So it’s been a little over a week since properly moving into the van. We’ve stayed in 6 different parkups across Chester and North Wales and the weather has been absolutely beautiful. The clouds have parted both physically in the sky and mentally in my mind! I feel so free and like I can see things so clearly. My heart is singing and I am so damn proud of both myself and George for trusting our gut and having enough self worth to follow our dreams.

The first couple of days I was having a weird chat with myself about what people would think now we’re ‘vanlife full timers’. And then I remembered, I’m still me and the first thing I say when I meet someone new doesn’t have to be “Hi, I’m Beth and I live in my van!”. It’s not my new identity, I’m Beth and I am me. I don’t have to have any labels or be put into a category.

So anyway, the second weekend after moving into our home on wheels, I had three shifts volunteering at UTS (Ultra Trail Snowdonia) and boy did we feel at home. We were based at aid station 11 which is nestled in the mountains, right next to Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa. And it’s probably the first time I’ve met a large group of people and not once did someone ask, “So, what do you do?”. It’s so refreshing not to be defined by your career. Instead, you’re asked what led you to volunteer, what’s your favourite type of race, what sort of van do you have?! So we felt right at home.

I’m so excited to sign up to more things like this. Meet more of my tribe! Continue pushing myself out of my comfort zone! I’ve already found things that used to bother me or things that I’d worry about don’t even touch the surface anymore. Because I’m so much more present living in the van. Not constantly thinking about tomorrow, truly living for today.