It’s a beautiful day here in Southeast Michigan just outside Detroit. It’s the first day beyond which there will be no more freezing temperatures (here come the flowers!). And today vaccinated folks can let their masks go. What could make it better? How about two sets of nomadic neighbors taking off on van adventures.
One story started earlier in the year, day after pre-spring day. You can see a long tall Ford Transit Van in this driveway undergoing transformation. Somebody there is going seriously nomadic. I walk by the house a lot, and it became a walk highlight to see the progress. Somedays you hear tools making noise in the garage or in the van. Stuff is popping up on the roof. Finally this nosey neighbor could stand it no more; so I give a knock on the van hoping to check it out.
The big door comes open. Two young women are startled out of conversation. We are outside, but I had forgotten to pull on my face mask. We get past my faux pas, and I learn one of them is Becca. She and her partner Matt are outfitting the van for adventure.
The Work Gets (Nearly) Done
Matt is an engineer and is on point for the van’s electrical and plumbing, heating etcetera. Becca is the wood worker, insulator, and miscellaneous more. I met her soon after she took the milestone plunge of cutting a hole in the roof to insert a fan. Then along the way she’ll cut in an accent window and a big window into the slider. Becca is an artist, and her discipline and attention to detail show. The workmanship is good. If I wanted to have someone rattle off all the important tools, I’d ask her.
Today, Becca is scurrying around the van as we pass her in the drive. She shares detail of some of the current conversion progress. Last night she fashioned insulated window covers. But the big news is that today she and Matt are embarking for Zion National Park. It is their first over-the-road adventure, even if the van isn’t quite finished (is one of these ever done?). Tonight will be their first night in the van.
Bravo, Matt and Becca. Be safe, enjoy, and let’s hear all about it upon your return.
Another Set of Nomadic Neighbors
Coincidentally, almost directly behind Matt and Becca on the next street over, is Alex and his expectant wife. And their Burmese. And the neighborhood’s only Mercedes Sprinter.
I’m trying to make a van decision and am getting specific about how I will configure mine (ours). Alex has made an educated decision and picked the Sprinter, in part for its distinctive drivability. I look forward to more talks with Alex. He’s moving along in his conversion and is a mountain-biker wealth of knowledge.
How can a van be both gorgeous and gnarly? Here lies part of the Sprinter four-wheel drive allure. Alex is taking a deliberate approach to adapting the van for both his construction project business and personal adventures. He and his wife enjoy the van with a clan of others; there are Mercedes vans in the family. His is a beautiful blue grey with aggressive tires and Rhino composite wheels.
I am a tad envious of these neighbors. It’s great to see this going on. A Ford and a Mercedes, the two van brands best suited for custom conversion.
It’s here simply shared among nomadic neighbors. The growing nomadic community. More to come.