14 weeks ago I started working on Ody, my tiny home on wheels, with big dreams of moving out west. On Tuesday, October 13th, I’ll be getting behind the wheel, pulling out of the driveway, and hitting the open road. Who would have thought that my first major milestone as an adult would be moving out of my parent’s house into my car?
I’m currently in disbelief that this is actually happening. Being in Ody and looking at all the work I put into it over the last months, every detail, the paneling, my multifunctional bench, the lights, cabinetry, the bed, kitchen, not to mention the three layers of insulation and framing beneath everything and all of the logistics and planning that went into making it happen, practically makes me emotional. I can’t believe I did that.
I’ve done things that I’ve considered hard in the past 23 years of my life, but nothing has tested me to the same extent or been nearly as rewarding as this van conversion experience. Not everything is perfect, in fact there are many imperfections. But, while building I accepted them and then learned to love them. My crooked cabinets, the drawer that needs to be shimmied to the right to open, and the angles I couldn’t get quite right make me laugh a little now remembering the hours, the energy, and all the expletives that went into making them. A few months ago, Ody was a dream of mine, just an idea. Now that dream is my home… that I built… with my hands… I still can’t quite get over it and don’t know if I ever will.
Over the course of the conversion process, I enjoyed sharing my progress on Instagram and was blown away by the outpour of support and encouragement I got along the way from friends and more distant acquaintances. However, the most loyal followers throughout my build were the Home Depot employees I visited nearly every day, neighbors, the mailman, and our lawnmower who excitedly tracked my progress as I worked away in the driveway.
Though this build was pretty much a one woman show, there were many people who helped me along the way that I am so thankful for. Buck at Watch Hill Garage advised me when I was originally looking at vans and removed that darn stripped screw way back in the beginning of the build. Nick and Matt at SoundFX took on the electrical project even though it was out of their realm of expertise and treated it as if it was their own van. They thought of things that I hadn’t and set me up with a very reliable electrical system. I’ve talked about the Home Depot employees a lot, but they are truly amazing. I steadily worked my way through almost every department of that store over the last few months and was met by countless friendly and knowledgeable employees more than willing to help and also curious and invested in what I was working on. Prior, an ophthalmologist, took me to his office at 7pm one night to remove a wood particle that got embedded under my eyelid while sanding one afternoon. That was a dozy. And, I don’t know how to thank the people who made all of the YouTube tutorials, but god bless ‘em. All of the work I did was essentially based off of some tutorial I found online. That’s pretty crazy.
As I said, the build tested me. Mentally, physically and emotionally. 14 weeks is a long time to be completely consumed by any sort of project. I had to teach myself new things, experienced delays and frustrations, had a few mental breakdowns, and, the last three weeks, I nearly worked myself into the ground. On those hard days, it was my family that rallied behind me, offered to help, made me a snack, and got me back out there ready to go. They were also there at the end of the day to ooo and ahh at the progress and celebrate the little victories. They were on the roller coaster with me, and I am beyond thankful to all of them for coming on the ride.
Back in May, I had lunch with my grandfather, Tom, and he asked me what my plans were post-graduation. I was already in the process of looking at vans, but was unsure what he would think of the van life idea. So, instead I gave a vague response. A week later, I got the van and a message from Tom, “I heard you bought a van, give me a call”. I explained my plans for the conversion then traveling and, to my surprise, he thought it was the greatest idea ever. His engagement during the build and our shared enthusiasm for the upcoming adventure has been a highlight. He has a hunch that I am going to become a Park Ranger. I’m not sure about that, but we’ll have to wait and see.
Though my brothers resumed their real lives back in NYC and Boston before the bulk of intensive building began, they have always been my biggest supporters and have been encouraging of the project from the start. It was so special being able to share little van trips with them throughout the summer, whether a surfing excursion or a short rOdy to see Mt. Joy. They have an open invite to meet me anywhere out on the road. They’re coming home to watch me pull out of the driveway, and I’m so excited to show them the final product.
It is impossible to express how thankful I am for my parents. They were truly the ones right beside me and saw the whole thing through from the beginning to end. I am beyond grateful for them, their support of this dream, and their willingness to always lend an extra set of hands throughout the build. They were almost as invested in this project as I was. Dinner conversations the past few weeks have been consumed by logistics and creating lists of items I need. There have been flat tire changing lessons in the driveway and safety speeches. And, they’ve sat in the van with me soaking it all in. My mom jokes that she is going to stowaway in my “garage” right in between my bike and storage bins, because she wants to come on this trip too. I plan on keeping Ody in tiptop shape, so there will be many adventures for years to come. And, I’ve promised Mom and Dad that they can have their turn at van life in Ody one day. Thank you two for your constant support, love, and for putting up with my insanity. I’m looking forward to running into you on the road this spring 😉
And, finally, Churro. I’m sorry I haven’t had time recently for our walks and as many cuddles during the day, but thank you for always being my little squirmy bundle of energy, positivity and love. No one quite lifts my spirits, calms me down, and makes me as happy as you do. I know you have absolutely no idea about what you’re getting into, but no adventure would be complete without you by my side. I’m well stocked on dog food and your favorite bones, your car seat is all set up, and I will carry you on my back up every mountain if your little legs get tired. Thank you in advance for being the best van dog, copilot, adventure buddy, and guard dog.
Despite how comfortable and home-y I’ve made Ody, it is minimalistic and there are a multitude of daily life items I’ll be doing without. I’ve been taking my time in the shower this week, sitting for a little longer on the toilet, relishing in the ease of doing laundry, enjoying the well-stocked fridge and treating myself to the luxurious ice cream in the freezer. Deciding what to pack has been a challenge. What do I need, what do I want, and what will fit. I’ve seriously had to Marie Kondo my possessions. But, there is something very appealing about this simple existence that I’m excited for. The ability to do more with less. I’m letting go of this sense of attachment to items that once defined me in exchange for experiences that will more impactfully shape who I am. I might have a little greasy hair along the way, but that’s what hats and dry-shampoo are for. And, luckily, I rock a good baseball hat.
Once again, thank you to everyone who followed along, helped make this happen, and encouraged me throughout the build, but we’ve ain’t seen nothin’ yet. The real journey is just beginning. I hate to leave you at a cliff hanger like this, but I have no idea about what’s about to happen either. In the words of David Bowie, “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.”
ABLAZ 