The Solitude of the Road: How Van Life Provides the Perfect Space for Writing a Novel
Van life is not for everyone, but it's tempting for adventurers like me.
I started traveling and living the van life four years ago after watching countless YouTube videos. I settled on a 2016 Dodge Ram pro master 2500 cargo van, because I could stand up and move around comfortably. I’ve never regretted that decision.
I shopped around in Dallas, online dealerships, and local car lots. Finally, I settled for online dealerships with a 5-star rating.
I thought I needed to go in person and check the vehicle out but then realized I could buy one online much easier.
Eventually, I found an online family owned-operated 25-year-old business located in St. Cloud, Minnesota. I scan their inventory carefully and spotted the van that I was interested in on their website.
I called the dealership, and they gave me a young salesman who gave me a tour using a special google app.
He turned on his smartphone camera and walked around the driver side first showing me a couple of dents and scratches. He pointed out all the good and the bad features of the van. I liked his style of salesmanship. He was not pushy and answered all my questions to my satisfaction.
After showing me all around the outside of the van; he gave me a good view of the new Michelin tires. I was impressed! Next, he opened the driver's door and took the inside to show me the interior which was in excellent condition. He turned on the radio, showed me the clock mileage of the vehicle, and most important, he showed me the air conditioner and heater. It all worked fine.
The young salesman started up the engine, revved it up a couple of times. I didn’t hear any rattles or knocks, so I was happy.
He even provided me with a history report of the van. It was a one owner and never been wrecked. A local real estate company purchased it brand new from the family-owned dealership and traded it back to them with only 81,000 miles.
I liked the van and decided to offer a $500 deposit to hold it for me. The office manager accepted my proposal and drew up all the necessary purchase orders and finance options. They faxed over my paperwork to my bank, and I was approved within 48 hours.
The dealership arranged for a Chicago delivery service to bring me the van to my home in Stonewall, Louisiana. The whole buying experience from start to finish was a four-day turnaround process for me.
Would I do it again? Yes, it's so much easier for me to buy online over being in person. Either way you do have to do your homework and its best to only deal with reputable dealerships.
The cargo van needed to be built out. I hired a carpenter to insulate with wool, cut out and install three windows, panel the inside with real wood, build a bed frame, build a few cabinets, and it was basically completed. I'm pleased with the way it turned out, but I would change a few things if I could do it all over again, but not many.
Van life isn't just about the vehicle. It's a lifestyle choice. Imagine waking up to the soft glow of sunshine filtering through your van’s windows, smelling the aroma of fresh coffee brewing, and hearing birds chirping outside instead of hearing traffic buzzing by your window.
Van lifers embrace this freedom!
The Nomadic Muse
Solitude is the silent companion of van life. The absence of distractions, no noisy neighbors, no office politics, can allow creativity to flourish.
There's plenty to do as a van lifer. In my case, I like writing and working on my novel. Nature seems to put my mind at ease and help me get into the creative flow and find inspiration much easier.
And there is something magical about living with less. Daily living with access to just the essentials, frees up time to be more creative. The cell phone provides us with so much to take advantage of, so there is no time to be bored.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s newsletter. Next week, I will give you an update on my van travels since I began this journey in April 2020.
So long, for now.
Kindly,
Carol
I’d love to see the inside. I had a Winnebago Travato for a time and loved it. I miss my van, but I couldn’t sustain it financially over the long term. I still lust after them and the freedom they offer. Maybe another time. I like your buying process. Glad it’s worked out for you.