How do you approach organisation?
Lydia: Everything has its place and it is best to put it back after using it. But when things do get messy it takes very little time to do a decent house cleaning. We became more minimalist on the road and that was a gift we received from our year because we pared down our stuff substantially when we got home. Every time I brought something new (and usually it was used) into the Scamp I got rid of something. This helped tremendously with keeping down clutter.
Becca: We try to stay organised, but inevitably the van seems to get into a state of disarray after a bit of time. That’s when we take 10 minutes and put everything back where it was meant to go. We meticulously planned out every inch of our van to maximise its storage and space. Everyone has a clothes drawer, there is a place for the food, bungee pockets, places for kids toys, books, electronics, etc.
Zoe: Getting ready to leave takes a ton of time and unpacking. Now we have stuff in boxes set to leave, and I know what to take. But I’ve also realised most of the stuff we bring we don’t actually need. The best approach is minimalist to cut down on organising. We spend a significant amount of time putting things back in the right place throughout the day. It seems to work better than the chaos approach where you organise at the end. We definitely do need to spend more time every few days cleaning, but it’s not much different than in a house, and it’s quicker.
What are the logistics behind how you make van trips happen and how you keep them going?
Lydia: We are both self-employed, have the ability to work on the road (although we worked less than usual), and we sublet our place in Canmore to offset travel costs. That’s how we make it work. After a year on the road, it’s really nice to be home for a bit. But I also find myself packing up the van and taking the kids on a mini-trip once or twice a month. Both Sonnie and I love to see new things and the kids seem to as well! We have found it’s really hard to keep up with paperwork, taxes, our normal income and organisation on the road, so we’ve decided to take between 6 months to a year before we plan another big trip. But once we are able to travel again, I’m open to homeschooling my son on the road, and my daughter is almost two now.
Zoe: This was the first year we had a school-rhythm, so we were programming holidays and weekends. Sometimes I get worried we will get weighed down by managing normal life and never move, but once we get going, it’s totally worth it. I try to keep perspective that busyness is relative and that the best moments in our family life are on the road in whatever way that is.
Becca: We have decided that living in the van is just a part of our life. We don’t do it all year long, but we do spend extended amounts of time in the van every year. We will sometimes do shorter weekend-style trips, but we often commit (usually to Yosemite) and go for six weeks or more. This is often the best way to travel and spend time in climbing areas in the US, and it’s really affordable. It’s also great for our family. It simplifies life and I think it’s really good for all of us. It’s easy to get comfortable at home, and while I don’t think comfortable is a bad thing, I also think it’s good to redefine comfort occasionally. We homeschooled Fitz this past year to keep our schedules open, and we haven’t fully decided what we’ll do next year, but I’m guessing at some point we’ll get to a point where we need to be more “homebound” and then it’ll change again. I really love being able to move between it all.
How did you have sex?
The consensus is very quietly.
Lydia is a yoga educator and mountain lover who bounces between Canmore, Alberta, and Squamish, British Columbia, with her tribe Sonnie Trotter, Mesa Pearl and Tatum Rein.
Zoe was the fourth woman to earn her IFMGA status. She and her husband Max are currently raising their two boys – Mathias and Mika – in Chamonix, France.
Becca is a registered nurse from Estes Park, Colorado. She started the Little Explorers Club, which rallies parents and children to get outside, get in the dirt and experience the natural world. Becca, her husband Tommy, and their two kids Fitz and Ingrid travel the better part of every year.
Banner image – Snuggle time in the Caldwell van. Photo: Courtesy of Becca Caldwell.