How did this idea even become a dream? I left home (West Palm Beach, Florida) on January 3rd, 2019 with one desire... to spend a year on the road. I didn't have a plan, a clue or a vision for what I'm doing, where I'd go and what I'll encounter. I just had a FEELING that this journey would lead me to something greater.

I got in my car and drove to San Diego... because it FELT right, no other logic. The universe willed it that I end up renting an airbnb in the Ocean Beach neighborhood, adjacent to the famous Sunset Cliffs. Every evening for three whole months, I would take Milo on a walk along the edges of the rugged cliffs overlooking the Pacific, as the sun kissed the horizon before it disappeared into the burst of lavender hues.

I saw them there, with their flannel shirts, hair twisted into messy buns, barefoot and always smelling of incense and pot, gently pulling on the strings of their guitars as they stared off into the sunset from the roofs of their quirky wheeled dwellings... the van-lifers!

What a life! It unapologetically roared "FREEDOM" in a glorious thunder. There was nothing holding them in place. All chains of social norms have been cut and lifted. They were the free folk; the dreamers but also the doers; the nomads and vagabonds; the heart and soul seekers, instead of logic-prisoners. I was in awe. I couldn't believe living like this was possible. The seed was planted...

Fast-forward to today (just 10 months later), and some of my closest friends and humans I admire are van-lifers, which by the way goes beyond just vans - there are buses, campulances, vintage vans, brand-spanking-new vans, campers, trailers, fire trucks, rooftop tents, DYI masterpieces, tiny homes, and futuristic vehicles. Your imagination is the only limit!

Van lifers are the most beautiful kind of people. Tough as hell, unyielding in the pursuit of their dreams, fearless at their core and unwilling to accept defeat no matter what life throws at them. They are figuring it out one day at a time and LIVING their best lives. I have no words to describe how grateful I am for all the inspiration and support that these folks have extended to me and many like me. No other word to describe this community other than FAMILY!

Over the last 8 days, I had the privilege to experience van life hands-on by making joint travel plans with Jarrod Tocci of GHOST Van. Jarrod kindly welcomed Milo and me into his lovely home on wheels and blew us away during our adventures to Banff, Canada and Glacier National Park in Montana.

There is simply nothing basic about GHOST van - it's the top of the line, year-round adventure rig. Early Canadian winter temps of 20F were no match for this beast, which comes equipped with the latest innovations in van building. Check this out:

• 2019 Mercedes Sprinter 144" wheelbase
• Radiant floor heating
• Indirect lighting (floating ceiling)
• Power system (400amh lithium/500w walkable panel/3200w inverter)
• Murphy bed (just shy of full size)
• Recirculating Shower
• On-demand hot water
• 9 feet of countertop space
• 22-gallon fresh water tank
• ZERO propane used

If I needed any more convincing about going forward with my own van build, this was the cherry on the cake. Luckily for me and YOU, Jarrod runs a prominent YouTube channel which documents his van builds (he's done two) in thorough details and allows others to learn the tools of the trade, watch incredible van tours, and be connected to key industry resources in the van life community. In other words, Jarrod is THE man!

No surprise over 50K subscribers follow his channel. Now you can too: https://www.youtube.com/jarrodtocci

If you are looking to get inspired, consider following some of these folks - who are REAL humans living the REAL van life, not the exaggerated insta-perfect version that floods you search results: