Harmonizing Personal Space and Van Life
To vanlifers who value their alone time and need their space.
My wife and I have been living in our van since December 2023, in a space of just under 60 square feet (5.56 square meters). In other words, we live in a tiny box.
Needless to say, we spend a lot of time together, and we love it!
With that being said, when people clock that we live in our van full time, they often ask, “How do you manage to have personal space?”.
Another frequent and somewhat surprising question we get is, “Do you fight more now that you’re always together?”
It's amusing because it suggests some people really don't enjoy their partners' company, which perhaps explains the spike in divorces during the COVID pandemic.
The reality of our situation.
Considering our individual personalities, we understand the importance of alone time. We don't force anything and go with the flow. When one of us needs space, we acknowledge it and respect its importance.
Both of us are passionate about what we do and have a natural curiosity, so we’re almost always positively “busy”, except when we're at the beach, hiking, or engaging in other outdoor activities.
We're also both dedicated to writing, which requires intense focus and complete silence.
Furthermore, when we're in Bordeaux, we spend a lot of time volunteering, working, playing sports, or hanging out with friends.
This setup helps us find alone time, but here are a few more tips to keep things running smoothly.
Different Sleep Schedules: My wife usually wakes up before me and gets an hour to herself to scroll, check her newsfeed, or watch cartoons. I’m a night owl, so I get my alone time before bed. Use different sleep schedules to your advantage.
Individual Activities: When I’m done working, I often go for hikes while she enjoys writing, working, talking to friends, or watching series. Sometimes we hike together; other times, I hike alone. Find your balance.
Separate Spaces: We occasionally stay in different parts of the van. One of us might stay in the front while the other is in the back. In the summer, I usually sit at the back (outside) while she stays inside. This also provides us with some alone time.
All in all, what people fail to grasp is that they must respect each other’s time and privacy. That’s all it boils down to. It’s not rocket science, as you can see.
Anyway, after Italy, we traveled through Slovenia, one of the most beautiful countries we’ve ever visited, then Austria (not much to say there) and now we’re in Germany.
I love Bavaria. It’s so peaceful and there are many green places in the south of Munich.
More on that later!
Hope you’re having a great summer!
Thanks for reading.
Tee.