As van life influencers pop up on social media, remember that you're probably seeing the rose-colored lens of this lifestyle.
Although fulltime van life has plenty of benefits, there are also downsides that you need to keep in mind.
You can travel anywhere you want to without leaving your home behind.
Those who love to be active and explore the outdoors are often attracted to the fulltime van lifestyle.
Some people build/design their own vans so they can create custom floor plans that accommodate their every need.
Of course, van life comes with its own expenses, but it is generally much cheaper than the alternatives.
More and more jobs nowadays are offering opportunities for remote work.
Due to the cheaper cost of living, you also don't have to work as much to support yourself.
While simplicity is one thing, we all need things to sustain a normal life, and a van only has so much room.
Couples and families who live out of vans often experience friction due to the lack of privacy and personal space.
You must constantly seek new places to park, spend the night, eat out, wash your laundry, etc. If you thrive on routine and stability, van life is probably not a good fit.
You might not be qualified to work remotely, so you'll have difficulty finding stable work during your travels.
Many fulltime van lifers resort to using dry shampoo, washing their hair in a bucket, or simply going without a shower for a few days.
You also need to find laundromats to wash your clothes and park near a bathroom.
The level of cleanliness and hygiene vary wildly, so this lifestyle can be hard to adjust to if you're a neat freak.
Because you travel so much, you won't have a consistent community or support network (at least not one close by).
This can foster feelings of loneliness and isolation, even if you travel with another person.
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