many other attributes. It’s a great way to explore and enjoy our passions while traveling, and it’s an option available to those who are on a much more limited budget than many traditional full-time RVers. For us adventure-loving nomadic types, adventure vandwelling is a wonderful option for vacations, a season of life, or a long-term lifestyle.