Scenes from My Van Life Journey Thru the Years
It’s another quiet Sunday morning here at the campground. My official 10 year Vanniversary is coming up on October 1, 2025… so I thought I'd share a few photos and stories about Bella, my cozy little home on wheels.
October 1, 2015… day 1 of van life.
- Nikki and our dog, Cookie, were with me the first several months.
- I stayed at a campground the first few days.
My original simple interior setup.
- I used what I could from the house.
- Other things were bought on clearance or from thrift stores.
- The table (used as a kitchen counter) was from the house. I painted it and secured it in the van.
- I rearranged and changed things out several times thru the years.
Sunset from my off-the-grid campsite in the Arizona desert.
- In my early, off-the-grid days, I spent time out west camping in the Arizona desert and other free to camp or free to park places.
- I love the sunset reflection 💕
More off-the-grid camping just outside the South Dakota Badlands.
- Can you tell I love sunset photos?
Winter at Dad’s house
- In early 2018, I took a hiatus from the road to move in with my Dad (so he didn’t have to go to a nursing home).
- Dad passed away in February 2020.
Bella towing Lulu (the trailer).
- In June 2021, I had a brain fart and thought a trailer was a good idea.
- In February 2022, I sold the trailer.
- Why did I sell her?… Because life wasn’t simple any more.
Camping in the jungle.
- Or maybe it was Hanna Park in Jacksonville FL 😉
- It sure felt and sounded like I was camping in the jungle!
My new van life kitchen.
- After selling the trailer and moving back into the van, Nikki and Misael helped me replace the counter with a Sunnersta mini-kitchen from Ikea.
- I love this kitchen!
- I have a fresh and grey water tank underneath - with a water pump for running water.
- The photo on the right is a shelving unit I kept from Dad’s house. It fit perfectly, adding more storage space, and my fridge sits on top.
Springtime at Lake Le-Aqaua-Na State Park in Lena IL
- One of my favorite places to hang out when I’m in the northwest Illinois area.
After being in the van for 10 years - minus the time I spent with Dad - there are tons of photos and stories. Those I shared above are just a few.
Thanks for stopping by,
Connie 🍂
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