(Tori Dark and Kevin Nault are about to embark on a trip across Canada aboard their newly converted camper van. In doing so they are joining hundreds of other couples who have taken up what is referred to in the culture as “VanLife”. During their trip, the Orléans Star will publish a series of diary pieces from Tori allowing readers to follow the couple’s journey. This is the first installment in that series.)

It feels like not long ago my partner, Kevin and I decided to pack up our lives and move into a van to travel the country. We were living in hot Centretown without any air conditioning on the third floor of our building in a bachelor apartment.

 

Tori Dark and Kevin Nault plan to travel across North America in the converted Ford cargo van. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO

 

Waking up by the ocean and travelling from city to city sounded pretty great compared to hanging out in our living room all day during the various lockdowns. Little did we know how long the renovations would take and how hard it would be to leave our friends and family behind.

Having lived in Ottawa my entire life, going to Carleton University and settling down within 20 km from where I grew up, I never truly considered the option of leaving. My family and friends were in Ottawa, I had a great job with the government, and I was happy following the same footprint as those around me. However, something was missing.

Kevin had discovered VanLife online and pitched me the idea of a nomadic lifestyle. I thought it was a great idea in theory, but logistically it didn’t make sense. How would we make money? Where would we live in the winter? How long would we be gone? All the same questions our families brought up when we bought our van/home-to-be.

In March 2021, we began our journey by moving out of our tiny bachelor apartment to live with family to save money. We began renovating our van in January 2022 in my parents’ driveway in Navan and now, in spring 2023, we are gearing up for our departure.

Having to sell, donate or give away our material items was surprisingly freeing and I’m looking forward to living a minimalist lifestyle. Leaving the place we’ve called home for 29 years is another story.

As much as I am excited to travel, meet new people and see our beautiful country, I am equally nervous to miss Sunday night family dinners and game nights with our friends. I keep reminding myself that the best experiences in life come with some discomfort.

With the new age of social media, FaceTime and group messaging, I we be able to feel the comfort of home while spreading my wings from St John’s, Newfoundland to Golden, B.C. and all points in between.

I hope you will follow us through the ups and downs – mostly ups I hope – of what should be an amazing journey.

(You can follow Tori and Kevin at www.instagram.com/vanxiety_life/. Tori and Kevin are both former students at Cairine Wilson Secondary School, Class of 2012.)