Living the Vanlife

May 8, 2023
Grevemberg, founder of Diversify VanLife, an organization for underrepresented members of the “vanlife” community, debuts with an eye-opening guide to life on the road. The author recalls how burnout and frustration with her unfulfilling day-to-day spurred her and her husband to embark on an adventure across America in 2016. In the nomadic lifestyle, Grevemberg discovered a type of “intentional living” that entailed “shifting away” from traditional markers of social success, such as career and family, and onto a path rooted in joy and connection to nature. Grevemberg dispenses advice for aspiring nomads, including how to coexist with a partner in a small space and prioritize self-care. As a “Black-identifying, mixed-race, queer immigrant,” she also offers counsel to underrepresented individuals within a largely “whitewashed” culture, discussing how to navigate unique safety challenges, and reconnect with nature even if one’s relationship “to the outdoors has been ruptured due to colonization” (practices can include cooking cultural dishes, hiking, or foraging). This spirited guide is animated by Grevemberg’s passion for a nomadic life but doesn’t sugarcoat its challenges, and there’s useful advice tailored to “weekenders,” “part time,” and “full-time” vanlifers alike. The restless are sure to catch the travel bug.

Starred review from July 1, 2023

Grevemberg is a vanlifer who opted to quit her office job, sell her belongings, and live a simpler life on the road with her husband and dog. In this book, the author shares her personal story of growing up in Trinidad and choosing to live in a van, an experience that proved to be transformative and a lifestyle that she could sustain. The author, committed to creating safe spaces for underrepresented individuals in the nomadic community, also addresses some of the obstacles she faced as a BIPOC woman on the road, such as interactions with police. The book shows that working on the road full-time is about intentional living, and it squashes the myth that this way of life has to be expensive. This title gives readers tips about preparing and budgeting for this type of lifestyle, staying safe, building a community of supporters and thriving in it, and learning to adapt to the scenarios and adventures that come their way. VERDICT An excellent source to give to readers keen on starting their own vanlife journey or to those who want to gain a real-life perspective of this popular trend.--Brittany Fechtman

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