Van life organized neatly.

File this under "just for fun". I still can't believe everything I own (except for one big puffy parka at my mom's house) is in this van. 

It wasn't always easy to pare down, either. Although I typically love purging unused or no-longer-loved items, there were quite a few cherished items I parted with to live in the van. Like a gorgeous wool rug from West Elm that I bought for my first apartment, an old vintage Schwinn I had since high school, and other sentimental, consciously-curated bits.

While it does feel freeing to live so minimally, I do crave the creature comforts that come with living in a structure where you can actually stand up. Like a real bed. And more than one pillow. And a kitchen you don't have to set up every time you want to boil water. ;)

But hey, for now, this is life. And I love it.

Check out this quick timelapse of how the above photo came to be!

Confession: Almost everything I own is pictured here. (IE: Not my delicates, because sometimes ya just gotta keep it classy, friends).

Road hacks: Must-have apps for safety, saving money, & more.

When I moved back to the States from New Zealand I was so certain that I wouldn't need a smartphone. During the past year abroad I didn't, but I also wasn't traveling constantly. I had a solid Internet connection in my apartment and data wasn't necessary.

I finally caved and got a month-to-month T-Mobile plan ($40 for 3GB of high-speed data and unlimited data after that; plus unlimited talk and text), and I'm so glad. I use my phone and data almost constantly during travel days.

From saving on gas to staying safe alone, here are some of my must-have apps for the road. (PS: I am in no way affiliated with any of these apps, I just love and use 'em regularly!)

GAS GURU

Gas Guru finds the cheapest gas near your location. Pretty straightforward. I love it! I also like to check my route for the day to see where the cheapest gas is and plan my refills around that. If I see it'll be cheaper 200 miles away, I'll just refill just enough to get there.

GROUPON

Great for finding cheap oil changes or any other little indulgences on a budget while passing through places.

ASANA

A task-managing app that's absolutely crucial to staying organized in my business. They also just launched offline capabilities, so now you don't need to use data or be on wifi to access your to-do list and project goals. Yeehaw!

VOICE MEMOS

This might be my most-used app. It's like magic — as soon as I hit the road and get in motion, the ideas begin to flood my mind. Recording voice memos is a great way of taking notes safely while driving. It's also a means to practice communicating thoughts into words — something I've always struggled with. I've become more confident of a speaker just by using Voice Memos. Crazy!

STARBUCKS

If you go to Starbucks regularly, become a rewards member now! I wish I did it sooner. I have a monthly coffee shop budget so I just load my card up in the app and stay on track with how much I'm spending. It also gives me access to free drinks and other goodies. I love visiting local coffee shops as well, but I can always rely on Starbucks for strong wifi and power outlets.

SAFETREK

This is a new one that I downloaded after the one time I was followed. It's simple. You hold your finger down in the app when you start to feel unsafe, and after you let go you have four seconds to enter your pin. If you fail to do so local police and your emergency contact will be notified. I haven't had to use this, but it's great to know it's there.

What are you must-have apps? I'd love to hear if you have recommendations that might help on the road or are just plain fun! Cheers! -Amanda

Get out of your head & into your body.

Picture it.

You wake up in a hot box (otherwise known as a van) on a neighborhood street. You crawl out of bed, sweating, and awkwardly kneel to put on pants so you can drive off before folks start to get weirded out by you making breakfast in front of their house.

You drive around for 20 minutes trying to find a private shaded spot where you can start your day. Finally you settle on brushing your teeth and eating breakfast at Starbucks so you can get to work (which involves sitting on your computer for a greater part of the day).

Vanlife (and travel in general), requires a LOT of thinking. Strategizing. Planning. Especially if you are working for yourself on the road. And if you spend a lot of time in your head already — worrying, planning, setting goals — this lifestyle can completely exhaust you.

I've totally experienced burn out the past few months because of this.

So I started making a few daily grounding practices — little things I can do whether I am in a Walmart parking lot or national forest that take me out of my head and back into my body.

Here are a few essentials to mine (for now; it changes in different environments):
 

• Sweeping out the van every morning and keeping the space organized and clean
• Creating a soothing environment through a homemade room spray, lavender candle, and burning sage
• Being intentional with taking supplements every day
• Drinking looots of water. Every time I refill my water bottle I challenge myself to drink it all within one hour.
• Appreciating my skin and body and turning off all mental stimulation, like music or podcasts, when I am putting on lotion, oil, etc. I also moisturize my whole body before getting into bed.
• Sweating outside every day, even if it's just five minutes of sprints up a nearby hill

What takes you from being in your head to your body? Think about all the senses

1. Touch — stretching; rubbing oil or lotion on your skin; cuddling or hugging someone or an animal; putting your feet on the ground; touching nature
2. Taste — lemon water in the morning is a common one; eating whole, alive foods; mindfully drinking tea or coffee
3. Smell — essential oils; perfume; literally stopping to smell the roses; lighting a candle
4. Sound — soothing instrumental music; listening to the sounds of your environment; being silent and embracing the quiet
5. Sight — watching the sun rise or set; taking in the local foliage; looking at someone you love; smiling in the mirror; making art

The most important part of this practice is intention. They're kind of pointless if you're not present.

Silence is an entryway for presence. I used to listen to podcasts while doing my skincare routine, but it's much more soothing when I just *pause* the episode for five minutes.

Start small and build. Nothing is final — your practices can adapt with you between seasons, environments, and lifestyles.

The time I was followed. (Part 2 of the solo woman traveling series)

Recently, for the first time ever, I felt unsafe in the van.

I stopped in a tiny town in Oregon for a quick break on my way from Portland to the Northern California redwoods. It was a warm, sunny evening and I just loved it. So I decided to stay the night.

I drove down to the river as the sun was setting. I wanted to jump in the water. As I cruised along trying to find a place to stop, I noticed a black Jeep following close behind. I made a U-turn, and the Jeep did too. I thought it could just be a coincidence. I kept driving.

I continued a ways down the river and pulled off the road. The Jeep stopped as well. I started to get a little nervous, so I drove farther to a different pull off where another car was also stopped. I got out (there was a couple in the car) and the man in the Jeep pulled up beside me and stepped out of his vehicle as well.

In my mind I knew it was okay; there were people around, right? But as he approached, my stomach jumped into my throat and I totally froze. We were both looking at the river and he said, "It's a bit intimidating, isn't it?" I didn't engage and instead moved back toward my car. He followed way too closely. As I pulled my door shut he stood within a foot of the van and watched me drive away.

He got back into his car and pulled onto the road. I just wanted him to GO AWAY, so I pulled off again to see if he'd pass by. He didn't — he pulled behind me again. And I thought, Okay, this is it. I'm getting the f--- out of here.

I steered back on the road and he followed. I knew it would be okay because I was in a vehicle, but I still panicked. I stopped when I found an older couple walking down the road and told them I was being followed. I asked where the police station was, and they directed me. 

On my way there, the creepy Jeep man finally left.

I don't tell this story to scare you, but this is sadly the reality of being a solo woman traveling. There are the rare, random creeps out there who think it's okay to disrespect us. But they are not the norm.

As I decompressed from the experience I decided to NOT let this dude scare me. That would give him way too much power.

I will not let this one creep ruin vanlife. I will not let him sour my belief that most people (including men) are good. I will not let my ego blow up this single experience so I am constantly on edge and afraid. I will not stay inside.

No. No. No.

Instead, I will remember the numerous awesome male friends I've made over the past four months, all of whom have respected my boundaries and treated me like any other human. I'll think back on the amazing conversations I've had with homeless veterans, musicians, business owners, artists, vanlife-rs, all of whom happened to be male.

I will not let creepy Jeep dude negate these experiences. 

I refuse to close my van door just because a man drives by. Or not smile because I'm afraid he might take it the wrong way. Of course, I'll be safe and smart, but I refuse to be scared into submission.

And to all the men out there, please keep in mind what we women have to consider when you are interacting with us, especially while traveling. We are constantly told how scary it is out there.

Treat women as you would any human. No need to compliment our looks. Feel free to make conversation, but don't come on to us. And even when we're not around, advocate for us — you have a voice as well, and the only way we'll overcome injustice is if we all speak up.

Mindful updates to turn a van into a home.

A physical home, no matter how small, is where you’re meant to feel at ease in a little nook of the earth you call “mine”. To me, home is sacred — somewhere I want to enrich with positivity and fresh air and only physical items I enjoy using and being around.

I yearn for my home on wheels to be filled with raw materials — wooden furniture; glass jars; a wool blanket; cotton sheets; pretty gems and stones — and especially, less plastic.

And, hey! It’s not just for a frivolous Instagram shot. It’s simply because I love how it feels to be surrounded by pure, beautiful things.

I want to be intentional about what I keep, and living in a van (or any small space) is a prime opportunity to do that. You can look at every item with intention and ask yourself if it brings you joy (or utility), and if it doesn’t, let it go. 

When space is limited you must be ruthless about what deserves its place. [tweet]

The first stage of the van build-out felt rushed — I laid down the bare bones of the interior without building any storage space, so I’ve accumulated a few pieces that I’d like to swap out for more mindful alternatives.

My favorite night in the van thus far, spent in York, Maine

As I’m parked in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania this week building out a bed and cabinetry, my goal is to eliminate as much plastic as possible.

I feel so honored to have a place to call my own, even if it’s “just” on four wheels. It’s mine. And I want to make it into a special space that I’m excited to spend every day and night.

I’ll give you an update on this project in the next few weeks, but here’s the current plastics situation in the van and my goals:

• Big plastic storage bins hold my food and living items. I’m swapping those out for the wooden cabinetry I’m currently building.
• I use a plastic gallon jug to refill for drinking water. I’d love to find a big glass jug instead. I was thinking of a growler. And bonus. I get to drink a LOT of beer first.
• I haphazardly keep all of my art supplies in a big plastic bag. They deserve more love and attention than that. I’m hoping to upgrade to a canvas rollup brush and pen organizer.
• I keep trash in plastic grocery bags and toss ‘em every day. I hate this habit! I want to get some type of a seal-able bin or jar for trash (hopefully of which I won’t have much) and empty it daily instead.
• I accumulate plastic almost every day stopping for food and drinks. I’m going to try to shop in bulk as much as possible and figure out a good way to buy a little bit of greens at a time (maybe from a local farmer), so I don’t waste a big plastic carton. Also, I usually don’t eat all the greens before they spoil.

If you’re looking for inspiration on downsizing and creating mindful living spaces, here are some favorites I go to regularly:

Zero Waste Home — Run by Bea Johnson, an incredible proponent of simple, sustainable living.

The Chef’s Table episode featuring Francis Mallmann — Pour yourself some vino and feast your eyes on this South American treat.

A Well Traveled Woman — Pure visual goodness. I love Bekah’s eye for natural, raw beauty.

Life is more than things, but having things is inevitable, so why not choose things you really love? [tweet]

I’ve also heard a lot about The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, but have yet to read it. Have you? Would you recommend it? Do you have any other resources you’d like to share? Feel free to reply or comment!

I don't feel ready to live on the road.

The closer I get to living on the road, the farther away it all seems. When I returned from New Zealand a month ago, I was SO ready to just get a van and go.

Arriving in Florida was surprisingly a pretty big culture shock. Daily life went from walking everywhere, living near the rugged coastline, having no climate control in the house, eating minimal amounts of meat, not owning a car...

...to living in suburbia, needing a car to get anywhere (except a new grocery store that just opened down the street, yay!), staying in a gated community, watching cable television, and being tempted and eating lots of processed foods (hello, chocolate cereal at midnight).

At first I desperately missed the simplicity of life in Welly. Everything here felt foreign and unnatural. But now I've gotten used to it all, and I'm actually quite comfortable.

And now the thought of living in a van is starting to sound all like... WHAT????

Can I really get by...

• Running my business from the road? 
• Waking up in the back of my van every day?
• Making coffee, lunch, dinner.. in the van? 
• Showering in Planet Fitnesses?
• Having limited access to Internet?
• Finding new friends to climb and do outdoor things with?

All of these questions are starting to freak me out, and I want to share about this experience before the actual #atwildwoman adventure starts because it's all a part of it.

While these questions are so specific, the feeling of doubt before a major life change is pretty much universal. It can be easy to dream, but when it comes time to take action, fear can easily hold us back.

When you get to this point, you can either stay comfortable, keep things the same, settle... or continue on with your journey and believe that it will all work out (even if that doesn't look exactly how you imagine). Trust.

This is the one life we know about for certain. What stories do you want to tell your grandkids (or friends' grandkids) when you're 80-something and look back on your life?

I want look back one day & say "It was wild & I was alive." [tweet this]

You'll never feel totally ready. No regrets. Onward!

How I'm building out my van.

Penny the Previa

This is the first post in a series about how I am building out my '97 Toyota Previa to live and travel around North America in for the next 3-6 months. There are tons of helpful resources out there besides this one. My advice would be to do your research and at the end of the day make choices that are right for you and your van. Oh, and enjoy!

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All repairs are finally done, and Penny the Previa is in excellent working condition. She's almost ready for our #atwildwoman adventure. Now comes the fun part.

THE BUILD OUT: PART ONE

I now have everything I need for the interior shell — the walls, ceiling, and floor. Here's what I got from Lowe's:

• One 4x8' piece 1/8 inch white panelboard for the walls — might need more
• Three packages of 8' long wainscoting wood panels for the ceiling
• Six 8' long furring strips
• Self-tapping screws (wood to metal)
• Regular screws just for wood
• 40 square feet of oak laminate vinyl flooring
• One 8x4' sheet of plywood for the vinyl to sit on for flooring — will need more of this probably

Grand total: $152.31

I also checked around at Home Depot and a Habitat for Humanity Re-Store. I found Lowe's to have a greater selection and to be more affordable, and unfortunately the Re-Store didn't have enough of any one material, so to Lowe's I went.

Prior to this I also bought a roll Reflectix (to reflect heat from entering the van walls), a couple big sheets of polyiso foam insulation, and some spray adhesive — make sure you get the strongest kind that can withstand heat and moisture.

Before diving into all this I spent weeks researching and realized there is a LOT of advice on this process, and a lot of it conflicts. Just use your common sense and make sure you spend time IN your van figuring out what will make the most sense for it.

My goals for this project are to keep the costs low, the build-out fairly simple, and to create a really cozy space I will love to call home.

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PART 1: INSTALL REFLECTIX, FURRING STRIPS, AND INSULATION

I've stripped the van down — the seats are out, carpet is torn up, plastic siding has been removed, checked for rust, sealed all holes — and I'm ready to begin the build-out. Here's what I did on my first day.

1. Attach Reflectix where appropriate.

Reflectix is great for reducing the heat your van absorbs and preventing moisture build-up. But it needs AIR SPACE between itself and the side of the van for it to actually work. If this sounds confusing, read this — the single best article about insulation I found on the entire Internet.

2. Screw furring strips directly into metal van skeleton.

I laid them from front-to-back and placed one on the top part of the wall and one on the bottom. The panelboard will be screwed into these strips when I am ready to mount the siding.

Reflectix lining the gaps in the metal van siding; furring strips attached to top and bottom of wall for siding

3. Cut out polyiso foam and pop in between furring strips.

I'm not too concerned about insulation at this point, so I didn't go as all-in on this as someone who's planning on being in a cold climate might want to. I placed some polyiso cut outs in between the furring strips for additional insulation.

And that's it for day one. This might not seem like I accomplished a lot, but it takes quite a while and I believe it's a great start!

The polyiso between furring strips.. clearly choosing progress over perfection here.

Resources

Like I said, there's TONS of information on the van build-out process. It can be really overwhelming. Here were some resources I found most helpful:

• Installing the Wall and Ceiling Paneling by Build It Solar
• Sprinter Van: Walls & Ceiling by Sean Stoops
• How To: Build Out A Sprinter Van Part 2, by Jon Gaffney

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WHAT'S NEXT

I'm excited to start seeing the van come together and begin to look like a little home on wheels.

Next up I'm installing the wooden ceiling panels. My original plan was to put the white panelboard on the ceiling, but the material is so heavy and floppy. I had a feeling it would be a pain to work with and require lots of screws, which aesthetically bothered me. And I've always loved that somewhat cliched wood paneling look, so heck, I'm gonna do it!

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Questions? Ideas? Pointers? Feel free to comment below, or email amanda@amandasandlin.com.