PRVCA Explore Magazine PRVCA Explore PA 2020 | Page 25

RVers Living
Their Best Life
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Jessica a ys.
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Photo co , @followthefoss
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RVers living and traveling the country
in their vans include Lisa Jacobs, left,
@vacayvans; top photo, Jessica and
Tyler Fossey, @followthefosseys; and
Nikki Love, @niikkylove
© Nikky L
ove @niik
ky
love
Jake and Gianna Bachowski had been living the typical American
life. He worked as a chef while she worked in real estate and the
couple had recently become parents to a daughter, Luna. The
Bachowskis owned a four-bedroom home in Sarasota, Fla. and,
although they had accumulated the usual material possessions,
felt like they were lacking in the experiences they both were
seeking. Once the punchline in a Saturday Night Live skit, van living has
been steadily growing in popularity with travelers from all
demographics, as the vehicle allows drivers to seek out both big
cities and backwoods destinations along their journey. Many of
these nomads document their odyssey on social media – in-
cluding the Bachowskis, whose “Ourvanquest” Instagram page
currently has over 20,000 followers.
While surfing the internet, Gianna stumbled upon van life, a
growing subculture of people who have taken up living in converted
camping vehicles while working from the road. The more they
researched, the more appealing the lifestyle became. Lisa Jacobs was also looking for more than just a 9-to-5 existence
when she too stumbled onto van living while online.
“We just decided to go for it. It was serendipitous,” said Jake.
Within a few months they’d bought a van, put the house up for
sale and liquidated most of their possessions. Since July of 2018,
the Bachowskis have been calling the cargo van they custom
built their home – choosing the view they want to see when they
wake up each night.
“Just getting off of the beaten path and seeing real America, it’s
really cool to see this part of America that you only may have
read about in books,” said Jake.
www.prvca.org
Jacobs was doing legal work and flipping houses shortly after
graduating from law school in Austin, Texas. While exploring
ways to travel Europe she discovered Sprinter vans available for
rent – then quickly discovered those same vehicles are being
utilized by people throughout America. Roughly two days after
finding the van lifestyle, she purchased one of her own – an old
Nissan food truck that she converted herself.
“In the van I’ve been able to connect with people from all over
the world, make friends and follow different opportunities that
I wouldn’t have had if I was restricted to opportunities in one
place,” she said.
EXPLORE Pennsylvania 2020 | 25