Tired of paying rent and having to scrounge up every penny to travel, photographer Simon Stiles made a big decision: He moved out of his 400 sq. ft. bachelor apartment in Ottawa and moved into a blue 1992 Dodge Ram.
“I don’t have to save up all year to go for a two-week trip, I can save up for six months and travel for six months,” said Stiles, who documents his adventures on YouTube.
If you don’t think Stiles’ van is fully equipped, think again. The home on wheels features a bed, table, stove, WIFI and solar power. “I don’t suffer, really, it’s just a lot smaller,” Stiles said of his home on wheels.
Van living is a growing trend across Canada, as many people try to balance work, finances and travel goals.
“What’s interesting is that it’s not just hippies doing it anymore,” he said. “You have techies, you have war vets, you have just every kind of person imaginable sharing this kind of lifestyle.”
And Stiles says he hasn’t given up much, including entertaining friends. He said he’s fit as many as 11 people in the van at once.
Watch the video to tour Simon Stiles’ home and see how he fits his entire life into 100 sq. ft.
