I returned back from a fun but not very restful wedding weekend in San Diego. It was the first time in a month I enjoyed the comfort of a familiar place, even if it was just for a short time. Having that compare-and-contrast moment was important—to test the sustainability of travel and how much was possible without experiencing complete burnout. To figure out that limit, I had to continue leaning into the discomfort of the minimalist lifestyle of living out of my car.

Returning on the 17th of March and knowing I’d be in Squamish until my springs arrived on the 26th made me really start to question my drive—in both senses of the word. And although it was snowing up high, rain continued constantly near sea level for the following couple of weeks. That was not an easy pill to swallow for someone living out of a Land Cruiser and not a van. The outside was an extension of my living space. And with that space constantly flooded—and no insurance claim I could file—I just had to live through it.

Originally, the plan was to fly back, spend a few days in Squamish, then head to Tofino and take the ferry up to Prince Rupert for a scenic ride up the coast. Adding a couple more weeks wasn’t ideal. And even though I was self-sufficient living out of my car, I had a feeling my cousins were starting to feel a bit of pressure to host while I was still in the town they called home.

Syd really stepped up by letting me crash a few nights at her place in her guest bedroom before I flew to San Diego. And when I came back, Jac and his girlfriend did the same. They shared a similar stroke for this trip—having grown up with adventurous upbringings and with parents who passed down shared values and interests across our different family branches.

Jac and Regan knew I was preparing to bunker down in the Cruiser for the rest of my stay in Squamish—rain or not. And knowing Syd’s place was about to be packed with one of her best friends followed by her parents visiting, they were quick to offer hospitality. They’d just had a big weekend themselves—Regan coming back from a trip out to Banff, and Jac having an all-time Whistler après weekend—and you could tell they were pretty gassed. Still, they checked in, invited me over for dinner and a movie night, and even gave me a key to their place while they worked in Vancouver.

When people are that kind, it can be hard to determine boundaries. For me, I tend to be blunt—I tell people what I need on a day-to-day basis. If I’m overwhelmed and need space, I say so. If I’m in a good headspace to hang out, I reach out.

But even though Jac and Regan were adamant about inviting me over those four days leading up to my departure to Tofino, I could tell they might’ve been pushing their own boundaries a bit to be hospitable while I was still around. That little push made a huge difference for me though, and I really appreciated them digging deep to help me get through the rest of my time in Squamish.

Planning around the springs’ arrival, I left for Tofino on Saturday, the 23rd of March. What I had expected to be a restful weekend turned into a fast-paced mission—full of a few new connections and a real admiration for that fairyland stretch of coast between Ucluelet and Tofino, the surf capital of Canada.