I've lived in a van and an off-grid home. Both lifestyles had pros and cons, but neither fits our needs right now. Van life was a dream, but there were also some downsides. Jayme Serbell My partner and I lived in a van full-time before leaving for an off-grid property. Both experiences came with benefits and downsides, and we eventually moved to a walkable city. Van life was affordable but sometimes stressful; our off-grid home was gorgeous but very remote. Exhausted from the 9-to-5 hustle, my partner and I sold most of our belongings and built an old 1996 Chevy Express conversion van into a tiny home . We'd previously been living in the suburbs of St. Louis, and we were ready for a little more adventure and excitement. We wanted something different than anything we were used to. When we found out we were pregnant around two years later, we knew it was time for some roots, and we found an off-grid home on 40 acres in northern New Mexico.…