Meet the Gang
2 humans, 1 dog, 1 cat and a van, oh my!
Allison
Hi I’m Allison, the main creator behind this blog.
My personality might not fit what you’d typically expect from a van dweller.
I aspire to be a Phoebe, but Buzzfeed quizzes reveal that I’m more of a Monica. People describe me as level-headed and practical. I love pizza, true crime, feminists, coffee, the earth, and the way a library smells.
Most of all, I love to travel. On my 22nd birthday I was studying abroad in Italy when I received a card from my parents that read in part:
We want you to have moments when you’re overcome with wonder, and times when you just can’t believe how good life is to you.
That line resonated with me then and it resonates with me still. I was fortunate to have traveled quite a bit in the first 22 years of life (starting with a trip to Alaska at three years old), but my semester abroad awoke a new urgency to see more and more of the world. I contracted a travel bug that I just can’t kick. And I’m pursuing van dwelling to put what I love at the center of my life.
I have a master’s degree in Interior Architecture and Product Design, and I’ve learned a thing or two about graphic design along the way. Any infographics or diagrams you’ll see on this site were created by yours truly. For the past two years I’ve been working as a healthcare interior designer. Needless to say, I’m the creative type. I’m also a generally handy person (a skill that has brought many past DIY projects to fruition). I appreciate craftsmanship and have been tinkering in workshops from a young age. Hopefully this smattering of skills will apply nicely to the ambitious task of self-converting our van.
I met Quentin when we were 17, which makes us high school sweethearts. We first met at Vans Warped Tour in 2013, although we’d attended the same school for three years prior. On New Year’s Eve that year he fastened a note to his new kitten’s collar that said, “Will you be my girlfriend?”
We attended colleges three hours apart. Those four years consisted of many phone calls, texts, and weekend visits. Sometimes we’d even meet halfway just to spend a few hours together. Summers were welcomed breaks when we’d both return to our hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.
During my semester abroad in 2018 Quentin came to visit over spring break. We traveled to Switzerland, where we took a two-hour train ride to a mountain peak in the Swiss Alps endearingly titled “The Top of Europe”. We arrived during a break in the clouds when you could see mountaintops for miles. That’s when Quentin dropped to one knee and popped the question.
After college we actualized our dream of moving to Colorado. We got married in November of 2019.
Say what you will about high school sweethearts, but one undeniable benefit is that we transitioned from kids to adults together. In those tumultuous early years of adulthood, you experience a lot of firsts. I love that so many of our first stories are intertwined. And now 8 years into our relationship we’re starting a new first: converting a van together.
Quentin
Quentin is, by a wide margin, my favorite person. I call him Q for short. He was born only 6 days after me, which leads me to believe we weren’t meant to be on this earth without each other. Q is laid back and typically down to tag along with whatever thing I have planned. He has a “happy to be here” attitude that pairs nicely with my efforts to squeeze as much juice out of life as possible.
Q enjoys the outdoors and can often be found watching Youtube videos with titles like “Remote Winter Bushcraft Camp in 48 inches of Snow” late into the night. He daydreams of auditioning for the TV shows Alone and Jeopardy. His main hobby is playing video games on his self-built PC.
He identifies strongly with cowboys, despite being thoroughly midwestern and raised in the suburbs of St. Louis. He loves all things Star Wars, especially the Mandalorian. He also loves thunderstorms, IPA beers, and vanilla ice cream.
Finn
Finn is an Australian Cattle Dog (aka Blue Heeler) we adopted in February of 2020 when he was two years old. I knew we’d met our match when I got to the bit in his adoption bio that read, “Enjoys afternoon walks, but also lives to cuddle and take naps. Smarter than your average dog and listens better than most children.”
He checks all the boxes typical for his breed: cautious, energetic, obedient, protective, and most of all loyal. He loves us as much as we love him. An Uber driver once said to me, “rescue dogs love their people more than any store-bought puppy ever could” and that certainly holds true with Finn.
aka Dingo and Big Booty Judy
Kovu
Kovu joined the crew back in 2015 when he was but a wee lad. He’s named after a character in the Lion King sequel. For our first few days together I called him Pizza, but that just didn’t stick.
He’s slow to warm up to people, but he’s an absolute sweetheart once he lets down his walls. Things Kovu loves include catnip, naps in the sun, chewing socks, and some gdamn peace and quiet.
We love him far too much to even consider leaving him behind on this adventure.
He went on countless road trips to and from my college town in his first few years of life so we’re hoping his transition to vanlife will be a smooth one. We’ve also started to harness train him and get him more comfortable with the outdoors.
aka Tofu and Mr. Vu
Daphne
Daphne is a 2020 Ram Promaster 2500 with a 159” wheelbase. She joined the gang in August of 2021 with about 19,000 miles on her.
Contact me
Now that you’ve met us, I’d love to meet you! Shoot me a message anytime.