One Year As A Full Time Van Life Couple

 Hey Y'all!

In some ways we can't believe it's been a year already. In other ways we can't believe it's only been a year!


In this blog we'll talk about some of the best, and worst things we've experienced this year, as well as what we've learned a year in.

We like to end on positivity, so let's start with some of the worst experiences this past year...


1) Amanda's recurrence with Endometrial Cancer. July's radiation really took a lot out of her, and was excruciatingly painful every time for at least a day afterward. Horrible experience. (So far this recurrence, and radiation hasn't been too bad. Se soreness and fatigue, and that's been it.)


2) Blown tire, no spare. This was technically before we were FT, but it sucked. We knew it was a gamble, and we lost. 

We did find some of the friendliest people in Dry Ridge, KY so it wasn't all bad. There's a whole video about that trip here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g9-dIjF9Z4


3) This whole repair fiasco:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwPmlb_cj40


4) Getting kicked out of a parking lot during a repair when out on the road. Luckily we could limp it across the street, and the repair took less than 30min.


5) The "train ride" in Ohio. We've mentioned it in a previous blog: here


I'm sure there were others, but for us those few were definitely the worst.



 What were some of the highlights?


1) Alabama! We did so many awesome things, but filmed very little. We do have pictures, especially from Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, but we haven't transferred them yet...

Here's our travel DITL leaving Athens/Cowford Campground:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2Cb6UcBPQI&t=810s


2) The eclipse viewing, absolutely an amazing experience!


3) Spending an extended amount of time visiting family in IN and OH.


4) Finally doing the First KFC in Corbin, KY. We'd driven 25E for years and never stopped, even though it's only a few minutes out of the way. We have done it now, and it was pretty cool!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B-ABGrmL-k&t=3s


5) South Carolina... We pretty much stayed (and played) around the I-26 Corridor but we thoroughly enjoyed our 6wks in this beautiful state.

Here's just one of the beautiful parks we explored:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6eJh0wwMKM&t=34s




What did we learn this year??! So much!

1) We always have to have a backup plan, or an exit (or, for us, usually a stay longer) strategy.

2) The journey truly is the destination.

3) We aren't in any hurry to get anywhere.

4) We will probably never have nothing to move in order to get going. We've tried, it usually only lasts a few days at best.

5) We absolutely love this life we've created for ourselves.

6) Doing laundry is boring.

7) There's always at least one rainy day.

8) Local libraries are great.

9) Facebook is fantastic for finding (free) local events, anywhere. 

10) Cracker Barrel is a prime place to overnight along the route.

11) Not all Planet Fitness locations are the same. Some have okay equipment, some have better showers than others, some allow overnight parking (not all), and some are NOT open 24hrs.

12) KOA's are overpriced. That's not to say we didn't enjoy our two stays this past year, but on average they were higher than any other place we stayed. With exception of the Christmas in July activities, they were pretty on par with amenities from campgrounds around the $40- $50 range. We'd still rate both Batesville (IN) and Baileyton (TN) highly, but as far as price... it's a bit much.


We've said it before the freedom in this life is our absolute favorite thing about it, and the least favorite thing overall is the days we can't spend a ton of time outdoors.


Thanks,

The Outlands

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