Ten square meters is all Irene and Carlos call home. For the past three years, the Spanish couple, their dog Are and their cat Pita have lived, worked and traveled in a self-converted Volkswagen Crafter. They share daily life through the project ‘Una Vida Camper’ and have built a loyal following across social media, TikTok and YouTube, as well as on their own website. The Crafter comes in different body and wheelbase configurations, so the couple’s ten-square-meter figure describes their converted living space, not a standard interior measurement for every vehicle of that model.
Unlike the glossy, idealized images often associated with van life, Irene and Carlos are committed to showing what living in a camper really means. Their content doesn’t shy away from cramped quarters or constant logistics. It also shows why clear boundaries matter for keeping both their relationship and their lifestyle sustainable. When domestic life and work share a compact space with rest and travel, routines and negotiated time alone become practical necessities for making the lifestyle work.
Making Space in Tight Quarters
One of the most common questions they receive is how two people and two pets can share such a small space without constant friction. They say the answer lies in establishing what they call a “psychological space.” Even without physical rooms, each person carves out moments for themselves. That helps preserve independence and personal time, despite the close walls.
Another rule concerns decision-making. After years on the road, Irene and Carlos have learned not to choose their next destination or sleeping spot when tired or stressed. Most of their arguments, they admit, happened at the end of long days, when fatigue made compromise harder. Now, they make impressive choices only when both are calm, reducing unnecessary tension.
Celebrating small wins is their third strategy. Movement and vehicle maintenance are part of daily life, and unpredictable challenges are never far away. Irene and Carlos make a point of acknowledging what goes right each day. “The little things in ten square meters get amplified,” they explain. Focusing on positives helps them keep perspective and strengthens their bond.
The Cost of Freedom
The appeal of van life has grown in Spain as remote work spreads and housing costs rise, with the desire for freedom also drawing people in. Irene and Carlos are clear that living in a camper is not necessarily cheap. On their website, they break down their monthly expenses: around €1,500, covering fuel and food, vehicle upkeep, internet via Starlink, plus other essentials. There’s also the initial investment: buying and converting the van themselves took four months and impressive savings. Outsourcing the conversion to professionals, they note, can lead costs much higher. Day-to-day budgeting also has to cover essentials often missing from lifestyle posts, including water and waste disposal, as well as finding suitable places to stop.
Legalities add another layer of complexity. Spanish traffic guidance distinguishes parking from camping: a motorhome may generally be occupied while parked, provided it stays within its parking space and does not extend beyond the vehicle with items such as awnings, tables or chairs, or with stabilizing equipment. That general distinction does not override municipal rules, road signs or regional tourism regulations, which can limit where vehicles may stay, for how long and under what conditions. In Andalusia, regional rules can restrict camping and vacation-oriented overnight stays outside authorized campsites or motorhome areas. This makes the rules for each location impressive, even when occupants remain inside the vehicle.
Spain does not have a single, uniform set of rules for every overnight stop. Traffic regulations set one layer; regional tourism rules and local ordinances can also affect a route. Madrid’s Decree 26/2025, for example, sets requirements for regulated motorhome and campervan areas, including designated spaces and service infrastructure. This includes sanitary facilities, provisions for water and electricity, and waste-tank disposal. Such facilities do not create unrestricted permission to park elsewhere; local restrictions and site conditions still apply. For full-time van residents, planning means finding a place to sleep while also accounting for access to services and compliant waste disposal.
Beyond the Hashtag
Through ‘Una Vida Camper,’ Irene and Carlos offer a candid look at the ups and downs of life on the road. Their account is frank: the freedom and flexibility are real. So are the costs and compromises, alongside the need for constant adaptation.
Spain’s van life community continues to grow, reflecting broader shifts in work and housing, as well as changing lifestyles. Industry data show that sales of camper vans and motorhomes have risen steadily since the pandemic, with many drawn to the promise of mobility and autonomy. Yet, as Irene and Carlos show, the reality is more nuanced than a filtered Instagram post. For those considering the leap, understanding both the rewards and the realities is impressive.
