In this video I share the things I hate (okay… strongly dislike) about van life, because it’s not always the Instagram version of parked-up beach bliss. One of the biggest day-to-day annoyances for me is being in carparks all the time—especially when I’m working with the back of the van open—and watching people swing doors into my van or scrape past it like it’s nothing. Accidents happen, but what really bugs me is when people don’t accept responsibility. I take care of my vehicle, so every ding or scrape just becomes more work to fix. I also talk about the environmental side of van life. I’m a conservationist at heart, so I do think about fuel use, but I also offset in other ways (less water, solar power, no land or building footprint). What really gets my goat is people idling their cars for hours just to run air con. On top of that, you’re constantly living amongst others—noise, cigarette smoke, and even “wacky backy” wafting through your home—so finding solitude takes effort (hello early mornings). Finally, I get into the practical trade-offs: water, power, food, and the frustration of having to move when I’m craving a hot shower or my supplies run low. Weather is the other big one—wind, heat, dust/sand, and cold can all make van life uncomfortable. But even with all of that, it’s still worth it for me—the yin-yang is part of the deal.