North Bay man says van life helped him reclaim his time — and launch a business

Francois Alaire's home sits on four wheels, has no shower and is powered by the sun. But after nearly eight years in "the Golden Mullet" — his 1998 Chevrolet express van with a fiberglass top and four-inch lift — he says he wouldn't have it any other way. 

"I had no real direction prior to van life, because I was constantly pressured by the high cost of living," Alaire said. "It allows me to just exist without those big pressures of maintaining a lifestyle that I was made to believe was the only way."

The van is designed to go into the remote areas of northern Ontario. Inside, there's a small sink that uses spring water, a fridge, a diesel heater and a propane cooktop. 

The one thing missing is a shower, which he manages by jumping in lakes in the summer and using community centres or the YMCA in winter. 

Alaire's life wasn't always like this. About six years ago, he lived in Ottawa, paying $1,200 a month for a one bedroom apartment – a price tag that, at the time, felt suffocating. 

"I did the math on how much time I had to work in order to afford this apartment, and when I saw the numbers on how many hours I had to trade just to pay for rent… I was shocked," he said. "I asked myself the question, there's got to be a better way?" 

That question led him to van life and he said that transition wasn't easy.

He said getting rid of his possessions felt like throwing pieces of his past away. 

"I realized through reflection, I had traded my time for those items," he said. "Once the downsizing started happening, it's like I got into a groove, and it became easier and easier."

Now living solo with his cat, Alaire is based in North Bay — a place he calls a "dream town" for van life. He often parks in municipal lots, near beaches or out in the country. 

Occasionally, he'll stay in a Walmart parking lot, but he's never had an issue finding a place to sleep.

One thing Alaire didn't expect when he started this lifestyle was how curious strangers would be — often approaching him when he had his doors open to ask about the van.

The setup inside includes privacy curtains he sewed himself. And he discovered he had a talent for it. 

That passion eventually grew into a small business, LoFoAl Sewing.