Waking up and realizing that maybe 9-5 isn't for us. We are young, able, and wanting to see more than a computer screen. So, now what?
Research. So. Much. Research.
Where will we go? How much does it cost to travel? Do we want to live in a van? Maybe a camper? How do you travel with a dog? Where do you.. um.. go to the bathroom? Yes, we looked at it all. We budgeted, budgeted twice, searched google, looked through all forms of social media and even made a checklist of all the questions that we could think of needing answers to. But, will we really know the answers to any of these questions until we are living this life every day?
Finding the "Perfect" Van
Hours of searching websites for brand new custom builds made us realize that this lifestyle can get EXPENSIVE very quickly. All of the shiny new vans cost as much as a three-bedroom home or more. We are wanting to live a comfortable but minimalistic lifestyle that can lead us to be rich in life experiences rather than social status. With that mindset, we moved our search to a pre-loved van. We found a Ram ProMaster in the Dallas, Texas area and since we were going to be driving through the area on our way home from visiting family, we decided to meet up with the seller.
The photos of the van on Facebook did not do this van justice. We made the detour in hopes of getting a good idea of how much space the van would have, what our likes and dislikes are and truthfully, if Gabe could even comfortably fit in it. It was perfect.. too good to be true honestly. The seller was amazing; she had the answer to every question we had whether it was about the van or not.
The van has everything we were looking for:
A/C
Fridge/Freezer
Shower
Toilet
Solar
A bed long enough for Gabe
Workspace
Kitchenette
Lots of storage!
Many of these things like the indoor shower and toilet are the most unique setups that we have come across. They are tucked away when not in use and easy enough to access to still be practical. The amount of storage is phenomenal, and the pull-out portion of the bed can also be converted to a small section for Frankie during the day.
What Now?
The plan is to take short trips throughout the next year as we prepare to sell our house and embark on this journey together. We plan to keep updating this blog with our adventures, learning experiances, and most importantly; cute pictures of Frank dog.
Can't wait to update you on what's next!
Live a life you don't need a holiday from