Before I took a year-long break from work back in 2023, the idea of "van life" was a hard pass for me.

I loved my space. I had a bright, airy room with a beautiful Anthropologie bed frame, more closet storage than I actually needed, a massive sectional, and a West Elm dining table. To me, living in a vehicle sounded suffocating. Van life? Yeah right. Way too small.

Then came eight months of non-stop travel.

Suddenly, my environment shifted from a spacious sanctuary to a cycle of mountain huts, trail tents, Airbnbs, and hotel rooms. After months of living out of whatever space was available, a realization hit me: I didn't actually need a room full of furniture to feel comfortable. Everything I truly needed fit into a carry-on suitcase and a backpack—my phone, a credit card, my passport, and the absolute essentials.

When Louis proposed the idea of building out a van, my initial skepticism turned into curiosity. Why not try it for a short stint? If it doesn't work out, I can easily just sign a lease on an apartment.

So, the search began. I set my sights on practical options like a Ford Transit or RAM ProMaster, quickly ruling out expensive Sprinters. Without any friends in the van life community to borrow from or test drive, I started visiting dealerships to stand inside empty cargo vans—figuring out the absolute minimum standing height I needed and testing what size vehicle I felt confident behind the wheel of.