The Dark Side of Van Life Influencers Keep Secret

Four dudes in a van…What could go wrong?

A typical morning living out of a van — somewhere in Death Valley, CA.

I’ve always been fascinated by fire. Ever since the first spark, fire has remained the same. Our ancestors peered into the same fire we do today.

Unwavering and unchanging, a fire encourages contemplation, conversation, and new ideas.

The idea of a cross-country trip occurred while gazing into a quivering bonfire beside my 3 best friends. Hypnotized by the flame, I caught a glimpse of the future.

I imagined the long nights spent outside under the stars in hammocks and tents. I could hear the magnificent symphony of wolves, owls, and crickets as they welcomed the night. The more I imagined, the more I pined for adventure.

I posed the thought to the boys. “We could hit national parks along the way, visit my sister in Oregon, and drive along the West Coast,” I said.

It sounded awesome, albeit a bit crazy. But I suppose all great ideas are. It didn’t take much convincing on my part. They all agreed it was time to leave our safe, suburban town.

Bored and checked out of school, I sketched a map of the US and plotted out our route during my last psych lecture. While my pencil scribbled out our stops, the stars were aligning.