Now that I’ve been on the road for a couple of months, I have a better feel for what this lifestyle entails. I have constructed a list of my biggest pros and cons of living on the road.

Being a digital nomad is often misled by social media as being very luxurious and just nonstop traveling to jaw dropping sceneries. That definitely wasn’t the case for me. However, I don’t think I could ever go back to a typical sticks and bricks.

I’ll start with the pros of living on the raod because I like to start on a positive note.

Pro 1. You do actually get to see some pretty amazing sites.

I think most of us get interested in this lifestyle because of our inner wanderlust. We crave adventure and new scenic views. That is one thing this lifestyle doesn’t slack on. Granted, not every day is Instagram worthy, but the majority of them are. I love that every week I get to experience a new back yard.

Pro 2. The freedom you feel is unbeatable.

This is probably the main reason I could never go back to “normal.” I love waking up and knowing I could take my “house” and everything I own, and move it to a new place. Snowy, wet winter is now a thing of the past if I want it to be. I feel like I’ve been become a snowbird at 31 and couldn’t be more pleased about that.

Pro 3. The people you meet on the road.

Even in just the last two months, I have met more travelers than I ever have. I’ve heard so many stories that I’ll always remember. You’ll always get the best recommendations from other people who travel full time. When you’re full time on the road, it’s a lot different than being a week-long tourist. You can go to more obscure places, and see sites most wouldn’t get to see.

The people you meet on the road will feel like family. You’ll feel more connected to them through travel, even if they have a much different background than you. Nomads find each other in their travels, and even if you may never see that person again, they will leave a lasting memory.

Now here’s my top cons for living on the road.

Con 1: It’s not as cheap as they make it out to be.

I recently ran the numbers for my first month, and there wasn’t a huge difference than when I was living in an apartment. You can check out my video on YouTube if you’d like a breakdown of my monthly expenses. Just keep in mind, they will be different for everyone.

It did, overall, become cheaper to live in a van, but this lifestyle could become very expensive, very easily.

If you stay in hotels, or campgrounds/RV parks often, then it will add up quickly. Also, how much are you eating out vs. cooking your own food? This cost actually went down when I moved into the van. However, it is way more convenient when you’re on the road to stop and grab something from the drive-thru. I have been very frugal with my spending, and still managed to spend around $1200 my first month.

Another thing to keep in mind are vehicle repair costs and vehicle maintenance. It’s smart to keep an emergency fund for any mishaps on the road. Vehicle repairs, as we all know, are not cheap.

Con 2: Not having a permanent bathroom, can be sh*tty.

Yeah, the awful poop talk. No one wants to really talk about the reality of being in a van and having to poop at 2 am. When you’re out boondocking, it’s a lot easier if you don’t have neighbors and can dig yourself a little hole away from camp. When you’re “stealthing” it downtown, it becomes a bigger issue.

I think pooping in a bag is a “Welcome to VanLife” initiation. It will happen, no matter how hard you try to avoid it. The only solution is to either have a bathroom in your rig, or constantly be parked somewhere next to a bathroom. Even if you’re parked across the street from a gas station, or at a Walmart, you still have to get out of your rig at 2 a.m. and walk to the bathroom in the building. It’s not a fun experience all around, but once it becomes your “normal” – it’s not so bad.

After a while of being on the road, those days where you have a bathroom at a campground, or even stay in a hotel for a night, you learn to really appreciate a toilet.

Con 3: You have to be okay with being alone.

You’re not going to be meeting fellow nomads every day. This lifestyle of living on the road can be very lonely. I spend 90% of my time completely alone (with my dog.) In fact, having a furry companion is my number one advise for this. Especially right now, during a pandemic, staying away from people and isolating is very important to slow the spread of the virus. This has been problematic for even those who don’t live in a RV.

Just remember that even if you’re alone out here, there are so many others who are in the same boat. There are also those who are isolated alone in a box, unable to enjoy the beautiful nature around us. Even if you feel isolated, we really are lucky to be able to be out here. You will still have to go get groceries and gas, just like everyone else. In those moments, it is nice to have other people around you, even if you have to keep 6 feet away from them.

Con 4: It never really feels clean.

This lifestyle isn’t for the weak minded or the one who is afraid to get a little dirty. All of those insta pics that have the perfectly clean van is not reality. It might look clean for that second for a photo, but 10 minutes later it becomes unrecognizable. Even after I wash everything and sweep and wipe, there is still dust and dirt everywhere. Especially when you have a dog, it is impossible to keep everything tidy and clean. I feel the need to clean every day, and it never seems to feel done. I have organized, and reorganized, everything multiple times and I still feel like it isn’t good enough.

A spilled coffee is never a simple spill when you live in a van.

There are so many more pros and cons to living on the road; These are just my main ones.

I think this lifestyle isn’t for everyone, but I sure think it is for me. It definitely takes a certain type of person to be able to live in such a small space. I was going to put size on the cons list, but it’s actually something I genuinely enjoy. Not everyone will feel that way, but I do like the tiny spaces.

There are going to be good days and bad days, just like any other lifestyle. There may be days where your best view is of the Walmart parking lot, or a noisy rest area. You’ll have days where all you do is run around and do errands, just like you would if you lived in a house.

No matter what cons there may be to living on the road, I truly could never go back to living a conventional life.

I love being able to go where I please and explore the lands we have. Being able to travel with the weather is something I thought I’d have to wait until retirement for. Not everyone is lucky enough to get to experience this, but it is definitely possible at any age. I’ve met young people and old people, all out here for the same reason: To fulfill their wanderlust and see this beautiful Earth.

xoxo