A woman with an adventurous spirit decided to up sticks and hit the road after getting a taste for travel, swapping her ordinary life for 'van life' full time.
Vincenza Sparacino, best known as 'Vin' to pals, has always loved travelling. After flying all over the world, she returned to "travel car camping style" with her best friend, and started to really get the bug.
It was around this time that she began finding inspiration on YouTube, where videos shared by van life creators sparking her imagination.
For those yet to hear about this alternative lifestyle, those in the van life community live in vehicles rather than houses or flats, giving them far greater freedom to travel about as they please.
Determined to carve out this exciting new path for herself, Vin, who is originally from New York, recalled: "I thought 'wow that's a way better version of what I'm already doing' and I just went for it!"
She purchased a Ford Transit van using her savings, building it out with help from friends and family. The van - which she affectionally refers to Pamela Vanderson - has since taken her all across America and Canada, and she hasn't looked back since.
Vin set out on the road some three years ago, and, although she's keen on trying 'boat life' somebody, she believes she'll now always follow a nomadic lifestyle.
Speaking with the Mirror, Vin said: "Some of the best things about van life are the community of nomads I've become a part of, the gorgeous places I've gotten to call my front yard, and the constant adventure.
"I never know what the day or week has in store for me entirely and I love that vibe!"
Her parents weren't too sure about her plans at first, regarding her decision as "a bit bizarre", but have since come around to the idea.
Vin, who goes by the TikTok username @notallwhowanderarelostt continued: "They came around quickly as they soon realised that a van would keep me more American based as opposed to backpacking the world for months and years at a time which was my prior long-term life plans.
"They've recently bought an RV of their own actually after years of living vicariously through me and plan to caravan with me here and there throughout my travels!"
Fortunately, Vin's friends have supported her endeavour from day one, and will even fly out to visit her for a week or two whenever she's parked up "somewhere cool".
Vin is able to support herself through her small business. She makes jewellery and terrariums and also sells crystals, plants, and herbs while on the road, setting up shop at markets, festivals, concerts, and fairs.
She's also recently begun to make an income through TikTok, where she opens up about everything from "easy van life recipes" to how she keeps her cats safe while travelling.
Her videos also cover the various practical questions people might have about van life, from how she does laundry, to what her monthly expenses look like.
Although Vin mainly gets positive reactions to her way of life, she has had to contend with a few negative assumptions but doesn't let them get her down.
According to Vin: "Some people believe this is only a life for broke people and could never be enjoyable and I love proving them wrong."
There are of course some downsides, as Vin notes there are with "any life path", but she believes nothing would ever make her give up van life.
Vin explained: "Some of the obvious negatives or real inconveniences of this life is having to fill up water once every month and dump my waste - two times a month - as well as the limited storage space I have for my things and my food.
"Many people also struggle with power limitations but luckily for me my solar power and DC changing more than covers my electricity needs."
In her three years on the road, Vin has been everywhere from Maine to Florida to Savannah, taking footage of her adventures as she goes.
Her TikTok videos show her out and about paddle boarding, canoeing, and meeting up with fellow van life aficionados, enjoying a sense of community many wouldn't necessarily associate with the nomadic life.
Vin revealed: "My most memorable trip is actually in the works! I'm currently traveling cross country with a group of friends with the idea of going from Florida to San Diego and then all the way up the coast to Washington then onto Montana and Wyoming to enjoy the fall."
Offering advice to others wanting to follow in her footsteps, Vin urged: "Just do it! It's such an amazing way of life and it's so worth taking the risk!
"If you don't like it you can always go back to house life but you don't wanna be 75 plus laying in your death bed thinking 'what if?'"
Do you have an alternative way of living? Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com
