Vanlife: Build your own van to live on the road
As a counterpoint to this, which I find almost offensively fixated on the parts of it that post well on social media, you really can have a good time doing this without spending months and 10&#x27;s of thousands of dollars getting ready. (OK, so there are certain forces involved if you want to support a blog, as this person is doing...)<p>- Buy an older van (or in my case a crew cab pickup with a camper shell).<p>- Add some storage space and a bed. This can be as simple as a few plastic storage containers and a foam mattress.<p>- Add an inverter, a marine battery, and if you really want to get fancy a relay to disconnect it from the main system when the vehicle isn&#x27;t running. No solar panels needed, just let the alternator charge it.<p>That&#x27;s it. Spend the rest of the time figuring out how to live with your self without social media.<p>There are a lot of things you can do to simplify your life, if you don&#x27;t have to bring your first world standards with you:     
 - Don&#x27;t use any electronics that need constant power. Don&#x27;t buy stuff that needs to be refrigerated, but do get fresh fruit and vegetables if you can eat them within a few days of buying.<p>- Piss in a bottle and figure out how to be near enough to either a bathroom or real wilderness for other situations. It&#x27;s not that hard with a little planning.<p>- Shower less often, mostly in campgrounds. You will stink more, but get over yourself.<p>- Bring a lot of books&#x2F;ebooks or something interesting to study.<p>- Walmart parking lots are great places to park and sleep if you are en-route somewhere and just need some rest. They usually allow overnight parking and won&#x27;t bother you (local ordinances can sometimes cause exceptions).<p>- Learn how to brush your teeth and wash dishes without using lots of soap and water. You can actually clean and rinse a dirty pan with about a cup of water and a tiny drop of soap.<p>The western US is great for this since huge areas of the desert states are easy to move around in without much planning or permits.<p>Don&#x27;t spend lots of time driving. Get somewhere and actually experience it. Don&#x27;t plan too hard. Find some stuff you think would be interesting, get to good areas, then relax and explore. Schedules are only opportunities for disappointment and stress. Try spending a whole week without even taking pictures. Learn what is fun for you, not what you think makes your life look interesting.