Meet Catina:
Your Expert Guide to
Solo Van Life

I've tested the nomadic lifestyle across nearly every vehicle type to understand what truly works:

• ✓ The Scale: I've managed the complex mechanical and logistical demands of a 33-foot motorhome — a full year of full-time living while towing a vehicle.
• ✓ The Simplicity: I've lived full-time in a Toyota Sienna minivan using a removable, non-permanent Roadloft kit since September 2023 — no construction, no custom build, no permanent modifications.
• ✓ The Transition: I spent years in tiny house communities in two states, learning how to create "home" and community in small spaces before ever stepping into a van.

Most van life guides focus on complex carpentry or expensive custom builds. I take a different approach because my background is built on professional precision.

I am a full-time solo traveler — usually with my dog, Henry, close by — and a Federally Credentialed Tax Professional (Enrolled Agent). I bring that same level of logistical accuracy to your journey. When I talk about residency, health insurance, and budgeting for van life, I'm helping you navigate the real-world financial realities that make this lifestyle sustainable.

An Enrolled Agent is a federally credentialed tax professional licensed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury — the highest credential awarded by the IRS. It means that when I give you guidance on domicile, multi-state tax compliance, or financial planning for life on the road, it's backed by nearly 20 years of professional tax experience, not just lived experience.

I founded The Van Lifestylist to be the practical, relatable guide I wish I'd had. Whether you are a solo female traveler navigating safety anxieties or an aspiring nomad who wants to avoid the stress of a traditional carpentry-heavy van build, I provide the educational tools and personalized mentorship to get you on the road safely.

My audience is usually women navigating a major life transition — an empty nest, a divorce, the loss of a spouse, retirement, or simply the moment they looked up and realized the life they'd been living no longer fit. Van life often arrives as an answer to that moment. The women who pursue it aren't too late. They're exactly on time.

My life on the road started long before September 2023. This is the arc that led here:

• Paid to Travel: The UGC Podcast — What You NEED To Know About Finances As A Content Creator
• Pucker Mob — Being Yourself Is Your Superpower
• Clook Out! The Vicarious Life — You Were Born for Leaving
• The Road To Rediscovery Podcast — The Gypsy Soul of Catina Borgmann