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Experiences You Should Have Podcast Show Notes on Vanlife
Interview with Sarah Michaud on Van Life
Listen to the above episode with Sarah Michaud from @michaudyoutheword (Insta) on vanlife, living in a van full time.
How did VanLife Begin?
Sarah was in a rut. She was working more than 40 hours a week and every cent she was making was going towards her mortgage and other bills. She was living paycheck to paycheck and living for the weekends. Her life was good, but she was missing something.
Sarah wanted to start living out her dreams and knew that she was the only person standing in her way. She had just come back from summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and was feeling very motivated and determined. Sarah knew she was on the verge of a big change and vanlife was one of the ideas that were in her head.
That Easter she had a conversation with her family about selling her condo and buying a van and travel the country. Before she could blink, she was having conversations with her realtor about selling her condo to front the van costs. The condo was sold, the van was built, then she hit the road in February 2019 and began living in her van full time.
Life on the road
Since she hit the road, she’s been to 40 states and 31 National Parks. Each park is so unique and different and somehow leaves Sarah amazed every single time. From the red rocks to volcanoes, to the granite of Yosemite, to the blue waters of Crater Lake, each place is so unbelievably majestic that it’s hard to believe places like this exist.
Working During VanLife
Sarah worked with her company to allow her to work a 30-hour workweek instead of 40 hours and was able to do work three 10-hour shifts. That allowed for four days of exploring. Wifi and phone service is usually nil when at National Parks and off the beaten path, so Sarah would go into town to work and had phone service through one provider and a mobile hot spot through another provider, which gave her more coverage.
It takes a bit of creativity, but with more employers allowing remote work, living in a van full time can become your reality.
VanLife during the Coronavirus Pandemic
When the COVID-19 pandemic started, Sarah was in Florida. Many van-lifers use nationwide gym memberships to shower, and soon that option for a shower disappeared. She immediately began to scramble to work her way to be near family in New England. She is now travelling more locally, and stays near family to use their amenities, and then go on small road trips.
Another option for vanlife during the pandemic is to use an outdoor shower with some sort of shower cover, or wear a bathing suit (better suited for warmer destinations).
Sarah recommends to be aware of each state’s guidelines. Some require a mask, others a 14-day mandatory quarantine and proof of a negative Covid test. It is possible to travel during these times, but you need to be careful and respectful of people you come across.
Do your homework before arriving and look up what is open and available online, especially National Parks before you go. Many National Parks are taking reservations and some parts of the park are closed.
What Kind of Van does Sarah Have and Why?
Sarah has a 2017 Mercedes Sprinter van 144′. It runs off of diesel, which may give it a longer life span and potentially have a higher resale value.
Ford Transit and Dodge ProMaster are cheaper options, and people use them to build out for van living, but Sarah still stuck with the Mercedes Sprinter, especially since it is her home now.
Breaking Down Camper Van Costs and Conversions
There is a wide range of costs for camper vans. Sarah bought an empty cargo van for $40,000 with only 7,000 miles on it. It was a loanver vehicle from the dealership, so she was able to get a good deal on financing as the first owner.
She hired a builder to convert her van into a van she could live in, that took only a few months. It cost $40,000 to fully convert her Sprinter van, $20,000 in labor and $20,000 in materials. You can do it for cheaper, but Sarah wanted all the amenities, as she sold her home to make this her new home.
Top Van Conversion FEatures
- Butcher block countertop
- Drop-in Sink
- Stainless steel stand-up fridge
- Succulents
- Compostable Toilet
Going to the Bathroom in a Sprinter Van
One of the top questions Sarah gets is ‘how do you go to the bathroom in your van?’. Many van-lifers don’t have toilets in their vans, but for Sarah, she didn’t think she could vanlife without a toilet. Now add in a global pandemic, and a bathroom is a must-have.
Sarah had a $1,000 Nature’s Head composting toilet installed, that she can dispose of properly every few months.
Is there such a Thing of Accessible Van Travel?
Yes, there is! Check out this article on adaptive van life and follow Kirk Williams on Instagram to get inspired about accessible vanlife travel. Kirk is a C6 quadriplegic adventure traveler and photographer. He is hosting a campaign to send a container full of wheelchairs to a place that needs wheelchairs to make a huge difference in someone’s life. Donate here to help out.
tips for Those Considering Vanlife
If you want to live in a van full time, you will figure out how to make it happen. People always come to Sarah and say, “I wish I could do what you’re doing.” She always wanted to yell, “then figure it out how to make it happen. A van didn’t fall out of the sky and land in my driveway, I worked to make this happen”.
Start researching, get creative, follow van lifers on Instagram like Sarah Michaud, and get on the road (while following COVID safety protocols).