Couple Leaves Their “Normal” Lives Behind To Live Out Their Dream And Become Full-Time Travelers
Meet Isabelle and Antoine – a French-Canadian couple who ditched their ordinary 9-5 existence in exchange for adventure-filled lives. As their goal was to travel more, they re-did an average-looking van into their mobile home. “At 36 years old, we left behind our engineering careers, sold our house (and everything in it), built ourselves a house-on-wheels, and embarked on an epic road trip throughout America! At the time of writing these lines, it’s our third year on the road and we don’t look back!” the couple told Bored Panda.
The couple is more than glad to share the process of making a tiny home out of a van, and you can see their step by step instructions here.
More info: Far Out Ride | Build Journal
This couple ditched their ordinary 9-5 lifestyles for a more adventurous one
Image credits: Far Out Ride
Isabelle and Antoine told Bored Panda that they backpacked “quite a lot” in their young adulthood. “Then, we did what “normal” young professionals do: get a house, cars, careers and the routine that comes with it. Life was good, actually, as we splurged on our hobbies and on short intense vacations,” they told us. “We reached our thirties and realized this pattern would repeat until we finally get to retire and THEN live our life to the fullest… if we’re still healthy that is.”
“We started dreaming of a lifestyle with fewer expenses, less work, and more time to enjoy ourselves as life goes on”
Image credits: Far Out Ride
“We started from scratch (empty cargo van) and built everything ourselves”
Image credits: Far Out Ride
“We started dreaming of a lifestyle with fewer expenses, less work, and more time to enjoy ourselves as life goes on; why report it later?” the two adventurers revealed to Bored Panda. “Fast forward a few years later, and here we are living in a van and riding our mountain bikes/snowboards pretty much every day. People often assume we’re just “lucky” or we had access to a ton of cash somehow… it’s really not the case! We’re just “normal” people who decided to get their sh*t together, plan and act. It was years of compromises and sacrifices, but now it’s payback time!”
“People often assume we’re just “lucky” or we had access to a ton of cash somehow… it’s really not the case!”
Image credits: Far Out Ride
“We’re just “normal” people who decided to get their sh*t together, plan and act”
Image credits: Far Out Ride
To build the tiny house of their dreams, the duo started everything from scratch with an empty cargo van. “We did the whole van conversion by ourselves. Because of our engineering background, the design phase went relatively smoothly, but we had to learn how to build stuff with our own hands… It’s quite intimidating at first, but with patience and motivation to learn everyone can do it!” the couple told Bored Panda.
“The van is our full-time home so we wanted all the amenities to live comfortably”
Image credits: Far Out Ride
“We estimate [the conversion] took close to 1,000 hours”
Image credits: Far Out Ride
When asked about how much time was put into building the cozy house-on-the-wheels, Antoine said: “It’s hard to tell exactly, but we estimate it took close to 1,000 hours. Keep in mind we never built anything before, so the learning curve was steep. Overall, because we had our full-time jobs and could only work on the van in the evenings and the weekends, the full conversion process happened in about a year.”
“The cost varies greatly with the features and quality of the components used to convert the van”
Image credits: Far Out Ride
“The van is our full-time home so we wanted all the amenities to live comfortably”
Image credits: Far Out Ride
When Isabelle and Antoine were building their mobile home, they wanted it to have all the necessary amenities as this would be, as they call it, a full-time home for a life on the road. They installed a fridge, oven, toilet, heater, etc. “The cost varies greatly with the features and quality of the components used to convert the van. Some people do it for less than $1000, others will spend as much as $30,000 for a full conversion.”
“In total, it cost us a bit less than $20,000 for the conversion (plus the cost of the van)”
Image credits: Far Out Ride
“We went for high-quality components for reliability and safety”
Image credits: Far Out Ride
“In our case, the van is our full-time home so we wanted all the amenities to live comfortably (fridge, stove/oven, composting toilet, heater, solar, etc.) and we went for high-quality components for reliability and safety. In total, it cost us a bit less than $20,000 for the conversion (plus the cost of the van),” Isabelle and Antoine told Bored Panda.
“The van has been our full-time home since 2017”
Image credits: Far Out Ride
“For us, living in a van is not a way to live a frugal lifestyle”
Image credits: Far Out Ride
“For us, van life is not a way to live a frugal lifestyle. Our goal is to actually do more and making it count. In the end, living in a van is quite similar to living in a house: we eat well, have activities, splurge on local craft beer, maintain and buy sports equipment, etc. It costs us about $1,200 USD per person per month. Not bad for living our dream!”
“Our goal is to actually do more and making it count”
Image credits: Far Out Ride
“Having the freedom to choose our backyard is what we love the most”
Image credits: Far Out Ride
The couple says that they are “obsessed” with mountain biking and backcountry skiing, therefore such lifestyle change certainly suits them better than the regular 9-5. “The van has been our full-time home since 2017. We’re obsessed with mountain biking and backcountry skiing, so having the freedom to choose our backyard is what we love the most; there’s nothing like waking up at the trailhead! Because of that, we’re still in love with van life and we don’t see ourselves settling down anytime soon,” Isabelle and Antoine revealed to Bored Panda.
“We don’t see ourselves settling down anytime soon”
Image credits: Far Out Ride
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According to the article, it costs US$1200 per person per month to live in the van. US$2400/month for them both. Our expenses for living in a 3 bedroom house are far less. It looks like fun, but costs far too much. Makes me wonder what they're spending so much money on.
I was also thinking it's a lot. 28k a year is not even what some people make as a salary ... At least where I live. I'm not saying it's bad. If they're ok with it, good for them but don't pretend it's a bargain.
Load More Replies...
Seems like a fun lifestyle but how do they fund it? It doesn't seem like a good lifestyle for the long term.
Sold their house. Maybe they were mortgage free or only had a small mortgage. Might have earned a fortune, been left money... I couldn't do it with my mortgage yoked around my neck that's for sure!
Load More Replies...
This is certainly a lovely lifestyle and people who have the means and resources to live like this are indeed lucky. However, I found it quite condescending and kind of a "slap in the face" when the the woman described herself and her husband as: "normal people who got their s**t together." First off, this type of lifestyle is not normal for many people and extremely difficult to obtain, especially for people in their early thirties. (Come on, I can barely afford rent for my tiny flat that is probably not much larger than their camper.) I know many people in their early twenties and thirties who are working earnestly and still struggling to make ends meet. Furthermore, not everyone is going to have a job that lends itself to a more nomadic life-style. This couple may have had to make sacrifices, but they could also have had additional help from family or inherited money as well- we don't know the full story of their financial background. This is a beautiful and fun dream for many people (heck, I would love this) and I am glad that the couple was able to obtain it. Still, it is not "normal" and not something everyone can obtain..
I'd imagine they are "influencers" and have brand sponsors. They are the typical young, fit, attractive couple that can pull of the whole #vanlife thing. Still, I wouldn't want to be living in that tiny space with my partner. We love each other but we also are somewhat introverted and need our space and alone time. I agree that it's obnoxious to peddle this kind of thing as what we should all aspire to, but if it works for them, more power. An aside, I didn't k ow that it costs so much to live "the free" lifestyle. The mortgage on my 2800 sq ft house in a mid size (500,000 pop) city is only about $1100/month!
1. You won't be smiling very much when you need to go back to work and can't find work because you have a big gap in your work history. There's plenty of people out there with no gap. 2. When it comes time to really retire let us know how fun it is if you have no money saved for retirement.
That's two reasons I can't NOT work for 5 years to raise children. Otherwise I might as well toss my education out the window, and it wasn't cheap to begin with.
Load More Replies...
I did something like this for only 3 months and its not as idealistic as people make out, but if they want to do it and its going well why the hate? If you really wanted to do it, you would. 'Easy when you have no responsibility' - yeah well who created those responsibilities, the life is yours and you don't owe anyone anything. To each their own, this is not for me, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be for anyone else. You comment negatively and you just sound like you're jealous and unhappy with your own life - deal with it.
This is BULL C**P! I am a professional magician. I have a job that is recreational activity. That does not give me or anyone else the right to brag about my so-called freedom-loving, individualistic life choices. Post like these are arrogant, self-aggrandizing nonsense. Borepanda should stop posting this kind of I-live-a-better-life-than-you garbage.
See... I didn't get any "I live a better life than you" vibe from this at all. I got more of a "God it would suck living in a little metal box!" vibe, but that's just me.
Load More Replies...
Well they left out one important item...a shower..so either they are paying for motel rooms too...or they are the smelliest couple in europe
You can shower at motorway gas stations and camping grounds. But yeah, it's inconvenient.
Load More Replies...
For 2400 a month most people would have to work roughly 30 to 40 hours a week for that so that wouldn't leave much time to drive around living your dream. If you had the luxury of being able to work on the road that would change things but most don't and LTE internet everyday would cost a fortune.
The only thing I could think of is that it's much easier to find a space to park for a van opposed to a full RV.
Load More Replies... 
There are actually a lot more people living this kind of lifestyle than you may realize. But these people either have a skill trade that allows them to be mobile or they have remote jobs that allows them to work from anywhere. My husband and I camp a lot and we've run into a few of said people. This is definitely a dream of ours but until we can find remote jobs, this will probably remain a dream. I don't believe that there's a need to bash them for choosing to deviate from the norm, no matter how it's articulated. I can understand the frustration of reading these kinds of articles but, for me, I've learned that this frustration is more about my own circumstances than about them.
I call BS. How are they making money? 1200 dollars/a person per month is a fortune where I live. And what will they do when they run out of money? Looks great, but it's super short-sighted for me.
....and when they are in the middle of no where, 1/4 tank of gas and have to get medical attention. then what?
Well, all those free spirits are back on the social list when retirement is around the corner and money is tight... social system will cover
I'm a little bit tired of all those articles on the Internet like "Someone leaves normal life/normal job to..." - does it mean that nowadays being responsable is oldfashoni? Boring? A lot of young people are not satisfied with their lifes despite of having good job or loving family just because everyone tells them that they have to "leave everything and fullfill their dreams". Unfortunately real life doesnt look like that. And if you dont have enough money from the beginning Im afraid that "leaving job in a supermarket to live in a tent and take photos of wild horses" is not the best idea. I have a friend who cant understand how I can be so stressed while he is travelling around the world all the time. "Life is beautifull and so short", "you have to relax", "make yours dreams come true! You can found money on a street!" - he told me. Yup. He forget to add that he doesnt have to earn money for living, paying bills and have rich parents that help him open his own buisness
"Tired Of Their 9-To-5 Lives" you guys need a recession to be cured...
According to the article, it costs US$1200 per person per month to live in the van. US$2400/month for them both. Our expenses for living in a 3 bedroom house are far less. It looks like fun, but costs far too much. Makes me wonder what they're spending so much money on.
I was also thinking it's a lot. 28k a year is not even what some people make as a salary ... At least where I live. I'm not saying it's bad. If they're ok with it, good for them but don't pretend it's a bargain.
Load More Replies... Seems like a fun lifestyle but how do they fund it? It doesn't seem like a good lifestyle for the long term.
Sold their house. Maybe they were mortgage free or only had a small mortgage. Might have earned a fortune, been left money... I couldn't do it with my mortgage yoked around my neck that's for sure!
Load More Replies... This is certainly a lovely lifestyle and people who have the means and resources to live like this are indeed lucky. However, I found it quite condescending and kind of a "slap in the face" when the the woman described herself and her husband as: "normal people who got their s**t together." First off, this type of lifestyle is not normal for many people and extremely difficult to obtain, especially for people in their early thirties. (Come on, I can barely afford rent for my tiny flat that is probably not much larger than their camper.) I know many people in their early twenties and thirties who are working earnestly and still struggling to make ends meet. Furthermore, not everyone is going to have a job that lends itself to a more nomadic life-style. This couple may have had to make sacrifices, but they could also have had additional help from family or inherited money as well- we don't know the full story of their financial background. This is a beautiful and fun dream for many people (heck, I would love this) and I am glad that the couple was able to obtain it. Still, it is not "normal" and not something everyone can obtain..
I'd imagine they are "influencers" and have brand sponsors. They are the typical young, fit, attractive couple that can pull of the whole #vanlife thing. Still, I wouldn't want to be living in that tiny space with my partner. We love each other but we also are somewhat introverted and need our space and alone time. I agree that it's obnoxious to peddle this kind of thing as what we should all aspire to, but if it works for them, more power. An aside, I didn't k ow that it costs so much to live "the free" lifestyle. The mortgage on my 2800 sq ft house in a mid size (500,000 pop) city is only about $1100/month!
1. You won't be smiling very much when you need to go back to work and can't find work because you have a big gap in your work history. There's plenty of people out there with no gap. 2. When it comes time to really retire let us know how fun it is if you have no money saved for retirement.
That's two reasons I can't NOT work for 5 years to raise children. Otherwise I might as well toss my education out the window, and it wasn't cheap to begin with.
Load More Replies... I did something like this for only 3 months and its not as idealistic as people make out, but if they want to do it and its going well why the hate? If you really wanted to do it, you would. 'Easy when you have no responsibility' - yeah well who created those responsibilities, the life is yours and you don't owe anyone anything. To each their own, this is not for me, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be for anyone else. You comment negatively and you just sound like you're jealous and unhappy with your own life - deal with it.
This is BULL C**P! I am a professional magician. I have a job that is recreational activity. That does not give me or anyone else the right to brag about my so-called freedom-loving, individualistic life choices. Post like these are arrogant, self-aggrandizing nonsense. Borepanda should stop posting this kind of I-live-a-better-life-than-you garbage.
See... I didn't get any "I live a better life than you" vibe from this at all. I got more of a "God it would suck living in a little metal box!" vibe, but that's just me.
Load More Replies... Well they left out one important item...a shower..so either they are paying for motel rooms too...or they are the smelliest couple in europe
You can shower at motorway gas stations and camping grounds. But yeah, it's inconvenient.
Load More Replies... For 2400 a month most people would have to work roughly 30 to 40 hours a week for that so that wouldn't leave much time to drive around living your dream. If you had the luxury of being able to work on the road that would change things but most don't and LTE internet everyday would cost a fortune.
The only thing I could think of is that it's much easier to find a space to park for a van opposed to a full RV.
Load More Replies... There are actually a lot more people living this kind of lifestyle than you may realize. But these people either have a skill trade that allows them to be mobile or they have remote jobs that allows them to work from anywhere. My husband and I camp a lot and we've run into a few of said people. This is definitely a dream of ours but until we can find remote jobs, this will probably remain a dream. I don't believe that there's a need to bash them for choosing to deviate from the norm, no matter how it's articulated. I can understand the frustration of reading these kinds of articles but, for me, I've learned that this frustration is more about my own circumstances than about them.
I call BS. How are they making money? 1200 dollars/a person per month is a fortune where I live. And what will they do when they run out of money? Looks great, but it's super short-sighted for me.
....and when they are in the middle of no where, 1/4 tank of gas and have to get medical attention. then what?
Well, all those free spirits are back on the social list when retirement is around the corner and money is tight... social system will cover
I'm a little bit tired of all those articles on the Internet like "Someone leaves normal life/normal job to..." - does it mean that nowadays being responsable is oldfashoni? Boring? A lot of young people are not satisfied with their lifes despite of having good job or loving family just because everyone tells them that they have to "leave everything and fullfill their dreams". Unfortunately real life doesnt look like that. And if you dont have enough money from the beginning Im afraid that "leaving job in a supermarket to live in a tent and take photos of wild horses" is not the best idea. I have a friend who cant understand how I can be so stressed while he is travelling around the world all the time. "Life is beautifull and so short", "you have to relax", "make yours dreams come true! You can found money on a street!" - he told me. Yup. He forget to add that he doesnt have to earn money for living, paying bills and have rich parents that help him open his own buisness
"Tired Of Their 9-To-5 Lives" you guys need a recession to be cured...
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