Vanlife

Experiences YOu Should Have Podcast Show Notes on Vanlife







Interview with Sarah Michaud on Van Life



Listen to the above episode with Sarah Michaud from @michaudyoutheword (Insta) on vanlife, living in a van full time.



Sarah Michaud Exploring the US via Van Life



How did VanLife Begin?



Sarah was in a rut. She was working more than 40 hours a week and every cent she was making was going towards her mortgage and other bills. She was living paycheck to paycheck and living for the weekends. Her life was good, but she was missing something.



Sarah wanted to start living out her dreams and knew that she was the only person standing in her way. She had just come back from summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and was feeling very motivated and determined. Sarah knew she was on the verge of a big change and vanlife was one of the ideas that were in her head.



That Easter she had a conversation with her family about selling her condo and buying a van and travel the country. Before she could blink, she was having conversations with her realtor about selling her condo to front the van costs. The condo was sold, the van was built, then she hit the road in February 2019 and began living in her van full time.



Sarah Michaud's Van Life



Life on the road



Since she hit the road, she's been to 40 states and 31 National Parks. Each park is so unique and different and somehow leaves Sarah amazed every single time. From the red rocks to volcanoes, to the granite of Yosemite, to the blue waters of Crater Lake, each place is so unbelievably majestic that it's hard to believe places like this exist.



Vanlife by Crater Lake



Working During VanLife



Sarah worked with her company to allow her to work a 30-hour workweek instead of 40 hours and was able to do work three 10-hour shifts. That allowed for four days of exploring. Wifi and phone service is usually nil when at National Parks and off the beaten path, so Sarah would go into town to work and had phone service through one provider and a mobile hot spot through another provider, which gave her more coverage.



It takes a bit of creativity, but with more employers allowing remote work, living in a van full time can become your reality.



VanLife during the Coronavirus Pandemic



When the COVID-19 pandemic started, Sarah was in Florida. Many van-lifers use nationwide gym memberships to shower, and soon that option for a shower disappeared. She immediately began to scramble to work her way to be near family in New England. She is now travelling more locally, and stays near family to use their amenities, and then go on small road trips.



Another option for vanlife during the pandemic is to use an outdoor shower with some sort of shower cover, or wear a bathing suit (better suited for warmer destinations).



Sarah recommends to be aware of each state's guidelines. Some require a mask, others a 14-day mandatory quarantine and proof of a negative Covid test. It is possible to travel during these times, but you need to be careful and respectful of people you come across.



Do your homework before arriving and look up what is open and available online, especially National Parks before you go. Many National Parks are taking reservations and some parts of the park are closed.