Even Better Than Expected... 💫 ~ Van Life Upgrades 

As a retired cop, I used to teach, "If you feel like something is wrong, even if you can't put your finger on the problem, something probably is wrong." Better that you left. Strongly suggest you leave asap, and video your concerns later.

Your new desk is a stroke of genius! It fits so well. I think you will be happy with your paint. After having kids and grandkids a easily cleaned paint is so so convenient. Your painting is beautiful! ❤

This construction of that slide in desk was absolutely ingenious! Got an inspiration for my boat. Next project is born, thank you..! You made my day. 👍🏼👍🏼

Always....always....always trust your instincts. It is ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry. Never lose sight of this .

It’s definitely the little things in life that mean the most ....love the new desk! Glad you left that spot when things got sketch. Once when I was parked way up on a forest road, no cell service, in the middle of the night my dog started barking like crazy, I looked out and saw 3 people with flashlights coming up to my van, immediately I jumped up front and sped away. Glad you’re safe and listened to your instinct.

The bee! I’m obsessed. I love the entomology type view from the top. Both light and dark somehow. ❤❤❤

It was smart of you to leave when you didn’t feel safe !! Your van looks beautiful. Good upgrade ! Lovely painting Maddie. Safe travels !

Follow your gut. It’s always the safest thing to do. Stay safe

Beautiful art. Great desk Maddie. Lonn

You are so right. The little things can make such a big difference. I love your desk and your freshly painted cabinets. And your artwork is just beautiful! I'm also glad you followed your intuition when you didn't feel safe. I don't want anything bad to happen to you, Maddie. You're like family now.

This video was so fun! I love watching people create, be active, and cherish the outdoors. You make me want to make some furniture for no reason now, or just paint something. The question always is "what" for me XD Maybe I'll peruse pinterest for a bit of naturey inspiration and grab my acrylics and spare canvases.

Great instincts Maddie, please stay safe out there , so many beautiful places to showcase. So glad you show us the good and bad in the life you are pursing.

Always good to change things up a little as time goes by and needs develop! Head south for warmer weather and always listen to your inner self to stay safe. Eliza should be a secure feeling for you also since dogs have great early warning senses. Roll on! 😎

Small changes can often make a BIG difference! Your “desk” is so simple and sooooooo useful!🙏🏼

You definitely did the right thing to move if your uncomfortable. Self intuition is a great thing and the desk is a winner for sure.

Good job listening to your intuition/instincts about your safety. Listen every time. That faculty is a gift. Second. BtW The desk is brilliant! ;-)

Great video . Always helps with my anxiety except the part when those guys were eye balling your van . I'm happy you left and please stay safe . Thank you for everything.

Finding a spot to stay for Free in California was indeed a big challenge. I only found 2 or 3 good spots on the Coastal Highway between LA and Oregon on my trip this past Summer. Those free sites elsewhere in California were often way out of the way and remote. One I stumbled on was near the geographic center of California that I only learned of by going out the other entrance to that place, also a reservoir. There's no shame in moving to feel safe. I did that once this summer rather than trying to tough it out and hope being a guy was enough to keep me safe.

I too am glad you left. That gut feeling can save you no end of trouble. The desk build is well done and the painting rocks!

Love this one, simplicity! ❤. Your bloopers at the end always put a smile on my face, we have to be able to laugh at oneself from time to time.

Your freshly painted cabinets look great and your artwork is beautiful as always. You are very talented. I'm curious, in Home Depot, did you get someone to film you walking down the aisle from the back or did you set up a tripod in the store?? I always appreciate the time it must take to film yourself doing activities from different angles, setting up the camera, taking it down and moving it, over and over :) Thanks and stay safe!

Your are so talented. The flowers are beautiful but that one bee was fabulous! Eliza is so beautiful. Thanks for giving her more camera time.

Good call for going with your intuition. We all want you to be safe. The fresh coat of paint looks great and your desk is perfect. Absolutely love you and your videos.❤️☺️

Good thing you moved during the night ... Be safe, always ...

Shame you had to move but better than sorry. What a beautiful painting!.....

I like the idea of some changes...

So glad you left that site. People should always listen to and trust their gut - if something feels off, it likely is. It’s also not worth taking a chance and, at the very least, feeling really uncomfortable. And the changes you made to the van are great! Nicely done. Enjoy them! 😊

Now you also have more counter space when you're cooking. Good thing you left when your intuition told you to.

I have only recently found your channel and it is like a loving embrace, your narrative is so beautiful and I love your cinematography. So sorry that you were made to feel uncomfortable but well done for being proactive about it and keeping yourself safe.

Such a talented and gifted artist. Love the idea of the new desk, just think of all the creative and beautiful things that you will make in the future on that new workstation. Glad that you decided to move from the first place where you got creeped out and love the awesome place you ended up at. The wonderful Honeybee, pollinating the world for us so we can have an amazing landscape full of plants that produce food for everyone.

Yes, I agree with Dorothy below me - you are family with my daughters and I because we follow every single video, and also we pray for your safety. I'm glad you follow your instincts. However, I must recommend you Felix Immler on YT because he teaches bushcraft which I feel every van lifer should know aspects of, because it could be a life saver! Such as building a windbreak for your van, which would be very useful in ultra-cold weather! Many good blessings to you! Much love, Wendi 🌻🌻🌻

Your 🐝 makes me smile! 😊

Such a simple but smart solution

Maddie you are a beautiful amazing nature artist = ) 🌲 live the life you want , follow your heart , let wonderful adventure continues 🌲

"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu

Creative, and nicely executed change.

Gosh I just love how much you slow down to appreciate little moments!! I need to take a page from your book!!

Nice and not preachy. The little things underpin the big things. Change is constant, so is the law of unintended consequences. Get a backrest or that sitting position is going to cause you issues. Keep up the artwork, you are very talented with watercolors.

What grounds me? I turn to music; singing and playing my guitar and other stringed instruments. Music for me is like art is for you. 💕🎶🎨

You have certainly got an eye for detail, Maddie. Eliza looks say a thousand words.

Love your table! Good job Maddie! 😊💕🎶🎵🍁🇨🇦 Eileen

What grounds me? -- Usually, your videos. - This time I felt a bit anxious when your video went black after you said you were uncomfortable. - As silly as it sounds, I had to tell myself that you were ok. 😅 Thank goodness "we" bounded back with a beautiful poetic morning! 🥰 It's crazy that I don't even know you but seem to be so invested in your life. 🙃Thank you for sharing it with me.

Another satisfying vid, great job on your desk and nice how it all fit in so perfectly !! boy your art skills are, well leaves me speechless ... !!

Thanks! Great video, you’re a talented artist! Jim

So sad you felt not safe enough to stay, they may have been perfectly harmless. But you have to indeed trust your gut feeling, because unfortunately the world isn’t a perfect place. Funny, you put the desk exactly where I expected you to set it up. 😅

I'm so glad you listen to your inner voice Maddie! Also your cupboards look so nice now!

I'm making a desk just like that for my work space next week. So nice to see confirmation that my idea isn't futile!

Enjoy the drawing ✍️, you made the best move, the desktop made a dramatic improvement 🎉❤

That was nice ! I guess my hobby is my vehicles but lately I haven't had to do much of that although since my spare/backup is my 31 year old car and my vans now turning 24 years old I'm sure this lull won't last forever. Thanks for another great episode !

The desk was a brilliant idea! 💡

Sorry you had to move. Love the new desk. Thank you for sharing your awesome adventure with us. Stay warm, safe, happy and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia

Amazing how much difference a piece of wood can make!

Nice work .. your paintng skills are admirable..

Although it is really annoying to have to "read" a video, your words were right on at this time for me. I have been trying to get some things done and what you said was motivating and I'm going to get right to it in a few minutes. I really like how you made that desk. Like you said, so simple, but perfect for what you need and easy to set up and take down. I love how you used the drawr to support it. Just a little tip, if you are trying to save money you can get painting stuff at the dollar store. I know home crappo is over priced, but geez! it seems even more out where you are. I know those little rollers are WAY over priced. If you need a small roller again you can get a full size roller, half wide roller handle, cut the roller in half with a hack saw, or knife, and you have a small roller for a reasonable price, plus another roller. Then if its water base paint and you want to save it you can clean it out with water, although it takes a lot of water to clean. Best way is to put it in a container so it is under water and scrub it with your fingers. Dump that water out and do it again. Normally you would do that til you don't see paint coming out of it any more but I know if you aren't near a faucet that might take too much water. Same thing with a brush. Clean the handle off good too. One more thing, next time you are at home crappo, get a plastic paint can spout. www.homedepot.com/p/FoamPRO-1-gal-Paint-Can-Pour-Spout-61/100254956 (I don't normally reccommend home crappo but I haven't seen this anywhere else) Its only $1.27 here (let us know how much it is out there) Its very handy and keeps painting much neater. It snaps on the inside edge of the paint can and pouring is easier and neater, less wasteful, much easier to clean, and doesn't gunk up the groove where the lid goes.

Loved your painting they are beautiful

Nice job maddie!

Such a beautiful flower and bee painting. I hope to see the finished bee painting in all it's glory. I'm so glad you listened to your gut and moved to another location. You just never know what some people are capable of though your gut instincts alert us to move on. Thanks for your video and bloops. I so enjoy your videos.

Better safe then sorry. Love your art.

Home improvement stores usually have a self sawing table that you can use to cut your lumber. Great solution to your work station.

You did a very very Great Job on your Van 🚐 Maddie 😊👍

Your mini van makeover looks great, the gloss paint really refreshed it. Not to mention your floral and bee painting, simply breathtaking🌸🐝💓

I have just watched your 'My Van Life: Evening routine. You're so brilliant I am in awe. We get fed these messages that aspiration consumerism and possessing things is the answer, but it isn't the answer, there needs to be more videos showing people the virtues of a simple life. I am so in awe of your approach of making little improvements slowly and incrimentally, again a lesson that has been lost. The van is so brilliant, so cleverly arranged, I don't think professional fitters could do a better job of the layout. Your videos are also soo calming. Forget ASMR! Best wishes.

Your voice is possibly the most relaxing voice I've ever heard (at least in the top 5!). If there was a audio book with your voice.....I'd buy it!!

You're amazing artist I think you're awesome

If there’s ever a time when you might consider compromising by paying for a campsite for the night, it would be when you’ve just literally fled for your safety and it’s already dark out. I don’t know if that would have been an option where you are, but you should probably keep it in mind in the event of another scary situation.

I look forward to ur videos, just wish they were longer. Please stay safe & vigilant as u have been. 🚐🌟

Go girl you rock.

That is very clever!! Well done!!!

Great job .... congratulations on your new desk and creative pursuits! Your talents always impress me.

Just be safe girl love you don't want anything happening to two ❤️

Always trust your gut!!

Thanks!

Hi,I'm new here.Now I'm watching your videos.

Things don't have to be big or expensive, just the simple things can help you see life in a better light. California is so hard to find camping. I really don't know why they charge money for everything. That is why I live in Oregon in my van even in winter. Anyway you and your pup stay safe and have a great wonderful weekend. Peace out

You’re absolutely right, Maddie! Working with our hands and creating something tangible can have such an effect on our mood… great video thank you for sharing with us!

Never give up lots of love ✌️😍

You are an inspiration young lady. Thanks for sharing!

Ooo Maddie if you know the size before you went they would have cut it for you ❤

Your van life video is awesome great improvement on your van

Love this video and your amazing channel please stay safe and strong prayers and thoughts for you and your family love your Aussie family friend John and Merry Christmas 🎄 to you too ❤❤❤

Your videos makes me happy so thank you 💗🌠

So talented❤

Literlly nice location

Almost 1k hundos lotus love 😍

You got talent

If someone did try to get into your van, would your dog bark? I have dogs and I find no one bothers me once they start barking. They make people think twice, even though I know they are sweet. Take care of yourself. Your artwork is beautiful.

Sorry you were unsafe. ❤️🤗

great video

Well having happened across your video by chance and having watched it, I'd go as far as say your an artist in the making. And okay you cheat to a degree using photographs but now a days what artists don't cheat and your replication is far better than a lot that I have seen.

Hello, hello, hello. lol. :) Fun.

talented 😍

E' molto brava a dipingere ad acquarello vedo. Sa pure fare i lavori manuali, brava.

You are very talented, really liked your flower, I'm curious, did you study Arts or is it a hobby ? Also, I sympathize with you regarding uncomfortable looks from guys.. I took my dog out last night, it wasn't that late but still, I met 3 different guys who kept looking at me.. You were right to go away, better safe than sorry. Bye from France :)

Awesome ❤❤❤

If Alexandra Daddario lived in a van. If they make a movie about Maddie, I know who's playing her...

Home Depot could have cut that plywood zip zip! Free.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Hello, you are a beautiful girl 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

It is a cliche, but I mean this: Have a wonderful, happy Christmas. And I hope the New Year delivers everything you hope for / hope to achieve, Maddie.

😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘