WHENEVER SHE HITS the highway in her camper van, Nancy Crowell feels a rush of happiness. “It's like I step into my life when I get in my van, says Crowell, 61, of Lopez Island in Washington.“That's when I feel most alive.
Crowell, who had never camped before buying the van she named Moku (Hawaiian shorthand for “spaceship), has traveled more than 20,000 miles on her own since picking up her van in October 2019 from Peace Vans, a company in Seattle that restores, sells, and rents customized camper vans. She once spent 92 consecutive days camping in it. Crowell has driven down the West Coast twice and through Colorado two times; this spring she's setting off on a journey to Utah. And then there are the regular short trips she takes: Every Sunday she travels to the mainland of Washington from her remote island home to go mountain biking and camping in the van for a couple of days.
Road-tripping has saved her soul, Crowell says. “I live by myself on a small island with very few people. Most people go on vacation because they want to relax and go somewhere beautiful. But that's my everyday life. I go looking for adventure and connection.” Traveling in her van has allowed Crowell to meet interesting people and experience new things-something that helped prevent her from going stir-crazy over the past two years.
Denne historien er fra Volume 2. No 2 - 2022-utgaven av The Oprah Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Volume 2. No 2 - 2022-utgaven av The Oprah Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The Perfect Gift Book for Everyone on Your List
Sumptuous reads that look as lovely on your coffee table as they do on your bedside table.
Long Live YOU!
A head-to-toe guide to staying strong, sharp, healthy, and happy well into your platinum years.
How to Manage Holiday Stress
Want to avoid family drama this year? Here are three ways to pregame.
How Makeup Artists Do the Holidays
Time to put your party face on! These glam pros are sharing a look they love—and modeling it themselves.
On Everyone's Lips
Carol Rasheed, the head makeup artist on The Color Purple, gives us a peek behind the scenes-and, thanks to her new lipstick collection, a memento.
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW Survival Guide
Ding-dong, she's here! But fear not-so are we, with advice on managing this singular relationship with grace, humor, and lots of heart.
The Enduring Power The Color Purple
It has captivated audiences as a novel, a movie, and a Broadway musical. On the eve of its latest incarnation, a sweeping musical feature film out on Christmas Day, we celebrate Alice Walker's universal saga of resilience and redemption with behind-the-scenes stories from the new book Purple Rising.
Who (or What) Do You Need to Thank?
Gratitude isn't just a topic for your annual turkey dinner. It's been scientifically shown to improve your health eating depression, boosting immunity, and lowering stress. These thank-you notes (plus an ode to a heartbreakingly loyal pup) will inspire you to make it a daily practice.
Beam Me Up
Bethany Heitman's self-esteem was tied to her clear skin, so dark spots sent her spiraling. Then she saw the light.
Turn Around, Bright Eyes
After years of despising the puffy bags under her eyes, Rae Ann Herman found a surgeon she trusted and woke up refreshed in every way.