Ways we've gone increasingly feral

Cliché: We moved into a van... and Sean started making his own granola.

Sean and I keep joking, and half-joking, and having entirely serious conversations about the ways we’ve changed since becoming full-time nomads. Like pursuers of any lifestyle, no two van dwellers are exactly the same—we make different choices, have different values, and enjoy different experiences!—but many of these shifts feel pretty damn cliché.

As my best friend said this past fall: “You are definitely in your hippie era, Haley.”

First let’s talk semantics (as always)

I’m not sure what adjective is right for the title of these reflections. I like feral because of my dog-world associations—a feral animal is one who’s “gone wild” after previously being captive or domesticated—but it does seem a tad extreme given that we’re still very much part of society. (I also worry feral has a sort of wild and free vibe that makes me think of van lifers who never leash, clean up after, or otherwise rein in their pets. Please do not associate me with that. I beg you.)

I considered crunchy, but that called to mind images of tradwifes and anti-vaxxers. Granola was another option I still rather like. So was nontraditional, which I’d say fits us pretty well, but then I overthink what tradition really means. Maybe nature loving? Environmentally conscious? Those are true too, but not the whole picture.

Anyway. I stuck with feral. I hope you get the gist of what I mean!

Signs of our growing ferality

• As the subtitle notes: Sean makes his own granola. He is kind of obsessed with it—I’m not sure you’d believe how many massive containers of oats he can go through in a relatively short period of time.

• We spend the bulk of our days outside (or at minimum with fresh air coming through the van’s open doors).

• As a result, we’ve grown comfortable in a wider range of climates. Sometimes we wake up on a cold morning with the van’s indoor temperature in the low 50s… and just say cool! We’re so cozy with our blankets and wool socks and Scout snuggles! Other times Sean casually dons a sweatshirt when it’s 80.

• Speaking of Scout: She will lounge outside in almost any weather now, including actual rain. (When I first adopted her, she hated setting a single foot in a puddle.)

• We pretty much only use soap on our hands. (We do wash our hands multiple times a day, I promise!) No face wash or shampoo.

• We also go longer than ever between freshwater rinses, especially when on public land or near the beach.

• Last month, before meeting a friend for dinner, I took a “lotion shower” (liberally applying lotion with lavender essential oil) and felt perfectly presentable afterward… despite the fact that I hadn’t “cleaned” myself besides ocean swims in over a week.

• Scout hasn’t had a proper full bath since December 2022.

• Dirt has never bothered me less. I’m still picky about food safety and human-made messes, but I don’t mind the sort of grime that actually comes from nature.

• My last professional haircut was in December 2023. (I did allow my sister—who is under no circumstances a hair stylist—to trim it last fall using a YouTube video as her guide.)

• I have a crocheted shirt. It is possibly my favorite.

• We’re slowly becoming almost as obsessed with plants as I’ve long been with animals. (In part we have Zoë Schlanger’s The Light Eaters to thank for this.)

• We can spend almost an hour on a half-mile nature trail, pointing out interesting leaves and spiders and bird calls.

• We’ve started stargazing in earnest, using binoculars and star maps to find not just constellations but also tiny specks of light we’d never paid attention before.

• We watch every sunrise and sunset we can (and are so fortunate this lifestyle provides ample viewing opportunities).

• After dark, we try to use as little artificial light as possible. It’s easier in a teeny space.

• We’re more materially minimalist than ever. If an object doesn’t serve multiple purposes or drastically improve our quality of life? No room for it!

• I’ve never taken greater joy in simple “maintenance tasks” like cooking, cleaning, stretching, etc.

• We eat less meat and opt for dairy alternatives when possible. Hannah Ritchie’s Not The End of The World helped prioritize decisions like this. (Our favorite meat alternative is Meati, especially the chicken cutlets.)

• We share everything—like, to a weird degree. I’ve gotten so used to it I didn’t even realize others find it strange until Sean’s dad called him out for getting “us” a glass of orange juice instead of pouring me my own cup on a recent visit. Serving dinner in one bowl with one utensil makes dishwashing simpler! Passing it between bites is also a sort of intimacy we both love.

• We conserve water like we’re always in a drought (with the exception of actually drinking it—I easily down several liters a day). Our 30 gallon fresh tank lasts more than a week on average.

• I have a burgeoning collection of interesting rocks, pebbles, and shells.

• While only in areas where it’s allowed, Scout does spend a huge amount of time off leash.

• Sean plays the guitar more regularly. He also bought a harmonica. This morning we sang “Blowing in the Wind” by Bob Dylan together… which almost felt like a bit much. 😂

• My favorite special treat is strong kombucha. (We usually only buy it on sale, so it’s retained “special treat” status!)

• My fashion sense, which was never particularly developed to begin with, has completely collapsed. I wear whatever makes me feel comfortable and confident! Sometimes this means two inarguably clashing patterns at the same time. 🤷🏼‍♀️