VanDwelling Adventure – What is it?

Adventure VanDwelling is a little different than just camping or living out of your van. Those who choose Adventure VanDwell tend to 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. Adventure, of course, is what you decide it is. For me, adventure is traveling around the US, particularly to unique and picturesque areas, and the upside that I really enjoy is documenting my travels through photos and journals. I love sharing the ride 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 various US waters or specific regions makes your heart race and puts a big smile on your face, then chances are you have the spirit! ultimate adventurer!

When it comes to Van Dwelling (also known as vandwelling), it is generally considered that the truck is used for camping and/or living in it for extended periods of time. The term vandwelling has become popular in recent years both for those of us who do it, and for 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-type Roadtreks and Pleasure Way Class B Camper Vans, most of those who vandwell, do it in self-installing vans and can do it without a great deal of cost. In addition, a van is often a van dweller’s mode of transportation, as well as their home, and much less conspicuous and much easier to drive and park than more traditional RVs. Cost savings are also factored in (in most states) from reduced truck registration and insurance requirements and costs compared to traditional RVs.

One can make a van quite comfortable if he configures his vans with his personal needs in mind. For some it is important to have a truck with a high roof to be able to stand and walk. But plenty of other vandwellers are happy and doing just fine in standard-height trucks. Just like in a fixed brick and mortar home, which van we choose and how we configure it 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…available money! The freedom that the vandwelling lifestyle allows to escape the confines and costs of hotels, rent or mortgages can be downright intoxicating! Vandwellians value the amount of space they have and use it wisely and efficiently. Having everything you need configured to your preferences and close at hand without having to carry clothes 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 one has, the more things fill it. Vandwellers rarely buy a lot of stuff they don’t need, as they don’t want to clutter up their valuable 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 portable potty for most of us) and some of the other comforts that a traditional home provides. enjoy its many other attributes. It’s a great way to explore and indulge our passions on the go, and it’s an option available to those on a much more limited budget than many traditional full-time RVs. For us adventure-loving nomadic types, adventure vandwelling is a wonderful option for a vacation, a season of life, or a long-term lifestyle.

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