Vanlife is a type lifestyle, encompassing living in and out of a van, or in our case, a truck and camper (called Swifty). It is a lifestyle adopted by many nomads either full-time or part-time to be able to travel freely and follow their passions, with less commitments and more mobility.

Over the last couple of years, vanlife has exploded in popularity, especially amongst millennials. The idea of fleeing the fast paced corporate world and structured societal norms is very appealing to many, and vanlife gives people the freedom to follow their dreams and experience life.

With the rise of the digital world, working remotely while traveling has become increasingly easy and is exactly how many vanlifers manage to support their newfound lifestyle. However, not all vanlifers are digital nomads. Some travel part-time while working, move from place to place for work, or live off of their savings.

Vanlife is not always as glamorous as it may be portrayed on Instagram, however it provides a level of freedom that many seek and enjoy.

Possibly the first and most important thing to do when you want to start vanlife is making the difficult decision to quit the corporate world and move out of an apartment or house into a van. It's a big step, and likely contradictory to what societal norms. This decision depends on a lot of different factors, such as money, commitments, having a mortgage, family planning, etc.

These are not decisions to be taken lightly, and you should also consider how long you plan on trying vanlife, where you plan to go, and at what speed you plan to travel to ensure that you and your partner are on the same page. If you're going it alone, power to you and you don't have to worry about what the other person thinks!

One of the next biggest decisions to make is what kind of van you want to live in! There are so many options, from actual vans, to old buses, ambulances, motorhomes, delivery trucks, truck and campers, or whatever your heart desires. Each has a unique set of advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before making your purchase.

We left our corporate jobs and sold our house in September 2019 to embark on our vanlife journey. We are sharing all our tips and tricks about vanlife on The Next Trip, including what we wish we knew before starting, our favorite vanlife essentials, how we turned our camper into a home, and a diary of our journey so that you can get an understanding what life on the road looks like.