I have been vaning for 2+years, and I love it more and more. I work, live , and overcome the problems. Remember all lifestyles have problems, it's a rule of living. When all problems are gone, your dead.

I remember 20 years ago when "van life" wasn't even a thing, I slept in my 2003 Toyota Celica stealthily every night in various Beach City neighborhoods in Southern California. At 6:00 in the morning I was already up doing my 6 mile run at the beach or on a local hiking trail, then used the beach showers to get cleaned up. I spent the rest of my time during the day at public libraries sending out resumes, watching movies, playing video games, and hanging out with friends. I ate only once a day at various all you can eat buffet for $11 to stretch my dollar. Now, they call this "intermittent fasting". Only one of my friends new about this moment of my life, because God forbid my parents finds out that their college educated son was homeless. Of course I didn't view myself as homeless, because I could've gone back home to live with mommy and daddy, instead I chose to sleep in my car and live my life. Presently, I make 6 figures and living in an overpriced luxury 1 bedroom apartment reevaluating my life. I have to admit that my life then was more exciting, meaningful and the happiest that I ever been.

😂👍🏻👍🏻 Bravo Girl! Problems will follow you wherever you go, although I thought I could out run them in my VAN. SADLY, THAT WAS NOT THE CASE AND YOU’RE RIGHT NO MATTER WHETHER YOU LIVING IN A HOUSE OR A VAN OR $100,000 BUS EVERYBODY HAS ISSUES...😅 that’s why when I started my channel out of necessity, as a first responder to the world trade towers, documenting the end of my life through the beginning of my multiple cancer. Diagnosis is hurricane Ian and Nicole led me into van life out of necessity. I first started building my van as a hurricane evacuation vehicle as I live in Florida in hurricane Central. About a month after I was truly finished with it after rearranging at seven times.😂 I finally came up with a design that fits what I need, the first hurricane hit Nicole and lifted my house, left to right eye, and came through and lifted the house right to left, practically split at my house double wide into two pieces there was no fixing it so bad life it was to be. I yes I have noticed over the last year that the infestations of cockroaches., ants, mice, and you forgot one very specific Vanlife problem although you might not have it out west, you know living in the south there’s no out running mold!!!🥲 and omissions seems to be a running Zeman van life videos I have noticed, and being a first responder I knew half of it was a lie😂😂 year after year for 45 years in Florida and have been living through super storm Sandy in New Jersey and New York as a first responder. I do not have an editing program, and I promised my subscribers RAW AND UNEDITED TRUTHS. And I can see I have kept up my end of the bargain, and they are all the more happier for me telling the truth I know they really like those videos with the beautiful music and the winding Roads.. but being as sick as I am, I can’t leave my doctors I didn’t go on small vacation journeys but mostly I just state park and beach it. Mine is more documenting of my life as a first responder, and as a human being. Thank you for being honest I am now in subscribe to your channel. I wish you all the luck and I just bought a brand new 12 V vacuum because the first one broke.😂😂😂😂😂😂 good luck to you and your doggies. We will be watching from Florida our neighbor to yourselves.🙋🏼‍♀️🌴🚐💕

This has to be the best video of van dwellers that I’ve seen in 2023. Also your music was awesome. Keep up the good work young lady.

Thank you for the honesty. It’s very much welcomed over here. It’s like being a parent, romanticizing it and telling everyone they need to have children. When, in fact, there’s so many hard days that make you cry but you wouldn’t trade it because the awesome moments are so worth it🥰 Congratulations on your year anniversary🎉

“I know there will be plenty of comments… offering solutions” 😂 1 KZfaqr who’s brutally honest about stuff to another… nicely done. We did a video like this recently about off grid life, and yeah, there were sooooooooo many bad comments. But videos like this are so important, it’s harder to find the honest and bad side shared a lot of times. I liked the honesty mixed with positivity at the end, well done 👌

Glad I found your channel. What an honest, unvarnished description. My wife and I traveled for few years, first in an SUV and later,when we wanted to continue fool time during winter, we got a van. Everything you mention (the bugs, heat etc...) is true but still these were some of the best years of our life. Nothing can bit the ability to be free in nature . The beauty is captivating . We keep returning to same places in different times/seasons and it is never the same. Yes there is hardship and mechanical break downs but it is worthwhile.

Great video! I've been a fulltime RV'r for many years, but coming up on my 1 year vaniversary in a few days. Spot on with everything - nearly thought I'd lose it trying to potty-train a puppy, and like you, have a reactive dog - so yes, times can be challenging...but the joys of van life are much greater than the frustrations of it!!! Keep it up, love your videos!

Thank you for your honesty. You certainly won't get any flack from me! I've only been doing this for 7 months. I have a bigger van than you do, I don't have pets, and I think it's really hard! I'm so glad you are finding the rewards greater than the challenges. I'm not there yet. I'm staying with family over the summer, and really hope I will find more reward than challenge when I set out again in the fall. I've learned a lot, and am making some promises to myself (like, don't focus on being homesick), so I'm hoping I'll be traveling with a bit of a different lens. You're doing great! Looking forward to continuing to follow along!

Two cleaning tips: a lint roller and a WORX Cube Vac model WX030L. Amazing how sheets feel without the sand/hair/crumbs. Buy refills for the lint roller at the same time to avoid size mis-match. I don't live in a van, but I REALLY like your story.

Thank you for being honest

Thank you for being so honest. I truly appreciate your candor. It gives me a more rounded perspective. I can tell that you truly value your experience. ❤

This is a very insightful video. Thank you for making it. I’m retired and own a very nice home in Southern California. I also travel the country in a van with my dog. I have experienced all the things you talk about, all the inconveniences and frustrations,,,but honestly, life in a sticks and bricks is EXACTLY the same. Inconveniences and frustrations, just of a different nature. It’s all relative.

I found your channel and love it!!! I envy your life and relate. I got 2 dogs live in rural Pa alone. I think I can fit in with others and I do when I want to but most times I don't want to. I feel connected to what your doing and hope you press on from the setbacks because your life is being documented. When your 80 you can reflect, remember and look at your life like a time capsule. Cherish every moment, these are probably the best experiences you will have in life. There are no good times without the bad and every setback just gives you the drive for another comeback. Overcoming challenges defines you and I'm pretty sure people admire that about you. I tell my kids all the time, keep pushing the only thing that can stop you is you.... Thank you for continuing this journey. I love it!!! 💪👍👑

I found you by this video. Vanlife is something I’ve been considering and researching for years. Recently I’ve been asking whether I should work to jump into or wait it out- I think I found the answer watching this! Thank you for this video! You’re awesome

I enjoyed watching your video. I can see you are having fun, but being honest about the hard stuff. Your beautiful dogs give you so much love and companionship. I admire your strength, keep the faith in your adventures. You have a whole life ahead of you. 🙏

Erica, thank you once again for your reality take on this lifestyle. You are a deep and true personality that is much appreciated! Stay true to yourself and keep enjoying your moments. Always watching for you and your pals. Susan❤

Erica, you are doing everyone a service: telling us the truth. I think van life is super hard core and none of us are prepared at all lol. I think basically, it's the only way we all would be foolish enough to try it 😂 But here you have it folks: we have been warned. So when it turns out to not be the glorious perfect mixture of adventure, romance, and mild inconvenience (rather adventures of things going wrong a lot, romance of the sound of bad weather, cold vans and no showers, and mind numbing inconvenience of bugs, dirt, lack of cell service and looking for sleeping spots) we won't feel like we are doing something wrong, like we're the only one struggling. (we will remember those gentle warnings and reality checks from Erica mixed in with the seduction of camping chair- fire-pit - sunsets...) For those of us not planning to actually do van life: we will just enjoy the good parts and when we hear of the struggle and tribulations we will say "gosh, Erica sure is a stoic one, for sure" 😉

Thank you for the accurate portrayal. My wife and I have discussed a van to be able to travel to see our 7 children. Having seen what it is like (we have a cat and dog), I believe a car with hotel stops would suit us due to space limitations. Thank you for the truly educational posts. I'll continue to watch and like as you share your experiences. Good luck.

I can relate, as a truck driver I know about the ups and downs of the road, be safe, keep happy, and God bless

I have enjoyed your videos, because you share what you share. Beautiful and earnest story telling, thank you! (and I mean beautiful, not just because you share the beautiful views, but because you're showing a real glimpse of this life, ups and downs and the mids). Thank you! May the road be winding, beautiful, and safe for you and your two sweet dogs!

Nothing is perfect in life. Life is what you make it.

Not for everyone. It’s been the best 7 years of my life. And that’s just so far. I can’t even imagine going back to sticks and bricks. I’m sorry I didn’t start this 20 years ago. I never go east of the Rockies except to visit Boulder. More big plans for next year.

Very touching…and that smile at the end of the video…says it all. Thank you.

OMG, you are so honest and adept at putting your thoughts and feelings down on video..., very very convincingly! This is "THE Video", that every person sitting in his cozy home on his favorite comfy chair/bett or whatever, dreaming of a romantic Vanlife, should watch. Even if the good times of Vanlife do overweigh the bad times, when the lows of vanlife do hit, they usually hit harder, and are way more lower than when it happens, to anybody living a stationary life in the suburbs or wherever. I'm glad i've found you..., a Vanlifer I find credible and down to earth, that has the mumm to tell it like it is..., the hard facts in detail, instead of an "oh, by the way" sort of fasion, as if it was just a space-filler, to get at least 25mins together for the next upload. Thank you for your honesty and openess. Stay safe, Steve.

I’ve certainly seen a number of van life videos sharing the unpleasant sides of van life. Some people hate van life because of the constant cleaning, the challenges of having dogs, the temperatures, bugs, rodents, weather, breakdowns, etc., etc. Some people, especially the older ones, feel that the beauty, independent, friendships, variety, etc, far outweigh the challenges. Each person has to figure it out for themselves-that doesn’t mean “vanlife” is a lie, but that it works well for some and not at all for others, and what works for a short term may not be desirable for the long time. I’ve been on the road for six months with my large puppy, and although I travel with the weather as I’m able, we’ve had temps from 20F to 90F with neither heat nor AC, repeated mouse invasions, etc. I still doubt I will trade van life for stix and brix till I’m too decrepit to drive! Best of luck in your future endeavors!

Thank you for your honesty. For me its good to see the hard, the some gross, the happiness and the tears. I stumbled upon your channel and subscribed. Thank you for for sharing your thoughts about van life.

Happy Anniversary & the honesty of your van life experiences, gotta love ❤ them dogs …

Good video, and happy 1 year anniversary!!

Happy 1 year van life. Thank you for the great video’s. And for sharing your experience’s of living on the road. The good and the bad. Looking forward to more videos in the future.

Congratulations on your first year! Your vlogs will always be my favorite. Thank you for sharing what van life is truly like. Have a great week ahead!

Thank you for your frank review, a breath of fresh air and honesty. Wishing you the best on your future travels.

Congratulations on your 1st year of vanlife!🎉. I am so glad that you live the life you want. You have beautiful fury kids making you life full and rich and a job you enjoy! You have a lot of courage and don't limit your life. Thank you for sharing your life with us! ❤

Happy ONE YEAR on the road.! Great Video! Vanlife is beautifully ugly and we wouldn't change our life on the road for the world. There's a lot of cons, or should I say adjustments that come with it but think the Pro's out way the cons. Hope you have a better 2nd year and hope we can meet up on the road sometime.!

Thank you for your honesty! 🙂❤️🐾❤️

I love your videos, especially the choice of the background songs. You really work hard to show the world your world. Looking forward always...

Very good documentary. The only advise I have is to live the happiest you can no matter where you live or what you live in. Sadness precedes happiness and peace is then discovered.

You’re a storyteller-sometimes the skeeters and other flying monsters aren’t the best plot device. Appreciate the honest assessment and being able to join along the journey. The ability and flexibility to chase sunsets, sunrises and the random meandering river are pretty strong pros.

What a wonderful and honest video. Thank you very much!

I am not living in a van, but aspiring to have a life on my own piece of land. I have never wanted what we are all programmed to live. It is nice to view others looking to find joy in their life! I think deep down we all know this life isn't perfect. but through ideals or the desire to get rich on YT people are projecting this facade! A different form of 'reality tv'! It is dawning on people now they can choose to take a risk to experience their life differently than the norm if only for a short time or whatever!

Lucky you, your vans a pretty good one. My vans a glad I got home this time kind of a van. You still could think about preparing in case it doesn’t run for whatever reason, ahead of time. My dogs and I could run for many miles, me on the bicycle of course! Long as it’s got good puncture resistant tires, beats walkin’, saves time. And the dog would triple the miles. with all his exploring.

I just ran across your channel and admire your honesty. I will subscribe, ring the bell 🔔 and follow along. As always, Thumbs up 👍

Well done!

Thank you for letting out vanlife secrets. I would expect hardships but I appreciate your honesty and I forget to look past all the beauty and views of Vanlife. Yes, we all have pros and cons wherever we stay/visit/travel/live.

Good for you and ur honesty 👏

I'm glad I watched to the end; for once! Glad you're still into it. Happy trails, young one. ❤

Hi, just saw your latest videos and I appreciate you sharing all the rough stuff. I am considering starting my part time van life by September 2024. I have been watching so many you tube videos and making notes like crazy. I only plan on taking small weekend maybe some week long trips. Not sure if I can handle it full time. I am still a city girl. Thank you for sharing your experiences, good and bad! ❤

I live the van life just as you do, except I have no dogs. You're not going to catch any crap from me about this video. Even without dogs, it's a dirty lifestyle and, you're right, there's nothing you can do to make it better so you just have to live and deal with it. This video is, indeed, brutally honest. Van life is not all pretty flowers, pretty days, and pretty vistas, punctuated by pretty music. But the good, in my opinion, far outweighs the bad - except for heat. My God, the heat! Great video!

i checked out a few done up vans before i started and i knew i would rather have the extra space than build cupboards everywhere or a sink or a shower ... i went bare and only built my bed frame super high and that was about it , everything that's loose i have in many clear plastic bins that are all tucked away under my bed ... so from the end of my bed all the way to my driving seats there's only 2 battery banks and my small portable fridge/freeze (all 3 are kind of near my bed too) ... i also have a giant breed dog living with me in my alaskan malamute , so he takes up all that extra space to himself ,, but yea from one side wall to the other there's nothing built all that floor space is his ... I also live and work full time in my van in a large city , so the dog doesn't really get dirty from just his daily park walks , 1 shower for him a month via van dog washers and that does the trick , but i do have to deal with massive amounts of shedding fur though , and yup you just get used to it

Oh gosh! 😢thought for a minute there you were going to quit Van life! I really enjoy your videos and this one was great, showing the bad and the good, that’s the way life is no matter where or how you live. Love on your pups and I’ll look forward to next week’s video ❤

Where you wrote "EW!" in the dust on your van... does that still show from an angle? Someone did "boo" on my truck hood like a decade ago and it still shows. I guess the abrasive dust marred the paint or something.

im in a much smaller space with a 90 lb shepherd and a 10 lb minpin. its a honda odyssey my buddy built out for me. and my shepherd is a long hair lol so i have found using a portable shop vac and vac 2x a day no matter what i have kept my van clean for the bed at least. i have found hair places you wouldnt expect to get hair in but vacuuming alot helps and it is what it is. also if you wanted help with your pups, with the reactivity issue, i am a dog behaviorist/trainer and if your ever up in the pnw area let me know :)

Thankyou girl.... Subscribed

Thank you for your honesty I’m looking into getting into van life and know the ugly part of van life is all so important to know 😊

Erica, yes you are going to have breakdowns with your rig. That is part of the way you have chosen to travel while visiting all the beautiful places in this country. Hang in there, the good will out weigh the not so good times. I know from my own experience on the road that it is worth what you do to live your true life. Stay safe. Kris

Be you, do you, love you … and change the world without even trying🙏🏼💜

Happy 1 year. Tell it like it is.

Loved this video.

Really, because I hear about it a lot from other youtubers. About the the dust, the dirt, and the constant cleaning.

Van life or house life both have their pluses and minuses, its how one takes those ups and down is all that matters. I, too have completed my first year and I had two different rigs and breakdowns and a dental emergency but won't have it any other way. Thanks for sharing and keeping it real.

Happy 1 year Erica, you do great with your videos, you always show beautiful views, i use to drive a Truck i know how van life can be it's kinda close the same, but if you feel like you need to make videos with out cutting things out that's fine to, it just shows real life. 1 month to go for the disability hearing fingers crossed for that then van😂.

Its all about perspective and how one sees things and handles the unexpected in this world. Life is full of challenges regardless of how you live. For the most part, those of us in the west are spoiled with comfort and convenience on demand, even our poor in many cases. It takes a while to "reprogram" ones perspective from that. One day, you may just say, ok, I now want to live within 4 walls that don't move and so that adventure begins. Life is full of twists and turns. RIDE YOUR WAVE and leave a nice wake. See you out there.

Im in the Catskill Mtns of NY ✨️ It is GORGEOUS, right next to the Ashokan Reservoir and Woodstock. Anxious to get out west, then North to BC....thanx for sharing all of it

You're right. Full Time Van Life has it's challenges but, there's something inside that makes us keep up. Maybe it's our pride & love of the van ? Maybe just being in nature Itself ? Maybe it goes back to "Why" you decided in the first place? It just doesn't matter. Nobody can judge. You're doing just fine 👍 Rock on 🙂.

Thank you.

Been vanlifing for 23+ years. Yep... there is everything you mentioned. For me, I simply love the freedom of being able to go where I want, when I want, and for how long I want. When Covid-19 hit, they wanted to close the healthiest places to be (the ocean beaches)... which makes ZERO sense. I was at the Atlantic Ocean beaches of Central Florida. I'd heard Texas was making people quarantine for 2 weeks in motels, so, I just figured I'd get an oceanfront condo in Daytona Beach Shores until the borders were open. I've now gotten an oceanfront condo for a few of the summer hot months, for the past 4 years. I found that I became a hermit except going into the ocean every day for hours and hours, and a few times a week going out and getting groceries. Other than those 2 outings, I was a total hermit. Since vanlifing for so many years and being on the go, having a building to stay in sort of became a place to just completely chill. And I became a real hermit, right in the condo, with all the media options, so, I just became sort of stagnant. This is probably my last year doing the oceanfront condo, or any building for awhile as getting back into that freedom of vanlifing, I just like that I do WAY MORE things that are cultural. I guess the bottom line, is no matter what you choose to do, there will always be the pros and cons. So, just choose what you love the most... and explore new ideas so you can know more options. And as you go through life, if it's within your means, do what promotes your most happiest blessed life. Be thankful. Try to enjoy your life, and share what you can. For me? I'm departing this 4th summer in an oceanfront studio condo as of literally tomorrow, and I'm excited to have more options of culture and freedom to adventure...even if it's simple adventure or deep wilderness. It's kind of about the freedom to choose. I happily subscribed to your channel👍👍 Maybe one day I might start a KZfaq channel yet there's much better talented vloggers and probably no one would care to see or hear what I have to share. I guess I'm just really into the simplicity of freedom. However... I think I might really like the challenge of creating artistic visuals, and mixing in non-commercial musical artists ..... with maybe some simple calming peaceful words. Anywhooo ... your post is really wonderful and you covered so much geography and content as well. Thank you for all your efforts and qualities. Well done✨️🎶 The only thing I might add, is that "vanlife is never a lie... only how people portray it could maybe be a 'lie.'" Vanlife, itself, is real🌎 Great post👍

No solutions. I've lived it!

Thank you for sharing 🌺

Thank you and just putting it out there....Feel free to sometimes post those unedited sounds and sights :) Happy Vanniversary!!

That were the best 1 year in your van life review

I live out of a Promaster however I don’t travel or have a dog so I don’t have some of those issues. I did find this very refreshing and honest. I’m sure I could add a few things as well but despite it all I wouldn’t live any other way now, it’s just too much fun.

Hi, thank you so much for your honesty!!!!! I'm praying all goes as planned and I will be in my campervan by the end of October!!! O my!! 😳🙏🙏💌😉😀

Hi from Holland.. I just found you! I do not give jou crap but a lot of recognition... Living in my gipsy wagon tiny house..same here..have 2 ponys and many times i have hay and straw in my tiny... In summer i work on my land so no hoovering or what not...in winter i am to depressed do no cleaning either... but once in a while i run around and fix it and fall in love with my place all over again... I think they call it life😊

Thank You Darling for your Story! ❣️ I'm Miss Sophia 58, widow, no dogs..but 2 adults & 1 grand! I can't wait I'm hitting the road from Michigan I, work as a nurse, we had some tough times our 25 yrs..many ups and downs..we had to be creative..you learn survival..so I look forward to this adventure....but I will take a piece of cake with it and a grain of salt 🙏🏾❣️Best wish to you and your pups✊🏾 also I totally Balling here and laughing at myself🤣😭😂😭😭😂

Fresh air is quality life

Good one

Lovely honesty, not homeless, just houseless atb from acros the pond Barry

Thanks!

Great video stay safe.

We have a similar assessment of RV life. Just like any other life its not all sunshine and rainbows.

I drove through beautiful Glacier National Park and somebody had a wedding on a cliff

It's important to do something bc of your own personal why, not bc It's vogue or in season.

Once you find place how long do you stay there it seems like you travel all the time 😊 this is the first time I've seen you and your travels and I enjoy the reality that you reveal to us. Again I wonder how you finance your lifestyle.. and yes I have heard recently about how the national parks will not allow people to film if it is done for a profit.. watch how the tourism goes down! Because it's the photo blog journalists that promote the beauty of the parks and thus more visitation.. really they're just shooting themselves in the foot.

Love the video. Nothing like the truth. It takes a special person to love that lifestyle. Like Roaming Reckless. She loves it. But it's not for me. I live in Ky to, and I lived in Benton & Murray for about 15 years before moving to Bagdad with my sister after her husband died. I also lived in Florida for about 15 years to. But all and all I love being home and I love Ky. Really, I like Benton and Murray better then here and who knows. May move back but no matter what. I'm settled in and going to put together a life here I love and that will be it. This is home and again. Your area is my favorite and would love to call it home again. Good Luck. :)

I guess a tall van like that can’t go through a Mr. Carwash, but I have a membership because they are national. So I can get unlimited carwashes wherever

No way a year allready loved every vid thank you..

Wonderful retelling of a Genesis year on the road.. how did you finance this journey? And traveling with two dependents..

Thanks for being honest…..😉🚍⚓️🇬🇧👍🍷

So criminal about the NP-we OWN those! US citizens fund them! To make a film in a NP sure, get a permit. Insane what we put up with.

I get it, but all of these points are common sense. Always have a backup plan for everything. I don't need a laundromat to wash clothes. I hand wash in the sink. I don't have a mini split for ac, I bought a midea portable ac unit. I'd don't use lithium batteries to store power, I use portable power banks with a solar charge array and a predator generator to back that up. I use a wood burning stove for heat because dead branches are free. Saves money and can cook on it when it's cold out. Dual purpose. Bugs and dog hair are par for the course so it's not talked about much. Things happen but what the real issue is some folks just aren't prepared enough

I’ve never understood it bc ur home & vehicle are one and the same. Vehicles are just too vulnerable to so many things. Ur vehicle goes there goes ur home.

it wouldnt matter houses never move i have 2 houses but the only house that maters is my campervan i can wake up anywhere ,sun ,snow, rain the choices are mine love your life not other peoples

Awesome like your videos

👍

Travel and road trips are amazing . Living without work or purpose would get old eventually

Interesting.

What people need to understand is that van life is not like a weekend camping trip. There's a difference.

I always wonder how these van life people make a living going from town to town with no job ????? I would consider doing this if I can figure it out

Not the hunger games!

In your opinion, would it be more or less awesome with a "partner" either romantic or a friend.