I feel like I’ve let a lot of people down with the fact I’ve chosen an apartment over van life. Everyone seemed impressed with my van, and the fact I was going to do van life. It seemed like it inspired others that wanted to do it. It seemed to be a talking point for people that otherwise didn’t really talk to me.
I did a lot to prepare for it, but I just had to make a decision late in the process based on where at the time, mentally and physically. I had so much going on that I had to do by myself, despite being things that should have been split equally between my ex and myself. It was more than I could handle, and I really needed to have a definitive destination so I could handle things.
Couple that with my chronic pain and neuropathy. It is a minivan, which I thought would be practical at the time, but adding my cat, who I love more than anything, made it so hard to function. Also just the logistics of needing a physical address for a lot of things I needed.
I do still feel it was the right decision, and I did move to the pacific northwest, which is an insanely awesome place for me to be. I do still have my van, which will allow me to take fun extended trips (if and when my health cooperates). Van life is not totally out of the question for the future, although I would do it with a full-size van.