Most people spend years scaling the career ladder.
But, for Lisa Felepchuk, 33, and her boyfriend Coleman Molnar, 31, their professional success wasn’t enough to keep them on the proverbial treadmill.
Instead, they ditched their lucrative magazine jobs in favour of a second-hand camper van, which they refurbished at a cost of $8,000 (£5,000) to travel across Canada and North America.
Vantastic: Lisa Felepchuk and Coleman Molnar pose next to their refashioned camper van
Lisa was the editor-in-chief of a women’s luxury lifestyle magazine and would be flown to Paris to watch Chanel fashion shows, while Coleman was a digital editor of a men’s magazine – and was once flown to India to sip $30,000 (£18,000) cognac.
Despite this luxurious lifestyle the couple decided to ditch their nine-to-five jobs for the freedom that living in a 1983 VW Vanagon Westfalias offered.
Today, the pair continue to be journalists but have their own lifestyle publication, Lietco, while they document their travels on Instagram.
‘Ditching the monotony of a nine-to-five desk job for a schedule that we controlled was a big draw,’ said Lisa. ‘And the market being the way it is for digital-savvy writers like us also beckoned – we just seemed to be in the right place at the right time.
Cosy: Lisa and a feline friend enjoy the camper van’s bedding
Lifestyle change: The pair were successful journalists, but felt unfulfilled by their office jobs
In good company: Joined by her pet cat, Lisa relaxes in her 1983 VW Vanagon Westfalias
‘We saw the opportunity to launch our own boutique content creation house and manage it from anywhere there was a Wi-Fi connection. Why not take our business on the road and travel while we’re young (ish)?
‘It’s exhilarating to be on the forefront of a new type of travel. Being digitally employed, we’re earning as we’re travelling, something that, up until just a few years ago, was reserved for a few types of jobs.
‘We believe there’s a real market here of young (er) people who want to have meaningful travel long term and are able to support it with digital employment.’
Out and about: The couple have started working as freelance writers on the open road
Now that’s hot-desking! ‘We saw the opportunity to launch our own boutique content creation house and manage it from anywhere,’ they say
Good, clean fun: Lisa improvises for her daily ablutions while travelling without a shower
Loved up: The pair now regularly document their travels on Instagram
The couple met in Toronto and after buying their van they travelled coast-to-coast across Canada before making their way into America.
They drove down the west coast through Washington, Oregon and California into Arizona and back up through New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and to Ontario again.
‘Living in a van is great in the sense that when you’re on the road, your home is with you,’ said Lisa. ‘And in a smaller rig like the Westfalia, this can be downtown in a big city, down back-country roads, wherever.
Drive time: They have driven down the west coast through Washington, Oregon and California into Arizona and back up through New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and to Ontario again
Having a wild time: Lisa poses on top of the van as they enjoy a pit-stop in the wilderness
Fate? The couple met in Toronto and after buying their van they have travelled coast-to-coast across Canada before making their way into America
‘If you share this wild dream, start towards it today. It might take you years to make it happen, but start right now.
‘The whole idea for Li et Co was born on a run on a cold winter day in Toronto. From there, we brainstormed on poster paper, drawing out what we wanted, how that might look and how we could make it work.
‘A year and a half after that, we hit the road in our new van/home.’
Instagram celebs: The couple have attracted thousands of followers with their cute capers
On your bike! Together, they also enjoy lots of regular outdoor exercise
And relax: The pair continue to be journalists but now have their own lifestyle publication, which can be found at lietco.com