Living in a Van: Central Motives and the Design of a Location-Independent Lifestyle

Abstract

This thesis provides a first scientific investigation and typology of solo full-time vanlifers. Its aim is to analyze vanlife as a lifestyle by examining both the motives for choosing this alternative way of living and the everyday practices within vanlife. This is done through qualitative research using narrative interviews with vanlifers. The analysis identified three types of solo full-time vanlifers (Explorer, Off-grid Seeker and Vanlife Entrepreneur), each distinguished by different motives for choosing this lifestyle. In addition, the findings reveal insights into everyday routines as well as genderspecific differences: women tend to interpret vanlife more strongly as an escape from normative expectations and as an opportunity for self-realization, while men appear to be more frequently motivated by the aspect of adventure. The results offer new insights into vanlife as a lifestyle and provide starting points for further research.