Okay, it seems like this is quite an aged discussion. How would you define the term “vanlife”? Also, I’m aware that many individuals dislike it.
Is the label exclusively reserved for full-time van dwellers?
Personally, I align more with being a weekender, despite having traveled extensively for several months. Where would you set the boundary in this regard?
Or is it primarily about the conduct of individuals while they are traveling?
This is IMO and I don’t intend to gatekeep. Since you asked…
What does the term “Vanlife” mean to you?
It used to mean living in a van; the term was used that way back in the 90s on yahoo email groups, IIRC.
/cynic mode ON
Then it blew up and was co-opted by carbetbaggers and the van-curious. Now it means influencing, watching influencers, posting bikini and/or foot pics, spending way too much money on a conversion then saying “hashtag-vanlife is overrated” and bailing. Most people on popular YT vanlife channels, forums, etc, do not own a van and will never spend a night in a van.
/cynic mode OFFSpeaking generally, and not about present company.
Personally, I align more with being a weekender, despite having traveled extensively for several months
Still working on coffee, but I’ll suggest a spectrum of approaches/attitudes
- dreaming <– most people are here
- weekending
- weekending in a rig that is capable of longer outings. An underrated option, since it gives us the ability to deal with life challenges, natural disasters, etc.
- traveling for months - practically indistinguisable from fulltiming since it presents many of the same challenges: power, water, food, etc. The only things missing are exposure to both summer and winter, and the sobering realization that
this is homeand there is no other home to return to. - fulltiming
TLDR
Vacations and campouts are fun. Living off-grid fulltime is serious business. I am reminded of the joke about different animals’ contributions to breakfast: the chicken is involved but the pig is committed.
I just noticed the meme on the post. I’m not sure I understand what it’s trying to say. Here’s one that rings more true to me.
Hi I’m late to the discussion but I’m a little closer to Barbie than a goth vampire but either way I don’t have the energy to analyze, categorize, or compare myself with anybody because I’m too busy surviving out here full time. Living the real thing. That’s the reality.
