I was hours into van build videos, inching closer and closer to pulling the trigger. There was a Sprinter on Craigslist for just $15k… was I really doing this? Should I do it? When else in life would I ever make this happen? Was I even capable of building an entire home or would the empty shell of a van sit in my driveway till I gave up and resold it?

Building a tiny home is quite the endeavor. It was literally the biggest project I’ve ever undertaken. And it was one hell of a rewarding experience.

Are you someone who needs stability and routine? Someone who has zero tolerance for chaos, uncertainty, and things that don’t go as planned? If so, van life is probably not for you.

Vanlife is riddled with uncertainties around the fundamentals in life we take for granted. Where will you sleep? Where will you empty your toilet? Has it been so cloudy that we might run out of power today? Do we have enough drinking water or are we about to run out?

There’s a certain level of discomfort you have to embrace. If you’re stealth camping in cities, you’ll be awash with the anxiety of parking your van in unknown places, surrendering to a foreign world when you fall asleep at night. It’s far different from the comfort and stability of a physical home, where hopefully, the water never stops flowing, and your fridge is big enough to hold a week's worth of food.

If you’re capable of embracing a bit of discomfort, you’ll be rewarded with the unparalleled gifts that van life affords, so keep on reading.

Are career aspirations front and center in your life? If so, you probably already know that work-life balance is an endless tug of war, and every spare minute of your day is invaluable.

Living in a van comes with a plethora of nuances that will eat up valuable time, from daily research, driving, hunting for parking spots, re-parking, van chores, and beyond. More importantly, is the distraction of novel experiences. If you’re regularly waking up somewhere new, I hope you’ll find yourself inspired! Inspiration is a wonderful and necessary thing, something we all chase, but sometimes you need routine for a level of focus and discipline.

If you’re in between jobs, live a laid-back lifestyle where work isn’t important, or are one of the lucky few who get to climb and chase adventures for a living, van life is perfect for you.

Maybe the draw to adventure, nature, and freedom, far outweigh all of the above. You’ll never truly know unless you do it, and maybe you’re like me, erring on the side of recklessness with decisions. I decided I’d rather give it a shot than spend the rest of my life wondering if van life was for me (and spoiler alert, it was short-lived but worth it!)

If you can afford to give van life a shot, do it. Sleeping at the base of Mt.Rainier and waking up to shred fresh powder is hands down, one of the most magical things I’ve ever experienced in life.

‍If you’re still reading, the next question is, should you build the van yourself?