Last fall I started doing a monthly recap to keep track of what we’ve been up to at a high level here on our blog (alongside our regular sharing on Instagram). Here’s our January overview!
2023 is off to a grand ol’ start that still doesn’t quite feel real…
TLDR: Top January highlights
- We officially hit the road for full-time van life!!!
- We spent a weekend with my family on the gulf side of Florida.
- I read only one directly dog-related book. (Can you tell we’ve been busy with other things?)
Van life: WE HIT THE ROAD!!
On Thursday, January 26th, we backed out of our driveway for the last time. It’s been a full week now and we are loving life in Hermes — and also learning a lot along the way!
We spent the first two nights backcountry boondocking in a quiet area of the Ocala National Forest. Then we ventured back to civilization to pick up our final Starlink parts (!!) and install that on our roof. That night we returned to the forest, and the next day we made our way to Gainesville and had our first downtown parking experience overnight. Scout’s rolled with all the punches so far in a way that makes me thrilled.
Our Van Prep Instagram story highlight has more day-to-day details of our process to get on the road, as do our recent feed posts.
What’s new with Scout specifically this past month
Hung out around my baby niece on a long weekend retreat
In the middle of the month we met up with my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and four-month-old niece and stayed together in a rented house in the Crystal River area. It was Scout’s second time meeting little Olive!
She was a little unsettled by high-pitched cries and quick feet kicking movements — but all in all the trip was a roaring success. Our cattle dog joined us at restaurants, out in the kayaks, and during quiet family time.
You can read more about how we safely manage Scout and my baby niece in this article.
All sorts of exposure to the world living on the road
So far one of the things I’m loving best about van life is that Scout is effectively always with us. While her fulfillment took a bit of a hit in the chaos of picking the van up and finalizing the last details, she’s gotten so much activity and exposure since we hit the road:
- Waiting in parking lots and then relaxing with the doors open while we humans load things in and organize
- Spending quiet time running around deserted forest roads
- Sleeping in a downtown parking lot and walking the streets
- Playing in unfamiliar parks and other public environments
- Joining us in several stores, breweries, and coffee shops
- People and dog watching from our campsite
- And more
Our van’s temperature-control system enables us to easily leave Scout in the van if a spot isn’t dog friendly (or if we think she’d be overwhelmed). I’m thrilled with the balance we’ve been striking — I hope this lifestyle benefits Scout’s confidence and trust in us more than ever.
Less sleep in the van than normal but adjusting well
One thing we’re keeping closer tabs on moving forward is Scout’s rest. She doesn’t sleep as well in the moving van as she used to in the back seat of our sedan (even though her blanket-filled crate is tightly secured atop a thick rubber mat, the floor is a bumpier spot to ride). It can also take her a while to relax in new places. Those things mean that she hasn’t been napping as much as she did when we lived in our apartments or house.
While it doesn’t seem like a big deal — and we’re all quickly getting used to life in Hermes — Sean and I are planning more calm stops where we can all hang out in the van together and encourage Scout to get the rest she needs.
January reading
(I have a running list of books I’ve read as a dog owner in this article, if you want the full spectrum!)
- How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger. I was surprised by how thoroughly I enjoyed this book, despite remaining somewhat skeptical of the extremes to which some of its concepts are taken by the general public. I’m in the process of compiling my thoughts into a longer article and will publish that soon!
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[…] Last month I read How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger. Hunger is a speech pathologist credited with starting the “talking dog button” movement you’ve probably seen on social media — the book follows her personal experience implementing an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device with her puppy from start to finish. […]
[…] In case you missed it… We live in a van now!! […]