A Van, Two Cats, and a Dream
It’s time. After years of cloud talk about someday living on the road, the van was purchased, outfitted, and is finally ready for its first major trip. In just a few weeks, we’ll begin to test the road warrior lifestyle with two months of climbing and resting, living with minimal space, minimal belongings, and minimal personal cleanliness. Natalie, Leonard, Gus, and I will begin our trip by driving the vehicle we call “El Vanny Blanco” to Spearfish, SD, but everything after that is up in the air.
Two of my van-mates, Natalie and Gus. Gus' brother Leonard is taking the picture. Good eye, Leonard!
Our trip is only for two months, but it seems like a test of something bigger. While most people are still chasing the American dream of earning lots of money and maintaining a traditional high standard of living, more and more people our age are searching for a simpler lifestyle. Whether it’s talk of tiny homes or just wanting to get away from it all, I get the impression that our high levels of ownership and stimulation have finally started to weigh on us.
Natalie enjoying a sunny nap in El Vanny Blanco
When pondering a simpler life I’m reminded of our friend Sid, who for much of the year lives in a truck with a topper on a small plot of land in Texas. He wakes up to a beautiful view everyday, eats delicious home-cooked food, climbs, doesn’t work very much, and seems about as happy as can be. While he’s still young, he’s made the decision to live every day his own way – not tied to belongings and the 9-to-5 job needed to hold onto those belongings.
Hanging at Camp Sid
On days spent in my office at work, there’s a part of me that wants Sid’s life too. It’s romantic. It’s tempting.
Maybe I need to stick to my guns and just keep working the wonderful job that I have until I can retire. Maybe Natalie and I need to run for the hills and live our van dream for as long we can. Or maybe it’s just time for us to downsize our lives a little more permanently. Whatever we choose to do when August comes along and our trip is over, I think that these two months are a first step in answering the question: “Just how ‘Sid’ do we want to be?”
Other Posts: "Why I Climb", Hueco Tanks 2015, What is Climbing?, Dealing With Injury, or Listen to music!