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...
26 days 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...
about 1 month 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...
about 2 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...
about 2 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...
3 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...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, We've been hanging out in San Francisco for the last couple of days, visiting family and stealth camping on city streets. Stealth camping isn't my favorite thing - it's a bit nerve-wracking - but it's really the only way to be in or near the city for dinnertime. Plus, we gave $200 to the local economy, so hopefully that's payment enough for taking a parking spot for a couple of nights. Anyway, I am plugging away working even while visiting people in the Bay area. And THIS, how to...
6 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Happy Tuesday! It's another hot day in Oregon, and I'm thankful to be hiding away in my family's air-conditioned home. Anything over 90 degrees isn't very fun in a campervan! -----PAID AD----- Today is Amazon Prime Day, and I have a very special offer to share with you from Waggle! Waggle is a pet temperature monitor that you leave inside your rig, and you can monitor heat and humidity right from your phone. For Amazon Prime Day, Waggle is 50% off! Over 60,000+ Rving pet parents...
9 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, I thought I’d send you a picture of me saying hello. I'm really thankful you are here and on my email list. Send me one back if you like! I always enjoy seeing who I'm emailing :) I also wanted to send you a couple of articles that have been popular on my Facebook page. The Six Most Valuable Lessons I Learned After 4.5 Years of Van Life Here is an excerpt of this guest post by New Zealand van lifer Lisa Jansen: For the next 4 ½ years, my trusty van and I explored everything New...
10 months ago • 1 min read
