I cannot agree more with Henry David Thoreau when he writes in Walden “Our houses are such unwieldy property that we are often imprisoned rather than housed in them.”
That’s why instead of becoming the unfortunate owner of a house or an apartment I decided to become the owner of Karmavan: a beautiful, 2014 Mercedes Sprinter van that I am turning into my future nest.
I bought it completely empty so everything is to be built. Yet, because I am not that handy, I have friends helping me and showing me the ropes of insulation, electricity, plumbing and carpentry.
It might remain under construction for a few months until becoming a habitable space with minimum comfort: tiny kitchen, shower and dry toilets, but I am hoping to at least be able to sleep inside around spring.
“There is some of the same fitness in a man’s building his own house that there is in a bird’s building its own nest.” says the so inspiring Thoreau. Yes, it is a hard, long and meticulous process that I have undertaken, but I am learning such a great deal in DIY and it is a real satisfaction to build my “own nest.”
isabelle garcia 