Okay, it seems like this is quite an aged discussion. How would you define the term “vanlife”? Also, I’m aware that many individuals dislike it.
Is the label exclusively reserved for full-time van dwellers?
Personally, I align more with being a weekender, despite having traveled extensively for several months. Where would you set the boundary in this regard?
Or is it primarily about the conduct of individuals while they are traveling?
This is IMO and I don’t intend to gatekeep. Since you asked…
What does the term “Vanlife” mean to you?
It used to mean living in a van; the term was used that way back in the 90s on yahoo email groups, IIRC.
/cynic mode ON
Then it blew up and was co-opted by carbetbaggers and the van-curious. Now it means influencing, watching influencers, posting bikini and/or foot pics, spending way too much money on a conversion then saying “hashtag-vanlife is overrated” and bailing. Most people on popular YT vanlife channels, forums, etc, do not own a van and will never spend a night in a van.
/cynic mode OFFSpeaking generally, and not about present company.
Personally, I align more with being a weekender, despite having traveled extensively for several months
Still working on coffee, but I’ll suggest a spectrum of approaches/attitudes
- dreaming <-- most people are here
- weekending
- weekending in a rig that is capable of longer outings. An underrated option, since it gives us the ability to deal with life challenges, natural disasters, etc.
- traveling for months - practically indistinguisable from fulltiming since it presents many of the same challenges: power, water, food, etc. The only things missing are exposure to both summer and winter, and the sobering realization that
this is homeand there is no other home to return to. - fulltiming
TLDR
Vacations and campouts are fun. Living off-grid fulltime is serious business. I am reminded of the joke about different animals’ contributions to breakfast: the chicken is involved but the pig is committed.
This is a good list. I’d suggest,
“extended trips” rather than a “for months” timeline. Once you’re past about 3weeks you’ve had to deal with power, water, food and etc. And you’re absolutely correct that this is a significant milestone.
“4 season extended trips” for the next level up? Its absolutely harder in winter; and especially an extended trip in the winter. These are the trips where I invariably fuck up and end up redoing the sink because I let it freeze. Or did a 20F exterior shower because eventually my wife really needs to wash her hair. (Someday I’ll have an interior shower option).
Fulltiming - I think the defining factor here is your “this is home” point. This isn’t something I’ve done since I was a kid. I can’t say I’m in a rush to do it again, although I know I’d be fine. Interestingly I did an extended summer recently when between homes and yet I didn’t think of that as “fulltiming” because I had a deadline. It was just a long vacation.
Working remote is a huge difference that this list doesn’t capture for me. I’m at my computer 8hrs a day when I’m working and combining that with living in the van is rough – its just too much time in the same little space. Especially when I need to keep normal hours.
I just noticed the meme on the post. I’m not sure I understand what it’s trying to say. Here’s one that rings more true to me.
Hi I’m late to the discussion but I’m a little closer to Barbie than a goth vampire but either way I don’t have the energy to analyze, categorize, or compare myself with anybody because I’m too busy surviving out here full time. Living the real thing. That’s the reality.
