August has been a weird month. Productive in some ways, slow in others. With a major life transition coming up (more on that in a future post), I’ve been spending a lot of time rethinking priorities, budgeting smarter, and preparing for what might be a pretty big shift. Long story short: there's a possibility that full-time van life could begin as early as December 1st — but nothing is guaranteed yet.
For now, let’s take a look at what’s been done, and what’s coming next.
Recent Progress
Insulation (Main Panels Done)
The primary wall panels are now insulated with 3M Thinsulate. That covers the major surface areas, but not the corners, ceiling, or harder-to-reach gaps — those will be tackled later using leftover material once the rest of the interior is framed out. The roof and two specific wall sections will be drilled into later for roof components, so they’ll also be insulated at a later stage.
Exterior Flood Lighting
A set of exterior flood lights has been installed on the passenger side of the van. That’s the only side I plan to light for now — mostly to help with cooking or setting up camp at night — but I may add more lighting in the future depending on how things feel once I’m out on the road.
Solar Wiring (On Hold)
The solar panels are mounted, but I’ve decided to hold off on running wiring for now. I’ll be adding Starlink, antennas, and a few other rooftop components soon, and it makes more sense to do all the roof work in one go rather than drilling multiple times or redoing cable routes later.
Furring Strips (In Progress – Outsourced)
While I’m away on vacation at the end of August, a friend will be helping finish the furring strips on the walls and ceiling. Once that’s done, the van will be ready for paneling, electrical runs, and mounting permanent fixtures.
What’s Coming in September (Budget-Friendly Edition)
With vacation taking up most of the month’s budget, September’s build will focus on low-cost but high-impact progress:
These pieces will give the van more structure and livability, even if the final finishes and trim come later.
Wrapping Up
August brought progress, even if it didn’t all happen on camera or on schedule. September will be a lighter build month financially, but each small step still brings the van closer to being road-ready. Whether full-time van life happens this winter or stays on the horizon, it’s finally starting to feel real.
Stay tuned.