Hey Reader! As we journey north through the Sea of Cortez to haul our boat out at the boatyard, I'm starting to think about summer van life adventures. I'm looking forward to easy access to hiking, jogging, and mountain biking, things that are harder to achieve with sailboat life. By the way, if you don't have a van yet, I HIGHLY recommend renting one before buying. Check out this offer from Escape Campervans: SPONSOR Looking for an affordable, well-equipped campervan for summer adventures?...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader! Today is the first day on our passage down the Baja Peninsula that I actually feel okay, maybe even good. We left Long Beach on Saturday night and haven't stopped since. Here's a picture of me on the Long Beach public dock outside Ballast Point hours before we left: Right now we are behind Isla Cedros, protected from the Pacific swell. The wind is light and the weather warm. I slept in two decent shifts: 8:30pm-1230pm, and then again from 730am-1030am. I've always heard that DAY...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader! We've been bopping down the California coast in our new-to-us sailboat, on our way down to Baja and the Sea of Cortez. Right now, we're enjoying Southern California and doing the final fixes before we head out into the ocean. All this time on the sailboat has made me think about some key differences between van life and sailboat living. But first, check out this ad from Timber vans (thanks for clicking on and supporting my advertisers!) --------PAID AD---------- Complete Van...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader! It was sweltering in the Sea of Cortez as we floated in clear, turquoise waters on our sailboat one day in late May. Hot and muggy, with a permanent sheen of sweat on our bodies. And I REALLY wanted a loaf of sourdough. Too hot to use the oven. Too hot to even use the stove! What was a girl craving bread supposed to do? ☀️ Use the power of that hot sun, that’s what! I pulled out my GoSun Fusion Solar Oven and got to work. It took a little longer than my regular oven, but when I...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, There's one question I hear over and over about van life: Do you have a TOILET in there? My answer is this: No, we do NOT have a toilet. This is just a matter of personal preference. It doesn't mean YOU can't have a toilet in YOUR van. There are so many cool options these days for campervan toilets, including the Cuddy composting toilet. This is a smaller, more portable version of a composting toilet that would fit perfectly inside a campervan's secret cupboard. Van lifer Sierra...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader! Back in 2015, I spent $21,000 a year on rent to live in the San Francisco Bay area. When I think about that now, it seems crazy. That's so much money!And what did I have to show for it? A tiny apartment I was never in because I was always working. A constant hustle to pay for a place to sleep.Then I met Tom. He looked at my finances and said something I’ll never forget:“What if you just… didn’t pay rent?”I laughed at first. What do you mean, not pay rent? That’s just life. But...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader! Back in 2015, I spent $21,000 a year on rent to live in the San Francisco Bay area. When I think about that now, it seems crazy. That's so much money!And what did I have to show for it? A tiny apartment I was never in because I was always working. A constant hustle to pay for a place to sleep.Then I met Tom. He looked at my finances and said something I’ll never forget:“What if you just… didn’t pay rent?”I laughed at first. What do you mean, not pay rent? That’s just life. But...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Last night in Mexico we went out for tacos with some boatyard friends. Tom and I had five chicken tacos and a bowl of beans, complete with amazing salsas, limes, cucumbers, pico de gallo, and cabbage toppings. Our bill was just $13, including tip! It helps that in Mexico, you can bring your own beer to taco shops like these, which really cuts down on expenses. We see our bills go WAY DOWN when we live in Mexico compared to the United States. We drive less, so we spend less money...
6 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Our campervan is FULL of stuff. Sometimes, I wonder how we got so much stuff, and how it all fits in such a small space. So when someone asks me what I want for Christmas or my birthday, my answer is usually: "Not more stuff!" I usually tell my family to get me consumables, things I love like Oregon wine, food, or gift cards. But there still are some cool van life items that people might enjoy, too! In this spirit of less is more when it comes to buying a van lifer something, I've...
7 months ago • 1 min read
