1 Year Living in a Van in London!

When I started to write this blog about alternative living, I was living in a van – mostly in London. My intention was to live in the van for one year and see what it’s like living in such an alternative way. It’s been a real journey. There’s been lots of adventures and I have alot of gratitude for my beautiful van and the opportunity to live this way. I associate van life with a sense of freedom, adventure and possibility.. And those are things that I value in life.

I’ve been to so many amazing places in the UK. Adventures every weekend. No need to plan or pack. Off you go into the unknown..

Towards the end of the year in the van I became excited about visiting some far away places and spending some months with my yoga school in Portugal. And so decided to sell the van. Magically, synchronicity struck and I almost instantly found a friend who wanted to buy the van and it would mean a new chapter in his life. The opportunity to leave the heaviness of the past behind. I’m happy the van is passed on to someone following their dreams.

And I write this overlooking the sea in Bali. Coming to the end of a 1 month epic trip with my partner.

I will be going back to the UK staying in a friends caravan on Hamstead Heath before a summer of yoga in Portugal. Here I will be bathing in the healing presence nature. With slow moving rivers and organic, locally grown food. I will live in a geodesic dome, nestled in the trees.

So Kirsty welcome on your own blog about alternative living in London. I’m excited to interview the creator of this blog. How are you feeling today?

I’m feeling really alive today. Feeling this real deep gratitude for life. I’m walking around Highgate and I’m feeling like I’m in a magical fairytale, you know everything is blooming. The flowers are just starting to bloom. Everything is so colourful and alive. This is a beautiful joyful feeling today

Great meeting you and doing the interview in one of the most beautiful places in London in Highgate – Waterloo Park. If you could tell.. Where were you sleeping last night?

It was a nice evening, I went to help out at 5rhythms at Kats class in Camden, which I love and then I went to pick up my van on the way home and parked it just by Hampstead Heath – ponds. There’s ponds there where you can swim throughout the year. I parked there and when I woke up this morning it was just amazing to go and do yoga immersed in nature

Kirsty you were sleeping last night in the van – you sleep most of the time there, you live in it.. how long have you been living in the van?

I’ve been living in the van for a year. I bought it – I think it was this month April 1 year ago. And I had this intention when I bought it, that I’m going to give this a go. Becasue I had this dream of living in a van for some years. And I was like I’m sure this is going to throw up some challenges but I want to just do it for a year anyway. And I’m feeling that in my system now – you know when you set an intention and you’ve done it so it feels like really – WOW I lived in a van for a year.

A year in a van in London – That sounds really interesting. You said about the challenges. Maybe it would be interesting to know – what kind of challenges. Cos you said before getting a van and starting this adventure you knew there would be some challenges - Tell us a little bit about a few of the main challenges you faced during this year

So the biggest challenge living in the van in London is – where to park the van! Where am I going to sleep tonight?! I remember getting the van and I was really excited about it . I wanted to sleep in it right away. I was up in the North of England when I bought it, at my parents and I was so excited I just slept in it on there drive outside the house. And that was the first time I slept in it. And the second time I slept in it, I drove it to this most beautiful place. The Penine way it’s called and I took my Mum with me to share the adventure. It’s absolutely stunning. Then coming back to London all on my own I was excited but scared. I was thinking where am I going to sleep tonight, because I didn’t know and it’s kind of a strange thing when you pull up on the side of a street and you know you’re in a van so the walls are quite thin and you can hear alot – street noise and for me that was a challenge. I felt a little bit edgy. Am I going to be judged for this? Am I safe? Safety is a big one. The biggest for me becasue once or twice people have knocked on the door or I feel a shake, which is likely from the wind but my mind takes it as, someones shaking the van and it’s scary and what happens is it kind of puts you into a fight or flight mode. And another one of the biggest challenges is if you live in a van, what if something goes wrong with my van – I live in it! And with campervans they tend to get things going wrong with them so the battery may go flat. You need to learn how to charge it and look after it properly. The heating may stop working in winter! That can be stressful becasue if you have to take it into the garage and they have to keep it for a few days – well where am I going to sleep? It can bring alot of stresses.

The small space made it more difficult for my yoga practise. Sometimes I would be outside in the cold which is not so fun. Or a noisy gym or yoga studio where I would have to join a class rather than my own practise. And small things like I’ve run out of water where to fill it up?Where to empty my toilet?

You cook and you go to the toilet in the van?

Yes it’s quite a small van but its very compact its got a toilet which comes out of a cuboard. It’s got 2 gas hobs and its got a grill and when Im in a site I hook up to electricity so I use my blender and juicer I can do everything in there except shower. But there is a tap that I fill up with spring water often. So it’s amazing I’ve got everything that I need

So you found it challenging around safety – and then you started to find safe places and sites where you can empty the toilet, charge the battery, get the spring water and where you can feel safe. What did you really love about this year?

You know it’s really linked to the challenges because I find when you can overcome challenges in life it brings you to a new level of inner strength, more able to live more freely – when a challenge comes: I don’t feel safe! “What to do? I magically came across a site in Hampstead Heath where I could park my van. And here is a small community of beautiful creative beings. I couldnt believe there’s somewhere like that I could live in London. And finding other places I felt good. A lovely church in Honor Oak. Crystal Palce campsite, friends gardens..

I remember that time you got the van. I met you and you were so excited. You were full of sparkles and buzziness of excitement. About a new life, about being a gypsey. Living in the van. So throughout this year facing the challenges and the benefits. Has your excitment changed. Would you do it again for a year. Or would that be only for a year?

My mission was try it for at least a year and I really loved it. I’ve been on so many adventures. All around England and the UK and I’ve got to see so many beautiful places and stay in really unusual places. Your asking has that excitement changed and I would say yes and no. I’m still so excited by that – I can just get on the road and go on an adventure I still have that excitement there. Yet now Im feeling really excited by being grounded in a place for a while, where there is space to do yoga and to dance around. I’m craving to be able to do my practises and for that reason I will sell the van. I would say I would do it again! Maybe to go around Europe. To be in a warmer climate would be great. A new kind of adventure. Part 2 – in Portugal, Spain, France… Living in the van in London has lots of benefits but I don’t think I would do that again. And I’m feeling drawn to move out of big city life for now and be more immersed in nature.

One of the Qs many people would have – winter its cold?! How do you get through the winter?

Yes its funny everyone says that to me. You live in the van but its been snowing?! Aren't you cold. BUT actually there's heating in there. Its nice and cosy. You can live in the van for winter. I did also stay with my partner or with friends, family or travelling in another country in a hotel

One of the things you said you loved about living in the van is the amazing adventures. Could you say a few words about your last adventure?

The last 2 weekends I had really amazing adventures. We went to Cornwall – via Glastonbury. I’ve been to Glastonbury a million times in my van because I absolutely love it. I could sleep anywhere there and feel safe its such good vibes. And so we set off and I had the same feeling as a year ago – it hasn't changed.. When I get in the van and I'm setting off on a new adventure the same feelings come. I'm on the road Im going somewhere new. You don't know whats going to happen, Where you ll sleep. I knew we were going to cornwall but didn't even know where. It's very exciting its very much someting that my soul craves. Got to Glasto know many places to stay there – hung out there and then the next day looked on the map and ended up in a magical town where Merlin and King Arthur were from. It was beautiful. Stunning nature, waterfalls. The following weekend I set off on a solo adventure for a special Easter retreat. Again that felt amazing that I could just spontaneously set off without too much planning or stress. No worries about booking anything. No packing. So blessed to have had so many adventures

It s amazing you can just set off with all your things with you. Just hit the road and you have everything you need.

Like a tortoise. A tortoise doesn't have things but it has everything it needs. HAha

SO coming back to that moment where you decided to hace this one year adventure why did you want to exoerience that. You wanted it so much that you bought the van and decided to do it. What attracted you to it?

I got this pull to follow more my hearts longings – I remember feeling a few years ago – I just want to experience life and follow what’s really calling me. You know I was in the safety of my life with work, and lots of money and a nice place and I was like fuck it I’m going to leave it all and just follow my heart and I went travelling. And when I was travelling I was imagining if I had a van – how cool that would be.. I love my stuff my books and my clothes and sometimes booking this and that – finding places using so much time and energy searching for air bnbs or hotels and I was just dreaming about a van. It was a big dream. It excited me alot. Wow what would it be like to live in a van. And I could feel this soul longing that didn’t go away. Imagine you could cook there go anywhere and you would be so free. And I had a feeling of freedom and adventure. And so when the opportunity came, now I have no place to stay – these times in life where you have no commiments – no where in particular you need to be I had one of those moments and I was like THE VAN. And so I thought I’ll just go with that. And I just bought it one day, very spontaneously. I done no research. I saw the van and fell in love and said I’ll take it! It felt very right. A now or never moment. I did it

Your parents they also have a van? Did you influence them?

I’d been talking to them about it for ages – saying I would love a van. Imagine if you had a van wouldn’t it be amazing. And one day out of the blue they called me up 'we have bought a van'. I was shocked! They had gone and bought themselves a brand new 50k amazing huge campervan. Toilet shower, double bed. I couldnt believe it! I didnt get mine until around a year after them. There about to go travelling to Europe in theres'. That will be really interesting to hear how that is. I havent experienced being out of the UK.

Im rememebering moments where we went in the van and we went off the road and we slept in a really beautiful place and we got stuck in the mud and we couldnt get out . How was that for you – your house is stuck and you don’t know what to do?

Oh my God you know in this moment !! You know we slept in the forest and it had been raining all night and in the morning when we tried to drive the van it was not moving and I was just panicking – what am I going to do?! How will I get back to London. This worrying came like massive. I was worried I thought I would have to live here in the woods! I am a memeber of AA I called them up and they said if you’ve driven it off road we cant help you and I thought I dont want to pay hundred of pounds to get someone to tow me out. My mind was going crazy. But I learnt such an amazing lesson because the reason we were there in the woods in Forest row was to do a kambo session with a friend in his Tipi. And we called him up and told him what’s going on and he was so cool about it. You and him were much cooler than me. He was like oh its fine lets just go and do the kambo and we can sort that out later. I was like what, I need to do this now. It was amazing because later he came with his car and ropes and still we couldn’t get it out. And he went down to the campsite to ask for help and along came a little tribe of people – kids, parents all really excited to help us and we ended up getting it out, eventually. Then I had this feeling you don’t need to worry so much – you’re never going to be stuck in the mud forever! There’s always a way out and there’s actually people that want to help you. You don’t always have to pay or struggle. Ask for help when you need it. That was a good lesson as I tend to over react.

It seemed like it was a great learning experience. It seems like living in a van, especially in a city like London. It seems an adventure – what did you learn from living in the van?

I learnt that it feels really good to travel light – like to have less stuff – to have more of what you really value. This could be an analagy for life. A van is teaching me a lesson of life. Having the things that you really value and getting rid of all the clutter. Its becoming more apparent even in my body mind system. Keeping the jewels of what you love, what brings you joy. I love certain clothes, objets and products and thats great I’m not a monk but I also have the feeling that if you do get rid of all that clutter. You can feel more full and nourished with less

The last Q for today. What advice would you give to yourself before you bought the van or someone who wants to experience life in the van?

I would say it’s really exciting and brings alot of leaning, joy and adventure into the life. Theres also challenges that come with it. What would help – if you’re in a city especially find places where you can stay. For me staying on the side of the street is not much fun. And if you’re worried or edgy it can put your system in a state of fear. Thats not a healthy basis for anything. Perhaps a friends garden, a campsite. Maybe you can find a piece of land someone doesn’t mind you staying. I would say learn about the battery. If you let it go too low it can kill it. Research this. Make sure it doesn’t get too low. Solar panels are helpful. Batteries that charge while you are driving. Be prepared for doing little jobs that you may not have done before. Fetching your water. Find out where the local springs are for clean drinking water. And remember that going back to basics and living alternatively can bring something which serves you. Try it out. If your umming and arrging but its a dream at least try it out – you could always sell it. Give these things a go. Don’t not do something becasue of fear. You can move with fear. If its something thats calling you try it out. Have some kind of pratcise that helps you feel centred. You know living in a van sometimes I felt outside of the norm. People may be like you live in a van?! You may feel judgements coming in and for me not to be taken over by how I'm expected to live by society I need to come back to myself and feel my truth. People will always have opinions about you and if you’re not living a conventional life – following the crowd people will judge you. You may get it directly or feel it in the air. And you dont want to start believing those things are true. That theres something wrong with you that you should live like everyone else. You shouldnt – you should live how you feel called to live.

But to do that takes courage. I would say find support. See if theres groups online, join a meditation or conscious dance group. Be around people who believe in you and see you for who you are – not where you live. People who lift you up.