Caroline Winslow recently graduated with a degree in environmental policy. But while her fellow students enjoyed the comforts of apartment life, she chose to live out of her van during her final year of college. We talked to Caroline about how her school life and vanlife blended together, and what she’s up to post-graduation. Follow along on her journeys at @repoweredram.
Where are you based?
Caroline: “I’m in Colorado now, but I was at school in Maine studying environmental policy.”
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A post shared by caroline winslow (@repoweredram) on May 28, 2018 at 5:20pm PDT
Year, make, and model of your van?
C: “I had a 2017 Ram ProMaster, high roof, with the shorter wheelbase. But I recently sold it and now have a 2000 [Volkswagen] Eurovan.”
What made you make the switch?
C: “Living in Maine, I needed the fully insulated vehicle. I got a job out here and moved in with my boyfriend, so I’m continuing van life on the weekends but didn’t need the same things. I did a lot of research into one I could still live in on the road, but that was also a smaller, easier commuter vehicle.”
What did you do to renovate your previous van?
C: “Pretty much everything. I purchased it new, so it was a complete shell. I cut a massive hole in sheet metal and added a new window on one side; insulated it with natural sheeps’ wool insulation; installed walls, cabinetry, plumbing, electrical, and solar wiring. My goal was to live off-grid and try to use all repurposed, reclaimed, and non-toxic materials, so I spent a lot of time the previous January doing research.”
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A post shared by caroline winslow (@repoweredram) on May 14, 2018 at 3:30pm PDT
Why did you decide to buy a van?
“It started after my freshman year of college. My boyfriend and I wanted to travel around the U.S. Neither of our vehicles fit our gear and bikes, so we looked on Craigslist and found an old, awesome van.
We did a rough build so we didn’t have to stay in hotels and spent that summer traveling in Utah, through California, through Oregon and Washington and back down. That summer, I caught the bug. I loved the freedom of being able to take advantage of everything around us.
One day, I just had this ‘aha’ moment. Maybe I could combine that with a goal of living off-grid? I decided to do it for my senior year. It was kind of a project to see if I could live full-time in the van and also minimize my footprint and align my studies and personal beliefs with how I was living day-to-day.”
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A post shared by caroline winslow (@repoweredram) on Apr 13, 2018 at 2:06pm PDT
Do you feel like you accomplished that?
C: “Yeah, I do! There’s so much out of your control while you’re in school. A big goal of mine was to realize as an individual what I needed to survive. Especially being in charge of sourcing my own water, disposing of it, and all that made me aware of what I need and ways to cut back and be more responsible.”
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A post shared by caroline winslow (@repoweredram) on Mar 19, 2018 at 6:38pm PDT
Was it hard to be a full-time student living vanlife?
C: “It was surprisingly easier than I was expecting. The thing I was most worried about was the winter and temperatures. I was mentally preparing to be suffering in the cold at night. With the insulation I had and super efficient heater tucked into the fuel line, I stayed super comfortable. I was also able to park at some friends’ house and pay for some utilities.
Changing my lifestyle didn’t feel that drastic. The only things that were different were constantly being aware of my battery bank, how charged it was, and finding places to dump water—the little tasks that you don’t have to worry about when you’re in an apartment. “
Was it expensive living that lifestyle as a full-time student?
C: “There’s such a range of costs. Historically, people have lived in vans out of necessity. For anyone that has to do it out of necessity, you can really buy a used vehicle and do a simple build. If you have financial means, the span is so large. It’s an exciting thing that allows people the freedom of movement and a lot of financial freedom.”
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A post shared by caroline winslow (@repoweredram) on Feb 19, 2018 at 7:34pm PST
What did your day-to-day look like when you were in school?
C: “It was pretty standard. I would wake up depending on my schedule at 8 or 9, go to class, then have lunch at school or back at the van. In the afternoon, I would work in the van or go to the library and then at night, go back and cook dinner and do homework in the van.”
What has been the biggest challenge for you living on the road?
C: “Logistics. It’s the most challenging component, but something I still enjoy. Traveling on the weekends, there was a lot of nights driving around late at night and realizing the places I wanted to park didn’t allow overnight parking.”
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A post shared by caroline winslow (@repoweredram) on Dec 30, 2017 at 3:56pm PST
What’s your favorite place you’ve been to?
C: “I would say probably back in my first summer of vanlife. We were driving at night up Highway 1 on the West Coast, and it was super foggy at night. We knew there were pull-offs, so we pulled off in a spot socked in clouds and had no idea where we were. We woke up to noise, and found ourselves on one of the most picturesque corners with two tour buses pulled over next to us. It was a lucky pull-off with this insane view over the water with cliffs dropping down.”
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A post shared by caroline winslow (@repoweredram) on Feb 7, 2018 at 1:04pm PST
For someone who’s still in school and hoping to travel full-time, do you have any recommendations?
C: “People think that living in a van is a very individual experience. You are relying on yourself. I realized that it’s kind of the complete opposite. Whether you’re on the road and relying on locals you meet, or, especially at school, relying on friends and classmates was crucial. Friends allowed me to utilize their shower and laundry. Professors were really supportive of it, too. Take advantage of the support system even though you’re going to live in a van solo.
I was also doubting myself from the beginning. ‘Is this something I can do in school, as a female?’ Society tells us ‘no’ to a lot of those questions. Pushing the status quo and saying ‘You can do it if you’re still in school,’ or regardless of gender or age, is really cool.”
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A post shared by caroline winslow (@repoweredram) on Aug 26, 2018 at 6:55pm PDT
Rapid Fire Q&A
Texting or talking?
“Talking”
Favorite holiday?
“Christmas”
Dawn or dusk?
“Dawn”
Last Halloween costume?
“I was a 70s flower child with an afro wig.”
Ketchup or mustard?
“Ketchup”
