Highlights from vanlife

We stood outside the camper van, faces turned upward, our breath visible in the cold night air. The sky was impossibly clear, the Milky Way blazing overhead. The Pleiades — usually easy to spot back home in Connecticut — were almost unrecognizable out here. We were 2,500 miles from home, in the Guadalupe Mountains, preparing to sleep in the van for the 12th night in 14 days. It was one of my favorite nights of the entire trip.

This was our recent 6-week road trip: 6,000 miles from Connecticut to California and back, visiting family and friends along the way. I'd dreamed about vanlife for years, but the stars aligned only recently — meeting Shan, finding ourselves in fully remote jobs. We're very lucky in that regard, and not only that — we both enjoy traveling and are comfortable being uncomfortable. We appreciate how lucky we are, and we find joy in experiencing the world as it is. I'd do it all again — over and over.

The Romance of Vanlife

Vanlife is romantic. It's cozy. It's intimate. Two people traveling together, sharing 80 square feet and a queen bed. Moving around the van takes care and involves some very close moments — literally squeezing past each other. It's not so bad, though. It gives us plenty of soft touches on the back in passing, time to pause for an embrace, a kiss, or a warm lean into each other. One tiny word of caution — since you'll be spending all your time together in tight quarters, it helps to get along. Shan and I are quite lucky that way. Our vanlife trips together feel like beautiful journeys of a lifetime.

Setting Off

The moment we turned the key and rolled out of the driveway, the feeling of freedom and excitement was overwhelming. Vanlife gave us the flexibility to choose our own pace and destinations - this trip was about the journey as much as the stops.

We had a rough idea of where we were going, anchored by three things planned on specific dates:

• A work meeting in Philadelphia

• A toxicology conference in Phoenix

• Thanksgiving with Cooper

The rest was fluid - visiting friends along the way and finding fun things to do in between. We stopped in small towns, checked out scenic overlooks, and let the road decide. The van became our home, our office, and our sanctuary. Remote work let us keep up with our responsibilities while still living the adventure.

Balancing Work and Adventure

Remote working on the road has its challenges. Sometimes the Wi-Fi was spotty, or the workspace cramped. But we adapted - planning work hours around the best connectivity spots and using portable hotspots when needed.

Working early in the morning freed up the daylight hours for exploring. On driving days, one of us drove while the other worked. The rhythm kept us productive and energized, and honestly, the ever-changing scenery did wonders for creativity and motivation.

Favorite Memories

Everyone has seen the vanlife photos - van doors swung open to mountains, waterfalls, rolling landscapes, and breathtaking views. We definitely had those views. But we also enjoyed the more urban views of main streets, parking lots, and train tracks. It was real America. :)

A few moments that really stood out:

• McAfee Knob - We had a lovely hike to a beautiful overlook

• Virginia Creeper Trail - Shan ran, and I biked 15 miles along a rolling multi-use trail

• Guadalupe Peak - An awesome hike to the highest peak in Texas

• Joshua Tree - Wow. Beautiful, misty, rainy, stunning.

• Death Valley - More wow. Beautiful, sunny, sand and rock, amazing hike around hoodoo-like structures, felt like we were in Star Wars

• Kolob Canyon sunrise hike - We were up early on Thanksgiving, and we had time to watch a beautiful sunrise and hike on some of Zion's lesser-known trails.

• Harvest Hosts & HipCamp stays - we made our way across the country and back using as many of these quirky, unique, and in some cases, a bit spooky, stops as much as possible.

Each one added another layer to our story, making the trip so much more than just miles traveled.

Preparing for the Next Adventure

This road trip taught us so much about planning and flexibility, and how the two go hand in hand. A few things that made a real difference:

• Scout your work spots in advance. Coffee shops, local libraries, and a solid mini-desk setup in the van all saved us at different points.

• Pack versatile gear for different weather and activities.

• Don't drive every day. Take a few days in between to actually be somewhere.

And above all - leave room for the spontaneous detours. Those were often the best parts.