As I learn what brings me joy in life, I find the “fun target” to be constantly moving. With that said, I do think there is a recipe for success to having fun while living van life. None of these are top secret, but together this recipe cooks up a delicious pie.
Kristin showing off her balancing skills while at a beach hot spring in Baja, Mexico. Photo by Dalton Johnson
1) Do the things you love!
Simple to say, hard to practice. There are many things which distract us from the things we love… stress, work, desires to be better, family, etc. The list of distractions goes. Thankfully, when you live in a van, life is simple and what you own is minimal. Thus, you should have quick access to the things you love. For myself, rock climbing and surfing are two hobbies I enjoy, so I make sure to keep this equipment accessible and in my van at all times. Additional, I travel to places where I can do one of these hobbies.
2) Push yourself outside of your comfort zone
Living a life of constant growth has added great value to my life. Now what does that mean? Also, if you are constantly growing, how is there time for fun? Yes, growth can hurt, but that typically happens if you try to grow to fast. “Slow and steady wins the race,” my 3rd grade teacher preached. I do find slow growth to be a joyful. To cultivate a life of slow growth, I try to step outside of my comfort zone once a day. A simple example, I used to struggle talking with strangers (a very important skill while living on the road) so I devised a plan to overcome that:
Day One: wave/smile at one random person
Day Two: wave/smile at 10 people
Day Three: wave/smile at 10 people AND compliment one person
Day Four: wave/smile at 10 people AND compliment three people
Day Five: Compliment three people AND hold one conversation
*after the fifth day, I realized people are not scary, just smile and wave.
Sunrise light shines bright on the Middle Teton while Sean racks the climbing gear to start up the first pitch of the Full Exum route on the Grand Teton. Photo by Dalton Johnson
3) Talk with strangers who are in your community
After building up my tolerance to talk with strangers, I started striking up conversations with community members. First, you have to know what community you want to be apart. For myself, this included creatives, van lifers, rock climbers, and surfers. Second, go to where they are and hang out. I’ve found, with the exception of surfing, if you are alone in a space, somebody will talk with you.
4) Make friends and travel together
Once you have made some friends, see if you are traveling in the same direction. If you are, travel together for a day. Maybe camp together. If that feels good, add a second day. You can always drive a little bit more to “escape” them, or go on a solo side trip. If you are not, that is okay, ask if they have friends in that direction. Most likely somebody knows somebody in the direction you are going.
Personally, I enjoy a significant amount of time alone, but traveling with others is nice!
A surfer sprays the lip of a wave at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, CA. Photo by Dalton Johnson
5) Make a list of reasons you want to live in a van
Okay, this is HUGE! If you make a list of reasons why you want to live in a van, the list will outline the things you should do, hopefully on the daily. If not daily, at least four times a week. Here is my list:
-Access to nature (daily)
-Photographic opportunities (daily)
-Seeing the world (a general concept and also why I drive more than peers)
-Meeting new people (daily)
For Valentine’s Day, these two set out for a picnic on the beach in Santa Cruz, CA. Ironically, this was a photoshoot for a valentine’s day giveaway, but you get the idea… right? Photo by Dalton Johnson
6) Picnic often
This one is a bit silly, but I love a good picnic. Why? If I am having a picnic this means there is a view, I have some company, and I have intentionally set aside time in my day to be present outside. That is a dream come true for myself. Heck, I might even pull out my camera and snap some sweet shots while filling my face with food!
7) Avoid cities
Cities and I don’t totally get along, thus avoiding these at all costs is best for my overall health. If you are a city person… maybe get an apartment? I mean, don’t get me wrong, cities have a lot of opportunity, but personally I don’t think a van and a city mix well together.
Sam Strohl working through the crux of a boulder in the Happy Boulders of Bishop, CA. Photo by Dalton Johnson
8) Level set your expectations
Underpromise and over-deliver. Yup, try not to overhype the next place you are going to go in you mind, otherwise you might let yourself down. This has happened to me a few times, mainly when I was living on a bicycle, and it doesn’t feel great. Try to level set you mind so you enjoy the experience more than the build up. A trick I use for this while on the road is the break it down into the basics. If I am going to rock climb someplace new, I tell myself, “This will be fun, you will be climbing on sandstone, and you have solid company. There are going to be some easy routes and some hard one. Just go out and have some fun.”
Looking out upon the Pacific ocean, Kristin enjoys the sunrise from a roof top tent. Photo by Dalton Johnson
In the end, having fun while living in a van can be simple, but the distractions of life are ever-present. Keep that in mind and prioritize the fun things. Make a list, check it twice, and fill your bucket with the experiences that help you grow.