I care about first-time van conversions because there are so many things that many people do not know before they decide to convert a van. There are so many little steps to consider beyond just the build of your van. As a first-time van converter, you need to ask yourself a lot of hard questions. The type of van converting that I will be talking about in this blog is when you do 99% of the work entirely by yourself (without hiring other people).
“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard” -John F. Kennedy
(Kennedy, 1962)
When you decide to do all of the work on your van conversion by yourself (unless you are truly physically unable or cannot afford the equipment needed to do something), you do it because it is hard. You do it to learn new skills and to push yourself beyond the limits of what you think you can do. Throughout my process so far, I have learned how to use three different kinds of saws, stain wood, and build different furniture from the raw materials. If you want to experience van life and have 50,000 dollars to spend on paying someone else to do the work for you, this website is not for you. This is the place where people come because they want to get their hands dirty.
I started my van conversion after a late-night conversation with someone who I thought shared a dream with me. When he set me free, I had to reassess my life. Now every day when I wake up, I choose self-respect. Because I still care about him, all I will say is that I forgive him for the ways that he hurt me deeply. This van conversion has always been a dream of mine. I was so lucky that I had someone to share it with. It is now a journey that I get to finish alone.
I choose to live every day hopefully and with intention. I work on this van as an extension of working on myself. In my time alone, I have learned that healing is uncomfortable and painful. In spite of the growing pains, I have been able to learn so much about myself. I am more disciplined than ever. Previously broken relationships in my life are healthier. I am able to take on every day with compassion and peace. This van is one more part of my growth process and I will see it to completion. One day I am going to wake up in the middle of a lush green forest, surrounded by only trees for miles.
The goal of this blog is to ease the headache just a little bit. This blog is for every step of your conversion process. This is a good place to start if you are not sure if you want to convert a van by yourself. If you are in your conversion process and you are not sure what is the best type of insulation to buy or if you need soundproofing, this blog is for you. This blog is for everyone in every stage of their conversion process.
One last thought to remember: you can do it. Let go of all your fear and do it because it brings you joy. Don’t forget to ask for help if you need it. Everyone needs extra support from time to time.
Thank you for choosing to start here.
References:
Kennedy, J. F. (1962, September 12). John F. Kennedy address at rice University. Rice University. https://www.rice.edu/kennedy