For more than three decades, Jennifer Graylands spent her life caring for others. As a nurse, she helped people navigate some of the most difficult and uncertain moments of their lives. Along the way, she learned a lesson that would eventually change her own life: tomorrow is never guaranteed.
We were lucky to sit down and chat with Jennifer about taking the leap into vanlife. She and her partner Brian had just pulled into the Peace Love & Vans event in Colorado, where she was volunteering as an event medic, chatting with other vanlifers, and spending time with her Noovo family. Her story is a gentle reminder that it is never too late to live the life of your dreams.
For years, she carried this dream in the back of her mind. It started around 2016 after discovering stories of people living differently through the Keep Your Daydream podcast. Some traveled in RVs, some lived on boats with their children, and others worked remotely while exploring the country. What struck Jennifer wasn't the vehicles or destinations, it was the freedom to live life on your own terms. It was time to start caring for herself.
She spent two years researching possibilities, imagining what life on the road could look like and trying to decide what type of van or RV she would need. At first she hoped to keep her nursing career while traveling, but workplace restrictions forced her to stay locally. Instead of letting the idea go, she kept searching.
After two years of careful research of different Class B RVs and vans, she met other traveling nurses (Marcy and Amy!) who were living in a Noovo Lite, and immediately Jennifer knew she’d found her dream van. Stepping inside, it was so much more than a typical “converted campervan.” It was a home.
In May of 2025, Jennifer decided it was time to quit nursing and redirect her energy elsewhere. So she and Brian flew to the Noovo Headquarters in Las Vegas, packed up their new Lite, and drove it home to Vancouver, Washington.
Since then, life has looked very different. She left her position with Kaiser Permanente after 12 years and has embraced a more flexible lifestyle, spending much of her time traveling while building a YouTube channel that helps older adults navigate the healthcare system.
“It was hard learning how to start my own channel and record and edit videos, but I do it all now, right from the van.” (Check out Nurse Jen!)
Some days are spent filming educational content, others are spent exploring mountain towns, coastal highways, and van gatherings across the country. While she's come to appreciate the beauty of the desert, Jennifer says her heart still belongs to the Pacific Northwest.
“The woods and the coast are my happy places.”
The van has also carried memories of one of her most important travel companions: Penny, her senior cattle dog mix. Penny spent countless miles riding comfortably with her, and even today remains part of every journey. A small locket containing Penny's ashes hangs from the rearview mirror, a reminder that some travel companions never really leave.
Jennifer named her van Nikita. She jokes that it's her “apocalypse adventure escape pod.” But beneath the humor is something deeper. It's a symbol of finally choosing the life she'd been imagining for years (and is also probably a great apocalypse escaper…).
One thing is clear from talking to Jennifer: every item in her van has earned its place, whether it is functional or inspirational. When space is limited, every choice matters, and things that bring joy are just as essential as the helpful gadgets.
Some of her favorite additions are simple: a rechargeable fan on the table for extra hot days, small, rechargeable lights for a soft, cozy atmosphere at the end of the day, and a compact Nespresso machine that makes sure every morning starts with good coffee. She laughingly credits the Noovo customer lounge for exposing her to the Nespresso machine while she waited to get work done on the van recently.
Then there are the mighty magnets. “I think magnets need to be talked about more,” Jennifer laughs. She's convinced they're one of the most underrated tools in van life. Magnetic spice containers on the bottom of the cabinets above the sink, magnetic hooks for the outside of the van to hang dry wet towels, magnetic storage systems for utensils, clips, and smaller kitchen items. They keep everyday essentials organized without taking up valuable counter space. She even has magnetic photos of Penny out at the Oregon Coast that add joy to her walls.
Like many travelers, Jennifer has also learned that not every purchase turns into a long-term favorite. Larger camp chairs were eventually replaced by lighter collapsible versions. A powered cooler took up too much space in the garage area. Over time, her setup has become simpler, lighter, and more efficient. One of her favorite modifications was adding shelves inside one of the storage closets near the bathroom, effectively doubling her pantry space. She also recently added the roofbox and rear ladder, which freed up a ton of garage space and made organization easier.
The van reflects who Jennifer is beyond travel. A small collection jar holds rocks and treasures gathered from different adventures. A cactus travels alongside her. Books fill her Kindle. New creative interests, from writing to playing music, continue to find their way into her daily routine.
What she appreciates most, however, isn't any single accessory, it's the livability of the space as a whole. “I use every part of it every day, nothing is unnecessary.”
The front seating area serves as her office, dining room, and YouTube recording studio. The swivel driver's seat has become her favorite workspace, and is the perfect height and comfort for the table. The kitchen layout allows her to cook while facing outward through the open side door, something she originally valued for safety and now simply enjoys for the connection to the outdoors (and easy venting for cooking).
"It's such a livable van," she says—which just might be the most important “feature” a van could have.
When Jennifer was researching vans, she wasn't looking for a simple weekender, she knew she wanted a ProMaster chassis, and she didn’t need something super rugged for off-roading. She was looking for a place to live comfortably, both by herself and with her partner, while adding adventure into her life.
What first stood out to her about Noovo was how owners actually used their vans. Watching other owners work, travel, and live comfortably inside their vehicles helped her see what was possible.
She chose the Lite model because of its unique layout. The seating area worked perfectly for her dog, (Penny liked to ride behind the driver’s seat, so the convertible bench and table area to dog bed was ideal), the full bath was a must, and the easy drivability quickly sold her.
Jennifer noted that the buying process itself was straightforward and smooth. Like many buyers, affordability was one of her biggest concerns. But she realized by downsizing her current living situation, she could save nearly $1,000 a month.
“There’s my van payment,” Jennifer remembers thinking. And the timing finally felt right. Since driving Nikita home from Las Vegas, ownership has largely been exactly what she hoped it would be.
But, as happens with any van build-out, there have been a few minor issues along the way. A drawer slipped off its runner. A water filter indicator stopped working. A small leak developed around the roof fan. In each case, Noovo helped coordinate local service and quickly resolved the problem. For Jennifer, that responsiveness mattered and built her trust in the company to take care of her. When she drove down to the Open House event in May 2026, Noovo added a few features that her specific model had missed, and the team made sure she was fully up-to-date.
Perhaps even more important has been the owner community. She actively participates in the Noovo Facebook group and regularly connects with other owners at events and gatherings. What started as a vehicle purchase has grown into something larger: a network of people who share advice, offer support, and genuinely want to help each other succeed on the road.
That sense of community continues to reinforce what Jennifer felt when she first discovered Noovo, it is a home in the truest sense. A place where you feel safe, supported, and free to live life exactly how you want. Looking down the road, Jennifer's bucket list includes destinations like Alaska and Baja. Her YouTube channel continues to grow, and new adventures are already taking shape.
But the biggest milestone has already happened. After years of planning, researching, and waiting for the right moment, Jennifer finally stopped postponing the dream. We are thrilled that Jennifer took the leap and joined the Noovo family, we are so happy to have her!
Want to read more?
Discover similar content with these recommended articles.
