VAN LIFE
We live our dream life in a van and do everything and anything we want for the same price of renting a boring home
Watch the video to see the couple's new way of life
A COUPLE have quit their boring corporate life in England to explore Europe in a van - and they say it's even cheaper than renting a house.
Karen and Myles Davies, first began their 'gap-year' back in 2016, but loved the lifestyle so much they are still going strong living in their van almost a decade later.
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Karen, 56, and Myles, 57, - aka The Motoroamers - have now visited 27 countries in their vehicle 'Scoobie' spending around £1,500 to £2K a month on travel, food, going out.
Their previous home rental cost them £1,350 alone and the cost difference has meant they have now made their van their forever home.
And the cost-saving benefits aren't the only pros that come with living in a van.
The couple get to pick their neighbours instead of being stuck with them.
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Despite replacing the engine twice, they have covered 27 countries from Norway to Portugal, Romania, the Sahara desert of Morocco and 'most places in between'.
The pair were working seven days a week to manage their businesses leaving them ill and exhausted when they decided to pack it all in.
Karen, who works as a yoga coach, travel writer and author of leadership and personal development ebooks, said: "Now into our ninth year, we are still going and living life to the full.
"Travel has given us the greatest and most rich classroom we’ve ever
experienced.
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"We are more rounded people, have broader perspectives and clearer values.
"We are loving the freedom and choice that we have created in our lives - and now we want to inspire others to do the same."
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The adventurous couple met in March 1988 at an insurance company in Cheltenham and swiftly got married on 7 October 1989.
After meeting in Gloucestershire, Myles and Karen moved to the Isle of Man in 1995, but recall how balancing three business and working non-stop seven days a week 'nearly broke them', leaving them exhausted and ill.
Karen explains how, after retreating to the north of the island, they decided to move back to the Somerset countryside, in the UK - where they loved their friends and family but still felt unfilled.
Having always been inspired by adventure and exploration, the couple packed in their corporate roles to begin their slow travel journey through Europe in March 2016 but decided to stay living on the road.
The Rise Of Van Life
The rise of van life began during the pandemic in 2020. With no one able to leave the country, staycations became popular for many say camping blog .
On top of that, the rising cost of renting a house has put many off doing so, especially when wages have failed to keep up with the cost of living crisis.
Although it has gained popularity again, many people opted for van life in the 60s and 70s.
Karen said: ";We have developed an appetite for seeing more of this incredible planet that we are privileged to call home.
"From off-the-beaten track destinations, where you find no tourists, to UNESCO sights that embody history, architecture and culture.
"And how, and when we see all this, it is firmly in our hands.
"We can choose the sunrise that we want to wake up to, the neighbours we share it with, and where we wish our day to close.
"We feel incredibly privileged."
Their motorhome, Scoobie, is equipped with a fixed island bed, bathroom, separate shower, wardrobes, a kitchen, full length fridge, freezer and lounge.
The beauty of this lifestyle is that it is significantly cheaper than living in a house
Karen Davies
The couple say they 'worked hard' on finding the right van - but their travels have not been without difficulties.
Karen explained: "Having owned a motorhome some 20 years ago and having toured New Zealand for six weeks in one too, we had a pretty good idea about the type of layout we wanted.”
"And thanks to our research, we have never needed to swap him out.
"But he has caused us some huge problems over the years!
"Two tyre blow outs, a new engine, countless punctures and plenty of costly wear and tear replacements."
The pair say they take the financial costs into account with the mindset that Scoobie is their home 24/7.
Myles said: "After all, cars and houses all have running costs. And a motorhome is no different.
"Of course without him being fit and well, our future travels would come under duress.
"So it is as much an investment in our lifestyle as it is the van."
Myles, who works in investment and rental portfolio, creates the foundation of their day-to-day income, and Karen works on her coaching practice - whilst running their website and blog 'Motoroaming'.
Karen said: "The beauty of this lifestyle is that it is significantly cheaper than living in a house."
The couple's expenses, which include their day-to-day spending and annual fixed costs, average between £1,500-2,000 per month, whilst their monthly rental alone in Somerset cost them £1,350pm.
They discuss how Brexit has created a new challenge for their full-time lifestyles: as they now plan their time around the Schengen Zone, which only enables people to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in every 180 days.
Though Karen says that Brexit also presents them with a new opportunity to "see travel with a broader view."
Karen explained: "We no longer need to look just through a European lens. Now we can take off the travel blinkers and see our wanderlust through new eyes."
It took some time to work through my fears of being ‘house-less, although I have never looked back
Karen Davies
Occasionally, Myles and Karen park their motorhome up in secure storage and take themselves around the world - from Singapore, Indonesia, Iceland and hopes for Canada next year.
Karen added: "People often ask how we find life on the road as nomads, ‘No house, no roots and infinite possibilities, how do you cope?’, they ask us.
"I have found a new confidence and self-assuredness in my philosophy of life and about myself.
"For the first time in our lives, we are living and working to our full potential. Should we have done it earlier?
''No I don’t think so. Everything comes into our life at the right time.
"It took some time to work through my fears of being ‘house-less, although I have never looked back.
"We choose to live off-grid as much as we can, and the ability to be free of life’s chains is liberating.
“Freedom, happiness and choice are at the core of their lives. Now a caveat!
"This life is not for everyone.
"It has its challenges, like every aspect of our day to day living - although if you like your partner, that’s a good start.
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"If you can compromise, communicate, laugh and problem solve, then this could be a way of life for you too.
"Travel as far as you can, for as long as you can, whenever you can; just travel".
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