LIVING THE VANLIFE: ORDER THE BOOK

July 28, 2022

Authors: Faren Rajkumar @faren_wanderer ;

Roo & Ashley love spending as much time as they can outdoors.

Part-time van lifers with their home base in Golden, CO. you can catch them hiking, mountain biking, chilling at the park, or paddle boarding any day of the week.

1. Tell us about your vanlife journey- as a couple!

We bought our van Patricia Palms a little over a year ago. We had been contemplating getting a van for almost a year prior to make the big purchase but we kept talking ourselves out it. However, a perfect opportunity came along to buy Patricia from Ashley’s cousin and her cousin’s boyfriend. There was some relief buying the van from someone we knew personally and could trust. They were also super helpful with any questions we had the first month or so of being new van owners.

We couldn’t be happier and always tell folks contemplating a van purchase to go for it because it’s the best decision we’ve ever made!

2. How important is diverse representation in road travel/vanlife & the outdoors to you, and why?

If it motivates one BIPOC or LGBTQ+ individual to get out into nature/van life because they see themselves being represented in that space then it’s all worth it.

3. Have you ever felt unsafe while living in a van or exploring the outdoors?

Roo and I had just pulled up to a Walmart parking lot to crash for the night after a very long day of driving. Yes its true what they say about vanlife – you’ll probably sleep in a handful of parking lots and that’s ok!

Roo went out to walk our doggos before bed and had a weird interaction with a car that saw her and then circled around her and the van. We were out of there in 10 minutes and found a safer more comfortable spot to sleep for the night. Trust your gut – if you get a weird feeling about a person or place go w/ it and pack out

Roo and Ashley in their paradise on wheels

Please share 1-2 of your top road travel tips/advice for BIPOC hoping to break into vanlife.

Downloand iOverlander! Great free app that shows free dispersed camping as well as paid camping throughout the country.

Be patient with yourself (and your partner if traveling w/ someone else). There are a lot of decisions that need to be me made and rushing to get to an answer can make things worse. Patients and kindness is key!

How do you commit to minimizing your negative impact on the Earth as a “traveler”, land steward, or adventurer, and if applicable, through your business?

Pretty simple – pack it in and pack it out. Leave every campsite, hiking trail, lake, etc. the way you found it for others to enjoy and leave no trace.

Quite a backdrop there!

6. Anything else you want to share with the community?

Follow along on our adventures on Instagram: @vanlife_w_mywife

Related

Community feature: Annie Nguyen
August 21, 2021In “community feature”

How to Survive Vanlife Without a Fridge
December 24, 2020In “guest post”

Community Feature: Levy Shultz
June 7, 2021In “community feature”