You’ve Got to Pick a Location or Two

With the boot door lifted all the way up, blocking the heat of the mid afternoon sun and my legs dangling out of the van, I breathed in the summer air around me. In front of me lay fields filled with the sound of crickets and in the distance down in the valley, somewhere where I couldn’t see, came the bleat of sheep. And to the right of me sprawled two aged bikers on a mid ride break, not what you’d expect to add to your picturesque location, but I won’t complain!

This still remains one of my favourite locations to work from in the van. Yet it is a treat because of its distance. You see, one of the things I’ve learnt about working from the van is that location matters. The right location will always depend on what task you would like to do and the time you have free. Just because a location is pretty doesn’t mean it will work for you and the jobs at hand. Fagin worthy tune to one side, you have really got to pick a location or two…or three, or four, or five.

A Reminder of My Set Up

I’m only three months into office van life adventures with our VW Caddy Maxi. We aren’t converting it, instead we’re taking a much more modular approach because the van needs to achieve three things. The first is a day to day car, so I need those seats in, and our Caddy came with seven. Brilliant. The second is an office, somewhere I can work from comfortably near pretty locations regardless of the weather. The third is a campervan, a micro camper to be precise. Five of the seven seats are removable, so we can swap seats in and out depending on the use. If we went down a full conversation route, it would make one of those functions impossible, so modular it is.

Finding a Location to Work 

I didn’t realise how limited my local knowledge was until I was finally forced to find locations to work from.

“Oh it will be great!” said my rose tinted past self, “I’ll get to park in pretty locations, and see wonderful things, oh and on my break I’ll frolic in the buttercup filled fields.”

“Oh!” said the present me when I sat down to plan my first trip out and couldn’t think of a single location. This is primarily because although I’m surrounded by many fields and beautiful countryside, most of it is privately owned and they nay like you to be around their land. However, it was also down to my lack of knowledge. 

To begin my location search I began with google. That didn’t help, turns out there isn’t a blog called ‘Greatest laybys near you’ (there should be). And tripadviser don’t really rate car parks (they should). 

So I deep dived further into google. I found a Reddit post from someone having the same issue as me. In the comment section someone advised using an OS Map to locate view points and then use a street view function to find near by parking spots. 

Brilliant. 

That worked wonderfully for awhile. Then someone else recommended an app called park4night . It’s designed for those with campervans to find somewhere to sleep for the night, however it works well for finding working locations. People have even left reviews and pictures. So helpful. 

All this being said, I could find the most amazing location in the local area, with those pretty views and fields of buttercups to frolic in, but (and it’s a big but so I’ll make it bold) but if my check list isn’t met then it’s not a suitable location to work from at all. 

Let’s go through my check list now, because I think you’ll find it a useful one for you too. 

Location Check List

One. Internet

First thing first, the location has to have an internet signal. Although not all of my tasks need access to the internet, a vast majority requires me to be able to do some research as the most basic of functions. Therefore I need to know I can tether my phone to my laptop for researchy tasks. If I can’t, then it’s not a good location for me.

I’m currently looking at getting an eSim so I can extend my working locations by adding extra networks that are available to me.

Two. Traffic

After this comes the surrounding traffic. If it is too close a busy road then it is distracting, and not peaceful, nor pretty, or fun. I have one location which on its first inspection seemed perfect. It had great signal, a beautiful view of Pendle Hill, and it was elevated from the road. However, the road was actually so busy with cars, buses and trucks, it wasn’t really that pleasant.

I have another location which is on a lay-by, the road running immediately next to it, this might seem like something you’d initially dismiss, however it isn’t that busy, and vehicles that drive past are mostly cars. So just because it is set back from a road doesn’t mean it will work well if you’re after that peaceful, country, immersive working environment.

Three. The Views

I work better when I’m outside, garden, benches, fields, the side of a lake, occasionally part way up a mountain. The view matters, the space surrounding you matters. The reason I got this van is because our silly Lancashire weather isn’t always so kind, and working without shelter isn’t practical. That being said, most of the locations with stunning views are often as exposed as I feel trying to use the whizzer in the back of the van! If it’s absolutely throwing it down, or super windy, then that breath taking location will be anything but. Therefore you need wet weather locations and none wet weather locations. Wet weather locations for me mean something that is more sheltered, such as car parks underneath tree cover. I don’t know about you, but there’s something about hearing the rain dripping on the leaves that is so comforting. Also, the last time I did this a group of walkers parked up and got out, thanks to the tinted windows nobody knew I was there and I felt like a spy!

Four. Distance

Finally, I have to consider its distance from my house. Some days I don’t have time to get away, especially if it’s a busy one with meetings, meaning all I have time for is a power hour. In that instance I need a place that is only 5-10 min drive away so I can maximise that hour. My next bracket down falls into my ‘morning/afternoon’ locations. These are ones that range from 20-40 minutes away, and for these I’m committing to spending either the whole morning or afternoon there. Good internet coverage is a must because the tasks I’ll be doing here will most likely need it, and somewhere with a nice view to eat my lunch, or go on a little walk around that time, before heading home is also key.

The last category for me is the ‘whole day’ location. This one is basically my code for ‘I’m off to the Lake District’.  I haven’t done this one yet because so many locations fall at the first location requirement (internet), but once the eSim arrives I will not be as restricted! Yay! For a whole day location, the places can be an hour to an hour and a half away. They must not only need to provide nice views, but also an activity to do at lunch to get me out of the van. If it has toilet access near by that would be great, but not essential as I have my whizzer. And now some blinds so I don’t feel so exposed!