A few days ago, Pat expressed disappointment that it was taking him so long to finish the campervan.
I was aghast. “Are you kidding?”
“Why? How long did you think it was going to take?”
“YEARS,” I admitted.
My incredulity was not a reflection on his efficiency, but rather the fact that I can’t believe he has accomplished so much in less than a year.
When we bought the van in January 2021, it was an empty, cavernous blue shell. I hardly remember what it looked like then.
As of this date, the Paddy Wagon has the following things:
- SOLAR PANELS
- A SINK AND FAUCET WITH RUNNING WATER
- 3 KINDS OF ELECTRICAL OUTLETS (AC, 12V CIGARETTE, AND USB)
- 2 MAXX AIR FANS
- QUEEN-SIZE BED THAT CONVERTS TO A SOFA
- COMPOSTING TOILET
- REFRIGERATOR IN A PULL OUT DRAWER
- UPPER AND LOWER CABINETS
- BUTCHER BLOCK COUNTERTOPS
- BERKEY WATER FILTER ON A CUSTOM-BUILT SLIDING PLATFORM
- “GARAGE” SPACE FOR EXTRA STORAGE
- WALLS COVERED WITH MOLD RESISTANT, EASY TO CLEAN UPHOLSTERY FABRIC
- CEDAR PLANK CEILING
- ENGINEERED HARDWOOD FLOORING
- FULLY EQUIPPED KITCHEN WITH INDUCTION COOKTOP AND PROPANE OVEN/STOVE
- HEATER
- A SIGN
…and there is so much more.
I know these things might seem mundane if you live in a brick house with a manicured lawn in the ‘burbs, but when these items are installed in a 22-foot van, they are a BIG, FREAKIN’ DEAL. Do you know how much my heart swelled with joy on the first morning I crawled out of our warm van bed and realized that my feet didn’t have to touch dirt, gravel, grass, or mud to make a carafe of coffee?!
THAT is camping heaven.
If any of you noticed that I did not include the Geyser Shower System on my list, especially because I was so excited about it in a previous post, I owe you a hug for paying attention to my blog. You might also remember, then, that I had also hinted there was one van component we hadn’t yet tested. Yep, that is our Geyser Shower System.
As I recall, many of you seemed worried about us showering with one gallon of water.
Oh ye of little body odor control faith!
I have confidence that our Geyser unit will come in handy someday, but it’s the kind of thing we only want to use if we’re out in the middle of nowhere and have no other bathing options, and so far, that hasn’t happened. Come on, we’re not so hardcore that we would pass up a modern shower if it’s available.
Nonetheless, Pat just made his millionth trip to Lowe’s to look for hinges for the exterior sink cabinet door to allow easy access to the fresh and gray water containers inside. He also wants to attach the last slab of butcher block to this door to make a small fold down table that we can pull up our camp chairs to enjoy a meal or a snack outside the van.
As the weather gets colder, it’s getting harder for Pat to continue working outside, so the 2021 “build” season is coming to an end. Next spring, he hopes to install screened windows in the back, and possibly larger water tanks under the van.
But, dear husband, you have done a bang up job on the Paddy Wagon. I love it and I am so proud of you! You have definitely earned the right to hang your fuzzy blue University of Michigan dice (not balls… he corrected me) from the rearview mirror.
