This is a special guest interview with Tara…. Questions were created by Almie and myself. Today is 6 months we have been officially been in the van.
Tell us about yourself: My name is Tara. I am senior at Holy Names Academy. I like to play soccer and I live in a van (laughs) with my mom and and dawg (Teren).
What do you love most about living in the van? I like the concept of being nomadic. To experience challenges and new encounters. I enjoy being close to my family even though it can get crazy sometimes.
How do you adjust to the lack of privacy? You simply don’t (laughs). Only time I get privacy is when I close my eyes. Or when I use the bathroom.
What has been the most challenging? Privacy. Conserving water when showering is a challenge because I like taking long showers, despite that I feel like I’m doing my part to help the environment. The curse of parking at Uncle Fel’s (across the street) on the slightly slanted ground, though I am grateful that we can stay there and park on the closer side sometimes.
How do you deal with being with your family all the time? You simply just do. As any family gets annoyed with each other, I just deal with it. I also don’t mind it cause I like my family .
How do you manage your “stuff” with the little amount of space? I think a majority of my “stuff” is the amount of clothing I have. I think a good rule of thumb for me is every time I go shopping or get something new…one or two other things have to go. Having my mom tightly roll everything into the drawers.
What have you learned about this life? I’ve learned minimalism is a good thing. While we live in such a consumerist society, it’s good to remember “using things and loving people always works and the opposite never does” from the documentary The Minimalist. How freaking expensive a house, mortgage, bills and all the other shit that comes with having a house really is. I’ve learned to be appreciative and grateful to those who have welcomed and supported my family’s journey van living.
What advice would you give to someone interested in this life? You got to be willing to explore what you don’t know. You can’t be high maintenance, you could, but you probably wouldn’t experiencing the whole van life. Invest in a gym membership because it’s a 2 in 1 deal you get to work out and conserve your water by taking a shower there.
Would you do this on your own? Yes. I’ve come to realize how many benefits come with van living.
How do you handle your showers? Generally I do not take showers in the van because I take so long so typically I take showers at the gym. Or other places that will not be named.
How do you like sharing a bed? I don’t mind sharing a bed unless it’s with my brother because he kicks me in the face.
What do you miss most about living in a non moving house? I miss my cat, uh-oh.
***************as I was interviewing her this song on came on. This song bring sadness to me ever since I read what the writer was writing about. He basically would give up everything in his life to be with his father again. Just another reminder in life that stuff will never more that and your family\friends and the memories you have with them are more important.
click me –> everything i own
I do like the reggae version! <—click me
