Van life intrigues me.
But I don’t own a van.
And, although I’m self-sufficient and totally capable of “roughing it,” I probably wouldn’t attempt an RV adventure without a van mate with automotive skills and the ability to fend off roadside serial killers and generic truck stop creeps.
So, the next best thing was a freeform journey from suburban Maryland to a women’s gathering in Rhode Island. I:
- Rented an impractical but fun car (a Mustang).
- Booked my hotels last-minute. And stayed at a wide weird range of lodgings (see below)*.
- Made loose-ish plans to see old friends and my brother along the way.
- Talked to strangers whenever that seemed welcome.
- Found a random diner for breakfast one day.
- Met a real-life van woman! (Her tricked-out vehicle is named “Brooklyn” and her workshop at the gathering was AMAZING)
- Decided on a start date for my next vanishing.
But the reality is that one doesn’t get lost on these trips. I found parts of myself and my passions to inform my future adventures.
Although I’d been considering moving to a new apartment before I started this trip, I decided that my “nest” just really needs to be the place where my luggage lives, I can wash my clothes, and decompress and do mundane things like health check-ups before I hit the road again.
Zoom, zoom, beep, beep!
*Hotel selections:
- The Crowne Plaza in Annapolis is functional, close to my kids, and relatively quiet (Plus, I get IHG points). If you get really bored, you can visit nearby malls. I have discovered that eclectic groups are always staying there — church gatherings, athletes, and even a scrapbooking crew. It’s my go-to. (But the pool has been under construction forever.)
- I deviated from my usual NY lodging and booked a last-minute room at the Arthouse Hotel in Manhattan. This hotel has a funky bar and an amazing neighborhood-y location. It is a walk to Central Park and countless great restaurants. PLUS, I had a partial view of the Hudson River.
- The Greenwich Hyatt was fine for a one-night stay. The lobby is under construction and a hedge fund gala was going on in the ballroom, making for an interesting experience. The room had a chaise lounge and the ability to cast to the TV, which made the venue perfect for a rainy Saturday afternoon.
- Arriving early for my event in Rhode Island, I treated myself to a massage at the Bristol Harbor Inn.
- Airport hotels are often a tad bizarre. By their very nature, they are transient. However, the Hilton Boston Logan Airport has Amazon package lockers, a decent restaurant, and a state-of-the-art gym. (And I can sleep a little later tomorrow before my flight takes off.)
And, of course, none of these is nearly as rustic as sleeping in the back of a camper parked in an RV community or parking lot.
But perhaps I’m just working my way up to the REAL van life!
