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She Sold Her Home in Her 60s to Travel in A Van!


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Meet Clare Colins, one absolutely amazing 60-something who sold her house, paid off her mortgage and got rid of nearly everything she owned to travel Australia in her Mouse House van!

She spent an entire year sleeping every night her van, and then ended up purchasing a little half-acre (which she calls, “Happenstance”) in a rural area where she hopes to create a mini permaculture farm. On the property, where she spends only some of her time when not travelling, she has 16.5 x 13ft. shed house she calls La Shack.

Besides some new timbers necessary to keep it upright, everything else in the La Shack has been either donated, scrounged, repurposed or re-used! Clare is a photographer by trade, so check out some of her artwork below and make sure to tune into the video tour of the van at the end of the post.

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Clare’s Van Life & Her Little Half Acre “Happenstance”

She Sold Her Home in Her 60s to Travel in A Van! 6

Photos by Clare Collins

This is her office/kitchen area in the van.

She Sold Her Home in Her 60s to Travel in A Van! 2

Photos by Clare Collins

Room for cooking and a tidy spice rack.

She Sold Her Home in Her 60s to Travel in A Van! 1

Photos by Clare Collins

Wow! Here’s La Shack at night. What a stunning photo, Clare.

She Sold Her Home in Her 60s to Travel in A Van! 5

Photos by Clare Collins

A view of La Shack during some fixing-up.

She Sold Her Home in Her 60s to Travel in A Van! 12

Photos by Clare Collins

Her rural property is idyllic!

She Sold Her Home in Her 60s to Travel in A Van! 4

Photos by Clare Collins

Her van actually has a real wood door!

Just wait until you see what’s under the counter….

Her toilet and shower!!

What a comfy spot to call home for a year!

VIDEO: This Woman’s Stunning Camper Van

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Our big thanks to Clare for sharing! 🙏

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Natalie C. McKee

Natalie C. McKee is a contributor for Tiny House Talk and the Tiny House Newsletter. She's a wife, and mama of three little kids. She and her family are homesteaders with sheep, goats, chickens, ducks and quail on their happy little acre.
{ 6 comments… add one }
  • Cathy
    September 18, 2020, 10:16 am

    So inspiring! Great use of space. I love the pull out table and the leadlight windows. Thanks Clare for sharing your van.

  • Sheila
    September 18, 2020, 11:50 am

    This is very cool. Smart lady. Land is beautiful.

  • Susan Harter
    September 18, 2020, 1:42 pm

    Love your van and especially that great secret door! I also like the glass jar shelving in kitchen. I am 74 and live in a tiny house by myself so I can relate to you. What’s really funny is that I have little mice all over my tiny too. They just seem to look cute in small spaces. I just don’t want any real ones! I also have an RV and love it but have been looking a lot at pintrest at van camping and conversions. Yours really tempts me! Have fun! Susan

    • Natalie C. McKee
      September 21, 2020, 2:32 pm

      Haha yes no real mice!

  • María Nieves
    September 18, 2020, 6:09 pm

    It’s amazing what you did with so little space. I love it. You really thought about every single detail. 👍🏼

  • Clare Colins
    October 4, 2020, 11:16 pm

    I actually slept every night in the mouse house, my only home, for over 2 years.
    Thank you for the lovely comments.
    Clare 🤗

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