Let me just start out straightaway by saying I don’t like winter. And the older I get the more the cold gets to me. I know I should like it. But I just don’t. (Partial exception: I love snow, until I have to drive in it.)
That said, the Jars of Clay song Winter Skin inspired me to try to think differently. There’s got to be some joy for those of us who aren’t skiers, right?
Plus, my wife and I ran into a dear older neighbor shortly after Christmas who we always see out on the trail, and she inquired, “Where have you all been? I haven’t seen you for a while?” We replied, “Oh, it’s just been cold so we haven’t been out.” She turned and said, “What? You bunch of wussies!”
Challenge Accepted!
But, you might be wondering, what does all this have to do with van life? And why are you spending your first discussion of van life with us on this topic?
Well, to the first question, it’s simple. I want to talk about the joys we are discovering by pushing ourselves to use our van more in the cold months.
As to the second, that is a great point. This is probably not the best place to start a discussion of van life. But it is winter now, so here we are. I promise to backtrack in the future and tell you more about how we came to van life and why we love it so.
So, on to van life in winter. My wife and I (and our pup) live in Baltimore, and we took possession of our van in spring 2022 after a wonderful small company, Off Grid Adventure Vans, converted it (Yes, our van is named Into The Blue). The patient folks there spent hours teaching us how to use it, including how to winterize it (basically, how to prepare the water system and van to get through the cold without freezing and busting).
I internalized from this instruction that you winterize your van in late October, park it for the winter, and then fill it back up with water and hit the road again in April. I hated Army winter field exercises in Germany back in the day, so why in the world would I be going out camping in the cold now?
But then something happened. We loved being out in the van so much that first year that as the cold months dragged on into 2023, we got more and more desperate for our fix. We had to get back Into The Blue!
Still, we waited until mid-April to go back out. But we realized over the course of the summer that we needed to push it a bit. So, we winterized the van in late October and then took it out for one last ride in mid-November, down to Weldon Mills distillery (great whiskey!) in North Carolina, then to Richmond for some ZZQ BBQ (heavenly!), and on to Lake Anna State Park in Virginia for some tranquil camping and hiking.
We had a blast! The only major change we made was bringing water jugs instead of using the onboard water system. We ran the heater at night, huddled by the campfire in the evening, got toasty by a firepit at Coyote Hole cidery, hit the trails in our winter skins with our dog, and just generally surprised ourselves by having the time of our lives!
But we still parked Into The Blue for the winter after that. And you know what? We were so missing the road! By March, we couldn’t stand it, so despite the chill we took it out twice that month. It was freezing, but it was fun! Even when it was too cold and rainy to be outside, we loved snuggling in the van, playing backgammon, talking, and experimenting on new cocktails!
We were on to something! So, this past November and December, we just kept on going, hitting new spots, hitting old spots, and having a ball! Now it’s January, and we’re ready to hit the beach!
Yes, you have to make some adjustments for the cold. You need a safe way to stay warm. For us, we are blessed to have a heater that more than does the trick. Be realistic about where your van can safely go if the conditions might be bad. You have to be willing to spend more time inside the van. I know some people don’t like that, but we find it cozy. You have to bring your winter skin so you can get out and about. If you are used to running water and showers, you need work arounds (for us, that is water jugs, a collapsible kettle, and showers at the gym).
But hey, these are small things. You still get 100% of the joy of getting out into nature, exploring towns, and so on. You also get to do it with no crowds.
Above all that, there is something special about being out in the cold. Woods and town alike offer a new perspective. The forest is wide open, allowing you to peer into its secrets. The cardinals flit about, providing welcome splashes of color. The pines lend their fragrance. The lights of the town sparkle, beckoning you inside that little café to warm up with some hot tea. Yes, winter has its own special joy for those who would venture out.
No, I’m not a snow bunny, and I have much to learn, much room to grow. But I have learned already that I’m missing out if I leave the van parked in the driveway and hibernate until the thaw.
Joy in the Winter
How about you? How might you get more joy out of winter? Where is there room for you to grow?
For my cold and winter lovers, let us know in the comments what jazzes you? Why do you love the season? How can we all better appreciate winter?
If you are a van lifer, RVer, or camper or hiker, or voyager (or live in Minnesota or Norway), what cold weather tips and treasures do you have for the rest of us?
A Short Meditation
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is joy in knowing spring is coming, but even more in not putting life on hold until it arrives. God has fixed our seasons that we are who are limited might turn to him who is limitless, learn to march to his cadence rather than our own, and find the joy he has for us even when it’s cold and dark.
Un Petit Aperçu
Van Life en hiver
Je n’aime pas vraiment l’hiver. Mais mon avis est en train de changer grâce à van life. De plus en plus, ma femme et moi (et notre chien), nous partons en voyage en camping-car même in hiver. Bien sûr, il faut faire quelques changements pour s’adapter au froid. Mais franchement, c’est formidable! On voit tout d’une perspective différente. La forêt est tout à fait ouverte. Les lumières de la ville nous invitent à entrer dans un petit café pour nous réchauffer avec une tasse de thé.
Et toi? Comment pourrais-tu profiter davantage de l’hiver? Quels conseils as-tu pour nous en ce qui concerne cette saison?
Μία Περίληψη
Van Life το χειμώνα
Δεν μου αρέσει πολύ ο χειμώνας. Αλλά η άποψή μου αλλάζει σιγά σιγά καθώς κάνω κάμπινγκ και ταξιδεύω όταν κάνει κρύο. Βεβαίως πρέπει να κάνουμε κάποιες αλλαγές. Μαθαίνω όμως πως γενικά είναι υπέροχο! Τόσο η φύση όσο και οι πόλεις μας προσφέρουν μια νέα προοπτική. Το δάσος είναι εντελώς ανοιχτό – μας δείχνει τα μυστικά του. Τα φώτα της πόλης μας προσκαλούν μέσα σ’έναν καφέ για ένα καφεδάκι. Τόσο ωραία είναι!
Τι λες εσύ; Πώς μπορείς να νιώθεις περισσότερη ευχαρίστηση το χειμώνα; Ποιες συμβουλές για το κρύο έχεις για εμάς;
Jeff- I wholeheartedly agree with you on the lowered tolerance towards cold as we age. Oddly, it’s especially true in the outdoors. A good van sure helps though. I love what you’ve done to the van. 👍
As you know I’ve been coaching my ultramarathon group for the last decade from December to March. Sometimes it’s very cold but I love the camaraderie of the group and running through the trails watching the nature wake up from Winter. Amazing time!