Lisa
@vacayvans
1.Who are you ? How old are you ? Do you travel completely alone... if not who do you travel with?
I'm Lisa, I'm 34 years old, and I'm a full-time solo female vanlifer.
2.How long have you been living full time in a Mobile-Home (camper-van, RV, etc)
My travel companion is my 2012 Nissan NV2500 named Freebird. I've been living full-time in my van for just over a month and before that, I was living in a vintage Airstream I renovated in Austin, Texas.
3. What the best thing about being female and on the road?
I love being solo on the road because I can decide to do anything at any time. If I want to take a nap, I nap. If I want to go down a random dirt road to explore, I do it without hesitation. There's incredible freedom living this spontaneous lifestyle, especially when you don't need to consult anyone else.
4. Conversely what is the worst thing about being female and on the road?
The worst thing about the road in my opinion is that sometimes you can get decision fatigue. Every decision is a new one - where to get gas, what direction to go, where to sleep tonight - and that can be tiring.I'm also not a big fan of driving (driving is my least favorite part of vanlife).
5. How do you decide on where to stay?
I decide where to stay based on recommendations from people I've met and utilizing websites and apps such as freecampsites.net and iOverlander.
6.What is the most surreal places that you visited?
My favorite places so far have been the little towns full of creative folks who were travelers once, but eventually landed here or there. Terlingua is a wild spot on the border of Mexico - and has been my favorite camping spot so far - if it's a new moon, you can see the milky way! I loved Bisbee, Arizona, a little town full of creative hippies, where there's a nonprofit that feeds the entire town lunch three days a week in an urban park. I've just barely begun this journey, so I can't wait to see what surreal places I find myself.
7.What are some common items savvy travelers bring with them (that less-savvy travelers don't)/ what could you not live in a mobile-home without ?
Some excellent advice I received was to purchase a toe strap in case the van gets stuck. I also have battery-powered jumper cables and recommend them for sure. I am obsessed with hooks in my van as well - they're a great storage solution for hanging fruit baskets, hats, mugs, and a reliable place to put my keys so I don't lose them.
8.How do you get work everywhere?/ How do you have an income?
I have a remote legal/admin job for an internet company. My goal is to make money writing and even filmmaking one day.
9.How did your friends & family feel/ react when you told them you were going to travel full time? what inspired you to hit the road?
My family was not surprised to hear I was going to embark on a wild, unique adventure (that's sort of my style). They don't really understand why I would want to live in a van, but they're supportive. Vanlife sounded like an epic adventures and that's what life is all about. I like the challenge of living minimally and I like being able to maintain my homebody tendencies, while also living on the road and being open to so many new experiences.
10. Is solo travel dangerous as a female?
Solo vanlife is not dangerous. Of course anything can happen at any time and nothing in life is guaranteed. That said, I choose to not live in fear. I have never felt in danger on the road. I trust my instincts and if I find myself in a situation I don't want to be in, I can always drive away.
11. How do you get around tour companies or accommodation that try to charge you extra if you're a solo traveler?
I've never experienced any companies trying to take advantage of me because I'm traveling solo. I actually experience the opposite - people tend to get excited when they learn about my travels and sometimes they end up giving me discounts, offering up their driveway as a free place to stay, or inviting me to join their annual spaghetti dinner!
12. How do you deal with loneliness? if you experience any at all.
If I ever feel lonely, there are so many ways I can shift gears to connect with other travelers - Instagram, couchsurfing, meetup, going to a local bar and talking to the locals. I actually hardly am ever alone so far, which is pretty ironic.
13.Do you feel awkward doing certain activities alone? How did you adjust to this? do you have tips for women who want to branch out and travel alone.
I used to feel awkward going to a restaurant or a movie alone, but now I totally embrace it. Instead of using my phone as a crutch, I really try to talk with the people I meet in the community and make authentic connections. I've been able to cut out the small talk and get deep with such a fascinating variety of lovely humans from all over the world. If you're a women considering traveling on your own, don't over think it and just do it. When you think about the big picture too much, it can be scary and overwhelming. Instead, just focus on the now and worry about each next step as it comes. Also, you can baby step your way into vanlife - plan a trip that's partially solo and partially with a friend. Plan short trips and see how it goes. Just do something, because the more you sit and think about it, the more difficult it may be to make that first move!
