Guest blog by Jessica Woodbridge from TheRoadTwoSpoons
We often get asked why we chose to live in a van and quite simply put, we wanted to experience a different way of life. For a little bit of back story, we’ve been together for 18 years, bought our first house in 2009 in Swindon and in 2017 we moved to South Wales, with our mini dachshund Mitchell, to live by the sea and spend more time outdoors.
We’ve always loved to travel and would do long-haul holidays and long weekend camping trips in between but the idea of full-time travel seemed like a pipe dream, especially with having a full-time job and paying bills.
Our Van Journey
Marcus bought our first van ‘Big Blue’ when he was 21, swapping a Ford Focus for a 1998 Volkswagen T4. I was not impressed. My only experience of vans was for commercial use by tradesmen and I couldn’t understand why someone would prefer a van over a car. However, after Marcus did a mini self-conversion and we went on our first camping trip, I was sold!
Big Blue took us along with our pup Mitchell, on many adventures across the UK but after a few years we decided to upgrade to a Volkswagen T5 named ‘The Silver Dream’. This had a professional conversion done and having additional comforts like heating, cooking facilities and a pop top made getaways more enjoyable and we started to spend more weekends away from home.
In 2017 we adopted our Welsh collie Rory, who also loved our camping trips, but with 4 of us in the van and often with paddle boards and Marcus’s kitesurfing equipment, things started to get a bit cramped.
This is when the idea of a bigger van came into play. Once again, I did need some convincing as getting a much larger van seemed extravagant but once I realised I could have a toilet, shower and full working kitchen I was fully onboard!
Biggie Small
In January 2020, we decided to take the plunge and sold ‘The Silver Dream’ to fund an order for a new factory order Peugeot Boxer L4 H3. After spending A LOT of time on YouTube and Instagram looking for inspiration for our conversion we came across Vanlife Conversions. Initially, we just asked a couple of questions here and there but Oli and Emily were so helpful we booked a consultation and started to come up with a plan for our dream van.
After following different vanlifers on YouTube, the idea of full-time van travel seemed a realistic possibility but not something in our immediate future. But with this in mind, we wanted a van that would be suitable for full-time travel when the right time came. Then the pandemic hit and everything came to a halt as we didn’t know when we’d get our van let alone when the conversion would be started. But, we didn’t give up and spent our lockdown, planning our layout, what fixtures and fittings we’d like and the overall aesthetic.
We also decided to name the van ‘Biggie Small’ a nickname for our beloved dachshund Mitchell who passed away the year before. Our van was eventually delivered in June 2020 and that August we dropped it off at Vanlife Conversions, ready for them to work their magic.
Despite getting regular updates, it didn’t feel real until we went to pick up our van in November. Seeing Biggie Small for the first time was amazing, it exceeded our expectations, and we couldn’t wait to take it on an adventure. However, we only managed one short trip when lockdown once again kept us indoors and it was another 6 months before we really started to get out in Biggie Small.
Turning Dreams into Reality
Once we started regularly going away in Biggie Small, it quickly became apparent that we preferred being away in the van and didn’t like coming home. Biggie Small gave us the freedom to escape “normal life” and spending more time in nature ultimately made us happier than anything else.
That first year of owning Biggie Small changed so much for us and like most people, the pandemic also gave us a new perspective on life. Working full time, just to pay bills and living for the weekend was no longer what we wanted. We wanted a life of adventure and to see what more the world had to offer. I was also struggling with my mental health, after being diagnosed with Bipolar in 2018 and having a difficult few years, I really needed things to change.
Thanks to a vibrant van community on Instagram and plenty of van festivals we also found ourselves part of the van life community. People were happy to share their experiences of van life and helped us realise that there is no right time to achieve your dream. Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith. We are always grateful for this and have built friendships for life through finding this community.
In September 2021 we started to put things into motion. We realised that we would need to sell our current house but that we could reinvest in a smaller property that could be rented. I left my job in insurance but luckily Marcus could work remotely from the van and by not paying household bills we could live off one income.
I was extremely scared and apprehensive about making such a huge life change but with the full support of friends and family, we packed up our life and in January 2022 we moved full-time into Biggie Small.
Living Van life
We have now been living in Biggie Small for 2.5 years and we have absolutely no regrets about giving up our old life. We have travelled to over 14 countries, experienced different cultures, met amazing people, and eaten incredible food, all while being able to bring our dogs along for the ride. Yes, we miss friends and family, but the time we do spend with them is more valued and we create stronger memories, especially when they come out to visit us in different countries. It’s all part of the adventure.
Van life has opened up our world immensely, it has calmed our souls, restored our faith in humanity and has made us appreciate how varied life can be.
So, if you’re thinking of getting a van whether it’s to travel for 6 days, 6 months or 6 years, don’t hesitate, it may be cliche to say but where there’s a will there’s a way, so make it happen.
