 | |  | |  |
| Cheap Green RV Living |
| This website takes no responsibility for dangers you may encounter by following our advice. See disclaimer |
Family
Van-dwellers
in a VW Westfalia
Van-dwellers
in a VW Westfalia
| Visit our sister site: cheaprvliving.com Join our Forum: cheaprvlivingforum.com |
| Consider giving a small donation to support this site |
Finding the Joy of Green Living by Living in a Car, Van or RV.
| The Earth Does Not Belong to Us, We Belong To The Earth. ~ Chief Seattle |
By Penny Espinoza Last year was a pivotal time in my life. It was the year I finally set myself free:
I was tired, and we were restless, my husband had lost his job, and…initially we had thought “Oh no! What are we gonna do?! How will we pay for all of our ‘stuff’?!” We worried and stressed. In the end, we decided not to pay for any of the stuff we'd been working endlessly to house. Instead, we sold it all and decided not to sign another lease with our landlord. The timing was right, since the house had been inherited by another owner. We’d grown fond of our landlords, though one had passed; spinning our future down an uncertain path. It was time to move on. For months before my husband’s lay-off, I had felt compelled to start selling on eBay. Just about everything I hadn't used or worn in awhile went up for auction. The more I sold, the more I wanted to sell! And so I sold to my heart's content: anything and everything. By the time we were jobless, I knew I wanted to sell it all. More importantly, I knew I wanted to travel and see God’s beautiful creations; see different places, meet new people, smell a new scent in the air. I had been trying for nearly four years to track down the owner of an abandoned Classic Volkswagen Westfalia Camper Van that was parked in someone’s backyard, just down the street from my Mother-in-law's. At last, there was a For Rent sign posted in the yard where the van was parked behind the house. I called the number, and spoke with an English gentleman; he turned out to be the owner of the van. I told him I wasn't calling about the house, I just wanted to buy the van in the backyard. He laughed, but quickly named his price. Somehow, my reality was coming to me. I wanted to travel cross-country in that very van. After some doing and much selling, we gladly sacrificed two ‘younger’ Germans (a 740 i L and 325 i C), for the sweet pleasure of acquiring one ‘older’…much less inhibited German. It was like my freedom had been delivered right to my door the day our classic Westy came home via a flat- bed wrecker. Even though our van would start and run, we didn't want to take any chances on damaging her further; not knowing what had been left to go bad. It was like the best Christmas ever, ten times over. I was beyond excited to know she was actually ours. I had fallen in love with our van. To me, she was our ticket out of the rat-race. My mind was alive with dreams and my heart with hope. I felt like a kid once again. The first day we had her (though it was no easy task) we washed and scrubbed her, sweeping out the cobwebs, giving our classic Westfalia a new look. From that day on, we called her Peniki (a nickname our family had given us—a mixing of mine and my husband’s name). To us, she was part of the family that had consisted of me, my husband, my two adult kids, our little girl, and Blanca…our K-9 kid. I knew Peniki was our way to living ‘off the grid’, as a family. Of course, we were met with doubt and criticism from our family and friends. Fortunately, we didn't care what they thought about our grand plan. They hadn't been the prisoners of our bills and a lack of steady income. We stepped out in faith with the Lord. Somehow, I just knew it was what we must do, against all odds and acceptance. It was exciting to think of living our lives out there…in our van, waking up to see a different sunrise, somewhere down the road, self-sufficient and not so reliant on shore power. Never could one feel so free. I come from the philosophy that nothing worth having in life is ever easy. I can look back over the last year and realize…this life we chose has certainly not been easy. Was it worth it? I can undoubtedly say “Yes! It was so worth seeing the sunset in the Florida Keys, the Grand National Forests, waking-up to a lovely sunrise over the ocean or tucked into the Grandfather pines of our nation’s protected land. Yes! It was completely worth sifting my toes into new sand; the likes of which I’d never-before known, and seeing the smiling face of our little girl…waddling in her toddler way…down to the beach, or nodding-off in a hammock with her Daddy…by the water’s edge.” I wouldn't change it for any size ‘house of four walls’, or a line of the most luxurious automobiles; not for all the tea in China! What we lived…what we experienced was worth more than money can buy. It was priceless! As I believe, the best things in life are free. God’s land is there for the viewing and enjoying… the caring for and coveting. We choose one or the other; conforming…or not. I’ll choose ‘not’ any day. It is a ‘free’ country, so they say. Shouldn't life be the same? My answer goes without saying. God Bless…and “I’ll see you down the road.” Food Items We Carry on Van:
Other Necessities: Kitchen:
Free or Cheap Camp Spots for Self-sustaining Family Van-Dwellers:
Follow Penny and her family at their blog, Travels in a VW Hippie Van : http://mswrite1968.wordpress.com/ |
400 Watt Power Inverter Charged while Driving: for
Powering Laptop, Charging Phones/Camera, Small Lamp
Powering Laptop, Charging Phones/Camera, Small Lamp
Bedtime at VW Campmobile Campsite: See bed pulled out
inside van, with camp kitchen set up down inside Drive-away
tent. Battery powered lantern on kitchen rack.
inside van, with camp kitchen set up down inside Drive-away
tent. Battery powered lantern on kitchen rack.
Potty & Solar Shower Tent, Complete with Baby’s
Potty too
Potty too
Pump Faucet Sink with 7.5 Gallon Water tank beneath,
Vintage Igloo Water Cooler w/ Spigot, and Butcher Block
for chopping Veggies & Fruit
Vintage Igloo Water Cooler w/ Spigot, and Butcher Block
for chopping Veggies & Fruit
Solar Shower, Warming in the Sun