Van life: how to build community when always moving | Madi & Adam Smith | TEDxBGSU

Key Concepts

Van life, nomadic lifestyle, community building, vulnerability, mutual learning, mindfulness, investment in relationships, permaculture, belonging, connection, reciprocity, sustainable agriculture.

Van Life and the Search for Community

In 2020, the speakers, as newlyweds, embraced van life, converting a Ford Transit van into their home. This decision was fueled by the rise of remote work and a desire for freedom and adventure, a trend reflected in the 63% surge in van life between 2020 and 2022. They traveled extensively with their puppy, Aadia, enjoying outdoor activities and immersing themselves in nature.

However, a chance encounter in Arizona with a young Navajo woman who expressed a longing to visit the Grand Canyon, despite living relatively close, prompted them to question their constant movement and the lack of deep-rooted connections. This realization highlighted the absence of a genuine sense of belonging, a stark contrast to the community they had built in college through student organizations, work, and local committees.

Building Community on the Move: Dallas and Permaculture

Their initial dream of constant travel evolved into a journey of understanding how to build community while nomadic. A long-term stay in Dallas, Texas, marked a turning point. Through a coworker, Grant, they connected with others who shared their passion for the outdoors. They learned wilderness first aid and backcountry camping from Grant, while sharing their van life experiences. This experience highlighted that true connection goes beyond shared activities; it involves exchanging knowledge and growing together.

Leaving Dallas was difficult, but it led them to a new focus: exploring community and belonging by connecting with individuals deeply rooted in permaculture. They traveled to permaculture farms, interviewed practitioners, and learned about sustainable practices. These experiences emphasized the importance of reciprocity and contributing to the community, not just taking from it. They helped with farm tasks and shared the permaculture practices with their own network.

Four Key Components for Building Community While on the Move

After traveling over 15,000 miles, the speakers identified four key components for building community while on the move:

1. Share Your Story with Vulnerability: Opening up about their van life journey, including the challenges (finding safe parking, extreme weather, missing comforts of home), created genuine connections. Vulnerability invites others to open up, building trust and authenticity.
   • Example: Sharing stories about struggling to find safe parking or dealing with extreme weather conditions.
2. Embrace Mutual Learning: Community involves evolving together through reciprocity. Drawing on indigenous author Robin Wall Kimmerer's quote, "Gratitude and reciprocity are the currency of a gift economy and they have the remarkable power of multiplying with every exchange," they emphasized the importance of co-learning.
   • Example: Learning about wilderness first aid from Grant and sharing van life tips in return.
3. Root Down Mindfully: Pausing, whether for a moment, a few weeks, or a month, is essential for building deeper connections. Quoting Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, "Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have happiness comes," they highlighted how mindfulness deepens connections. Rooting down allows for active listening and nurturing meaningful relationships.
4. Invest in Your Community: True community is built through the time, energy, and care invested in relationships. Technology (texting, FaceTime, social media, blogs) can be used to sustain bonds and remain actively involved, even from a distance.
   • Example: Using technology to stay connected with fellow pilgrims after hiking the Camino de Santiago.

Application and Conclusion

The speakers no longer live in a van, but the lessons learned remain relevant. They now work in higher education and see parallels in the transient nature of students' lives. The principles of community building can be applied to various settings, including starting college, launching a new career, or moving to a new city.

Constant movement doesn't have to hinder community formation. By applying the four components, individuals can build meaningful relationships and find a sense of belonging amidst uncertainty. True connection leads to meaning, understanding, and purpose. Belonging benefits both individual well-being and the public good. The speakers encourage viewers to reimagine connection and embrace the principles for cultivating community, creating a world where community is the foundation of personal well-being and the public good.