The sun rises over Joshua Tree National Park, shedding light onto twisted trees and rugged rock formations. As the desert comes to life, a low hum of engines across collective campsites echoes across the landscape.
Van life is something not many people had heard of before a few years ago, when, suddenly - thanks to social media - it swept the nation by storm. Tik Tok accounts popped up overnight, YouTube channels flourished, and thousands of people who wanted to escape high rent prices flooded to the open road.
Aleesha King, a woman from small town Kentucky, was one of the people who found herself picking up the lifestyle in 2021. Now she shares her unique experience in choosing to forsake landlords for freedom.
From a young age Aleesha flourished with creativity - the world was her canvas. Over the years she’s created hundreds of YouTube videos, and eventually found a niche in surrealistic photo edits @kiingster
Now, Aleesha is extending her creative nature into designing her dream van.
I have always been attracted to non traditional styles of home and lifestyles and at one point considered van life for myself. So, I wanted to use this opportunity to learn more about van life, and share her story. The first thing I was curious about was why would someone choose van life?
Aleesha: “Rent was too expensive! I was spending way too much time and money just paying for a place to be, so I decided that I deserve a place I can be without needing anyone else’s permission. Or making constant, unending payments I can barely afford. Plus I can go anywhere I want on my own whims and never have to “pack up” my belongings.”
The permission to exist is a huge problem in today’s society. It’s something so many people our age feel burdened by.
Navigating the bureaucracy, signing lease agreements, and always at the mercy of a landlord is like the modern plague. The average rent price in the United States as of February 2022 for a one bedroom apartment was $1,393 according to cnbc. Many Americans struggle to pay this, and Aleesha - like many other van lifers - broke free.
Compare that price to what Aleesha spent in total on her van: “...around $6-7,000 total. Most of that is the cost of the van itself ($1,350) and my solar generator kit ($2,600), so the build was pretty cheap really.”
Altogether the total cost of less than six months of rent when put up against the national average. With all the effort put into the build, I was curious how long she saw herself in this life. “It took me over a year to build it, so I plan to match that with at least a year inside. I’m 5 months in now! If a day comes when this lifestyle no longer meets my needs, then I’ll make a transition to something else. Not sure when or what that will be; I try not to look too far ahead.”
But, vans do not come equipped with all of the amenities that homes and apartments do. How did Aleesha construct her van to become a living environment?
Aleesha: “First I had to decide what size and shape of vehicle I’d need to fit everything I wanted inside. Then, I just started searching on places like Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, or Craigslist. And for almost every construction project there are several how-to videos on YouTube! I used to watch dozens of DIY van builds too. I got a lot of ideas that way.”
Just searching Van Build for Van Life yields hundreds of results. The ability to start from the ground up for yourself has never been easier.
With all of the benefits I was learning van life has to offer, what did Aleesha benefit from the most?
Aleesha: “My space is so much more personalized than it ever was living under a landlord, and I get to take it with me everywhere! I seriously adore my home and I’m very thankful for this happy place I’ve created for myself. I also love how it makes me really question how much stuff I need. I’ve saved a lot of money on buying random things just because I can’t fit anything else in here unless it’s a big priority in my life!”
No landlords to tell her “no”. No, she couldn’t nail something in a wall. No, she couldn’t paint this. No, she couldn’t make a home what she wanted it to be.
Minimizing her belongings has led to Aleesha having a newfound thrill to life. Her “happy place” wasn’t something she found, but something she created.
But, as all travelers know, as amazing as packing your bags and uprooting is, there’s always a complication. What unique challenges does van life bring?
Aleesha: “It’s quite exhausting to ‘stealth-camp’ in cities. You generally can’t stay in the same parking spot more than 2 nights. so I either have to deal with that, or pay to stay at a campground so I can actually decompress. Most cities and parking lots have rules against loitering or overnight parking, so it’s really hard to find a place I can chill at for free that also feels safe for a solo female.”
One of the goals of Encompassed Travels is to encourage solo female travelers, and safety is something I take very seriously. Trusting your instinct and getting out of a situation you don’t feel safe in is a top priority. Aleesha has, luckily, had an amazing and safe journey so far. One of the most popular woman van lifers on Tik Tok, divineontheroad, gives a thorough explanation of safety precautions in van life for solo female travelers. Watch it here.
Though after all the logistics were sorted through, I wanted to know more about the inspiration behind the theme of Aleesha’s van. She created something beautiful for herself, sprung to life by her own hands and every piece was chosen to fit her unique style. Decked head to toe in pink and sparkles, this is what Aleesha had to say about her favorite nooks and crannies of her new home.
Aleesha: I found this cool sink at a second hand store— it’s a super pretty glass bowl with a texture on the outside that gives a prism/rainbow effect. It set the stage for everything else. I kept buying reflective/iridescent things and anything pink and sparkly. But I knew I wanted black walls and industrial-type hardware, so I kind of had to bring the two aesthetics together. I call it the Disney dungeon!”
The affectionately named Disney Dungeon has been the medium for Aleesha to make memories that will last the rest of her life.
Even though she lives solo in her van, she’s not lonely. There’s always friends to be found wherever she goes. When asked about her favorite memories, she says: “Getting tattooed by a friend inside my van is definitely up there! But I’d say the campsite I’m staying at now has been the most memorable part so far. I’m pretty much a full time resident here, and other van-dwellers come through almost every day. I get to see a lot of really unique little homes and meet very cool people without even moving!”
Aleesha is one of thousands of van dwellers in campsites across the North American continent, but her unique flair sets her apart and has opened a world of opportunities for her.
Mobile life is not something that calls to everyone. But, those who choose it earn the world in return.
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