Welcome to My VanLife Adventure!!!
Welcome to the new part of my Blog/Vlog life – my Van Life Adventures!!! I decided to start this new chapter and share it with you for a number of reasons. In this Post – I’ll give you a little bit of my background as to what lead up to my choice to pursue full time van life and how my VanLife Blog/Vlog will be different than others. Thank you for stopping by and welcome to the new chapter in my Adventure Lifestyle!
Check Out The Video!!!
Check out the Intro Video for my new Channel Shifting Gears with Ty where I tell you all the reasons I decided to move back from France and tour this amazing country of ours in my Winnebago Revel!!! I’ll be posting on Van Life, Mountain biking, and Thousand Trails!
What Brought Me Here!
So.. How and why did I decide to pursue full time Van Life? What’s my background and what lead to such a radical decision?
As I travel the country, I often end up having lots of conversations with folks who express a great deal of interest in how I decided to become a Van Lifer.
And the truth is – it’s been building for a while. I started life as a lawyer. Practiced for about a decade as a trial lawyer, and eventually (begrudgingly) took over a family business. That business sold in February 2024 and I was left retired at a young age without wife/child. Which gave me a lot of freedom.
For a year, I bounced around Europe (it was fun – see my vlog and other posts). But eventually, it actually got more exhausting than fun. I realized that the moving once a week from Hotel to Hotel was exhausting and stressful!! Pack. Load luggage, Drive/fly. Unpack. Rinse. Repeat. It’s fun. ‘Til its Not….
Enter Solution: Van Life.
That’s when I realized: What if I didn’t have to pack? What if it was as simple as loading a few things back up each time I want to go see something new. What if all my stuff could always be in the same place??? And what if I could figure out how to live in that small s[ace year round. What would I learn about myself, about life, about what I should and should not value. How would I evolve and grow as a result.
So that’s how I decided: I want to live in a van!! That, and I decided that I was bored with all my current hobbies! Scuba diving. Check. Skiing. Check. Bread baking. Check. So I decided to add a new hobby: Mountain biking!!!
How My Blog Is Different.
Most Van Life Blogs/Vlogs focus on a few distinct points.
First. Most focus on how to live van life as cheaply as possible or common problems associated with Van Life. While I may certainly share some of the lessons I learn along the way, and will occasionally post something related to that, it’s not my focus. My focus will be on my experience and what has worked for me. Lessons learned. Not necessarily the cheapest campsites or free camping.
Second most focus on boonedocking/free camping. And while I might share some of that as I tend to stay in a mixture of free space/public parks, and Thousand Trails RV parks, it’s not my focus. Rather, my focus is going to be on an intersection of amazing hiking/ mountain biking with boonedocking/cheap camping
and where applicable, RV parks such as Thousand Trails campgrounds. I will share what has worked for me. The good and the bad. I will take you along as I learn to mountain bike and my journey. So. Welcome. Thank you for stopping by! And we will see you on the Road!!! To get you started, make sure to check out My 2 Part Series on Things To Start Thinking Abut 6-12 Months Before You Start Your Van Life Adventure. Click Here To Read Part 1 and Click Here to Read Part 2!!!!
Check Out Shifting Gears With Ty!
While I blog – my main passion is Videos! Check out the latest content on my YouTube Channel Shifting Gears with Ty. Make sure to click on the YouTube Icon below to subscribe so you an follow the adventure and never miss some of the great content for Van Life, Mountain Biking, and Thousand Trails!
Newbie Van Life Videos!
I have a whole series on Newbie Van Life. Things you won’t want to miss to help you get started on the right foot (or wheel ;-)) and have less stress and a better Adventure!!
Starting Van Life Content!
If you are thinking about startng van life – make sure to check out my other content written specifically for folks who are thinking about starting Van Life. Articles that may save you tens of thousands of dollars and lots of heartburn! Don’t Miss my series on Things to Start Thinking About 6-12 Months Before Starting Van Life. Click Here to Read Part 1 and Click Here To Read Part 2!
Like what you’re reading and want to help support the journey?
Consider making a small donation and buying me a delicious cup of coffee! Most of what you read here is unpaid and experience-based. If it helped, you can support my work here by clicking here or on the image below to Buy Me a Coffee!! Thank you for your support!!!
Other Newbie Content!!
Be sure to check out my Van Life Page by clicking here for Other Great Content, trip reports, advice, and life lessons I learn along the Road!! Or see some of my latest posts below:
Van Life Expectations vs. Reality: The Things Nobody Tells You
The real journey of van life is mental. Read my honest take on the identity crisis, why your fitness goals will change, and why embracing your fears is the key to happiness on the road.
🚐 6 Months of Van Life: The Cost, The Reality, The Reflections
Six months on the road taught me that life’s true seasons are phases lasting days or decades, and you have the power to set their tone. This van life reflection reveals the surprising reality of costs, the logistical trap of buying into the “off-grid fantasy,” and the genuine kindness of Americans. Ultimately, the road changes how you see yourself.
The $5,000 Mistakes: RV Purchases I Regret (and How to Avoid Them)
I made these costly mistakes so you don’t have to! Learn which RV accessories to skip, why staying close to home saves money, and the top financial blunders of the first month of van life
Your First Month of Van Life: 5 Actionable Tips to Get You Started
Starting van life? Don’t hit the road without reading this. We’ve got 5 essential tips for a smooth and successful first month, including where to camp, what to journal, and how to avoid rookie mistakes
The First Month of Van Life: 5 Things They Don’t Tell You (The Hilarious Truth)
Thinking about starting van life? Get the unfiltered, funny, and sometimes panic-inducing truth about the first month on the road. From broken vans to unexpected lessons, this is the real talk you need.
How to Prepare for RV Life: What to Do 6–12 Months Before You Go (Part 2)
Before you buy a rig, prepare your life. The planning to do 6–12 months before van or RV life — campsites, mail, insurance, budget, fears, and route.
A Little Bit About Me.
I started writing this blog as a way to capture the adventurous and free lifestyle I’m privileged to live. I’ve traveled to over 28 countries and 35 U.S States. I’ve lived aboard in multiple countries and averaged over 100 days a year of travel for work. I’ve skied and hiked all over the world – and my new obsession is mountain biking.
What I bring to you isn’t AI generated. It’s based on my feet on the ground – or sometimes conversations with locals. Click here to read more about me!
And click below to subscribe to my YouTube Channel Shifting Gears with Ty to follow the Adventure live! Join us, won’t you?