Two years ago, during my van travels, a high schooler found me on Instagram and emailed me this question:
“I just finished reading On the Road by Jack Kerouac. The most shocking aspect was that all their searching and travels never amounted to anything. They set out on a physical and spiritual journey of discovery, but it never seemed to be enough. So back to the road they went. Have you experienced this empty searching?”
Oof, what a doozy.
It’s likely you’ve noticed the swiftly-growing movement our generation calls “vanlife.” Like the Beat Generation’s seeking, vanlife is a burning desire to hit the road and escape something – boredom, the system, a job, family, out-of-control rent, lack of inspiration, a former love, or [insert personal pain here].
I spent 2013-2015 solo seeking in my ’86 Volkswagen Vanagon. I’ve spent the last two years living in a house, in a single location. All the while, the high schooler’s question has pummeled my brain – does hitting the road actually answer anything?