Community Mission: Emily’s New Spaceship!

Have you ever felt like it’s hard to get out of the hole? Like you’re willing to do whatever it takes, but you feel like you’re just fiercely treading water? Have you been blessed with people who have lifted you up in those tough times?

I’m asking for the community to lift up our dear one, Emily. When we help others get back on top, they are better able to help those around them. Emily is someone who pays it forward, so a gift to her is a gift to the collective.

Emily is a kind, creative, aware, compassionate, adventurous, badass who has lived on wheels for over three years. #Vanlife is often glamorized on social media, highlighting the freedoms of the lifestyle, without depicting the struggles of vehicle living. Many of us vanlifers came to the road in hopes of simplifying our life, working to live instead of living to work, and of course because we are seeking something through adventure. While many of us feel privileged to have made this choice, some of us feel like it’s the only option.

I found the road back in 2018, just a month after Emily. While we were choosing this lifestyle for similar reasons, we got into quite differently. I had spent a little over 2 years working, saving, and planning, and building out my dream home to travel across the country. At this same time, Emily was separating from her fiancé and partner of 5 years. She found herself with very little clarity about what to do next- but she didn’t feel that she had “home” to go to or support to call on, so she set out by herself to make her dreams a reality.

She first started out in a 93 Forerunner but 5 months later found her Astro van, which she has called home for the last 2 and half years. This van has taken her to many amazing places, and offered her a safe space -where she’s felt the most at home in all her life. Emily has given much love to her Astro over the last couple years. Sometimes feeling like an alien in this world, she built herself out a functional home inside- powered by solar and creativity- that she has cherished as her little spaceship:) While the van has seen many upgrades, it breaks down frequently- making it hard for Emily to make ends meet some months.

The benefit to the Astro has been that the AWD will take her anywhere, but nearing 210,000 miles, her van no longer offers her the safety in reliability- and she needs a vehicle that has fewer mechanical quirks, as she struggles to be able to fix the vehicle’s mechanical problems by herself. The van is currently in the shop, and Emily will spend the last of her savings to get it back in the road. Her van hasn’t been driving safe for over a month, which hit right at the time when she had work lined up. So, instead of being able to earn money for repairs and to restore her savings, she found herself unable to work, driving her van as little as possible. This is a cycle that has repeated itself and Emily feels like for the last few years she’s been doing all that she can just to “survive,” remaining wishful that one day things will get a little easier- and she can feel the beauty of thriving.

For those of you who know Emily, you know the sweetness of her soul, and the softness of her voice. Emily doesn’t want to impose on anyone. She wants to help others, but doesn’t always feel comfortable accepting the same help that she would give without hesitation. Emily is a hardworking person, with a drive to be self-sufficient and independent. She doesn’t want to ask for help from anyone, and I’m sure many of us can relate to this whether because of issues of self-worth or shame about not feeling “enough.” While it’s good to strive to be independent, I also don’t believe that’s necessarily how we all best function. I know that I am where I am today because of the family, friends, and strangers who have helped to lift me up along the way.

I am setting up this fund for my Emily to be able to buy a new home on wheels. In this new space, she would be able to stand up inside, have few mechanical issues, and feel the homey vibes that make living in a vehicle sweet.

Emily turns 28 on Nov 21 and for her birthday, I envision her feeling love and support from those who know her and from many who haven’t gotten the pleasure of meeting her yet!