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RE: Vanlife: 30 Days in 30 Photos
Awesome pictures, looks like you two are having a great adventure! Man, I wish I could be relaxing on those beaches admiring the view instead of stuck on a crowded commuter train heading to work. Thanks for taking us along with you on your journey. One question: what's that big thing on top of your van in the bonus photo?
We are having a pretty awesome time! The lifestyle definitely has its tradeoffs, but for us they have been more than worth it.
The big thing on top of the van is called a poptop. The roof pops up and there is canvas attached from the sides of the top of the van to the roof forming a tent. There's a bed up there where we sleep sometimes (not always because the back bench folds down into a bed and we sleep there frequently). We plan on making a welcome to our home video soon where we will try to do a better job showing the inside, how we use the space, and where we store everything.
Cool, that poptop sounds like a great way to expand your available living space, almost like you're turning your van into a mini RV. Does it ever start to feel cramped or uncomfortable though? Getting used to sleeping in small spaces would probably be one of the most difficult aspects of this lifestyle for me.
I (Jared) am 6'4" so maneuvering can be cramped at times. Sleeping isn't hard for me because both the poptop and the back bench (when folded down) offer decent sized beds. If you are doing it with another person, I do recommend it being someone you have a very strong relationship with.
I would guess the hardest things for most would be: safety concerns, the lack of storage space for possessions, and not having a private bathroom.