We've lived between a sailboat and a campervan for 10 years. The freedom is real, but so are the trade-offs.
For years, we've split our time living in a van in the US in summer and on a sailboat in Mexico in winter. The nomadic lifestyle has pros and cons.
For the past ten years, journalist Kristin Hanes has been splitting her time between a campervan and a sailboat. This nomadic lifestyle has allowed her to create a successful business and build financial security while enjoying the great outdoors. However, it hasn't been without its drawbacks.
Hanes moved into a tent, then a Toyota Prius, a sailboat, and finally a Sprinter van after deciding to give up traditional rent. This decision enabled her to save over $20,000 annually, pay off her debt, and create a six-figure income. She and her boyfriend Tom live in the US during the summer and a sailboat in Mexico during the winter.
Despite the freedom and financial benefits, Hanes has missed stability, basic comforts, and a consistent home base. She misses amenities like a comfortable couch, hot running water, and regular social connections. The unpredictability of their lifestyle can also be challenging, with long waits for weather systems or uncertainty about where they'll sleep next.
Hanes is grateful for her nomadic lifestyle but now longs for a home base to satisfy her desire for more luxurious amenities and space. She proposes a solution: spending six months at a sailboat in the South Pacific, a few months renting an apartment in Europe or the US, and the rest traveling in her van. This arrangement would allow her to maintain her adventurous lifestyle while enjoying a more traditional home base occasionally.
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