6 THINGS I NOTICED ABOUT LIVING IN A HOUSE NOW AFTER LIVING IN A CONVERSION VAN CAMPER FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS
After living in a conversion van camper for 6 months solo and then moving into a house with a community, I’ve come to notice some amazing transformational insights.
So, I thought I’d take a moment to share with you what I’ve started to experience after living in a conversion van camper for the last 6 months, then moving into a house.
Have you ever thought of what life would be like after living in a conversion camper van?
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#1. MORE GRATITUDE FOR APPLIANCES & ACCESSIBILITY
After living in a van for 6 months, most of what I did was manual or by hand. For example, I did dishes by hand, sometimes I’d do laundry by hand, dumping my toilet myself and would drive to a shower when I needed one or manually set up my shower.
Let me just say that my gratitude for showering in a cozy house and not a public shower or having to set up a shower is such a refreshing feeling and a whole new level of living again.
Also, even having a dishwasher now is just so amazingly convenient, and it feels like a complete upgrade. Which is a totally new perspective, I actually used to previously prefer washing all my own dishes by hand but after doing it for 6 months, and even in public sinks, I realized how nice it was to have a sink where I knew what had been in it previously. HA!
Sometimes we don’t realize how grateful we are for things until we don’t have it anymore or we no longer have the accessibility to it.
#2. GRASPING A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON MONEY
To be honest, it was quite interesting to watch how much time I was spending doing those things – it was as if it were a transfer of energy and time.
I began to realize what we pay for is simply convenience, right? So in other words, with wanting to save money, we often spend more time instead.
In other words, living in a house can cost more for the convenience of taking a shower in the house, paying for electrical and plumbing. As for van life, gas-heated showers or even a gym membership can be a tiny bit cheaper but requires more time setting it up or driving to it.
However, going to your own shower which is clean and almost endless is absolutely amazing, and I have a special amount of gratitude towards it now.
#3. HYGIENE DRASTICALLY GOT BETTER
Of course, following closely behind the convenience of the showers and regular running water allowed me to keep up on my hygiene and even basic cleaning necessities which in tune even improved my health.
I realized that after living in a van for so long I began to realize I regularly wanted to preserve the water I had, and because of that I would often skip skin care and other hygiene based routines.
However, I never had any issues, I never entirely felt my best, there seems to be a level of personal confidence even associated with the hygiene aspect even.
Now that I have running water, I wash my face regularly, often shower, and can stay on top of my hygiene more than I ever could with van life.
However, I’ve got to say that still playing in the dirt and enjoying the outdoors is still important, so whatever way that balance looks like to you is important.
#4. Appreciating the small moments & time more with people
Firstly, I initially got into van life to actually experience what it’s like to live alone for the very first time, as well as to create my own safe space.
So much processing, reflecting, and healing happened during that time.
I will be forever grateful for experiencing it, but I’ve got to say that now I’m truly soaking up the small moments and time with those that are close to me with so much more gratitude.
Especially because I’ve experienced being alone, I realize how special and significant spending that time with those that are important to us.
However, getting comfortable being alone also allowed me to realize how essential it can be to have alone time too, so balance can truly be a key too.
#5. Healthy eating became much easier
Also, closely following the appreciation for appliances, a major appliance appreciation was actually having a refrigerator – which is also totally possible with van life, but I’d have to say that I could have made that investment!
So, that was a total me thing, and in fact it can be an easy solution, and I was recommended a refrigerator similar to this one here.
Overall though, having a cooler made it incredibly difficult to actually have healthy and fresh food last long, so getting a fridge totally should have been what I got, but now I’m just grateful to have one.
#6. Fully being able to rest became much more achievable
After living in a conversion van camper, I had so many opportunities and so much freedom, but it also felt like a lot more responsibilities and more survival awareness. Both ways of living are different experiences with different ways of thinking, different routines, and even day-to-day living.
When it came to van life, a lot more time and energy got put into necessities and survival. For example; figuring out where to park, where to go to fill up water, where to dump the toilet, the next exploration spot, where to get groceries next (which I often did because fresh food wouldn’t last long).
However, while living in a house I can grocery shop once for like two-three weeks, never worry about dumping the toilet, and have a regular supply of water.
Hence, having less to worry about with basic survival needs also allowed for me actually be able to rest as well!
Plus, I don’t have to figure out where to park a house, ha!
Summary
Neither living in a van nor a house is better than the other, but each one may be better for different times in our life or even may feel better for the different type of person. There have been times when living in a van seemed better as well as living in a house also felt better at times too.
Overall, van life brought me healing, introspection, freedom, reflection, and gratitude. So, it truly is what you make it! I personally have cried, laughed, had joy, and even had frustrations with both ways of living.
However, there is something really powerful that came from living in a van and then moving into a house, as you’ve now read, gratitude overwhelms me – maybe you’ll experience something similar!
For now, Arizona will be my main home, and we will be moving into intentional travel, sustainability, and so much more! I hope you’re able to join along!
All the articles I share are just my perspective and perception, each and every single person is going to have completely different experiences. So, please realize that you may have a totally different experience.
Do you know anyone who just got out of van life and began to notice themselves experiencing these things? Or know of someone wanting to get out of it – are you? What did you experience after getting out of van life? I’d love to hear what you experienced!
Here are some more conversion camper van articles worth reading:
