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INSIDER

USA TODAY

#VanLife takes off during COVID-19 as Americans convert vans for a life on the road

“Many of the vans outfitted for life on the road had beginnings much stranger than delivery vans.

A few years ago, married couple Natalie and Abigail Rodriguez converted a 2004 Sprinter van that had previously been used as a prisoner transit vehicle. They paid $6,000 for it and have invested about $10,000 to outfit it for the road.

“It was pretty beat up,” Abigail says. They devoted considerable time to “ripping out the interior and fixing the rust. There was a big hole we had to patch.”

But their investment has paid off. They’ve been on the road since Natalie, a chef, decided to give up her job and Abigail ramped up her photography business.”

USA TODAY

How to live your best #VanLife: Tips for handling budget, upgrades and bathrooms on the road

“While some parks will have admission fees, others may not. If you're not careful, those costs can add up quickly.

The Erlers “try to camp for free 90% of the time,” Abby says.

Natalie and Abigail Rodriguez do the same thing from their Sprinter van. 

“We rely on public land,” Abigail says.”

INSIDER

Van lifers share the biggest challenges they've faced during the pandemic, from travel bans to limited storage space for food.

“Like most people, van lifers have had to adapt their lifestyle to the new reality posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

While lockdowns have been a struggle for many, those living in tiny vans have felt the impact in different ways.

But limited space and storage weren't the only challenges van lifers say they've faced.

From getting stranded in foreign countries to racing home to beat travel restrictions to being unable to find safe spots to shelter in place as national parks shut down and RV parks restricted capacity, van lifers say their lives changed in many ways.”

PENNY HOARDER

“If you search the #vanlife hashtag on Instagram, you’ll be rewarded with more than 7 million images. Common themes "include sunsets over the sea, cozy-looking campfires, and interior van designs that could make you drool with longing.

Oh, and dogs. If one thing’s certain about #vanlife, it’s that lots and lots of dogs are living it.

Van life seems to promise an experience that is simultaneously beautiful, liberating and affordable — after all, if you’re living on the road, you probably aren’t paying rent or a mortgage.

But what goes on outside those carefully framed pictures? What does it really cost to live life on four wheels?”

INSIDER

11 common struggles of living in a van you should consider before committing to the lifestyle.

“Van life has captured the public imagination.Who doesn't dream of a simpler, cheaper life that takes you from one gorgeous spot to another, sleeping and working where you please and waking up to stunning views?However, the reality is a little more complicated.While the many long-term van lifers Insider spoke to adore the lifestyle, they're aware it also presents a few challenges that might not make it for everyone.”

OUTDOORSY

“Every June, communities across the country gather to celebrate and raise awareness for LGBTQ+ equality. This June marks the 50th year celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride traditions, and while we’ve come a long way, there is still more work to be done to help raise and amplify the under-represented voices and continue to diversify the outdoors. This month, we want to help you add more color to your Instagram feed by elevating some of the LGBTQ+ outdoor advocates that you should be following. It doesn’t matter whether you own or rent an RV, or you prefer to spend your nights in a tent under the stars. Let’s join together and be one unified outdoorsy community. Adventure is always better when you’ve got more people on your side.”

EatSeeRV.com

“We started a blog series where we interview various full-time travelers, sharing how they make money and travel. Our goal is to help inspire and educate others on the various ways to work remotely while living a nomadic lifestyle. If you’re new to our blog, we have been full time RVing for over two years. We support ourselves by investing in real estate; specifically in mortgage notes.

Today’s interview is with Natalie and Abigail from Lets Play Ride and Seek. This fun loving couple traded their day jobs for the road, embracing van life for in 2019. Their unique work experience has allowed them to find creative ways to earn money while they travel doing things they love and enjoy.”

TRAIL AND SUMMIT

“Finances can be one of the most stressful parts for those looking to make the leap to vanlife, since you most likely will not be earning a steady paycheck like you would when living in a house or apartment. However, you also do not have to pay nearly as many bills every month. 

In this article, I’ll share how we financed our bus conversion and two years of travel so far, and we’ll hear from two other couples about their experiences as well.“

GNOMAD HOMIES: LET’S PLAY RIDE AND SEEK

“We are super stoked to introduce you all to the entire crew behind Let’s Play Ride And Seek!

This amazingly vibrant and entertaining family is made up of Natalie and Abigail Rodriguez. They travel with their dogs Bear, a pitbull mix, and Peluche (pronounced pay-loo-chay, which means teddy bear in Spanish. They usually just call him luche for short) a Volpino (spitz). 

They are originally from Charleston, SC. They both lived there for over 10 years and used it as their home base. Abi grew up in PA and Natalie grew up in SC and Minnesota. We hope you enjoy their interview as much as we did! Read on to hear all about their build and adventures!”

ADVENTURE JOURNAL

This Former Prison Transport Van Is Now a Roaming Couple’s ‘Freedom Van’

“When I finally connect with vanlifers Abigail and Natalie Rodriguez after a month of email exchanges and missed calls, they’re posted up near Todos Santos on the Baja Peninsula. After learning that their rig is stuck in wet sand thanks to a downpour the night before, I almost joke that this is the only reason I finally pinned them down. “We spent this past New Year’s Eve stuck in some sand, so we’re no strangers to it,” says Abigail with a laugh. “We’ll get out at some point—you just gotta go with the flow.”

Article by  SHAWNTE SALABERT

UPROXX

Two Vanlifers Share What It’s Like To Shelter-In-Place On The Road

“When vanlife duo Natalie and Abigail Rodriguez crossed the border from Mexico into Arizona last month, they were re-entering a country that had changed vastly since the last time they left. The couple had spent three months in Mexico — driving, cooking, and living the vagabond life. They had plans to start hitting up the U.S.’s national parks as spring arrived. Instead, they found new shelter-in-place and quarantine orders being issued daily.

By mid-March, most of the country was locked down and the two travelers had to rethink their plans for the foreseeable future. Natalie and Abi — a chef and photographer, respectively — tried hitting up larger campgrounds but found them overcrowded and racing to close as the quarantine began in full. So they decided to take to the wilds and isolate on BLM land, with just their two dogs and their kitted-out van.

We were able to jump on a call with Natalie and Abi this week to see how they’re holding up through the pandemic. We asked them about what it’s like having to shelter-in-place when your “place” is a van, masked grocery runs, striking a new work-life-balance, and how the vanlife community is adapting. Let’s jump in!”