I Want to Live in a Van
@Kouponkaren (5503)
United States
September 9, 2023 8:28pm CST
Yes, I sure do. I would love to go buy a Toyota Sienna van right now, make it into a van camper, and take off with my dog, and go see all of the beautiful places in North America. The thrill of the open road really appeals to me.
Do I want to be one of those people who lives van life forever? No, I just want to travel around the US and maybe Canada and see more of the country than I have. My husband would NEVER want to do this. At one point he agreed that we should rent an RV and go see the country. But as he gets older, that's not something he really wants to do anymore.
My life currently will not allow me to do this, and I realize that, and accept it. But it's on my bucket list and is still fun to dream about and I follow some van lifers on YouTube so I can live vicariously through them.
So what do you think about van life? Could you live in a van for any length of time?
22 people like this
24 responses
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
10 Sep 23
@AmbiePam
People use portable toilets with cat litter for the smell, and a urinal specifically designed for women. They dump them when they get to a public bathroom. As far as showering, you can buy a portable shower bag, or get a membership to Planet Fitness for $26 a month and shower at those facilities as long as there is one near where you are going. There are showers at truck stops but they are pretty expensive. I think they run anywhere from $14 - $17 per shower. Yikes!
5 people like this
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
10 Sep 23
Only if I trained the cats to do it too.
4 people like this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
10 Sep 23
@GardenGerty
How many cars do you have? There are people out there living van life with at least 1 cat. They walk them on a leash as well. I am sure it is doable but you might want to do it with a larger vehicle, like an RV so you could keep the litter box further away from the driver's seat.
3 people like this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Sep 23
@wolfgirl569
What do you consider a short time? A month? 6 months or a year?
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (103969)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
10 Sep 23
My relatives and myself would like to live in a van and travel around America one day like my late parents did in their lifetime taking a car our home in Panama and take the ride aboard a steamship named Cristobal that would travel from Colon Panama to New Orleans and back.
3 people like this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Sep 23
@Deepizzaguy
Very cool about your parents. I hope you and your relatives get to do it someday. It's fun to dream and plan these adventures.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
12 Sep 23
@Kouponkaren That’s a good way to live. Go for it.
1 person likes this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
12 Sep 23
@RubyHawk
It's not feasible right now but maybe someday!
1 person likes this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Sep 23
@RubyHawk
There are people that do it for years. I don't think I could do it for years but 6 months to a year would be fun and then once I saw everything I wanted to see, I would like to settle down in a little house with some land somewhere and then just travel to a warmer place in the winter months. I would be a "snowbird."
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38564)
•
10 Sep 23
I could do the RV thing with the real toilet and shower, but not a van--just too tight of a space, and I do want my bathroom. But I'm not going to do either right now, my life is just too busy. I wish you could go if that's what you want to do, Karen.
3 people like this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Sep 23
@MarieCoyle
Aw, thank you. Maybe someday. I thought about getting an RV but I am not really up to learning all about the gray water and black water and learning about hoses and dumping, etc. I just want to go travel and simplify things. Especially since I might only be doing it for 1 year.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38564)
•
11 Sep 23
@Kouponkaren
It's definitely something you have to put thought and money in to, where to park, costs, water dumping, water filling, and on and on. Then after you get all of that done, you have to drive. I think I would like it better if I could stay several days or a week in one place, then pack up and move on.
Not sure if that's the same as "van life", as I imagine vans are smaller... 
Idk. Haha.@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Sep 23
@moirai
Yes, vans are smaller and most don't have toilets or showers. People bring portable potties or just use public bathrooms when they can find them, and shower at truck stops and gyms.
1 person likes this
@writerjo (2540)
• India
11 Sep 23
@Kouponkaren
I have heard about VanLife .
Toyota Sienna will be the best choice.
It will be a thrilling experience & can ride wherever we wish to go .
We can watch the nature & enjoy.
But we have to see the problems in VanLife.
Bad whether, Shortage of Fuel , unexpected mechanical fault , Strangers assault in nights , Wild Animals disturbances ...
It is better to go for a picnic & can fulfill your wish in holidays .
Have a good day/night
1 person likes this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
12 Sep 23
@writerjo
Yes you are right, there are both good and bad sides to this idea. But since I don't want to do it permanently, it's on the bucket list!
1 person likes this
I wish you all the best to attain the bucket list 
@xFiacre (13120)
• Ireland
10 Sep 23
@kouponkaren Oh yes, but only alone. I need my space, lots of it. I’d drive from here around all the back roads of France and Italy. Throw in the rest of Europe too. And like @ambiepam I’d want really excellent toilet facilities. My family toured Southern Africa that way for 3 months in 1970.
2 people like this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Sep 23
@xFiacre
What would your wife say if you told her you were taking off to see Europe in a van without her? I bet you have some amazing memories from that trip with your family.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41686)
• United States
10 Sep 23
I can see a few pleasures, but I like my home too much. I'm less adventurous the older I get. I always wanted to drive through small towns and walk through the down town. Discover little local cafes, old book shops, gift boutique stores, and such. Maybe even an old general store.
Trouble is there may be too many homeless people to make that possible these days.
2 people like this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Sep 23
@1creekgirl
I think the homeless people are mostly in the big cities these days and not so much in little country towns. Maybe you can convince your husband to take you for a day trip to one of those towns not too far away?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341743)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Sep 23
We lived in a van for five months then another three months two years later. We bought the van in Ireland and toured Ireland, England, Scotland, Germany France and the Czech republic the first time. The second time we stayed in France and Ireland. Then we sold the van for the same price that we bought it for. We look back on that time with very fond memories.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (341743)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Sep 23
@Kouponkaren It was a very special time indeed. We have so many photos from those trips.
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Sep 23
@JudyEv
Oh my goodness, you're a woman after my own heart! I would love that. I bet you do have fond memories. Maybe someday I will too. You are fortunate to have sold it for the same amount you paid for it. Good for you!
1 person likes this
@paigea (36316)
• Canada
10 Sep 23
We took our Ford Aerostar from Alberta to the East Coast of Canada.
We took out the back seat and put a good mattress in it. We put curtains on the windows. Our camping stuff fit in two plastic bins at the back. Our suitcases fit behind the seats. We stayed at campsites with showers.
It was a great trip.
2 people like this
@paigea (36316)
• Canada
11 Sep 23
@Kouponkaren ours was about 5 weeks. Could have been longer for the distance we covered. But 6 months would be too long for me.
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Sep 23
@paigea
That sounds like what I want to do, for 6 months to a year. How long was your trip?
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (181948)
• United States
10 Sep 23
Maybe not a van, but a camper of some sort I could. I have the dream to travel around like that too, but would want to be with someone who knows what they are doing. I am not mechanical.
1 person likes this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Sep 23
@snowy22315
I know what you mean. Most of the van lifers have AAA in case of issues like that. And some meet up with other women at a pre-determined campground and they all camp together. There's safety in numbers, even when it comes to mechanical issues!
@RebeccasFarm (90295)
• Arvada, Colorado
11 Sep 23
Well I had lived in a car before..but I would have a go at living in a van..there are so many YouTubers doing that both young and old. There was a myLotter doing it also.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90295)
• Arvada, Colorado
12 Sep 23
@Kouponkaren Oh gosh..I cant remember..Mystic..I believe was her name.
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Sep 23
@RebeccasFarm
Who was the Mylotter doing it? I would love to follow them. I leave comments about myLot on some of the van lifers YouTube sites but so far I don't think any of them have joined myLot.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37369)
• Toccoa, Georgia
10 Sep 23
It would be fun only for a one or two week trip.
1 person likes this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Sep 23
@LeaPea2417
I hear ya. I will probably do some 1 week trips first to get the hang of it and make sure I like it before I jump in for the long term.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80635)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Sep 23
I have always wanted to live in an RV and travel all over the states. That is never going to happen now but it was something I wanted to do once,
1 person likes this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Sep 23
@RasmaSandra
My husband and I BOTH wanted to do it together when we were first dating. But that was many years ago and as he has gotten older, he doesn't want to do it anymore. He doesn't lie to do car trips that are more than 2 hours away.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (61563)
• Centralia, Washington
11 Sep 23
My answer is no. I took the wrong route on our last road trip and our run to our first motel took about 7 hours rather than 3. You want to talk about tired?? I am not up for dealing with traffic like that anymore. Lovely Pacific views if I hadn't been in a worried, rotten mood.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (61563)
• Centralia, Washington
11 Sep 23
@Kouponkaren I'm just not doing as well when it comes to dealing with merging traffic on and off highways.
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Sep 23
@sallypup
Oh no, I am sorry that happened to you. I have been that tired on trips before and it is NOT fun!!!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
11 Sep 23
@Kouponkaren Sounds right to me. But can you get comfy in that small front seat?
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Sep 23
@TheHorse
That sounds like fun. I do actually have a pickup truck now (Toyota Tacoma) and had thought of just putting a camping cap on top of that. But as a single woman traveling alone, it's probably a better idea to sleep inside a vehicle that I can just jump into the driver's seat if I feel I am in an unsafe area, rather than have to get out of the back of the truck and go around to the front and get in to drive away.
1 person likes this
