Createscape is a great space for van-lifers! Throughout the year, we have a few members who identify as members of this nomadic community. While it's a lifestyle that was favored primarily by retirees, thanks to our wireless world, more and more young professionals are living out of an RV or a converted van full-time. These are folks who, by day, code for Google or manage investments for clients, and on weekends -- or even weeks at a time -- they fire up their vehicles and hit the road. Their offices are coffee shops and Zoom. Here at Createscape, it's pretty amazing to follow members on Instagram and live vicariously through them as they zig-zag around the country.

Over the summer Spencer Harper (who we interviewed here back in April), started his day near Route 101 in Oregon eating fresh-picked blackberry pancakes with a view of the Pacific Ocean. Just one week earlier, we spotted him on the summit at Mount of the Holy Cross in Colorado. Meanwhile, at the same time, Carly DeFelice (see her February Q&A) was winding her way north and southwest, visiting Grand Teton in Wyoming, Crater Lake in Oregon and Pismo Beach in California. 

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to live like Carly and Spencer, you're not alone. It turns out that while living in a converted van or RV does require you to forfeit some creature comforts, the world you get to experience in return is worth it. We talked to Spencer and Carly about what it's like to be part of the van-life community. Check out what they had to say.

Carly DeFelice, money coach by day, National Park visitor on weekends

Can you explain what it’s like to live full-time in an RV?

It’s definitely an adventure! I spend time renovating my RV and can travel whenever I want. Even though I live in a small space, I have everything I need!

How often do you take your RV out on the road?

I’ve done two big RV road trips.

How long have you been living in your RV?

I’ve had my RV for just over two years.

What inspired you to forego living in a house or an apartment? 

Living tiny has always appealed to me. I liked the idea of living a simple life and being content with less. The freedom to travel and having few expenses make my current lifestyle choice a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

You paused your Createscape membership over the summer so you could travel. Where did you go and what did you see?

I traveled all the way to the Pacific Northwest. I saw four national parks: Grand Canyon in Arizona, Crater Lake, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone, which covers three states, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. I also visited Red Rock State Park in Sedona, AZ, Pismo Beach, which is about three hours north of Los Angeles, and Portland, Seattle, and Boise, Idaho.

Do you have another trip in the works?

I don’t have my next trip on my calendar yet, but I do know I want to travel through the Midwest and then the East Coast. A few states I know I want to see are Michigan, Vermont and Maine.

Can you talk a little bit about juggling a career and RV living? And does your coworking membership help you meet people and make professional connections?

It is hard traveling and working remotely. I'm a money coach, which means i'm on the phone or taking Zoom calls with my clients. I also offer live online classes. So i definitely need a good Wi-Fi signal for my work. When I'm not traveling, I live at an RV and tiny house community in East Austin. And joining Createscape gave me a sense of stability and community.

I’ve made friends and, organically, other members hear about how I do money coaching (I’m the creator of Best Money Class Ever). I’ve even had a handful of members enroll in my class! And for anyone who’s been meaning to get their finances in order, I encourage them to join me for my next class on October 27th! I’ll teach you how to pay off debt, invest, and manage your money like a boss! You can get more information about and sign up for Best Money Class Ever here. 

I feel like the stereotype of RV living is that it’s made up of people who don’t want to be part of the 9-to-5 world. But you demonstrate that it’s not that hard. Do you meet a lot of people like you, either on the road or at the office?

I’ve met a lot of people who want to work and travel. Createscape has lots of members who are part of the RV or van-life community. RV life used to be popular with older retirees. Now, post-pandemic, working remotely gives anyone the opportunity to travel and work from anywhere.

Have you ever stopped in at coworking offices in other cities to work while you’re traveling?

Yes! I did that during my first RV road trip when I was in the Carolinas!

Where is the coolest place you parked your RV and got some work done?

Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was right between the Grand Teton and Yellowstone. There was a cute downtown square with free Wi-Fi!

Do you listen to any RV-life podcasts? 

My favorite podcast is The RV Entrepreneur. It’s for people who want to travel full-time and pursue entrepreneurialism to support their lifestyle on the road. I also use a site called Campendium to find out the best places to stay and get travel tips. 

Spencer Harper, cloud solutions engineer by day, hot-springs bather on weekends

Can you explain to readers what it means to be a member of the van-life community?

I think when people think of van-life they think about people on social media posting photos of themselves traveling to beautiful places. In my opinion, it just means that your home is a van, bus, box-truck or some vehicle built out as a home instead of an apartment or house. 

Is the van-life community different than buying an RV to roam the country in?

In essence it’s the same, except for the fact that a van is a bit more inconspicuous and it's easier to find parking spots. Depending on the van, gas mileage can be cheaper as well, which is very important if you plan to do cross-country trips!

Were you traveling when you paused your Createscape membership over the summer?

Yes!  One of the main perks of living on wheels is that you can go wherever you want whenever you want and for any reason. This trip was to get away from the Texas summer heat and also to visit my favorite mountains and forests. I went to New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, California and Washington. I spent my time hiking, climbing, backpacking, soaking in hot springs, swimming in alpine lakes and visiting with friends.

Eating pancakes with freshly-picked blackberries and a view of the Pacific Ocean on Highway 101 in Oregon

How long have you been living in your van?

Two years in December. I plan on staying in it until I can save up for a decent down payment for a house, but i'll keep the van to go climbing and on road trips.

Do you have a routine where you hunker down in one place for part of the year and then travel the other parts of the year?

It really depends on what’s going on in my life at the time. If I’m working, I generally stick to one place and have a normal routine.  If I’m not working, I usually move around every couple days finding new nature to explore or spending time with different friends around the country.

Do you like traveling over the holidays? Or is that a good time to park the van and hang out with friends and family?

I’ve haven’t really celebrated holidays much since I feel that every day should be special instead of a select few days every year. I’m usually backpacking on holidays, although I like to celebrate "Friendsgiving".

Can you talk a little bit about juggling a career and van-life living? Does having a coworking membership provide for you a feeling of stability? Do you use your membership to make friends or professional connections?

Living in a van does make things more challenging, but not just career-wise. You have to be adaptable and willing to sacrifice a lot of comforts. I’m lucky enough to enjoy living a minimalist lifestyle and have a job that I’m able to work remotely. 

Having a coworking space membership is essential for reliable internet and access to a restroom throughout the day, as well as AC, which is important if you’re somewhere like Texas. It’s nice to be around others who are also focusing on work, and it helps me to stay focused as well. I generally only go to the office to do my work. And I have the option to socialize with other members at the free social and networking events. I do my personal socializing after work at climbing gyms or at the local crags mostly.

I feel like the stereotype of van living is that it’s made up of people who don’t want to be part of the “mainstream” 9-to-5 life. But you demonstrate that it’s something that isn't that hard to do. 

I agree that is the stereotype, but in my experience, it’s people that just love the freedom of it and/or can’t afford to buy a house. But I definitely wouldn’t say that it’s easy! I’ve met a few people who tried living in a van and found out it was too tough. Many people have a romantic image of van-living because of social media, but when you get down to it you’re living in a vehicle and there are a lot of challenges before you get to the perks.

Do you stop in at coworking offices in other cities?

I do. If I’m moving around, I’ll get a monthly membership at a coworking space and explore the area before moving to my next destination.

Where is the coolest place you parked your van and got some work done?

When I first started living in a van, it was right before Covid-19 struck.  After that my office was closed down and I didn’t really know what to do, so I went to the place I felt most comfortable, nature. I lived on some land in Cañon City, CO that's owned by the Bureau of Land Management. I had a Wi-Fi hotspot and worked at trail heads. I stayed there for a couple months and it was amazing being able to hike and explore the land whenever I wanted to. It was 40 minutes away from some of the best climbing in Colorado and covered in awesome trails for mountain. There weren’t any restrooms or showers, but that didn’t bother me since I’ve been on so many backpacking trips and was used to it. Hands down, it was the coolest place I’ve worked from.

Do you listen to any van-life podcasts or subscribe to any video channels where you can get advice on maintaining the lifestyle?

I find out everything myself by exploring. Part of the beauty and draw for me is the embracing of mystery and adventure. All the best places I’ve found have been recommended by locals I meet while traveling or I just happen to stumble upon them while on the road. 

Do your employer and coworkers know that one day you might be working in the Study Hall at Createscape and the next day you’re working in the shadow of Yosemite’s El Capitan?

Yes. In my job interview, I brought it up to my manager and he said that the fact that I live in a van is fine, as long as I send pictures of my travels. My coworkers think it’s fun, but I don’t think they really understand since they keep asking me if I’m in an apartment yet. It’s not for everyone.