For the past decade I have been dreaming of living a more adventurous life. My story is not unique, there is a reason more and more people are trading in homes for life on the road. Initially I had wanted an RV, then a sailboat, and finally a van. I want more experiences and less things. I want to live in a less traditional way, and someday I hope to raise my children to experience life a little different than most.
One day, I found a van. In 2013 while searching Craigslist, I found this beast. The van was and old 1993 Ford E-350, but solid, with only 120,000 miles. When built into a news van, they added a Quigley 4×4 conversion. This was the main selling point! I love to snowboard and having a 4×4 van would be the ultimate dream. However, if you’ve ever searched for these vehicles, they are expensive and hard to find, and even more expensive to build. So I bought her (with my boyfriend at the time). When I registered the van, I wanted my very first vanity plate. My boyfriend wasn’t crazy about the idea, but I went for it. That was how the RADVAN was born. Like all good love stories, ours came to an end, he got the house and I got the van. Some say I’m crazy for wanting the van, but to me this van symbolizes my dream, and ultimate freedom.
I spent the last few years, slowly gutting the van. It was filled with more wires than you could possibly imagine. To this day, my only significant and on going issues, are electrical. I have replaced the transmission, radiator, brakes and a slew of smaller items. I have learned how to replace batteries, change 1 ton tires, and check everything manually since I have no gauges (yup- no fuel, temp, battery or oil gauges). Electrical issues sure are fun!
In 2016 I went through a breakup of an 11 year relationship, lost my business and said goodbye to the first home I had ever bought and renovated. It was a rough year. In the process, I also lost the vanity plates, as they belonged to him. I had moved to Maine from California with my ex, and my first instinct was to run home. But the plan to move back wasn’t sitting right. I was really close to selling the van, shipping my belongings, and rebuilding my life in the traditional sense.
One day I realized, that perhaps loosing everything, was actually a blessing. I have nothing to be responsible for. No mortgage, man or child to worry about. I was free for the first time in a decade. Free to do what I want. I might not have this opportunity for a while. It was time to get off my ass, and finally go for my dream, if even for a short time to see if it was a dream that I wanted or an idea that I had romanticized. So I sold my Pruis, put my belongings in storage and began turning the van into my summer home.
[pp_gallery id=”4187″]The van is still a work in progress, I had to hit the road to get back to Cali for family stuff in June. My plan is to continue to work on her while me and my dogs adventure in the west for the summer of 2017. I chose to not transfer the vanity plates, as a women on the road solo, I don’t think I need to draw attention to myself. But Eleanor the van (Ellie) is still and always will be my RADVAN. I am in the process of building a career that allows me to work remotely, digital nomad if you will. I sell the most amazing hemp oil on the planet and also work as a freelance photographer. If I like the van life, I am hoping to continue traveling through the fall, although I will most likely settle somewhere so I can chase snow during the winter. Dogs and van life in the winter, doesn’t sound that appealing! If I don’t like it, I’ll go back to a normal life. No harm in having an epic adventure in the process!
For now, I am enjoying every slice of this adventure. You can follow along on both my personal and van insta, as well as the blog (coming soon!)
If you would like to work together or collaborate or meet up along the journey, please say hi!
