Van Life Profile: Gavin Elliot of Lakefield, Ontario

Quick bites

Age: 19
Occupation: reforestation / tree planting
Van type: ’93 VW Euro Van Westfalia
Miles: 370,000
Time spent in van: 3 months
Birthplace: Lakefield, Ontario
Relationship status: has a girlfriend
Time since last shower: 7 days; 3 in the past 12 weeks
Average monthly expenses: $350

I’m living in a van because …

Just to be able to climb as much as possible and to have an amazing life. Relax all the time; I’m always on vacation.

What surprised you most about van life?

I’d say the ease of it and how easy it is to lose track of time, never know the day of the week, and just always be climbing—always having the climbing shoes on.

Do you have any nuisances?

I don’t think I have any major nuisances except for my partner’s dry sense of humor. He’s my Irish buddy, Colin, who’s been traveling with me and sleeps on the bottom bunk.

He’s actually hilarious …

Do you have any tricks for organization?

Don’t let being overly organized bother you. It’s going to be messy no matter what.

Tell us about your wildest van party.

We had a pretty sweet pizza party last night! We made homemade pizzas out of the back of the van with pasta and random shit, and just got pretty drunk and had a good time. I think there were about a dozen people in and out of the van.