#2: Things I considered before taking the leap
When I first made the decision to do this, I was probably 50% committed. I was careful not to tell too many people because I wasn’t really sure and didn’t want this to end up as just one of Sarah’s “crazy ideas.” There were so many factors to consider.
In the early days, I didn’t know where to start. So, I started everywhere. Literally, I’d come home from work and start researching one thing, then another thing, then another thing, until it was midnight and I couldn’t keep my eyes opened any longer. Here are the major components of the decision that consumed me.
Trailer vs. van
When to leave and for how long
Sell my house or rent it
Addie (my dog)
Finances
Am I crazy to quit my job?
1. Trailer vs. van
At first, I researched vans. I was intrigued by “van life” and had already been following people living this lifestyle. I discovered that you can rent vans that have been converted into living spaces, either through companies that rent them like rental cars (Escape Campervans) or through sites like Outdoorsy that serve as an Airbnb for conversion vans and RVs. I also learned that you can take a raw van (Mercedes Sprinter, Ram ProMaster, Ford Transit, etc.) and A) convert it yourself, B) purchase a conversion kit that allows you to order pieces to have installed or potentially install yourself (Wayfarer Vans, Contravans), or C) hire a company to design your van and build it for you (just Google “custom van conversion companies” and you will find more than you would ever think). There is one more option, just WAY out of my price range.
Renting a conversion van for the duration of one year did not make sense. The business models are for shorter-term rentals so it got expensive very quickly. I didn’t have the time or resources for Option A (convert a van myself), and Option C (get one custom made) was really pricey and required a lot of legwork. I considered Option B (conversion kit) for a while, but it really came down to two things:
I still wanted to have a car. The plan was for this “life on the road” to be temporary (and what if I hated it and wanted to stop?), so I wanted a car to come back to and didn’t want to dump a ton of money into something that wouldn’t serve a long-term purpose.
I wanted a proper bathroom (not just a portable toilet).
As I started researching trailers, I considered renting one. But like the van, for as long as I wanted it, it just didn’t make sense. I looked into purchasing a small trailer (with a bathroom…) and found the Airstream Basecamp. It had all I needed, it was small, easy(ier) to tow and I didn’t need a pickup truck to do so (SUV was fine). Additionally, what sealed the deal was that Airstreams have incredible resale values (versus other RV brands). Most importantly, it came with a wet bath including a toilet and a shower. Boom.
VERDICT: Trailer - Airstream Basecamp
Exterior and floor plan of Airstream Basecamp.
2. When to leave and for how long
Given seasonality and weather patterns, there was a brief period when I thought it made most sense to start this journey in the spring. The weather would be nicer and I could save a little more money. At this point, also, I wasn’t sure of the trip duration, so a spring departure would be great if I was planning to be on the road for only six months or so.
As far as WHEN to leave… I knew myself and knew that come spring I could easily find a reason NOT to do this. What if I met someone and fell madly in love? What if an incredible opportunity popped up with work? What if I broke my leg over the winter? I decided that if I didn’t do it now, then I might not ever do it. You just never know what will happen two, four or six months down the road, and I felt too strongly about this idea to risk NOT doing it. This urgency made the whole thing a little scarier, but I needed to capitalize on the wave of excitement I was riding. I needed to make moves before that wave crashed into the shore.
My friend and I dedicated a Saturday to mapping out the route. Thank God for her because it was a rather large undertaking. Once we started evaluating and looking at possibilities, we determined that I needed a full year to visit most of the national parks in the domestic U.S. If I was going to do this, I was going to really do this.
VERDICT: Leave ASAP; duration of one year
3. Sell my house or rent it
First I thought rent - definitely. The market in Columbus was/is pretty hot so I would be walking away from a lot of money if I sold. I’d find a viable renter and hire a management company to be “boots on the ground” while I lived free and unattached.
Wait…how realistic was that? First of all, I would have to find responsible renters who undoubtedly paid each month and took care of the house. Then, I’d have to rely on a management company to deal with things in my absence. Not to mention, I’ve heard horror stories from friends renting out properties and renters vandalizing to unimaginable extents.
Basic logistics aside, renting my house would, frankly, be detrimental to this entire idea. No part of this idea is financial. The point of this is to take a leap, release any safety nets. “Clean slate” my mind, rather than tow any baggage as I embark on a new start. I knew the year ahead would be that much more beneficial to me if I cleansed myself of something as heavy as an entire house.
So, I put it on the market. After three days, I received two offers. I accepted one. At that point $hit got real. My options were: A) do this thing, or B) get an apartment and keep chugging away at current life. I obviously opted for Option A.
Also, the down payment and profits from the sale of the house are the funds I’m using to support myself (small detail worth mentioning).
VERDICT: Sell it. For logistical reasons, as well as mental/emotional reasons.
The house that I sold (my friends named it Green Gables).
4. Addie (my dog)
How to do this with Addie was a consideration, but it’s not like it ever crossed my mind to dump her off somewhere while I gallivanted around the country. I would just need to figure out how to do it in a way that incorporated her. She is part of my life and this idea wouldn’t have conceptualized this far if she couldn’t be in tow. More to come on this topic.
VERDICT: n/a. She goes with me wherever I go.
She is already comfortable lounging in the Basecamp (so stoic, she is).
5. Finances
Selling the house was the best thing I could have done from a financial perspective. I feel much more comfortable having sold the house to support my living expenses. Other than that, I will be dabbling in some freelance projects and putting myself on a strict budget based on my reserves.
VERDICT: I’m REALLY happy I made the decision to sell the house.
6. Am I crazy to quit my job?
Leaving my job was a huge consideration. Unfortunately, it’s somewhat rare to find a workplace where you have a sense of belonging and mutual trust and respect, and I had it at my company. I was growing within the organization and had a promising future there. BUT, I was just too excited about this idea. I was too excited to take on a challenge, exercise my mind and body in new ways and learn things that I’d never learn in any other situation. The thrill of the unknown really took over and I knew leaving my job was just another step I needed to take to get where I wanted to go. As hard as it was for me, I remained confident in my decision. That wave of excitement I was riding still hadn’t (and hasn’t yet!) crashed into the shore.
VERDICT: Crazy, no. Passionate, yes. Sometimes you just need to listen to your gut (something my mom always told me).
Conclusion
In the end it came down to “why not?” Why wouldn’t I do this? When it comes down to reflecting on my life, all of the above considerations seem so trivial. After one year, what will I be more regretful of NOT doing: working for another year, living in a house that I didn’t like taking care of anyway, and risking being another year older with nothing changing, OR a life on the road visiting new places, meeting interesting people, challenging myself every day and learning and growing in ways I never knew? The answer was easy.
What’s that leap that you want to take? What do you want to do that you that you don’t want to regret NOT doing? Just something to think about.