When Vanlife Ends

What could be more aspirational than freedom? Shake off the shackles of  mortgage or rent—and associated financial obligations—to travel about as a deliberate vagabond. You aren’t homeless because your vehicle is your residence. Cost-effective. Safe and contained. Simple. Free. All are allures of vanlife.

But what happens when aspiration falls far from reality? I guess that’s the state of the Featured Image, captured using Leica Q2 Monochrom, yesterday. I came upon the van for sale along Alabama Street in San Diego neighborhood University Heights. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/1600 sec, 28mm; 11:33 a.m.

What are the challenges that ruin roaming aspirations or, for some, ignite them? Better that you see for yourself. Some quick primers:

There are a bazillion blogs, Instagrams, Patreons, Substacks, and YouTube Channels about vanlife. Have a look, if interested. My reading list—albeit from more traditional media—means to quickly consolidate various voices into smaller reading collection.