Two months. That was the official amount of time we moved into the Bee full time.Pros: We saved rent money to put towards the build, learned a lot about what we want and need to be comfortable in a van home, our dog seemed to absolutely love it and we felt the freedom of a living simply.
Cons: Our build wasn't complete and it was super hard to work on the build when you don't have a house or shop to do it. Coastal New Hampshire is not the best place to find places to park. Lastly, we learned how difficult it is to juggle our home being the daily driver of a guy who works full time in the Coast Guard.
With some regrets but also the excited of looking forward to completing the van, we moved into a winter rental with a garage to set up shop. We're in the process of building cabinets and an outdoor shower, installing a second battery, roof racks, swivel seats and lights, and creating a custom foam mattress, rug and rubber floor protector.
What we learned:
- We missed nothing about the comforts of a larger home except a shower and a kitchen. That's an easy fix!
- We love the idea of organized storage space so we don't have to crawl and shift things around all the time.
- A regular mini fridge really can run off of solar power and not drain your battery!
- Food - planning is key. If you buy fresh veggies, have a plan to use them so they don't rot.
- Our dog was super content living in a van.
- Lastly, a couple can live happily in a van together without feeling trapped, cramped or whatever else you may have worries about.
