Van to Vessel: Embracing America's Beauty through Vanlife and Sailing Adventures
1. What inspired you both to start living as digital nomads in a van, and how did you make this lifestyle work for you?
We had a strong desire to see more of America, as we are both Americans but had done most of our travelling outside the country. At the time we made this choice we were actually living in the British Virgin Islands and missing the 'larger worlds' and in particular the climbing possible across the US which is acrssible more simply than Italy, Greece, or Caribbean nations we'd been climbing in. The possibility to travel existed as COVID had changed the work culture to accept remote service and less physically present demands for Brian's work as a yacht broker. Their company, BVI Yacht Sales, has many brokers up and down the Caribbean so he is kept busy assisting them all. Elizabeth does digital marketing work, and some writing, and all this is on a fully flexible schedule for both of us.
2. Can you share some memorable experiences or challenges you faced while living and traveling in your van?
Something that sticks out to me as a challenge was driving halfway across the country in late August to make it to a family gathering on time with no air conditioning. It got to be 105 degrees F during the middle of the day in Iowa and we had six hours to cover before stopping for the night. We ended up having to stop and rest near a lakeside park until it cooled down and let the kitten out of the van because it wasn’t ok to have her inside anymore. We also had to sleep in hotels the remainder of the nights on that trip. That is one of the challenges with trying to cut costs and be resourceful by buying a much older vehicle (our van is a 92’ Dodge). You find out that when you cut costs one way, other costs come up like the expense of fixing the AC, which was so expensive to get the parts for an old vehicle that we decided not to, and then the cost of the hotel stays arose because it was too hot to sleep in the van. Something we’ve learned is that financial decisions must be carefully thought out and considered long-term, and vanlife definitely helps you learn a lotabout financial responsibility.
3. How has your passion for climbing influenced your travels and lifestyle choices?
Nowadays, before traveling we always check if where we’re going has good climbing, and also go specifically to places where there is climbing. Knowing how to climb really helps us get the most out of our travels because we see much more of a place and appreciate the natural beauty everywhere we go. Some places might be considered an undesirable destination to most travelers, but if you research you can find great climbs there as well as amazing scenery that the locals might not even be aware of. Also when you meet other climbers in new places it’s great to connect over a physical activity instead of just meeting people over drinks.
4. Transitioning from van life to life on a sailboat is quite a shift. What motivated this change, and how has the experience been so far?
This is maybe unusual, but unlike most people we already had been living aboard sailboats and cruising. Brian has been a lifelong sailor and lived on and owned many boats cruising between the US east coast and Caribbean, so for us the shift was actually from Boatlife to Vanlife. Vans are a lot smaller, and less private, than boats so that does bear on us during our van time. With both lifestyles you're tied much closer to the natural world around you and aware of the enviroment. By living partly outside you know the temperature, moon phase, I'd it raining, are you on flat ground or calm water and so on. In house living it's easy to become detached from these things.
5. Could you tell us more about your sailboat 'Sender' and what it's like to live and work on a boat?
Sender is a Falmouth Working Boat. Her type was developed through the 1800's to work the waters of the south west coast of England, which is the English Channel and fully exposed to the wide Atlantic Ocean. By the end of the age of sail (early 1900's) they had earned a have a reputation as extremely seaworthy, maneuverable and fast boats and so many had been convertedto yachts and completed grand voyages. They are srill built today in Cornwall UK. Brian has admired the type since childhood and always wanted one, and we were lucky to be gifted her in 2022 while on a climbing trip through the Midwest (don't be mistaken.. she was in very poor condition and requrired extensjce work to get going) . Sender IS 28ft long, 10ft wide and weighs 18,000 lbs. There is a fwd cabin with bunk beds, a bathroom (called a head on a boat) and a main cabin with a large seating that conveniently converts to a double bed, and then a Kitchen (a galley on a boat) aft most inside. We have solar, refrigeration, stove and oven, led lighting , ans starlink for internet. Ahe is capable of traveling basically anywhere in the world by sea. She is fast in light air and safe in storms. We are very proud to have saved her and trust her with our lives.
6. How do you balance your work as digital nomads with the demands and joys of sailing and climbing?
We are fortunate to have a flexible schedule when it comes to work. Brian owns his own business selling boats, that he can operate almost entirely remotely, and my digital marketing work doesn’t have a 9-5 schedule or a specific time I need to be online. As long as I get the work done, it doesn’t matter how much time I work. That being said, we tend to prioritize our travels and activity time, so for example if I need to get some things done that would normally take me a week to complete, but we want to got on a climbing/camping trip in the middle of the week, I might squeeze that amount of work into two days and be on the computer non-stop before we go.
7. What advice would you give to others who dream of a similar lifestyle but might be hesitant to take the leap?
The biggest barrier I think, at least for us, is to trust that you will be OK. Having confidence that no matter what comes along, you will find a way to work it out, and having an understanding that at some times.. sometimes most times.... you may be uncomfortable or insecure about your situation, but you will be OK. You're doing this for those moments of adventure and beauty that are not available linging a repeating routine day by day, and the experience is all the more enriching if you are taking risks to achieve it, Be they financial or 'in over your head risks.. they lead to the rewards that make this worthwhile. I have been told repearedly by clients that i should not be wasting my youth trying to build wealth... go adventure and take risks while you're young and body healthy.. try different things, learn and grow.. your mind will develop from the challenges overcome and you'll be way better at making money later, when your body isn't so able to do all those things. Most all of my older wealthy successful clients buying boats or fancy vans in their 60s tell me this... they wish they'd adventured more through their 20s to 40s and worked later... most say they have made and lost their fourtunes repeatedly and the most earning potential was in their later years... so take the risks now, don't wait.. this logic applies no matter your age.. your best time is now. Later you'll be older and still won't have done it.
8. How has living in such close connection with nature impacted your perspective on life and work?
We have noticed that most people don't have that much, don't have such nice things, don't live in such comfort but yet are still living . This had helped us realize we don't need as much as we had been lead to believe living the more standard media influenced life. Eaxh year we spend living small and traveling to off the path places that you find when you go from 'destination to destination'by van or boat instead of airplane, has helped us realize we need less and less stuff to be happy. We've also notice that there is plastic literally everywhere. Like everywhere. We endeavor to use less consumable waste. It's hard , particularly caring for old boats and vans, and having small storage spaces meaning we have to restock often from whatever us available, but we try. Really plastic needs to stop. Especially single use. It's just horrible.
9. Are there any specific destinations or adventures you are particularly excited about in your future travels?
We are currently in the Bahamas in Eleuthera and are very excited to try the deep water solo walls here. Another place we are considering is Thailand later this year and the climbing there looks absolutely amazing!
10. How does your kitten adapt to the varying lifestyles of van and boat living?
Moby is a very adaptable kitten and is calmer that most cats I know. I noticed her calm temperament at the shelter when we adopted her, and that was the main thing that made me choose her. Also, bringing her to live on the boat from when she was so young helped her to adapt to a home that was always moving. She learned quickly that the outside surroundings change constantly, but the boat stays the same. The van is the same. She associates our living space with security and always returns to it when we let her explore. She also learned to respond to her name and comes when called because she know when we call her it’s time to come inside because we might move the home and she doesn’t want to be left behind! Smart kitty!
