Van Chronicles: Student Maintains a 4.0 within the walls of a van
The sharply dressed guy, obviously fresh out of the shower, and looking much more awake than I was at nine a.m. was not the college van dude I was expecting to interview last Friday morning. In fact, if I hadn’t seen him expertly maneuver his red high top GMC into my tiny driveway, I might not have believed that he was really living out of it. Over our first cup of coffee on my porch, I asked him how his morning was; he had already ran, stretched, eaten breakfast, worked on his honors thesis, and showered. Let me repeat, it was nine a.m.
I had invited Isaac Kroger, @organism_ike over to my house to talk about living in his van because I’ve noticed a pandemic-esque trend in this lifestyle, and it’s got me asking a ton of questions. I was immediately intrigued when I heard that Isaac had spent last semester climbing in Europe all while living out of a van and maintaining his status as a full-time senior honors electrical engineering student with the U of A.
“Whenever people ask me what I’m gonna do with that degree, I say rock climb. Travel the world and rock climb.” Isaac wants to get a job as a programmer on the road; he has worked internships in this area and his honors thesis is on software development. “It’s kinda the ultimate job as a climber… you make your own hours and get the job done. All you need is an internet connection.”
Van living has become curiously prevalent among our generation as more and more people realize the savings, flexibility, and freedom that this alternative living style offers. Isaac says he decided it was the right move for him while he was in Spain and saw that almost everyone at the crag had rolled up in their apartment-on-wheels.
“I got the van back in January when I figured out that the price I would pay for rent for just one semester, $3,500, could buy a van.”
Which begs the question, is it possible that what appears to be a stigma for broke hippies could actually be a practical decision? It might seem crazy, but we’ve come to accept leggings as business casual and living bacteria as a energy drink fad- is this any more out there?
According to Isaac, this isn’t the only misconception he faces, “I guess it’s looked down upon because people get the feeling that when they see someone who’s supposed to be ‘grown up’ living in a van, they’re like ‘Oh, this person never made it’. Like they weren’t able to find a job to support them to live in a normal household and live a normal life. That’s the whole misunderstanding… because the whole point of having a van is to be free of all that.”
This seems to be a recurring motif among the vanlivers I’ve met: Freedom, a constant mobility, an open ended question, an intangible lure. But at what cost?
Does this mean giving up careers and partnership and family? Is it a wild sabbatical or a lifelong choice? I posed this question to Isaac as we were climbing over the weekend.
“I think one of the caveats to that question,” he said, “is that you’re still under thirty. After that point, it seems like people’s mindsets really shift. I’ve talked to people who have said that to me explicitly, like ‘Oh, that’s awesome that you’re doing that! As long as you don’t end up living in it the rest of your life.’”
I asked him if he agrees with that.
“No. Heck no, are you kidding me? Why do you have to be in your twenties to live the life you wanna live?”
That stuck with me on the drive from the crag back to Fayetteville. I realized that I had just had an incredible day with great friends doing what we all love and I hadn’t thought once about a single one of their homes the entire time because I didn’t care. That’s not something we typically judge people based on hopefully, because it doesn’t matter if you live in an apartment, house, basement, car, or pineapple under the sea. What matters is that you’re happy. And many find such happiness in its purest form gathered around those silly, beautiful rocks that call us all together, no matter how or why we get there.
Meredith Reitemeier is a writer, artist, traveler, photographer, and climber living in Fayetteville Arkansas. She works as a guide for the university outdoor center and is always planning and saving for her next adventure. You can follow her journeys at @reitemeier or thoughtstashblog.
What should i do if i get scam on Crypto / Bitcoin – Consult OPTIMISTIC HACKER GAIUS
A registered forensic company with a global OPTIMISTIC HACKER GAIUS presence, can assist you in recovering stolen bitcoin or tokens.The specialty of OPTIMISTIC HACKER GAIUS is recovering tokens and bitcoin that have been stolen from you by criminals.
Using a decentralized recovery system, the cryptographic protocol guy tracked the wallet balance using smart contract audit from the outsourced wallets on a large database built on blockchain technology, to ensure that no one could move your money without your permission.
Website.. http://optimistichackergaius.com
WhatsApp.. +44 7376 740569
Email.. support@optimistichackergaius.com
Telegram.. t.me/OPTIMISTIC HACKER GAUSS
Info:
WhatsApp +44 (737, 674 (05 69
Homepage:… http://optimistichackergaius.com
Email Box…. support@optimistichackergaius.com
Telegram Contact t.me/OPTIMISTICHACKERGAUSS
Hire a Hacker for Crypto Scam Recovery | Cryptocurrency Recovery Expert/ Services – Hire ULTIMATE HACKER JERRY
I suffered a terrible loss of 256,400 USDT a few weeks ago, which was a devastating blow. Fortunately, I found Ultimate Hacker Jerry, who was able to retrieve all of it. They took a methodical and professional approach, using their expertise and clear communication to walk me through every stage of the rehabilitation process. The efficiency with which they were able to recover my misplaced money astounded me. I heartily recommend Ultimate Hacker Jerry if you’re having a similar problem. I am so grateful to them for their assistance in making what seemed like a hopeless situation successful.
Their website; www. ultimatehackarjerry. co m
Text – Call -Whatsapp ; + 1 (458) 308 (08 25
E-Mail; contact@ ultimatehackarjerry .c om
Best Crypto / Bitcoin Recovery Company > Contact OPTIMISTIC HACKER GAIUS
OPTIMISTIC HACKER GAIUS Specialist’s outstanding proficiency in bitcoin recovery sets it apart in the market. The business has a highly qualified staff committed to helping customers recover cryptocurrency that has been misplaced or stolen. Contact Gaius for recovery Now.
Information Below;
Website.. http://optimistichackergaius.com
WhatsApp.. +44 7376 740569
Email.. support@optimistichackergaius.com
Telegram.. t.me/OPTIMISTIC HACKER GAUSS
If you’re not familiar with cryptocurrency trading, I strongly advise you to either stay away from it completely or invest very cautiously. I was forced to invest a significant amount of my life savings on a forex platform to increase my profits, but I ultimately lost roughly 95,000 USD to this investment scam. I was not allowed to take my money out after I had invested and made a profit. I sent a letter to customer service, but it was ineffective, so I realized I had been duped. I was fortunate enough to come across a genuine deal retrieval WEB WIZARD after much looking for ways to acquire assistance. I decided to give it a shot and explained my condition to them. they gave me their word that they would help me get my money back. Honestly, they performed a fantastic job, and my money was recovered in my wallet in less than 24 hours without any upfront payment. I appreciate having encountered WEB WIZARD with such exceptional abilities, it’s truly remarkable.
TELEGRAM: @BestwebwizardRecovery
WHATSAPP: +1(410) 202-1161
EMAIL: bestwebwizardrecovery@consultant.com
OR: info@bestwebwizrecovery.com
WEBSITE: https://bestwebwizrecovery.com/
Leave a comment