While researching living in small spaces I ran into two Facebook groups of amazing women. One group is in the United Kingdom and another is in the United States. Both groups are exclusively for woman that have moved away from the traditional brick and mortar homes and have chosen an alternative housing choice. The woman in the UK live on narrow-boats and the woman in the US live in vans, small trailers or short school buses.
Many of these women reached this lifestyle change after ending bad marriages, raising their children and are now seeking out “their turn in life”, others just want to travel and see their perspective (or other) countries. Some are even volunteers providing services throughout their country of choice. One lady even supports a school in South Africa for girls. Many of these women run their own virtual business, sell crafts, or travel seeking work at campgrounds, fair grounds or large seasonal venues.
I have found a lot of these woman are to the point, very supportive of each other and have a passion for life. They have no plans on gracefully sliding into their graves in old age. They are living life to the fullest doing what they love and embracing their freedom like I have never seen women do before. I am blown away by the creativity they have in making ends meet, designing their tiny living spaces and putting up with the challenges of nomadic life. These women are a force to be reckon with and yet no one hears about them.
When they do come up in conversation words like homeless, unstable, mental illness tends to get slipped into the conversation and yet for at least 90% of these women these words do not apply. I feel so blessed and inspired to have found them. I have learned much about small living and being creative. I have learned that no matter what life throws at you can, and will land on your feet. I have seen support and commonality like I have never seen before. I have seen true sisterhood.
Life As I Know It 
I’m 47 and had several major family traumas during the last five years. (Lost my mom to cancer, my daughter became an addict, I ended up with her two children for almost 2 years, lost our business, and my husband moved across the country to care for his parents without me.)
Alone and frustrated, I decided to change my life last year. I sold most of everything I own, rent out the house, converted a mini-van, and traveled the US solo for 8 months. It was the best year of my life!
When I got back everything changed. My oldest grandson was not doing well with his grandfather, and within a few hours I decided I would be the one to raise him. Landon is only 8, and even though we had him in a small private school he still wasn’t doing well. I made the decision to homeschool him on the road this year. He’s learning so much more because he can see, touch, and explore what’s in his books.
Thank you for writing your blog. It isn’t about living in a van like you are homeless, it’s stepping away from the norm and experiencing life with a purpose.
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This is an excellent article! I’m one of the women you write about so I’m here to give you my support. I’m an experienced solo wilderness traveler and car camper. I paddle and backpack in wild places. In short, I am a prime candidate for van life. So I bought a van and sold my home.
You might be surprised to learn that I’ve actually upsized. Nature is an exquisite architect. My living room is all of nature, complete with cathedral ceilings that are perfect for star gazing. Oh, and a wood burning fireplace too! The sun provides me with free energy for solar power. I have water filters so I can get water from just about any river, lake or stream and I can cook just about anything. My privacy tent was specifically designed for showering and bathroom needs. My bed is luxuriously comfy. Life is about quality, not quantity.
Above all, I am a good steward of the environment. I practice Leave No Trace principles to ensure that I leave nature just like I found it. You won’t even be able to tell that I was there.
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