TransportationMatthew Picking The author, Olivia Young, and her partner, Matthew Picking, in their converted cargo van.
- Author Olivia Young and her partner, Matt, are former office workers who now live in a converted cargo van.
- Their life on wheels allows them to
travel more, live simpler, and spend less money. - They've traveled through much of the US and Canada in their 2006 GMC Savana named Birdie.
- Check out incredible photos of their van lifestyle below.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
When I told my loan officer last year that I was looking for a van to live in, she responded with, "Oh honey, I'm so sorry."
I was taken aback by her sympathy because, for me, this was a longtime dream.
It all started in 2016, when I found myself exhausted by my job at a Los Angeles public relations agency and looking for an escape. I put in my notice, sold my things, packed a 70-liter backpack, and traveled to New Zealand on a whim.
Three years and 11 countries later, I still haven't gone back. My partner, Matt, and I now live in a 13-year-old GMC Savana named Birdie, and while it might not offer us daily showers and Netflix, it's everything we need.
Take a look inside our beloved house on wheels below, and see how we eat, sleep, work, and travel inside our trusty van.