Practicing Happiness: A Memoir of Van Life

by Sarah Wynde

“Engaging, relatable, and funny…”Honest and wry, a story about choosing happiness over comfort and living bravely in the face of fear.

In March of 2016, Sarah Wynde decided to sell her house, buy a camper van, and travel the country.

She was a single mom whose son was grown and gone; living in Florida in a house she adored but whose upkeep and maintenance were a constant churn of worry; and she was a little less than gainfully employed.

Nomadland hadn’t been published yet, and it would be another year before she learned about the #vanlife movement from The New Yorker. Sarah didn’t even have an Instagram account.

But her life felt stagnant. She didn’t know what she wanted, but she knew she needed something different.

Based on her blog posts and journals, interspersed with some present-day advice on van living and happiness, this is the story of what she did, how she did it, and what she learned along the way.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Travel

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 27, 2021

About the author

Sarah Wynde graduated from Wesleyan University with a degree in English, which she actually managed to put to use by becoming an editor. She's worked on magazines, websites, and books, including ten years spent as a senior acquisitions editor with Pearson. Eventually, her love of writing pushed her into independent publishing. She likes to think of the stories she writes as unexpected fiction—bending, blending, and occasionally breaking genres.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although it is not my dream to drive back and forth across the country in a van that is also my residence, this book sure makes it sound enticing.
Great recounting of numerous adventures, learnings and mishaps. This book is both funny and insightful. I truly enjoyed reading it.

[Maura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this “mostly blog turned into book” about living the “Van Life”. Not RV life, van life. A very small space for an adult and two dogs. For 4 years! The author is a good writer, with good skills to make what might be a lot of repetition about driving and camp facilities, she keeps her word choices and story-telling fresh and engaging. And if the reader is reading the book because they are contemplating similar travels and lifestyle the book has a wealth of information about most every state in the US. I picked this book up because I have a co-worker living the van life, at least for an extended adventure if not a four year journey, so my interest was for her not me, but again, I did enjoy the book. I am intrigued enough to seek out at least one more book by this author because she talked a lot about “getting her writing done” while traveling. One more comment. The author has found the “ACT - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy” to bring her less anxiety and more peace. I resonated with her daily awareness of the value of staying committed to her inner growth journey.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Exciting For The Reader

I don't even drive so I won't be taking off and buying a van most likely but travelling more has always appealed to me. So I bought this book. I don't regret it but I will say it was rather matter of fact, repetitive and routine for me. The best part in my opinion was the author making the decision to buy a van, sell her house and do it because she put her plan into action quickly! I can be agonizingly SLOW when making a decision and I admire someone who makes it seem not quite so earth shattering.
There was a lot of driving, naturally, and describing the campsites she chose, sunrises, sunsets and other beautiful photos. But with the exception of family and friends the author from what I could tell, didn't mingle with the other campers. I think part of that may have been due to the difficulties with leaving her 2 dogs cooped up in the van alone! Totally understandable.
The author writes clearly and the book edited well. I didn't see spelling errors, bad grammar or issues with sentence structure. I also liked her tips on coping with anxiety and fear. I know I would be scared to sleep outside in a van parked in parking lots or isolated spots. Having the dogs certainly helped mitigate that fear!

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't familiar with the author prior to catching this book as a freebie for Amazon kindle. As someone who has lived in an RV previously and considers doing so again, I was very interested in this book. The author is very honest about both the ups and downs of full-time RV living, especially with pets. So many on social media glorify life on the road, showing the beautiful places they park and tending to skim over the difficulties that come with living in a very small home on wheels. Wynde dealt with a number of mechanical issues over her four years living in her van, even though it was purchased brand new. Both gas and campsite costs can add up quickly and vet care is definitely something to consider if a pet is involved. One needs to weigh the advantages of being mobile and seeing the country against the day to day annoyances of living life this way.

I'd suggest this book to anyone considering going to full-time into RV life.

[Cindy Dyson Eitelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely little memoir! She tells of living in a camper van and traveling across the U.S., not once but many times. Sometimes are good, some are bad, but whole lot are very, very good. I wish I could be her.

And who knows, maybe I will be. Except for the cooking--she appears to be a very good cook and creates some simple but awesome meals on the road. And except for the driving--I like driving, but she concludes, after some years, that she really doesn't. But it's necessary to get places, so she puts up with it. So she kind of feels about driving the way I do about cooking.

Anyway, this is a great adventure--a whole lot of little adventures, really--and if you like traveling and camping, you'll love it.

[Walter Boomsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be quite frank, I found this book a challenge to finish, mainly because it actually didn't contain much happiness or objective information about van life. It's more of a diary without much structure. I realize it wasn't written as a "how-to" guide, but the irony had me scratching my head. At the outset, she names her van "Serenity" as she seeks peace, but most of the content revolves around her dog(s), illnesses (both hers and the dogs'), issues with the van, traffic, bad campgrounds, and her admission that she dislikes writing but feels compelled to do it. There are occasional moments of happiness, but not many. As a memoir, it's okay, but I didn't find it particularly uplifting or helpful.

[Jacqueline Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read

I have this fantasy of taking a year and traveling the USA in a class B RV. So this books appeals to my sense of adventure. I truly enjoyed the journal style of the authors van life experience. All the positive and not so positive experiences really help set a sense of reality to my dream. I admire her willingness to be a solo female traveler with her loyal canine companions and share the reality of that experience as I do believe that is a unique experience and one I can relate to.

[Christine Arrowsmith Hartman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice book...not very memorable, but pleasant.

Sarah's memoir was very much like a journal. I wish that she would have introduced herself a little more so that I could have gotten to know her as I traveled around with her in the memoir. I just kept thinking that she was about to give some personal information about how she arrived at this junction of moving into an rv, but it never came about.


Nevertheless, it was enjoyable to follow along on her journey and hear about the joys as well as the headaches.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Enjoyed the first 1/3 of the book alot. It then became a bit repetitive. Similar stories. Different location. The thought of traveling around the states in a camper van sounds exciting however this book seemed to repeat the same or similar adventures over and over. The critters she encountered and the beauty and scenery she saw were definitely interesting but I wanted more details and specifics about her journey. I did love that she put her dogs first and treated them as family.

[Allie C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Travato life IS the best!!!

As a fellow Travato Owner (2019 K), I so enjoyed this book/diary...places to go...goods and bads...such a huge and wonderful country to explore! We are not full timers BUT certainly dreamed and fantazized a bit...as we enjoy time at KillensPond State Park, Felton, DE—-with 3 other TOAW T friends/family and 3 Travatos visiting. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE BOOK!! 😷😷❤️❤️🚐🚐

[norma baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

courage

The author traded her life in suburban Florida travel across the country, in a van, solo, with her two senior dogs. This book is arranged as a diary designated by the places she visited. The text is engaging but the best parts of the book are the photos - just beautiful. And. My condolences to the author, I have lost two as well. They will always occupy a warm place in your heart.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting insight into a completely different way of thinking

I am not an anxious person; although the pandemic has increased my talents on that front, but Sarah’s ability to objectively describe her anxieties, fears and triumphs over them has been quite insightful. I enjoyed riding along with her and the dogs. I am now headed over to try one of her fiction options…

[Gwilda Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun

I really enjoyed this book , except when her dog died,,,, it made me cry like I did when I lost my Mitzi dog when I was 13,,, I'm 77 now and I still miss her. I've been trying to practice some happiness for a few years , sometimes I get it sometimes I don't. I'll keep trying as long as I can , thanks for all the ideas 💡

[Angela Tenore · Rating 5 out of 5]

very sweet and movin

A sweet quick read! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I will be looking into her fiction as she has a very nice turn of phrase and truely inspiring and lovely writing.

[Alice JCrowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Adventure

I would have to line my trip up in stop by stop order full of right turns. FedEx taught me that method and it works. It wouldn’t be hard to do that in this great big world. Bravo Sarah for taking the Adventure!

[Serena Surbaugh]

Captivating.

The simple honesty and great imagery hooked me. Reading this book was like talking to a friend.
I was sorry when I got to the end.

[Sue Goodenough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting all the way!!!

[Tia Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun read

This reads like a journal, short little snippets about her journey living in a van. I loved it because she’s adventurous and funny.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!

I have loved every book of hers that I have read so far and this book too. You are an excellent storyteller, Sarah. Thank you.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the format of this. Content was enjoyable enough.

[Tracy Abramovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serenity

The ups and downs of living in a small space, with the freedom to move wherever you wanted to go. My idea of heaven.

[William Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I was sad for it to end, but I think it ended in the best way, as all adventures end eventually!