In a few days' time, I will be heading down to southern Utah and I couldn't be more excited for the next adventure. I've been in salt lake city for a bit now and I actually have really enjoyed my time here. A lot of people might think this town is "trash" but I think it's alright. It's not amazing but it's not too bad either. There is plenty to do in the area and I love exploring what is around me. Not only that but they have the nicest climbing gym I have ever been to. It has climbing, a huge workout area, lead climbing, bouldering, showers, a sauna (in the women's and men's bathroom), a dog area in the back, a climbing store, and of course a cafe on the third floor. It's about as bougie as it can get and I love it. For a little, over three weeks I have been doing everything under the sun in this amazing gym. 

Every day I'm here which may seem like a lot but I also paid for the membership which was a bit pricey since you also have to pay the Initiation fee. Overall it was around $140. Now thinking about that cost over the past three weeks or so and coming here almost every single day (I think I've only missed 4 days so far) it makes the membership worth it. Every day I'm using wifi, working out, showering, and of course using the sauna which has been a wonder for my muscles. 

Along with this amazing gym, I also had the chance to dog sit two adorable pups and while I was there Lylah got a break from the van life and got to run outside every single day and play with them and I got to use a wired connection, charge EVERY SINGLE THING I can and do laundry without having to pay $10 - $20 depending on how expensive the place is. And of course, the other upside is cleaning out the entire van and getting to have the ac set to a wonderful 70 degrees while sleeping on a memory foam mattress. 

When I'm not at the gym, working, or dog/house sitting I've been hiking, going to brunch or a new brewery, and just enjoying the time. I've always wanted to spend more time in Salt Lake City so I'm glad I am getting to spend more time out here and really get to enjoy what's around me. 

And yes I have seen the homeless populations around and have been taking safety precautions when I'm out and about. I never go out for too long in the dark and I always make sure to have my cell phone and a knife just in case. so far no one has bothered me and I'm not too worried about those around in the area. They all seem to just want to be left alone and not bothered so I do just that. All in all, I think it's alright and if I did decide to come back I now know what it's like here. 

Just gonna leave this here for you guys. Sorry, I sound terrible. it was the day after the drunk podcast and I was hit pretty hard after that because I had more than one drink after I got off. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and thanks for supporting this blog, podcast, and so on. Hoping to do another drunkin'' podcast at the next stop, Vegas! 

These are some more lessons I've learned so far. 

Lesson 5: This one may seem obvious but for me, it wasn't something that really occurred as a necessary piece of equipment or really a lesson until about three weeks ago. If you will be doing any traveling in a van setting get a battery-operated blanket or something that gives off heat without too much hassle. I finally was able to order one and I am more than excited about this coming in. Not only will it prevent me from using less power in the van to heat myself up but it will also allow me to be comfy for up to 6 hours without having to charge it in one sitting. As someone who is living in a van that does not have central heat I can just slip a switch for this Is a huge helper when it gets into the 20s or 30s. 

Lesson 6: I find that my feet get colder than they really should so get some really nice thick socks. Wool socks are great for hiking but if you want something in the van to hang out in but not touch the cold ground get yourself some puffy socks. They sell them at Walmart and pretty much any travel destination. They will keep your toes warm and they will prevent you from touching the cold ground of your van/camper when you have to get up in the middle of the night 

Lesson 7: Tell someone where you are. I try to update my dad on where I am whenever I move to a new location. If I'm moving cities, states, or even staying at a random house ill make sure to let him know. You don't know what can happen out there and it's much better to be safe than sorry 

Lesson 8: Insulation is your friend. One thing I have noticed about the van is that the space between the two sets of doors (behind the driver and passenger seat) gets cold immediately after I turn the van off. During this time of the year, I am blasting hot air all the time because this van is huge and I want it as warm as I can get it when it's on. Initially, when this van was redone I didn't put insulation in the doors (and yes they were mostly hollow) but now I'm going to be adding some when I can to try and help out with keeping the inside of the van warm. 

Lesson 9: Don't be afraid to go out and try new things or explore where you are. Just because it's new doesn't mean it always has to be scary. It may be a change in lifestyle but that doesn't mean you have to stay in your "home". go out to a new restaurant (not a chain), go do a local run, walk downtown and check out the shops, or even just go to the park and enjoy the sunshine. Anything is good as long as you spend time where you are enjoying what it has to offer

Lesson 10: Now this also goes with lesson 9 but don't be afraid to get out for a bit and move. I say that because there are going to be days when it's hard to go somewhere or do something due to a lack of motivation. But it's better to get out and at least stretch if you can. It's usually best to do at least 20 to 60 minutes if you can. After all, being in a smaller space for too long can cause series of depression, anxiety, and just frustration. So moving even a little is best mentally and physically 

Two videos will drop tomorrow so be ready

Sorry, it took so long but here it is. The next part of the van vlog series. Next ill be finally redoing the van intro next week along with another vlog drop. Stay tuned! 

art is for sale here

This piece is looking for a home. 

The truth about van life is that it is hard. It's a challenge to anybody involved. Here are a few things that I've learned since I started on this journey. 

Lesson 1: Walmart will be your primary stop if you wish to save money on accommodations. With a van, it's easy to park and just go right to sleep. you can do it with an rv to but of course it's a bigger rig to have to maneuver. Luckily they have big lots so it's not too much of an issue to get around. Walmart is also safer than most locations I've stayed at due to the brightness of the lights and the fact that you are constantly surrounded by people. You just have to make sure you don't make it obvious you are "camping" or you could get kicked out. 

Lesson2: Always have water. This ties into Lesson 1. I have approximately 15 gallons of water throughout the van. This doesn't include whatever is in the cooler. All this water is helpful for not only my survival but also Lylahs. If you run out of water or if you can't find somewhere to fill up water containers due to the WINTER time closing those options Walmart has an area you can fill that container. It is .30 a gallon but at least there is a backup if you can find somewhere with that resource. 

Lesson 3: Back in the day Planet Fitness used to be a terrible option for showers. I remember them charging $20 just to go in to use equipment or to shower (or both if you needed it) and that was looney of them. They used to be highly recommended by anybody that I saw online that did this lifestyle. Now I can say that they are on my radar as well. I went into a planet fitness to work out and they only charge $5 for a shower and to work out which is wonderful since I did need to do both. So if there is one in the area I would recommend them for a shower/workout session If needed. 

Lesson 4: Be aware. This can be used in many ways. to me, it doesn't matter about gender all that matters is if you are aware of your surroundings and listen to your gut. Even with Lylah, I am always aware of where I am and who I am around. If I pass someone on a trail I always look back to make sure I'm not being followed and keep lylah near me as they pass. It seems weird to check behind you but you never know what people are capable of and if it comes to you or them I would hope you would choose yourself. 

These lessons have been something I've been thinking about and keeping in mind as I go on this journey. There's so much more to come but those I feel are some good ones to pass along. 

Stay safe and thanks for following us on this journey as well as supporting us.