What Is Van Life?

 What is Van Life?

Some people think van life is just about living full time in your camper, parking up wherever you want and and taking a morning photo from the tailgate, overlooking a lake or beach.  That's what it may look like on Instagram, but, in my opinion, van life is whatever it means to you.

For me, it's the break away from a busy working week.  It is holidaying with my family.  It is the festivals and meet ups.  It is using the camper as base camp when we want to explore a corner of the UK.  It is climbing underneath my T4 and changing an oil pressure switch.  It has become vlogging and blogging.  It is a drain on my wallet.  It is my commute to work.  My van is a big part of my life, so surely this is MY van life?

Who knows what the future will bring, my van life may change.  Maybe I'll have a big lottery win and decide that I'd like to tour the whole of the UK coast line (there may be a little vlog about this in the coming months... the trip i mean, not a lottery win).  Maybe things get a hell of a lot worse before they get better with the UK economy, and I have no other choice than to to live in my van full time.  Sadly, this has become a reality for some, and this may not be the van life they'd choose for themselves, but have been forced into it.

There are purists out there, who find it important to point out that my way isn't really 'van life', because I live in a house and only use the van for holidays and weekends away.  They are enjoying van life their way and feel that is the only way 'van life' can be done.  I have nothing against these folk, and I admire them for giving it a go.  Those who have a shot at full time van life are usually very eco active, self efficient, adventurous and highly driven.  I applaud them for having a dream and acting upon it.  I totally understand the draw of it, being able to jump in the driver seat and flit to the next county or beyond at the drop of a hat must feel like freedom personified. 

For some, it may be the necessity of it.  It is a form of low cost living afterall, and current living costs for a UK first time home buyer are ridiculous if nothing else. But even the cost of moving and heating these van dwellings is starting to take its toll on some.  This article on the BBC website, from December 2022, tells the story of a number of struggling van dwellers in Bristol.

Since you're reading this blog, I assume you will have an opinion on van life.  I hope it isn't one that frowns upon it, after reading your local rag about a 'swarm of campervans taking over coastal car parks' and emptying chemical toilets into streams.  There are always a few that spoil it for the many.  Afterall, not every football fan is an hooligan.  The press are known to usually show the negatives and not always the positives.  By going round festivals and campervan meets, I can honestly say, you rarely get such a gathering of helpful and pleasant likeminded people as you do at these events.  You could argue that this is what van life really is, not what you do, but the community you do it in.

However you choose to live your version of van life, it's important that you enjoy it.  If you wish to become a van dweller, give it a go.  If you're more of a part time van lifer, like me, then go out there and enjoy it.  I'd love you hear your van life related stories, however you live it.

Andy