Episode 48: Transitioning from Van Life to House Life

What’s it like to swap the nomadic freedom of van living for the bricks and mortar security of a house? As I temporarily exchange my van life for house life, I’ve encountered an array of emotions and hurdles. The transition hasn’t been smooth sailing— navigating my way from sleeping under the stars to being confined within four walls can be challenging, especially during a blistering heatwave.

You don’t always realize the significance of comforts like like a hot shower, or the convenience of free-flowing water until you’ve lived without them. Yet, transitioning from a van to a house isn’t all about the luxuries. It’s also about the challenges—dealing with the clutter, the disconnect from nature, and losing the endless possibilities that van life affords. You may think it’s easier, but you might also find yourself yearning for the simplicity of van life.

Speaking of simplicity, I also discuss a less talked about element of van life—burnout. The relentless search for parking spaces, the need to stay active, the pursuit for resources—it all adds up. Transitioning to a sailboat or taking advantage of house sitting programs has been my way of combating the burnout.

Join me as I share all the ups and downs of the journey as we traverse through the trials and tribulations of transitioning from van life to house life (and back again)!

Links mentioned:

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Trusted Housesitters: https://www.thewaywardhome.com/trusted-petsitters/
Rover: https://www.rover.com/become-a-sitter/
The Landing: https://www.hellolanding.com/

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What We Discuss in Episode 48 of The Wayward Home Podcast:

In this solo episode, our host, Kristin Hanes talks about what it’s like to temporarily live in a house after several years of living van life.
The transition can be tougher than one might think, losing the freedom and access to nature that van life is all about, having to move your belongings from the van to the house, and not being used to the sleeping arrangements.
Of course, living in a house comes with a lot of perks, like endless running water, air conditioning, laundry, and hot showers.
Kristin talks about what it’s like to experience burnout in van life, and ways to overcome it, like house sitting.