Gen Z Woman Warns Van Life Isn't As 'Glamorized' As Seen on Social Media

Dreaming of quitting your job one day to go traveling around the world?

One woman from Generation Z made that dream a reality and is now living "fully off grid" in a converted van.

Megan Johnson, 27, from the English county of Devon, told Newsweek: "I am currently unemployed as I left work to travel. Whilst I am in the U.K. I sell vintage clothing online to fund our travel."

While Johnson is "passionate" about van life, she also acknowledges how "glamorized" it is and that some days are "very tough."

Johnson and her 34-year-old boyfriend Mathew moved into their van in August 2022, "so that we were able to travel as much as we possibly could," she said. The couple has been traveling for the past 18 months or so, exploring the U.K. and other parts of Europe.

"We had always wanted to travel but we had different ideas about how to do it. The more we researched van life, we realized how perfect it would be for us and allow us to realize our dreams," she noted.

Johnson shared images of her van life in a post on Reddit on March 12. The couple converted their VW Crafter XLWB van, nicknamed "Drumstick," over the course of two years and are "now fully off grid." The van comes with a roof extension that's around 10.5 feet high (3.2 meters), "so, she's not small," the woman said.

The latest post comes as travel is set to hit "record highs" in 2024, with global tourism spending projected to reach $2 trillion, fueled by leisure demand, according to a December 2023 survey by Euromonitor International, the market research firm.

Travelers say they'll cut down on other areas of personal spending to prioritize leisure travel this year, according to a global survey of over 10,000 travelers across nine countries, conducted by Ipsos and the Hilton hotel group.

Johnson hasn't looked back since her van life journey began. But the new path has also shed some light on how it isn't always as glorious as it may seem on the outside.

She explained: "I'd like to say that we know how extremely privileged we are to have chosen this lifestyle, there are many individuals who live in a van as a matter of necessity and those people deserve to be acknowledged.

"Van life is very glamorized on social media, and whilst I adore my van, some days are very tough and I'm grateful that I have the option to be able to change my mind one day."

The Pros of Van Life

One of the biggest perks of van life is the ability to bring your home with you on your travels.

Johnson said: "The pros are, of course, the freedom, to go anywhere and always have your home and all belongings with you."

The last 18 months has seen the couple drive through much of the U.K., including the entire Scottish coastline, as well as France, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Hungary. They then spent a good few months exploring Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Montenegro and an entire month in Italy.

Johnson has also found that living in a van is "cheaper than living in a house," explaining "we consider our diesel as our rent—if we don't have much money then we don't drive much."

"It is simple living. You return to thinking about where you will get clean water, where is safe to sleep, how to fill your time without the usual comforts of TV etc," she added.

The Cons of Van Life

Johnson noted: "I would say that all the pros are also the cons. Everywhere you go, your entire house must go. This can, at times, be nerve-wracking as you navigate small roads or leave the van in areas that don't seem so safe, also you can kiss drive-thru goodbye."

Having to "think constantly" about basic needs can be "tiresome," she noted, which adds to the strains of usual modern-day life and others may not always understand "how exhausting it really can be at times."

It's easy to "start to feel alone with these kinds of worries," she noted, adding that the couple has "had to learn to have a very positive outlook on life and always find the silver lining."

Johnson is "very passionate about van life" and would "love to be able to change the sometimes negative perspective of van lifers to make the way easier for those who don't have such a choice."

She said: "If you live in a van, please go out of your way to leave no trace, or better yet, make a positive change wherever you stay. In time, I hope that there will be more facilities available to make van life and traveling in a camper a little bit easier."

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