(for 21 days)
What exactly is a campervan? Glad you asked, because I barely knew they existed before this trip. A campervan is literally a van that’s turned into a camper in the back. That being said, it’s not exactly fully equipped to house people like an RV as it isn’t air tight, and doesn’t have some of the ‘plush’ amenities as an RV may have. The airtight thing wouldn’t be that big of an issue in the summer, but boy does it get cold in there during the winter!
Why did we decide to rent a campervan during the winter for our first 3 weeks in New Zealand? It was the cheapest and most adventurous way to travel around both islands of New Zealand. Sure it’s freezing (as we were warned), but we’ve since purchased wool thermals for under our clothes. It’s a weird, cramped, freeing, crazy way to live, and I definitely wouldn’t do this long term, especially in such a small space!
Now, onto some thoughts I’ve had since living in our campervan.
+glad we took only 1 checked bag, 1 carry-on bag, and 1 backpack each from Korea, because we literally can’t fit anything else in here.
+I’ve learned to get creative with putting things away. When Derik finds our passports tucked in amongst the silverware, I’ll just shrug my shoulders.
+When you travel with someone in a campervan, make sure you like that person because they’ll be within 2.5 feet of you at all times.
+I’ve never appreciated showers that were free to use and without a timer as much as I do now.
+Speaking of showers, walking into a building that’s the same temperature outside (28 degrees Fahrenheit or less) due to the lack of interior heating, cold concrete floors, and metal siding, doesn’t make me want to take my clothes off and jump into a stream of water no matter how lukewarm or hot it may get. It’s a struggle every morning.
+Derik and I never used to sing together while driving. Call it campervan magic, because now we’d give Sonny & Cher a run for their money.
+We named our GPS navigator ‘Iris’ just because she sounds like Siri and is frequently wrong. It’s nice having someone to yell at when you take a wrong turn.
+If you still have 3/4ths a tank of gas left, and you’ve got a ride through the mountains, odds are there might not be another gas station for 250 miles or more. Who knew?! It’s always a hairy situation when your gas light starts blinking, and your phone hasn’t found service for 2 days so you can’t call anyone. Fifteen miles down the road you stumble upon a gas station and you’ve never been more thankful in your entire life.
+The line between eating breakfast/lunch/dinner at the table and eating in bed is too quickly blurred. Its technically the same place, but with the cushions rearranged a bit.
+Derik isn’t a coffee drinker, but it’s been so cold on this trip he wants it every morning. You know what else he enjoys? When I use my hair dryer in the campervan. He swears it works better than the heater!
+Learn a lesson from us. Don’t get into a friendly debate with your other half while packing up and leaving a campsite. You’ll probably forget an important step in the 1,000 step process to get your van ready for the road. If that step happens to be forgetting to unplug the power, it’ll cost you lunch for the next two weeks in order to buy a new one. It’s even worse when you realize the said cord snapped off and is dangling from your campervan 20 miles down the road. Hashtag: embarrassing.
Now to introduce you to a few of my amazing sponsors from this last month!
Kim from A Moving Story: Kim has been on my ‘awesome blogger’ radar since early last year. I have enjoyed following along in her adventures with her family, reading her uplifting posts, and promoting her while she’s been on my sidebar multiple times.
This lady will go far, as she’s making waves already in the travel blogging industry!! My favorite posts are: Moving to Mexico?, Food Trucks Mexico, and When Life Happens, You Can Choose to be Happy.
Erica from Erica Jacquline: Sometimes a lighthearted read is what you need. Not just the inspiring, self-help type, but the kind that gets you gut laughing so much you spill your coffee. Erica has a great voice, vision, and readership for her blog! I know you’ll enjoy her posts as much as I do!
I should probably mention this girl is also a dog lover and a teacher! Kindred spirits much?. My favorite posts are: 9 Reasons I Won’t Quit Facebook, Ways to Find Your Blogging Voice, and How to Kill A Bug.
Morgan from The Misadventures of Morgan: Morgan’s an experienced expat. I say that because although she’s from America, she’s moved to the ends of the earth to live. America-Brazil-Germany-Australia. If you need some traveling inspiration, Morgan’s your girl!
I enjoy reading Morgan’s posts because she doesn’t just focus on travel. She’s a well-rounded writer and will leave you excited for the next post! My favorite posts are: The Importance of Positive Self-Image, Making Friends in a New City, and What Brazil Taught Me About Living in Australia.
Want to be featured in one of my sponsor posts? Buy the ‘Conquering Korea’ ad space here!