Living in a VAN down by the RIVER

Laura: 33

Derick and Tucker: 102

It’s been 33 days for me, and 102 days for Derick and Tucker that we have been living in a “van down by the river.” I do have to say, it hasn’t been too bad!

We closed on the townhouse on June 30^th. We met the new owner and I was slightly relieved to find out that she seemed normal. You never really want to find out that a crazy person will be living in the place you called home for so long. 

We closed on the townhouse on June 30^th. We met the new owner and I was slightly relieved to find out that she seemed normal. You never really want to find out that a crazy person will be living in the place you called home for so long.

We found some pretty creative ways to store some of the things we needed – especially me, trying to get ready and go to work every day  from the camper. But really, just throw in a garment rack, pop-up hamper, a bunch of over-the-door hooks and adhesive tabs and I think we have everything pretty much solid when it comes to camper life storage. We also have supplemented our MacGyver skills by hitting the local Camping World and Gander Mountain stores to obtain odds and ends to make our lives just a tiny bit easier. Once we use the camper for its intended purpose and not an apartment, I think we will find that we have MORE than enough storage to fit our needs!

I have really made our back "patio" space my own personal flower garden for sure. I was able to bring one of my step-planter stands and a bunch of larger pots for flowers that I have brought with us or purchased this summer on super clearances!

I am pretty happy with camper life over all. 

Things I love:

• Being able to have a campfire almost any night of the week
• S'mores (duh)
• Not needing to go grocery shopping every week
• Cleaning the camper takes about an hour to really clean it top to bottom!
• I was able to fit a garment rack into the camper to hold some work clothes so I was not needing to swap out clothing each week!
• That I am able to keep plants and flowers all summer long!
• I love watching the wildlife - birds, squirrels, and this morning, a doe!
• The 101 Market is right down the road, with a fun gift shop area
• Cold Stone Creamery is right down the road - within walking and biking distance (could be dangerous)
• Target is still only about a mile away

Things I miss or could do without:

• I miss my bathroom with enough counter space to lay out everything I needed to get ready in the mornings
• I miss our full-size shower
• I miss longer showers than 4 mins (hey, somethings cannot all be accomplished in 4 mins. Thick hair plus shaving, I'm looking at you...)
• I miss speed limits of more than 5mph.
• I miss cable TV for some shows that I would still watch now
• I miss internet when I want to watch a video, Netflix or other internet-needy things
• Mosquitoes - but this I could always do without!

The time spent in the camper though, has really somewhat forced me to not do a whole lot, because, well, there isn't a lot that needs to be done! I know that soon Derick will head back to school, so that will pick up and we will be living and working out of the camper together for about a month and a half of overlap. We will also need to find time later in the home-building process to go out and make selections on everything from paint colors, cabinet guts, lighting and finishes of accessories. 

Almost all of the permits are in for our new house. They have the house all staked out on our property and that was pretty cool to see - it made it seem all the more real that we are building our dream house there. 

The buffalo and their babies were roaming the field behind our house. One look out where our family room will be and you are not sure if you are looking out on Montana.

I am getting really antsy about the house - and they haven't even broken ground yet. I think most of it is the anxiety of just getting the actual build process started that has me the most worried. Once I know there is a hole in the ground, I will be more or less at ease, knowing that the 90-day countdown really begins at that time. It is already looking like we will need to bring the camper up to the property for at least one week before the house is complete. I am not thrilled about that - I was really hoping for a clean break from the RV park and the house. Oh well - I guess we are on their timeline now. Hopefully we should be getting a list of the remaining items left to make choices on for the house, so that should keep us busy for a little while at least. 

Then, before you know it, school will be starting for Derick again and he will be involved with that and his Master's program and Science Club! 

- From the river,
-LD