This change everything | Van life
Vložit
- čas přidán 24. 03. 2024
- Kelly story • Leaving my toxic relat...
The Nomad cookbook (ebook): thecatladyvan.com/shop
Merch & stickers: thecatladyvan.com/shop
WEBSITE: thecatladyvan.com
Everything inside my van: thecatladyvan.com/van-gear/
WAYS TO HELP THIS CHANNEL:
Patreon: / thecatladyvan
Paypal: www.paypal.com/paypalme/theca...
Business inquires only: emi@thecatladyvan.com
Music I use: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
Please note the above links are affiliate links so Kelly and I get a small commission at no cost to you when you shop through one of the links. I will never promote something that I don't like or use in my daily life. Thank you so much for the support!!
Thank you for watching! Please like, subscribe and share!
Hi my name is Emi. I'm born in raise in small town just outside Quebec City, this is where my lovely accent come from. My #vanlife story starts in September 2018. After a long-term relationship that I was trying for more than a year to rebuild, I decided it was time to end this toxic relationship once for all. This is where I decided to move away from this man that I was still in love with. I put all my belongings inside my SUV (GMC Jimmy) and moved six hours from where I was living. I didn’t know where I would sleep, didn’t know where I would work but I knew I needed to make a drastic move. At that time, I told myself I will only sleep in my car for a month while looking for a place to rent. What I didn’t know is that one month became another month and another month. In the end, I end up sleeping in my car for a full year. Even if people will consider this the lowers time of my life, this experience was the best thing I couldn’t have done with my life. I took that year to focus on myself, decide what I wanted, and most importantly what I didn’t want. That year made me also realize that for so long, I was chasing the wrong dreams. I was chasing what society wanted me to be: to have a big house, a steady job, kids, get married… None of those dreams was making me happy. In September 2019, while I was actively looking for a van, I received a phone call that someone had found my cat (Kelly). After, trying for hours with no success to communicate with my ex-boyfriend (who was taking care of her), I decided to drive the six hours to go pick her up. Without going into too much detail, it turns out he wasn’t able to take care of her anymore. So I brought her in a cat kennel for a couple of days until I found a van we both could live in. I put all the savings that I had accumulated while living in my car and bought my van (a 2011 Ford Econoline that I end up adding a hightop) In the beginning, It wasn’t so glamour. My cat and I were sleeping on a mattress on the floor of the van. We both had to adjust. Now, my cat loves this lifestyle as much as I do; she looks at the window while I’m driving and she loves exploring new places. Since then, my cat Kelly and I are have been living full-time in my self convert van.
I loved the story about how you found Miss Kitty (Kelly). I found my darling cat (he's gone now, sadly) when I drove out to a dark country road because we were supposed to be able to see the northern lights. I had a skirt on since I had come fron work, and as I'm standing on that dark road I felt something furry rubbing on my ankles. I couldn't see what it was because of the skirt, but I finally realized it was this young orange tabby. I took him home and checked the next day to see if anyone was missing him, but he was most likely a barn cat. After he got a bit less wild, he turned out to be a GREAT cat. We named him Aurora for the Aurora Borealis. And no, we never saw the northern lights that night, but I didn't care.
And all the wildlife that didnt survive absolutely heartbreaking 💔.
wildlife Thrives after a burn....google it
😢
Unpopular opinion, but wild fires are great for regrowth and the soil. While devastating for humans I’ve spent a lot of time in Yukon where they have had numerous fires but years later the regrowth is incredible and denser and healthier than it ever was. A lot of the scorched trees grow back and plant life that was out competed now has a chance to grow.
Scratched trees?
@@trustinJesus_only-_ scorched
I corrected it
Absolutely agree! Especially people who have lost there property due to fire then hearing this opinion.
What about the death of priceless wild life and their home????????
@@Jsuttar gotcha ok
Mother Earth will replenish and rejuvenate! This is why forest management is important. Controlled burns are necessary. Some governments ignore it and it causes so much more damage when left unchecked.
Yes and to have forest workers cleaning up underbrush. Land owners clean up your underbrush.
Yes, can you say “ Governor Grusome…ER..Newsome?
Controlled burns clean up underbrush effectively.
Absolutely true.
@@CLepper61you can’t clean up the undergrowth on millions of acres that’s just how stupid trump is
Where I live in Alabama the forestry service burns 1000s of acres a year to keep wild fires from happening. It’s all forest here.
And they should in CA
I been wondering if I was the only person in alabama that knew anything about van life lol
So it's cool to see your post
I do transcription for a living and I've learned through some files I transcribed that some controlled fires are part of good land management - fire is a natural event that occurs in nature and there are some species of insects, vegetation, trees, etc, that only grow after a fire. The fires help control some invasive species and ensure cycles and biodiversity. So some amount of fire is normal and even desired. It's when it gets out of control that it becomes damaging. Not all fire is bad and some is even viital for natures renewal and survival cycle. Learning that was very eye-opening. ❤🔥
@@1006CountryGirlCalifornia forests are mainly national forest not state and they’re way to big to have many controlled burns
Canadas forest is even larger and there’s absolutely no way to have many controlled burns
That, in time will grow a new forest even more lovely and thriving than before. Trust me. This can be a good thing after the pain settles down.
I remember taking a train from Montreal to Québec right after the 1998 ice storm (where half the province lost power for 3 weeks). I was in Vancouver when it happened but I flew home in February and it was so sad to see all the broken trees along the train tracks - even years later I still saw some. I can't imagine driving across the burned areas in BC, Lytton etc. Just watching your video is bringing tears. ❤
Thank you for sharing these scenes. The forest fire season in the Shuswap was horrific last year. The residents were evacuated and even when allowed to return home, the took turns keeping watch as the fire was still moving towards them. I cannot imagine the unbridled fear they experienced. Some residents are still unhoused. Some will not be able to rebuild. It's a terrible thing. I am grateful you showed this -- the aftermath of the power of nature.
Kelly must've recognized your sadness. They absorb our emotions and display them in kind. Now may be a good time to buy land there, although, as you said, the trees are gone. New growth for a new dawn.
It’s heartbreaking the damage wildfires cause. Here in Colorado December of 2021, we lost over 1000 homes with the Marshall fire. It was devastating. We were next on the evacuation list/zone but the fire changed direction. Then the snow came.
Thank goodness you and Kelly 😻 are safe loving van life. New growth will take place where the fires ravaged the land and areas. It will take some time, but Mother Earth will take over. ❤
How heartbreaking to see such beauty reduced to ashes and so many forms of life destroyed. Your narrative was excellent and clearly sincere and heartfelt.
Kitty is so precious the way she sits right there as you drive 💗
Emi, you must think it will be oh so green again. I know, what was will never be again. Fires are so devastating. Property loss, wildlife loss, domesticated animals....and on and on. All the people displaced because they have lost everything, may God be with all. Praying for a very fast recovery.
Yes I think Nature will bounce back bigger and better -- a lot quicker than the inhabitants. It's going to take a long time.
Blame the mismanagement of forestry by the BC gov't, like the experts do. Wake up, people.
I do transcription for a living and I've learned through some files I transcribed that some controlled fires are part of good land management - fire is a natural event that occurs in nature and there are some species of insects, vegetation, trees, etc, that only grow after a fire. The fires help control some invasive species and ensure cycles and biodiversity. So some amount of fire is normal and even desired. It's when it gets out of control that it becomes damaging. Not all fire is bad and some is even viital for natures renewal and survival cycle. Learning that was very eye-opening. ❤🔥
SO sad for you to see a beloved area that has been destroyed by forest fires! Can only imagine how very upset you must be. You have indicated that this happens a lot where you are. Hoping somehow it will not change your plans for your summer travels! ✅. Smart attitude that your van life is far more secure than a house property.
Take care and keep staying safe. Enjoy your travels with sweet Kitty! 💕🤗💕
Well the positive side is that burnt land rarely burns again for a looooooong time. Now the land may be cheaper than it was before.
I remember when I went to Yellowstone National Park down here in the states. It was after a huge huge fire. There was still smoke rising from certain areas. The amount of damage was heartbreaking. But where nature is burned away so too will new growth occur. Doesn't make it any easier to see though. Animals, Plants and people all suffer. *hugs* I got overwhelmed in Yellowstone when I saw it. I started thinking way too much about the wolves in the park and how they *finally* started coming back from being an endangered species. Ugh. I feel ya on this Emi. You're such a sweetheart! Love from down below lol
So devastating. I remember praying and praying!!!
I can see the shock in your eyes. I feel sad just looking at the devastation on my TV screen. Pretty lady, only deserts are fire-free. Thank you for sharing this with us. Who better to share your feelings with than your friends. We love you, you know.
I am so sorry Emi about all the wildfire damage to people's houses and your beautiful country.
In the United States they quit doing prescribed burns for some reason and we have had many more fires related to this. If you buy land you just want to make sure you keep your land up so that your land would not burn. I lived west of Denver in the Rocky Mountains and the community I lived in made sure we were a fire wise communiy.
When I see lands effected by fire , I see homes of metal that can move when fire warning come. Communities who build together like those in Tennessee. Incredible tiny homes that are made to expand later as fires are no longer a threat.
I watched updates on the fires in Canada and it was disturbing to see. I knew that being there and seeing it directly would have been far worse. My heart went out to all who lost their homes, property and human and animal lives. I pray people can recover and go on living and enjoy life again.
This is the best time to make an offer on a parcel of land in that area. Find a frustrated owner and make a deal.
That fire situation is so devastating. Certainly hard to see the aftermath and how it affected all those people. So sad. Thanks for sharing that reality with us. For those of us that don’t live in BC can’t see it without your help. Stay safe in your travels.
You can still dream of some day buying land...Time changes... Be Happy with the decision to keep rolling. ❤️☀️🔥 🌎
So sad to see all that was destroyed 😞. Be safe. ❤️✌🏻🐱
It was good to see your previous home still stands. There are memories in that area for you and Kelly. I live in a bad fire area too.
Yeah, for real...I live in Oregon near where some of the huge fires took place over the past few years. The first time you see "after" the fire it is truly shocking. I remember the Yellowstone fires of the '80s, then visiting Yellowstone 10-12 years after the fire, learning about how there are seeds that can only be opened by fire, and those were the trees that started springing to life after the fire. They were several feet tall to 6 feet tall by the time I was there, growing among the blackened skeletons of burned trees. There _is_ a purpose for this.
I lost my home & greenhouse biz in Kelowna's fire 10 yrs ago and every summer after that we had smokey skies from the yearly fires. They continue underground during winter then erupt all over again. It's horrible. I moved to Ontario.
Hi Emmy, it is so sad to see that beautiful land burned up like it is nothing worse than a fire. You stay safe out there you and Kitty can’t wait to see your next video. Take care girl..🚐🏔️🐾🐾😊💜
The news reports don't begin to paint the story you have shared, Emi. God bless the people who have incurred losses of family, pets and memories. Stuff is replaceable. It's just stuff. Insurance can't make you 100% whole. What a sadness.😢
Firestorm or not, land is always a good investment. But!!! There is no question that you are living your best life right now on the road.
My God, thank you so much! This is more than tragic!!!! Please be safe!
Those fires are so devastating. Thank you for sharing your video. Hi Kitty.👍😊❤️
This can be an ideal opportunity to purchase land at a much reduced cost after a burned affected area. Safe to live for many years from future burns. Regrowth and regenerative soils are ideal for growing. Think of it as a blank canvas. Start Anew!
I would consider looking around Ashcroft area to see how land prices have dropped. Same happened in Alberta after Fort McMurray fires. Best of luck!
Praying for your safety as you have decisions to make for your travels.
So heartbreaking to see 😢
@@BIKENESS Also animals and peoples homes. A bit of compassion for the people who lost everything… like I said it’s heartbreaking 💔
@@djohnson2362 you're right..my apologies
You are so correct Emi. I wouldn't spend that much money on a piece of land even if I had it. Property is so exspensive Thank you Emi. Great video.
Even predicting drought and a bad fire season here in Manitoba, so it's not just on the west coast. This is going to be a scary year this year I think, for a lot of people and animals.
I smelt charred wood while you talked about the fires 🔥 If you work on your land and come to care about or love it, you wouldn't care about it burning you would do what it takes to replace/restore it.
Emi, what burned won't burn again for a long time because there is nothing left to burn.
The mountain pine beetle has also been devastating the forests here in BC and it's been decades of non-stop destruction. Whenever you see a 'red' pine tree amongst the green ones it is a standing, dead pine beetle victim which is tinder dry. These patches of trees often literally explode in wild fires or ignite quickly - just like torches.
I was in Salmon Arm last summer visiting my daughter and we could see the glow of the fires. We had embers on our camper and car and they were full of ash. It was terrible, the smoke smell and worries about if it would come to the mountain where she lives.
You could earth cover your little house and leave if there are fires (in your van home).Earth covered homes with grass over them would insulate your home from the fire. Would need to dig into the earth to build.
Or build above. These are awesome. With a sod roof!
Yes. 🦋Tears for 🌲
Fires DEW cost damage... Paradise, CA, Lahaina, Santa Rosa, CA, Southern CA, Oregon. Etc., etc.🦋
Yes I remember when you were looking at that land!☘️🌹
I lived in Santa Rosa during the awful fires we had 2017-2020. I was evacuated from my home 4 times in 4 years… Luckily never lost my homes (I was renting), but know many who did in both Santa Rosa and Paradise. The skies were orange and dark with smoke each summer and fall, and it looked so apocalyptic. I have since moved away, but even here in western Oregon we have the annual threat of wildfires. So scary.
@@CristaXploresIt is the globalists who are scary.
This. Right here. Absolutely correct. Good for you for speaking up!
@CristaXplores 🌲🌺🌲Bless you. Arrived in Santa Rosa, right after it happened. Met so many people that had gone through it. Many blessings.🌲🌺🌲
the north Shuswap is pretty safe now , there is nothing left to burn here
Its so sad to see such devistation. I hope the eco system recovers and that people will become better stewards of the blessings they have been entrusted with.
I also wanted to buy land there and also changed my mind because of the intensity of the fires 🔥
Emi I know it’s hard to see that destruction we had a fire here in Colorado too just 75 miles away and it destroy a good portion of the trees along with homes. It takes a while to recover but if you see it you will feel worse. Have happy travels you and kitty stay safe. 🩷✨
I have driven through areas in San Diego County when we had a few HUGE fires years ago. Very heartbreaking 💔 😢
I so appreciate you sharing this vlog with us. It is sad you have have a connection to the area making part of your journey.
Just a shame for people to lose their homes. Sad really. Emi - my sis and BIL live in the Rockies near Buena Vista Colorado about 5 months out of each year. A fire got right behind where the RV Ranch is - they had to evacuate for a couple days if I remember right - and also, a flood nearly got into their area - right behind the fire - nearly got hold of some of the fire fighters. And even in Colorado Springs you could smell the smoke and see it. And even the Maui fires - it burned boats out in the water of the ocean! I was shocked. It is sad. And you share all parts of your day/week. That is ok. It is part and parcel of who you are. God Bless.
It really is so sad when a forest burns and / or someone's home etc. I really enjoyed this video, I enjoy all of your videos. Today, I guess I was just really enjoying conversation and was sad that the video came to an end. Not that you did anything wrong, you did not do anything wrong at all. Just me, maybe I just needed the conversation today. Thanks for sharing.
After a big fire the underbrush is burned. It will not burn again anytime soon. Land is cheap now.
You and i passed each other going downhille Merrite, last week We have same Hightop
Just wanted to cry knowing people were fighting for their homes. Unbelievable.
My cousin lost everything in that fire. Her parents passed it on to her. Her Dad's shop and her Mom's quilts all gone. She wont go back.
consider this Emi..
there is almost zero chance of there being another forest fire in that area for a good long while.. ;o)
fires can start anywhere.. even the prairies
but I have never heard of them starting in an area that has already been burned.
you can plant lots of trees around where you plan to camp the most..
and be at peace knowing you'll not have to worry about being burned out.
and maybe the land will be even cheaper cause it would be considered bare land then.
no tree value.
Emi, thanks for sharing concerning the wildfires. There are so many fires here in the States as well. Be safe!
Yes last year quite a few different countries had very bad fires 🔥 and it was devastating to see on the news so sad 😢
Hey Emi and Kelly, always love your videos, thanks for the ride along.
It's so sad to see the devastation the fire caused. 😢
Natural disasters can happen anywhere. Tornados are another natural disaster that will change the appearance of the landscape. Love your vids Emi!!! Give Kelly a hug for me!! Be safe sweety!!!❤
I remember seeing all the TV News of the Fort McMurray in Canada of the big fire that went through several communities chasing people who evacuated to one shelter then had to evacuate the shelter to another city shelter...just terrible. In Colorado, USA where I live we had two fires at the end of Decmber that the wind made into one big fire the Marshall Fire that burned the cities of Superior and Louisville burning into the night...hundres of homes burned and two people were killed and over a thousand pets lost their lives as people could not get back home to rescue their pets or belongings. The heavy winds came down through the Rocky Mountains valleys into the two cities near I-36 . The Mountains with lots of forests are beautiful but with drought, dry brush and high winds wildfires can happen. We love our forests and camping in the mountains.
There were dashcam videos online of people trying to get out of Fort McMurray. The problem was there were only two exits, and the police kept closing them and redirecting traffic to the other.
The lives lost are the saddest.
That was so devastating & sad. Fire can be so angry. Thank goodness you weren't there. Emi, I look forward to your videos. I'm thankful that I subscribed to your channel.
NOTHING in this life is a guarantee. Can’t get consumed with the what if’s.
Just live. When hard things happen, we press through them.
The best way to wake a sleeping beauty.. is with a kiss. Kisses to Miss Kelly.
Thank you for sharing the story about that burning. So sad when you see that. I pray you will be able to fine land one day that you will love. God bless you and Kelly. Much love for both of you!!!!!❤♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
I used to live in the Cariboo region in 2017, and was evacuated. Thankfully our home was fine, but many other homes and businesses were lost due to the wildfires. The area around our little town was scorched. Seeing your video brought back the heartbreak and sorrow. The town of Lytton was destroyed a few years later, in 2021.
When you asked Kelly if she remembered the place where you found her she actually looked sad like She was thinking back to her life before she found you.
These same burns occured in 1819 thru 1821 according to the CSDL Dendrology records.
Interesting
Emi ms.kelly looked at you like mom it's sad here let's go. I enjoy all of ur videos, take care Emi, watching you from West Tennessee, USA
We had alot of fires last year up north ! Wildfires to happen my cousin worked as a helicpeter pilot out west fighting fires all his life! We own a cottage on Lake Nipissing & have been safe so far. I always invested in real estate & that is how I made my money!
Very few things are triggering to me....wildfires is one of those esp. being a Californian. One of the biggest fires happened north of here in Santa Rosa. It blanketed the skies for days in an orange apocalyptic hue and I remember how it looked, how it felt, like the end of days. The suffering was widespread, but people choose to rebuild in the very same place. 😢
Was that in 2020? Already a weird year.
It was informative seeing the bad fire hit places, thanks for your video 👍❤
I remember watching reports of those fires in Canada last year while you were traveling. It looked like half of Canada was going up in flames! I was scared for all of you living up there. I'm in US. We've had our share of fires here too. Some arson, probably more than we know. It's very sad.
Thanks for taking us along! 💕
yes its so sad, all the devistation, land, homes, wildlife, loss of life, through the test of time things happen, we come together, helping and lifting people back on their feet, learning from what happened and coming back stronger, no matter where you call home we all will face disasters, i pray for those who were affected by the fires, 🙏🕯️🙏🕊️
emi....those fires put out tons of morels! Its almost time for them to pop up. eat some for me.
It would be so cool for you to take a bit of a deep dive in to photographing the Devi station. With your passion I sure you would create some amazing images for awareness of the distraction and the beauty of that was left. It could be a series and shoot the same areas as the forest regenerates itself. Take care. 🇨🇦
A houseboat in the middle of a lake?
I grew up in the Ring of Fire along the Pacific coast. I have survived a fire (home lost), a tsunami (home lost), earthquakes (home lost). Moved to Texas and survived a hurricane (home lost).
A van may not survive an accident, but not so much money in it. I bought 5 acres 10 years ago. Several years ago we were evacuated for fire, but my home was not lost. Sigh.
I read about a family that survived Hurricane Katrina, and decided that it would be safer to leave New Orleans and go further inland - to Tuscaloosa 🌪️
I remember that video.
It sure makes a person solemn to think of all the personal damage these fires have caused, as well as the problem overall. Zombie fires -- who would've thought?! Last summer we had a couple of days where you could hardly see across the street here in Florida -- due to smoke from fires in Quebec!! It makes it hard to breathe. The scale of these things just boggles the mind.
I knew it was bad in New York City from that, but Florida? Yikes! That has me staring at a map in complete awe.
I love following your adventures and photos. Kitty is so cute with a great personality. I hope you can continue.
I don't travel in nearly this remote areas so I really enjoy visiting through your site. Thanks
This just makes my heart cry…so devastating still…..how fast beautiful landscape can go away…
I can’t handle smoke my lungs are not good enough…
Thanks for showing the truth
I love the way you speak. Nice video also! I feel your pain.
Not that a fire would help humans, but wildlife thrives when the soil and more sunlight helps lower level plants to grow. The food chain thrives. Little creatures provide food for predator animals. Browse increases the population of deer, elk, moose.
I love those vans Jay has for sale... especially the wood burning stove one :)
Thanks for the tour of some of the Shushwap region. Drive safe!
Thanks!
Thank you so much Karen. Have a beautiful day
Very interesting video Emmy.😊🏴
Ugh! I saw the videos of you talking about those fires last summer. Its so sad!
Emi buy in Prince Rupert! No forest fires! Land for 35K and you can mortgage w 50% down.
Thank you for the tour to see the after fire devastation. It is sad and it's hard but it will come back if people don't mess it up.
Emily I think that you could look at this a different way. Wild fires are a natural thing and necessary. So saying that. The land is already burned. Cleared and ready to get for a fire sale price. The land won't burn again, the fuel is gone. Fire insurance will be much less expensive.
Not as pretty, that's true but you're young, you can make it pretty😉💙💙💙
We have the best solution Emi, be mobile 🤗
I was actually thinking last summer how living in a house on wheels might be more of an advantage, or even a necessity, in areas that are prone to natural disasters
It is very sad to see the devastation of all the fires last season but it’s also very sad that things are so expensive that land and houses aren’t for people anymore. There for investors and banks. You have the best home , one you can move and take with you were ever you want !
So sad Emi ❤
So sad and getting worse every year. I have friends in both Shushwap and Kelowna. It was so frightening.
It's bad when you see things like that Emi it's sad for the people amazing video give kitty a hug and a big kiss