THE CALLING OF THE BONES
The call for this trip started tickling inside my bones at the beginning of the year. I had no idea how I was going to make such an epic trip possible. Yet, I know this call that starts in the bones and the belly... it is not to be ignored, and it will have what it is calling for, or will make you crazy and/or miserable if you try to deny it.
I've long been the sort that would rather listen to jeering on the outside than ignore that pulling from the inside. I can close myself off from the world to a degree, but cutting myself off from myself is too painful for me to bear for any length of time.
So I started investigating options. I looked at long-term car rental prices. I looked at where friends were scattered that I could stay with as home bases for the places that beckoned. Long term car rental- when researching 6 months before- was around $1500 for 3 months. That seemed attainable. Now to figure out lodging. That became a problem that continued to prove tricky.
At some point, I started looking at campers. Could I find a rental rate that would bring me to less than what it would be to Motel 6 + long term rental? As anyone that's gone into the #vanlife rabbithole knows, it doesn't take long before you're spending hours every day looking at built out vans. My desire was awoken. This is was the solution-- I just didn't know how to make it work. Especially since I'm taking this trip in the peak season of summer. Relocation specials? But how to match up dates and places? What would the odds of that be? Find a buy-back program? But how much would I need upfront, and how much would I get back? My email inquiries went unanswered.
No need to think about that. Just keep watching vanlife videos. No room for practicalities like finances when suckling such a darling shiny dream, right? The bones were calling. They get their way via the most unexpected avenues. I knew how to do this. Just hold the space for the possibility and dream up options to see what leads where.
Then that glorious day came when I came upon a video with a temporary van build. Van builds that were completely removable and sought not to do any damage to the interior of the van. Whaaaaaaaaat?
The sweet smell of possibility wafted through this opened window....
TEMPORARY VAN BUILDS
This guy's build of his mom's SCION blew my mind. I loved the tree storage in the back. But would that be enough storage? What about cooking?
The call for this trip started tickling inside my bones at the beginning of the year. I had no idea how I was going to make such an epic trip possible. Yet, I know this call that starts in the bones and the belly... it is not to be ignored, and it will have what it is calling for, or will make you crazy and/or miserable if you try to deny it.
I've long been the sort that would rather listen to jeering on the outside than ignore that pulling from the inside. I can close myself off from the world to a degree, but cutting myself off from myself is too painful for me to bear for any length of time.
So I started investigating options. I looked at long-term car rental prices. I looked at where friends were scattered that I could stay with as home bases for the places that beckoned. Long term car rental- when researching 6 months before- was around $1500 for 3 months. That seemed attainable. Now to figure out lodging. That became a problem that continued to prove tricky.
At some point, I started looking at campers. Could I find a rental rate that would bring me to less than what it would be to Motel 6 + long term rental? As anyone that's gone into the #vanlife rabbithole knows, it doesn't take long before you're spending hours every day looking at built out vans. My desire was awoken. This is was the solution-- I just didn't know how to make it work. Especially since I'm taking this trip in the peak season of summer. Relocation specials? But how to match up dates and places? What would the odds of that be? Find a buy-back program? But how much would I need upfront, and how much would I get back? My email inquiries went unanswered.
No need to think about that. Just keep watching vanlife videos. No room for practicalities like finances when suckling such a darling shiny dream, right? The bones were calling. They get their way via the most unexpected avenues. I knew how to do this. Just hold the space for the possibility and dream up options to see what leads where.
Then that glorious day came when I came upon a video with a temporary van build. Van builds that were completely removable and sought not to do any damage to the interior of the van. Whaaaaaaaaat?
The sweet smell of possibility wafted through this opened window....
TEMPORARY VAN BUILDS
This guy's build of his mom's SCION blew my mind. I loved the tree storage in the back. But would that be enough storage? What about cooking?
Then I saw this woman's build- including kitchen with sink- of her Scion. Incredibly inspiring. But the woodwork looked really complicated to me.
Isn't that incredible?? People are amazing.
So if I could do a temporary van build, that meant I could rent a van, insert the build, take the trip and return the vehicle unscathed. Now that could maybe be possible. If I could find the right rental, and the right build.
Leaving behind the young, lithe, 20 year olds posting glimmering fantasy shots of toes dangling before a magnificent landscape, I went deeper into the rabbit hole focusing on these removable diy on-the-cheap builds that could be done quickly by a not-so-young, stiff and arthritic, spittin'-distance-from-50 year old.
Its amazing that such a small space could be configured in so many different ways. Every night as I lay down to sleep, my mind was parsing all the possibilities. As soon as I thought I'd figured out something I wanted, I see something else amazing and it would come crashing through my plans like a toddler through a block tower. How was I ever going to figure out what would work best for me?
THE TRIAL RUN
I'd gotten into the habit of checking iMoova, a relocation site for rental cars, campervans and RVs. After having to cancel reservations due to forest fires for the past few years, we'd decided it would be best to go visit my son in Oregon in May for Mother's Day rather than his birthday in September. I was hoping I'd see dates for May surface. If we could pick something up in San Francisco, Portland, or Seattle, we could combine seeing Miles with doing a trial run.
I didn't see anything coming through for May, but there were listings for a relocation from Las Vegas to San Francisco at the end of April. For the relocation deal, we got 3 days for $1 a day, free kitchen set, free linen set, free basic insurance, 1700 free miles, and a discounted rate for up to 7 additional days. We made the leap and booked the minicamper.
PACKING
Anyone that's spent any amount of time down the #vanlife rabbit hole has come across Bob Well's series on Cheap RV Living. This video on the absolute essentials was very helpful to me. To see the list I packed for this initial trip, see below the videos.
So if I could do a temporary van build, that meant I could rent a van, insert the build, take the trip and return the vehicle unscathed. Now that could maybe be possible. If I could find the right rental, and the right build.
Leaving behind the young, lithe, 20 year olds posting glimmering fantasy shots of toes dangling before a magnificent landscape, I went deeper into the rabbit hole focusing on these removable diy on-the-cheap builds that could be done quickly by a not-so-young, stiff and arthritic, spittin'-distance-from-50 year old.
Its amazing that such a small space could be configured in so many different ways. Every night as I lay down to sleep, my mind was parsing all the possibilities. As soon as I thought I'd figured out something I wanted, I see something else amazing and it would come crashing through my plans like a toddler through a block tower. How was I ever going to figure out what would work best for me?
THE TRIAL RUN
I'd gotten into the habit of checking iMoova, a relocation site for rental cars, campervans and RVs. After having to cancel reservations due to forest fires for the past few years, we'd decided it would be best to go visit my son in Oregon in May for Mother's Day rather than his birthday in September. I was hoping I'd see dates for May surface. If we could pick something up in San Francisco, Portland, or Seattle, we could combine seeing Miles with doing a trial run.
I didn't see anything coming through for May, but there were listings for a relocation from Las Vegas to San Francisco at the end of April. For the relocation deal, we got 3 days for $1 a day, free kitchen set, free linen set, free basic insurance, 1700 free miles, and a discounted rate for up to 7 additional days. We made the leap and booked the minicamper.
PACKING
Anyone that's spent any amount of time down the #vanlife rabbit hole has come across Bob Well's series on Cheap RV Living. This video on the absolute essentials was very helpful to me. To see the list I packed for this initial trip, see below the videos.
Due to time restrictions with Jason's work, we were flying to Las Vegas to pick up the van, and flying back from Oakland. That meant that I had to be able to bring what we needed on a plane.
We don't have a large suitcase. Our largest is a medium-ish size that's too big to carry on, but much smaller than larger bags I've seen others with. We took 2 underseat bags, 2 carry-ons, and one medium checked bag for a 10 day trip.
The medium bag carried everything we'd need for the camp. I'm listing what we brought and including the link to Amazon with the exact product I bought and used. There were things that I bought and sent back immediately, or things that didn't work on the road that I will not be including here. It costs you nothing extra, but using the link gives me a little kickback that could add up enough to mean I don't have to just eat rice by the last month of the trip this summer.
THE ACTUAL PACKING LIST
Things that came with the minicamper but are necessary
-Camp chairs
-folding table
-butane one-burner stove (2)
-butane canisters
-pots, pans, can opener, wine opener, cutlery, cutting knife, kettle, colander, plates, bowls, mugs, glasses
-pillows, sheets
-duvet
-2 extra fleece blankets
-tea towels (wrapped these around the dishes in the drawer so they didn't rattle around)
-hand towels
-bathing towels
-inverter
The things I already had around the house:
-Leather work gloves for gathering wood and using to handle hot pans, etc. (had the 3 pack from Costco. I use a pair as my gloves for riding my Vespa, and another for trimming roses)
-Scissors
-Rechargeable flashlight
-Neosporin
-Hand sanitizer
-Bluetooth speaker
-3 gallon biodegradable bags for poo & to extend life of doody bags
-Ziplock bags of various sizes
-baby wipes
-Wash cloths
-Spray bottles- one for vinegar solution to clean dishes, one with witch hazel & lavendar essential oil to clean me
-dirty clothes bag
-woolen caps to sleep in if it got really cold
-binder clips
Things we bought at the store once we arrived
-Vinegar for cleaning solution
-Witch hazel for cleaning
-paper towels
-toilet paper (biodegradable so we can bury it)
-Cleaning wipes (I got alcohol so I could use it for cleaning, hand sanitation, and first-aid as well as it not being a scent that would attract bears)
-baking soda for deodorizing
-gallons of water in shapes that would be easy to tote/refill (2)
Things we bought (with links)
-Compact multi-tool shovel, ax, and saw (and whistle and compass!)
We don't have a large suitcase. Our largest is a medium-ish size that's too big to carry on, but much smaller than larger bags I've seen others with. We took 2 underseat bags, 2 carry-ons, and one medium checked bag for a 10 day trip.
The medium bag carried everything we'd need for the camp. I'm listing what we brought and including the link to Amazon with the exact product I bought and used. There were things that I bought and sent back immediately, or things that didn't work on the road that I will not be including here. It costs you nothing extra, but using the link gives me a little kickback that could add up enough to mean I don't have to just eat rice by the last month of the trip this summer.
THE ACTUAL PACKING LIST
Things that came with the minicamper but are necessary
-Camp chairs
-folding table
-butane one-burner stove (2)
-butane canisters
-pots, pans, can opener, wine opener, cutlery, cutting knife, kettle, colander, plates, bowls, mugs, glasses
-pillows, sheets
-duvet
-2 extra fleece blankets
-tea towels (wrapped these around the dishes in the drawer so they didn't rattle around)
-hand towels
-bathing towels
-inverter
The things I already had around the house:
-Leather work gloves for gathering wood and using to handle hot pans, etc. (had the 3 pack from Costco. I use a pair as my gloves for riding my Vespa, and another for trimming roses)
-Scissors
-Rechargeable flashlight
-Neosporin
-Hand sanitizer
-Bluetooth speaker
-3 gallon biodegradable bags for poo & to extend life of doody bags
-Ziplock bags of various sizes
-baby wipes
-Wash cloths
-Spray bottles- one for vinegar solution to clean dishes, one with witch hazel & lavendar essential oil to clean me
-dirty clothes bag
-woolen caps to sleep in if it got really cold
-binder clips
Things we bought at the store once we arrived
-Vinegar for cleaning solution
-Witch hazel for cleaning
-paper towels
-toilet paper (biodegradable so we can bury it)
-Cleaning wipes (I got alcohol so I could use it for cleaning, hand sanitation, and first-aid as well as it not being a scent that would attract bears)
-baking soda for deodorizing
-gallons of water in shapes that would be easy to tote/refill (2)
Things we bought (with links)
-Compact multi-tool shovel, ax, and saw (and whistle and compass!)
Luci Lux inflatable solar light
Rechargeable tent fan & light that can be hung from ceiling (2)
Cargo net - we started with it across the top, but it bounced too much and hung too low and kept catching on my bun when I got in and out of the back, so we moved it to one side where it functioned as a side pocket. We attached it to the handle on one side and the hook on the other
THINGS I MISSED AND AM TAKING ON THE NEXT TRIP
Bedpan with lid to turn the front seat into the night-time loo. The luggable loo didn't work for a variety of reasons I'll cover in another post. (Cos the toilet sitch HAD to get sorted)
Bedpan with lid to turn the front seat into the night-time loo. The luggable loo didn't work for a variety of reasons I'll cover in another post. (Cos the toilet sitch HAD to get sorted)
Gel-absorbent pads to line bedpan to solidify pee & deodorize
Duel fuel one burner stove: I *really* liked the control of the butane stove they had in the van, but the butane wasn't at any of the stores we went to on the road, so I was really happy to find this duel fuel model. The propane connecting cord is flexible, so its very useful for small spaces
Butane cannisters. I'm going to be gone 3 1/2 months, so I got a 12 pack. I'll likely store them in my dry cooler while I'm going through the south since they shouldn't be stored above 110F
Bear-proof 5-day cooler (one for cold, one for dry). The sound & vibration of the fridge cycling on and off made me nuts. I decided to use coolers instead.
1 lock for each cooler. The ones we'd bought at the store had a body that was too thick so I got these. Coolers aren't bear-proof unless locked
Small collapsible dish drainer with board
Bedside caddy b/c the cupholders just didn't cut it.
Power bank w/110v plug, 2 USB ports, and ability to jump the car
Pure sine wave inverter (mod sine can mess up your equipment/cause a whirring sound
Reflectix to make shields & curtains. I'll also cover this in another post
In-car signal booster (I ain' got $500 for the mega-boosters, so we're testing this this weekend when we go pick up MamaChi's van.
Omni-directional magnetic antennae to boost once parked
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