NEXT AVENUE SPECIAL SECTION
Van Life Vanguard By Clayton Trutor
When COVID pandemic precautions led people to hunker down indoors, the hashtag #VanLife became a fixture on social media. Videos of people traveling the country or settling in new communities while living in vans, RVs or repurposed school buses were emblematic of the unconventional spirit of the times. A number of these "Van Lifers" became YouTube or Instagram celebrities in the early 2020s and continue to cultivate large followings. Some are instructional while others were intended primarily to entertain. Many of the best known Van Lifers are in their 20s and 30s, work remotely thanks to the global broadband coverage provided by the satellite telecom service Starlink and have built out their vans with sleek furnishings.
The Census Bureau estimates that, as of 2019, the latest complete data available, roughly 140,000 Americans lived in vans — some of whom were “nomads” who traveled from place to place and some of whom stayed in a particular community. Facebook has Van Life groups with active memberships numbering in the tens of thousands, many of whom are aged 50 or over. They come from across the country and have a range of life experiences. Many seem to be drawn to the Southwestern U.S. and its warm climate. Some remain in their hometown but simply reside in a van. "With one person, a van is ideal. You have everything you need with you all the time," said Chuck Jacobs, a part-time van dweller. "In a van, you can change your plans on the fly. The van makes for a more efficient use of space." Jacobs, 75, operates a popular and eclectic YouTube channel where he documents his adventures. His videos are conversational and his experience as a community college teacher come through in his thoughtful yet casual presentation of ideas. Jacobs has been exploring the West in vans, RVs, campers and Jeeps for his entire adult life. In 1968, he bought his first van, a 1953 International Metro Star, while serving in the Army in Oklahoma. Currently, he travels in a 1991 Ford E-250 Club Wagon.
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