Mary grew up camping and enjoying the outdoors, so after graduation, she moved to Arizona, worked as a nurse, and spent her free time exploring. Travel nursing eventually called, and she started living out of her car between assignments. But she reached a crossroads and was ready to change direction.
That’s when she became a yoga teacher and energy healer and decided to build out a budget van conversion. Using reclaimed materials, Mary bought and built her van for $35,000 total. While she has plans for future upgrades, she’s content with her mobile home as it is.
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Yoga Teacher and Energy Healer’s Van Home
Images via Tiny Home Tours
Cabinets Painted in “Meditation” Color
Images via Tiny Home Tours
Open Shelving for Dishware Storage
Images via Tiny Home Tours
Fixed Bed at the Rear of the Van
Images via Tiny Home Tours
Video Tour: DIY Camper Van with Clever Design
Design Details
- Owner: Mary
- Previous Career: Nurse (including travel nursing)
- Current Career: Yoga teacher and energy healer
- Total Cost: $35,000 (vehicle purchase and build)
- Materials: Reclaimed materials to reduce costs
- Van Source: Purchased from a friend
- Bed: Fixed bed at rear
- Kitchen Storage: Open shelving for dishware
- Cabinet Color: “Meditation”
- Exterior: Stealthy design
- Safety: Multiple safety features for solo travel
- Occupancy: Solo female traveler
- Background: Grew up camping, lived in Arizona
Lessons from This Build
- Car Camping Tests the Lifestyle: Mary’s experience living out of her car between nursing assignments helped her confirm van life was right for her before committing to a full build
- Reclaimed Materials Cut Costs Significantly: By sourcing secondhand and salvaged materials, Mary kept her total budget to $35,000 including the vehicle purchase
- Buying from Someone You Know Reduces Risk: Purchasing the van from a friend meant Mary had more confidence in the vehicle’s history and condition
- Stealth Design Matters for Solo Travelers: A van that looks like a work vehicle rather than a camper provides safety and flexibility for parking, especially important for women traveling alone
- Fixed Beds Simplify Daily Life: Not having to convert a seating area to a bed every night makes van living more comfortable and sustainable long-term
Learn More
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- Solo Female Enjoying Van Life at 72 Years Young
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Alex
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