Is the nomadic lifestyle right for you?

By Carissa Guffey, Staff Writer 

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they feel like dropping everything and living in a van along the coast. This lifestyle becomes especially tempting when you are in college (believe me, I know). So, I have compiled a list of pros and cons to help you realize if van life is right for you!

Let’s start with the cons. One bothersome aspect about living in a van is the bathroom situation. You have to sacrifice a fair amount of space if you add a shower, and you’ll have to compromise with a compost toilet. 

Another obvious issue is space. Most people considering living out of a van understand they won’t have a lot of room to maneuver or have any alone time, so you have to decide if that is a sacrifice you can easily make. 

Finally, a rather concerning con is that you would be in trouble if your van were to break down or need serious repair. Not only would you need somewhere else to stay while it gets fixed, it could also cause serious financial troubles. So, it’s best to have emergency money set aside. 

Van life still has a lot of pros to look forward to, though. Not only can you completely customize your space, but you can also have the comforts of home wherever you go! Another bonus about van life is that you can go anywhere in the country and stay as long as you want! What’s most convincing is the money you will save. Aside from gas, there are no big expenses or bills with van life. Van life may or may not be for you, but even so, it seems like something worth trying for even a couple of months over summer vacation. Most of all, be sure to really think it through before dropping everything and living life on the road.