The Times journalist Caity Weaver was tasked by her editor to go on an adventure: With an old college friend she would spend a week in California, living out of a converted camper van, in pursuit of the aesthetic fantasy known as #VanLife.Given the discomfort that can arise even in the plushiest of vehicles, it’s a surprising trend that shows no sign of letting up. As Weaver explains, even the idea of living full time out of a vehicle has “become aspirational for a subset of millennials and Zoomers, despite the fact that, traditionally, residing in a car or van is usually an action taken as a last resort, from want of other options to protect oneself from the elements.”Unpacking the craze by testing it herself, Weaver offers a humorous account of the trials of not being adequately prepared, claustrophobia, long restaurant lines, the increase in traffic within the national parks, and the disappointment that occurs when an Instagram aesthetic bumps up against reality. Sometimes fantasies are too good to be true.This story was written by Caity Weaver and recorded by Audm. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.
The hosts recount spending hours memorizing Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" during their current van life adventure and relate it to the concept of simplifying their lives.
The author discusses her experience living in a camper van in California in pursuit of the "van life" aesthetic, before traveling to Florida to investigate the symbolism of the guitar-shaped hotel as assigned by her editor.
The article describes the experience of renting a campervan with Escape Campervans, a rental company specifically designed for inexperienced campers who provide optional extras like rentable kitchen kits and ice scrapers. The article also recounts the experience of the author trying to figure out how to properly configure the interior of the campervan for sleeping purposes and highlights an amusing conversation about the use of privacy curtains.
The narrator and Michael face challenges finding a parking spot for their hike to catch a glimpse of the sunset firefall phenomenon in Joshua Tree National Park, which was their final stop on their trip. Along the way, they struggled to find a GPS signal and navigational tools but eventually stumbled upon a parking spot.
After being drawn to the picture-perfect van life lifestyle portrayed on social media, one writer discovers the deceptive nature of social media photos and the allure of van life for herself.