Get Ready, Get Set, Go!

At the beginning of September 2024, Dan and I packed up our lives, giving away, selling, or donating everything except the essentials and our most cherished memories. We’ve dreamed of this for a long time, and now we’re officially living our vantasy—our DIY camper van is our new home, wherever we choose to park it!

Our four kids are grown and out on their own—two still in college and two recently graduated from college and pursuing their professional careers. Right now, they’re spread across three states: one in Texas, one in Arizona, and two in California. We plan to visit each of them regularly and spend some good quality time. Of course, we will bring our own bed (BYOB) since we now live in a camper van-how convenient! Actually, you could say we will bring our own everything!

We have a small family lake cabin in Maine where we plan to spend each summer. We also own a condo in Arizona, where my mother lives, and we plan to visit her every three months or so. The rest of the year, we’ll be on the road full-time, working Monday through Friday and exploring in the evenings and on weekends. Dan’s job is fully remote, and I’m working on several writing projects. This means we can set up our office anywhere with Wi-Fi or cell service—which, these days, is just about everywhere.

The past year has been all about preparing for van life. We’ve been focused on simplifying our lives—me by gradually closing my antique booth businesses and clearing out inventory, and both of us by paring down our personal belongings to what will fit in a van. This eye-opening process revealed just how little we actually need to live comfortably. (I confess, I had way more clothes and shoes than necessary!) Plus, I didn’t realize I was such an art hoarder! Vanlife lesson learned.

“If you don’t have many possessions, then you don’t need to work all your life like a slave to sustain them, and therefore you have more time for yourself.” -Jose Mujica

The Van

Last year, we purchased a 2016 Ford Transit Extended cargo van and gutted it down to the shell.

For inspiration, we watched countless #Vanlife videos and read just as many blog posts. We wanted to learn from those with experience about what works, what doesn’t, and what they love and dislike about their camper vans.

Dan and I used many of those videos and blogs to brainstorm, design and ultimately create the camper van of our dreams. Dan was the brilliant architect, engineer, and problem-solver throughout the entire process. He absolutely blew my mind with his creativity, innovation, drive, and determination—he is truly amazing in so many ways! And I got to be the interior designer of our new tiny home. I cannot express adequately how much fun that was! I love showing off our van to anyone who wants to see—let me know if you’d like a tour! Also, we have been trying to come up with a name for our van, with no luck. If you have ideas, please send them our way!

Our Vanlife Maiden Voyage

For our first trip, we made our way to our cabin in Maine—a whopping 3,000 miles in ten days! Our first stop was the Las Vegas DMV to establish our Nevada residency (lots of reasons for this—most of them financial–just ask us if you’re curious).

Anyway, as we drove through Arizona and Nevada, the heat was unbearable—around 105 degrees. The van a.c. was not keeping up, (at one point, it started blowing ice chunks at us through our air vents!) So, after a few hours in the DMV and we officially became “Nevadans,” we hit the road and drove until we found a place where we could sleep in the van without literally dying of heat stroke. We drove north towards higher elevation and ended up stopping to sleep on BLM land (bureau of land management—in other words, public land where it’s free and legal to camp) in Kannaraville, Utah. It was a wonderful 65 degrees there, and our first van-sleep was sweet.

Vanlife Camping

You might be wondering where we slept all along our long journey to Maine. (I mean, obviously we slept in the van….but where did we park it?) We definitely utilized our learnings from experienced Vanlife folks (all those videos and blogs) and put their best tips into practice.

We purchased an annual “Harvest Hosts” membership—which also includes a bonus membership in a group called, “Boondockers Welcome.” Harvest Host members get unlimited overnight stays at farms, wineries, breweries, and more with no camping fees. Boondockers Welcome allows us to stay in people’s driveways or on their land for free—sometimes with a small fee of $5 or $10 if you hook up to their electricity/water.

Some other free places we can sleep in the van include: BLM Land, Rest Areas, Truck Stops like Pilot or Flying J, Cracker Barrel, and some Wal-Marts. Since we are in a van, we have more options if we want to be “stealthy” than RVs or fifth wheels do—which is one of the reasons we chose a van versus something larger that screams, “camper.”

During this particular ten-day stretch, we mostly slept at Boondockers Welcome spots, but we also stayed on BLM land and a couple of rest areas. I think we spent a total of $15 on sleeping for 10 days!  That’s a pretty budget-friendly and sustainable form of lodging, I’d say!

One of my favorite spots was staying on a farm near Toronto, Canada. I had a great time photographing the chickens, roosters, and goats with my new telephoto lens. It reminded me of the joy and excitement I used to feel in my twenties when I was a portrait photographer. I think it’s time to rekindle that old passion for photography—whatever/whoever the subject may be!

We also stayed at a lovely little park near Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was something we found through an app called iOverlander. We had a beautiful view of the boat locks on the river, as well as picnic tables and restrooms. There were showers, too, but we didn’t use them because there were too many bugs! Side note, I am already learning to be less girly as a vanlife person. I take a few less showers and usually wear a hat. We’ll see where this road takes me – at this point, I can’t imagine going anywhere without makeup and my nails done. Ask me how that’s going in a year!

Vanlife Eating:

Our van is equipped with a mini kitchen featuring an induction cooktop and a compact three-in-one oven that also functions as a microwave and air fryer. We also brought along a small Instant Pot, which serves as a slow cooker, pressure cooker, and rice cooker. Our kitchen includes all the essentials: pots and pans, dishes, and silverware.

We have a small refrigerator-freezer that holds the basics—milk or juice, meats, cheeses, condiments, and leftovers. We made sure the freezer is big enough for ice cream, too! Each of us has a Brita water bottle with a built-in filter, so we can fill up from most any spout and get clean water. We also have Yeti mugs for non-water beverages and a mug each for hot chocolate or cider.

We also enjoy eating at restaurants when we can. We mostly enjoy the same foods (except we have differing opinions on a few things like cheese, butter, onions, mushrooms, olives, etc.) We like to split meals so that we get to taste more things, and we’re less likely to overeat. We both love ice cream—except that I think I’m a little more picky about it than Dan is. I am also sensitive to dairy, so I usually get the smallest size—or a kid’s size if they have it.

This first trip was a foodfest! We had so many wonderful things. We kicked off our journey at Bahama Breeze in Las Vegas, where Dan got his favorite Caribbean pasta and I got my favorite shrimp tacos and seafood chowder. We both got Ultimate Pina Coladas (virgin with a swirl of strawberry). Along the journey, we had SO many different ice cream places—all very tasty! I almost always got mint—whether mint chip or peppermint. Dan always likes to try different flavors—peanut butter, coconut, and some fruity ones, too.

Fly’n Roosters in Grand Junction, CO has delicious chicken wings! We got 3 flavors—Hawaiian pineapple, teriyaki, and honey BBQ. I think the Hawaiian was both of our favorite!

Sam and Louie’s in Sterling, Iowa has pretty decent pizza—and Sterling Grocery next door has an ice cream parlor with maybe the best mint chip I’ve ever had!

We stopped at a Chinese buffet in Peru Illinois called Master Buffet. It was very good—and had a huge selection—but it made my stomach hurt pretty quickly, so I didn’t eat too much. For some reason, Chinese food does this to me–I don’t think it’s their fault, and I still loved it!

We had shawarma and falafel and poutine in Toronto. Even though we shared, we couldn’t finish, and we barely touched the poutine, which ended up living in our refrigerator for several days until we ultimately threw it away.

We went to a farmer’s market in Canada and got some Ontario peaches—yum! But I noticed the blueberries were covered in bees—which quickly scared me away! We also got delicious smoked pork sausage on a stick.  I loved all the food!

Vanlife Bathroom Situation

We only have a portable shower in our van. We decided we’d rather have more counter and storage space and keep the layout open. We do have a toilet–and we have a little privacy curtain when we use it. However, it is only a camping toilet. We basically do our business in biodegradable bags and dispose of them after use.  And, of course, we use public restrooms whenever possible. So far, this has worked out just fine—no problems at all. And I am grateful to not have to deal with the smells and hassles I’ve read about with RV toilets that are plumbed in.

For showers, we have a Black Card membership at Planet Fitness, which allows us to use their facilities. I have to admit, I’m thrilled not to have to clean my own shower or bathtub anymore—that’s definitely a big perk of vanlife! We also work out at PF, which helps us stay in shape, especially on days when we’re sitting a lot, whether working or driving. They offer all the equipment I could want—treadmills, free weights, yoga mats, and more. With Planet Fitness locations across the country, they’ve been easy to find so far, and we plan to route our travels around their locations when possible. So far, I’m really loving PF!

National Parks

We’re really excited about visiting all the National Parks as we travel around the USA. To keep track, we’ve got a tapestry curtain with a map of the parks. Our plan is to mark off each one we visit on the tapestry, but we’re still figuring out the best way to do that. If you have any creative ideas, we’d love to hear them!

We were thrilled to visit our first NP on the third day of this journey—Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and the park views did not disappoint. Beautiful, steep canyons with a shiny blue river flowing through and pretty, green foliage and trees popping out here and there. We drove the scenic 7 miles and parked and got out at most every viewpoint. There was hardly any walking required (which is great because my foot is hurting pretty badly….long story…but ask me about it if you want the details).

OH…and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the bear. He was hanging out by our van when we got out to take a picture with the NP sign. I actually didn’t notice him, so thankfully, Dan gave me a head’s up so I didn’t become bear-lunch. I was just walking towards my van door, when I heard Dan say, “Joanna.” ”Yeah,” I said, but two or three more times, Dan said, “Joanna” progressively louder. I thought I sensed a little uneasiness in his voice, so, I turned around and walked towards him and said, “what?” “Bear!” he said and he pointed to where I was just walking. My heart started thumping SO hard, and we both hurried into the van from the driver’s side.

I grabbed my camera and started snapping. At this point, I was starting to calm down and realize that I had the most rare, unique opportunity to have a portrait session with a wild bear! And I knew that if he got any closer, I could just roll my window up and drive away. And honestly, I think the bear was flattered, because he was giving me some great poses—and I could have even sworn he smiled at me.

There were a few thoughts that occurred to me as I was photographing the bear. First of all, I need to do a better job paying attention to my surroundings so that I don’t get eaten. Secondly, I’m not alone in my obliviousness, because at least eight cars drove by without even noticing the bear 3 feet away. A lesson in being present, for sure!

MLB Baseball Park Tour!

We have a baseball park scratch off poster in our van, and we plan to ultimately visit every MLB baseball park as part of vanlife. We were able to scratch off our first one this trip—Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. AND—it was the Phillies @ Blue Jays!! The Phillies are Dan’s favorite team and becoming mine as well, since I’ve been cheering for them for like 6 seasons with Dan.

The game was epic! As we took our seats, Kyle Schwarber hit a leadoff home run!! The game quickly turned however when the Blue Jays went ahead 6-1 in the bottom of the first inning. The game was a slug-fest, with the Jays leading until the 9^th inning, when Schwarber came to bat with two men on base and hit another home run (his third of the day) to put the Phillies in the lead. Final Score – 10-9 the Phillies Won!

Attractions and Interesting Things

We don’t mind being tourists wherever we go—in fact, we own it! We try to consult the internet for some of the “must-sees”. I guess I have a little bit of FOMO. I feel like once we’ve taken a few more trips around the country, we’ll then start to visit some of the more obscure sites—spending a little more time in some of our favorite places and really getting to know what it’s like to be a local.

For now, we’re taking every opportunity to capture fun moments—like stopping for a picture with a ginormous apple and getting a shot of every waterfall we encounter (this one is a big one! Guess where we are?!). I also can’t resist a good ferris wheel, especially those over water. And I had to snap a photo of the colorful fall leaves in Canada—fall hasn’t quite arrived in Arizona yet… will it ever?

Oh, and what’s up with the shoes? I also adore old cobblestone streets in historic towns; it might just be my love language. Someone once told me that a key to a happy life is cultivating a sense of wonder in everyday living. For me, travel brings that sense of wonder. I feel like a child again, seeing things for the first time and soaking it all in.

Arriving at the Cabin in Maine

We arrived at the cabin just after sunset, with just a little twilight to guide our way through the woods. The peaceful sounds of the camp—the lake water sloshing, the cicadas chirping, the loons calling – were music to our ears!

I just want to say one more thing about camp. This particular camp has been in Dan’s family for generations, and was a huge part of Dan’s childhood—he spent many summers here with his siblings, parents and grandparents, swimming in the lake, kayaking, playing in the woods, building forts, and playing games. I had a similar childhood experience—although a different camp. I went to summer camp every year—Camp Mihaska—where I spent many happy days swimming, boating, hiking, and playing games outside.

From the very first time I visited this camp in Maine with Dan, it reminded me of Camp Mihaska—the sights and sounds took me back to those special childhood memories. So, when Dan asked me a few years ago if I wanted us to buy the camp, I did not hesitate. This place just feels like home! I look forward to hosting family and friends in this special place for many years to come—and I hope many new memories will be made here.

That’s all for now—stay tuned for our next vanlife update!

Hope all is well with all of you!

PS. Branden, Alyssa, Nikole, Isaak, Loki, Teddy–we think of you every day and love you so much!! We appreciate all the texts and phone calls 😉

PPS. Family and Friends–we love the rest of you, too!!! Too many to mention—but if you are still reading this, you are surely one or both!

We wish everyone health, happiness, and peace.