Two Month Check-in!

I can hardly believe its been two months already. But at the same time, have we been doing this for 2 years? Because it feels like we’ve been doing this for 2 years. In our last check-in I talked about the inevitable point in a project when you are over it all. I said “I imagine that will hit when we’re knee deep in electrical or plumbing.” I”m here to tell you, I wasn’t wrong. Because one week ago we were knee deep in plumbing and electrical and wall building when it hit me. But in true “us” fashion it’s just me that was feeling over it. Jeremy is always great about seeing the work ahead and attacking it until it’s complete. I get overwhelmed and shut down before I attack, it’s just a process I have to get through on every long project we do. I’ll blame my overzealous and impatient nature for this.

This month of work feels like it has given us tons of visual progress. We went from an empty van to a van with a bed, insulation, start of a bathroom, lighting, and electrical. We measured for kitchen cabinets, sorted out what material to use on our wall panels, decided with 87% certainty which ceiling fabric we plan to use. So why do I feel like I hit a wall with this project? I don’t have control anymore. I understood for the most part the steps we needed to take up to this point. Installing the floor, running electrical wires, building the bed base, putting in the denim insulation - I had an understanding of how these things would go and for the most part the process for all of them met my expectations. But then we hit the bathroom and we had to start talking walls. I assumed it would be built one way, Jeremy had it planned another way. The wall panels throughout I am still questioning if we are doing “right” (spoiler alert - there is no such thing as “right” with a van build because every single one is different). But still - I don’t know if what we’re doing is right. At work I tell contractors how to construct walls, cabinets, details. I layout the general idea of how it’s going to be built and while I’m not the one building it - I set the expectation. With the van I’m the support. Jeremy knows how he wants everything done, and as it turns out I’m struggling with not being in control. Tale as old as time, right? I had my weekend of feeling like I know nothing, pouting, singing a song about how I hate cutting insulation panels (I sound like a gem, no?). Then I looked back at how far we have come and told myself to get over it and do what needs to be done.

We have a new video of the past month and almost everything got in this time! Unfortunately we missed the bed installation day which would have been fun to document. But now it looks like magic, a click of the fingers and we have a bed! Take a look, then I’ll list out everything we accomplished so we can all read it and agree I’m a big dramatic baby because we really have come a long way.

Interior:

Re-routed the electrical wires from on top of the wall panel to inside the wall panel

Ran new electrical for our systems

Placed and wired interior lighting

Re-installed the rear step cover

Finished insulation (denim and foam board)

Fit rear wall panels (insulation and wood board)

Installed full size bed frame

Drilled holes for kids seats, prepared for installation

Welded the base on one kids seat for a proper fit

Installed furring strips on the ceiling

Built the bathroom base

Measured for the kitchen cabinets

Exterior:

Installed large side windows

Installed light bar

We really were happy with the pace we were able to keep this past month, especially since I was out with the flu for about 2 weeks. (part of the reason Jeremy is working alone a lot of this month’s video) I think we all agree I’m not the most productive one between the two of us but I like to think I still make a contribution.

Heading into this third month we have a lot to conquer. To start we’re tackling the plumbing for the shower drain, framing up the walls for the bathroom and fridge enclosure, and starting the kitchen wall and cabinets. On top of all of that we are able to cut, finish, and install most of the wall panels. Still to come is possibly the most complex part of our whole build - engineering and installing the kids beds. I was sure we could finish by April 1, Jeremy was sure we could finish by May 1. As we sit today I’m struggling to see us finish in just 4 weeks, but we’ll sure try!