The Backstory: How did we get here?
Kate (Daughter)
It all started when my mom wanted to live in a van. I really wasn't into it but I watched a lot of videos about it and I started to warm up to it. Obviously I still had my ups and downs, but started to really like the idea of van life. After months of searching my mom finally found one, but it was in Orlando, Florida. We lived in Chico, California so Florida was very far away from us. Luckily my mom got us plane tickets. We got to the hotel at 3:00 am so we were very tired.
In the morning I woke up to my mom on the phone with the bank talking about how she bought tickets to Sea World and never received them in her email. We finally arrived at Sea World. It looked really fun but there was just one problem... All the rides needed 52 inches I'm only 48 inches so I could only ride on one ride Infinity Falls. Of course I could go in other rides but they were all closed for setting up the fireworks. Don't get me wrong I loved Infinity Falls, just the line was about an hour long. So all you would be doing is waiting in a hour long line to get splashed. And we went there two times so combine those together you'll get about two hours.
Melinda (Mom)
How did we get here? Well, that's a loaded question. For me, it was a series of fortunate - and unfortunate- events that pushed us into van life in the infamous year of 2020.
Even as a kid, I kind of had this gypsy soul. I mean, there is family speculation that my Hungarian ancestors were actually Gypsies, so this wanderlust might actually be genetic.
Way back in the 80's I had hoped for some serious RV travels "some day." I thought maybe a retirement thing? With my husband? You know, two empty-nest lovebirds touring the country and sending postcards to family stuck back at home...
But, nope. That's not happenin.' Husband is, well, eh, long story, and the nest won't be empty for at least a decade. Add in a long-standing disdain for the status quo (whatever that is anymore), a dose pandemic anxiety, some unplanned homeschooling frustration, a post-marital precarious living situation, economic uncertainty, and something I like to call Unimpressed with Conventional Life Syndrome, and you have a free spirit ready for some roaming.
Anyway, go ahead an combine all of the above with regret over not traveling enough with my older (now adult) children. There was always "stuff" preventing adventures: work, school, money, the need to be "stable" for them. We never really attained "stable" despite all of my misguided efforts anyway. Then, suddenly, they were all grown up and traveling on their own. I looked at my youngest (Katelyn) and thought, it's going to be the same story with her if I don't do something about it now.
So, after years of increasingly more serious thinking, planning and research, #iboughtavan on July 6, 2020 (a few days after Katelyn's first roadschooling packet arrived!!) Hey, when it's time, it's time!
Go to...
About
Pre-Purchase Van Freak Out
Friends on the Road
Resources
It all started when my mom wanted to live in a van. I really wasn't into it but I watched a lot of videos about it and I started to warm up to it. Obviously I still had my ups and downs, but started to really like the idea of van life. After months of searching my mom finally found one, but it was in Orlando, Florida. We lived in Chico, California so Florida was very far away from us. Luckily my mom got us plane tickets. We got to the hotel at 3:00 am so we were very tired.
In the morning I woke up to my mom on the phone with the bank talking about how she bought tickets to Sea World and never received them in her email. We finally arrived at Sea World. It looked really fun but there was just one problem... All the rides needed 52 inches I'm only 48 inches so I could only ride on one ride Infinity Falls. Of course I could go in other rides but they were all closed for setting up the fireworks. Don't get me wrong I loved Infinity Falls, just the line was about an hour long. So all you would be doing is waiting in a hour long line to get splashed. And we went there two times so combine those together you'll get about two hours.
Melinda (Mom)
How did we get here? Well, that's a loaded question. For me, it was a series of fortunate - and unfortunate- events that pushed us into van life in the infamous year of 2020.
Even as a kid, I kind of had this gypsy soul. I mean, there is family speculation that my Hungarian ancestors were actually Gypsies, so this wanderlust might actually be genetic.
Way back in the 80's I had hoped for some serious RV travels "some day." I thought maybe a retirement thing? With my husband? You know, two empty-nest lovebirds touring the country and sending postcards to family stuck back at home...
But, nope. That's not happenin.' Husband is, well, eh, long story, and the nest won't be empty for at least a decade. Add in a long-standing disdain for the status quo (whatever that is anymore), a dose pandemic anxiety, some unplanned homeschooling frustration, a post-marital precarious living situation, economic uncertainty, and something I like to call Unimpressed with Conventional Life Syndrome, and you have a free spirit ready for some roaming.
Anyway, go ahead an combine all of the above with regret over not traveling enough with my older (now adult) children. There was always "stuff" preventing adventures: work, school, money, the need to be "stable" for them. We never really attained "stable" despite all of my misguided efforts anyway. Then, suddenly, they were all grown up and traveling on their own. I looked at my youngest (Katelyn) and thought, it's going to be the same story with her if I don't do something about it now.
So, after years of increasingly more serious thinking, planning and research, #iboughtavan on July 6, 2020 (a few days after Katelyn's first roadschooling packet arrived!!) Hey, when it's time, it's time!
Go to...
About
Pre-Purchase Van Freak Out
Friends on the Road
Resources