It is official, our home on wheels for three-and-a-half years (three of which in South America) has been sold to a Dutch couple, ready for their own adventures on this continent.
Old and new owners of the Cow Camper
About five weeks ago, they contacted us after seeing the paid ad for our camper on an international website for overlanding rigs. It turned out to be the best $40 we spent this year!
Max and Marjolein had been looking for the perfect camper in which to travel the world after quitting their successful careers. When they spotted Bella on the Expedition Meister platform, they knew it was meant to be. They love cows!
(As always, click on or hover over photos in galleries to read their captions.)
A two-hour video call in Pichilemu followed and – to our surprise – by the end of that virtual tour they made us an offer and we accepted. After waiting for a buyer for three months, things turned positive and imminent all of a sudden. They paid a deposit to hold the camper for them (we did have another interested party soon after) and excitedly updated us of their prep and plans to come to South America for the foreseeable future.
For us, those last five weeks were a waiting, researching, preparing, planning, pursuing local Vario vans, fixing, packing, cleaning, and stressing game.
While this lifestyle had to throw us a few more curveballs (were Thirsty and Bella mad we were leaving them?), like items breaking last-minute (including a slashed tire wall) and a waterpipe problem at the campground the exact moment we had to clean the truck and the camper, the process of changing ownership went as smoothly and professionally as possible.
On December 5th, Marjolein and Max first set eyes on our truck camper, their new home on wheels, in person… They’d been excited about this lifestyle switch from day one and their eyes kept twinkling, despite their first shock at how big this set-up is.
We showed them all the ropes, systems, and intricacies of RV living and they remained interested and happy.
Chat with Marjolein and Max in the shade on this hot afternoon
The following morning, we met at a notary office to have a driving poder (power of attorney) notarized. While this process began with a false start and extra stress, the documents were eventually made official at a second notary office. People there couldn’t have been friendlier or more helpful!
The couple went on a city tour in the afternoon, while Mark, Maya, and I picked up the tire we had ordered online, hunted for a garage that was able to lift our rig and replace the tire, and got the unanticipated job done within two hours. Yes!
That evening, we celebrated our successful transaction with a nice bottle of champagne in the park where we were camped and a fantastic, elaborate dinner at the French restaurant Le Bistro de Gaelan, which is fast becoming our favorite venue in Santiago. We all drank a little bit too much and enjoyed this evening of good food, beverages, and company. Thanks for the treat, M&M!
On December 5th, after signing over the title of “our” Ford F350 pickup truck, Mark, Maya, and I said goodbye to Thirsty Bella as we moved out and the Dutch couple moved in. Their first stop would be Pichilemu, where we had that initial video call with them!
Many of you are probably curious about what’s next for our trio. Well, not much has been planned yet but we hope to continue our adventurous life with a new camper in Europe within the first half of 2026.
For now, we are happy to just rest up and charge our batteries at an Airbnb in Santiago de Chile for three weeks. We are enjoying the unlimited hot showers, normal toilet, private washing machine, and relative comfort of our cozy apartment. It’s nice to not have to worry about anything for a little while. The overlanding lifestyle can be challenging.
On December 25th, we will spent Christmas Day on an American Airlines plane to Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The idea is to celebrate New Year’s Eve with friends, to wish my mother-in-law a happy 90th birthday in mid-January, and to come up with somewhat of a plan by the end of that month. Stay tuned!
Next up: Our monthly expense report for November 2025
Curious about a previous ten-year chapter in our nomadic lives, which includes eight years aboard a 35-foot sailboat in the tropics with dogs? Check out my compelling, inspiring, and refreshingly honest travel memoir:
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December 7, 2025 at 15:48
Congrats! I know how stressful it can be selling a vehicle. We were about to head to a different part of the country when, at the last minute, someone bought our van.
I know M&M are getting a great, very clean, well-taken-care-of vehicle!
Your cozy Airbnb looks nice for a short stay.
50 is a great age to start a new adventure. I’m looking forward to see where it takes you.
December 8, 2025 at 09:57
Hi Duwan,
Once we had the commitment from M&M to buy the camper, there was only a little bit of stress left. Luckily, based on their messages and enthusiasm, we didn’t have to worry too much about them backing out. And, from the moment we had that second interested party, we felt it would work out. The five weeks between the agreement and the transition gave us plenty of time to prepare.
As expected, the last few days stressed me out the most, because I just knew from experience stuff would go wrong last minute. And it did, haha. Luckily, all worked out great in the end.
Mark has been looking for campers in Europe for six months and nothing interesting has come up. We could buy an empty 4×4 Vario, but without being able to build it out in Paraguay, we’d have a hard time budgeting that in and finding a professional place to help us with that. I think this search for a new home on wheels will take a lot of time and patience.
December 7, 2025 at 15:53
Congrats! Can’t wait to see your next chapter.
December 8, 2025 at 09:57
Thanks, Margie. Us too. 🙂
December 7, 2025 at 16:51
Congrats! Enjoy your weeks of rest and relaxation before the next adventure.
December 8, 2025 at 09:58
Thanks, Natalie. I feel like I could sleep for weeks! 🙂
December 7, 2025 at 17:02
You did it! Congratulations! I hope you enjoy a wonderful break in your B&B, and I’ll look forward to hearing about your next adventures. 🙂
December 8, 2025 at 10:00
Hi Diane,
I couldn’t wait sharing this news officially with you! 🙂
Yes, we will enjoy the simple Airbnb life and soak up the luxuries of being stationary with unlimited water, electricity, and WiFi. We are in walking distance of grocery stores and restaurants, so life couldn’t get any easier at the moment.
December 7, 2025 at 18:56
Hello Liesbet, I wish you all the best in your new adventure. It’s been ages since I left a comment. I hope you get this. In the past I’ve left a comment but for some reason they stopped going through. And now I have become so far behind in following your adventures (I’m always behind.)
Enjoy your Airbnb stay. Please give Maya a hug from me. Oh, my husband and I got a dog and are so happy. We’ve had her for a little over 1 1/2 mos. A rescue lab and sweet as they come. Be well. Hugs, Lea
December 8, 2025 at 10:03
Hello Lea,
Welcome back! It’s always nice to hear from you and how awesome you now have a pup of your own!!!! Wonderful. Thanks to you and your husband for rescuing a dog; they deserve a new and good life. Breeders indirectly take away lives and opportunities of shelter dogs.
Have fun with your dog! What’s his/her name???
December 10, 2025 at 21:05
Liesbet, her name is Jasmine. When we decided to start our rescue dog search, I told my husband that I would like to change the dog’s name. A new name for a new beginning. Her name from the rescue was Jasmine, when I looked up the meaning her name means “gift from God.” Well, that was it, we are not changing sweet girl’s name. 😉
December 11, 2025 at 08:24
That’s just wonderful, Lea. Enjoy your time with lovely Jasmine!!! ❤️
December 7, 2025 at 19:01
It’s wonderful that you and Mark can be there to share in the festivities for his mom’s 90th birthday. I’m sure that will mean a lot to her. I would think your next adventure (if Europe) should be much less stressful than South America. It might even seem like a vacation!
Wishing you a safe and happy New Year.
Steve
December 8, 2025 at 10:05
Hi Steve,
I guess we are ready for a switch of pace, surroundings, and culture. We will soak up Airbnb life first, then some family and friends time, and, eventually, move into a camper in easier but pricier Europe. 🙂 The main question right now is: how do we avoid winter?
December 7, 2025 at 19:21
Congratulations! Yes, rest up without worrying about a camper for a couple months. You deserve it.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!
December 8, 2025 at 10:06
Thanks, Alex. Deserved or not, we certainly are in need of an easy, comfortable, and worry-free life for a few months, haha. Happy holidays to you and your oved ones!!
December 7, 2025 at 19:30
congrats and enjoy your transition time and can’t wait to see what you do next !
December 8, 2025 at 10:07
Thanks, Beth. For the wishes, the encouragement, and the following along!
December 7, 2025 at 19:45
Congratulations!
December 8, 2025 at 10:07
Thanks, Marie! I hope you’ll keep following along on our next adventures. Happy Holidays!!
December 7, 2025 at 19:47
Bittersweet, I can tell. Time for the future!
December 8, 2025 at 10:09
Yes, Jacqui! Time for the present, these coming weeks, and then, our batteries will be charged for a continued future of travel and excitement. 🙂
December 7, 2025 at 20:37
Well, you know by now that I’m invested in your lives and living vicariously through you. I can’t wait to read about the next chapter in your lives. I imagine you had mixed emotions saying goodbye to Thirsty Bella and will continue to stay in contact with the new owners.
December 8, 2025 at 10:12
Hi Pete!
Thanks for your continued interest in our lifestyle and adventures. I guess there were some mixed feelings, but we had five weeks to get used to the idea of moving out (and prepping for it) and – to be honest – I think being homeless hasn’t quite sunk in yet. Right now, I can only think about the positives of not having a camper anymore: less challenges, more comfort, no more fuel costs. 🙂
Once we get itchy feet again, though, we will be in trouble not having our own wheels anymore. Time will tell what’s next.
December 7, 2025 at 21:17
Congratulations!! I look forward to following your continued adventures!
December 8, 2025 at 10:12
Thanks for swinging by, Donna, and for still being interested in our life story and adventures. Do you miss blogging???
December 8, 2025 at 03:25
Oh Liesbet and Mark, I am so happy for you that you’ve finally sold Thirsty Bella, although I’m sure it’s with mixed feelings. And isn’t it just typical that everything went wrong?!
Lucky Marjolein and Max, though. I’m sure they have many wonderful adventures ahead and the perfect vehicle to take them there!
I can so identify with your appreciation of a normal toilet, unlimited access to a washing machine and hot showers. We’re in a rental place at the minute (with a BATH!!!!) and thoroughly enjoying the down time. As you say, overlanding is a dream, but it can get exhausting.
Have a wonderful rest, enjoy New Year, and we shall hope our paths cross in Europe sometime 🙂
On to the next chapter…
December 8, 2025 at 10:18
Hi Jackie,
I knew you would understand Murphy’s Law when it came to this lifestyle and to selling campers hoping everything would go smoothly…
Don’t get too used to your little abode in France with all that luxury!!! I’m sure it’s the perfect setting for a book launch, while bathing in the luxuries of house living.
We actually have a bathtub as well in this small studio. But, in typical Latin American fashion, the tub is so narrow that both our feet don’t fit next to each other when we take a shower (they have to rest on the curved walls of the tub), the shower head falls out when the water turns off because it’s too heavy for its holder, and the shower curtain is so long that it folds over the bottom of the tub making it seriously slippery, annoying, and even more narrow!!!
I’ll spare you the details about what’s “wrong” with the toilet, sink, Murphy bed, and kitchen. 🙂
See you next year. Somewhere!
December 8, 2025 at 03:31
YOUR GOAL HAS BEEN TO SELL THIRSTY BELLA TO A NICE COUPLE AND NOW YOU’VE ACCOMPLISHED THAT – YIPPEE! THE NEW OWNERS LIKE COWS AND SEEM PLEASED AS THE PHOTOS SEEM TO PROJECT.
YOU PROBABLY HAVE MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT LEAVING HER, BUT NOW A NEW ADVENTURE AWAITS. 😀
December 8, 2025 at 10:22
Hi Marian,
Why are you screaming at me? 🙂
Yes, I think we found the perfect couple to take over our camper. They seriously love it – the camper, the concept, the theme, and the truck – so we couldn’t have sold it to more appropriate buyers. And this makes us very happy. At one point, we were contemplating selling the truck and the camper separately, which just felt wrong!
A new adventure awaits, indeed, even though we have no idea yet what it is, haha. Luckily, Mark and I have an easy time letting go and moving on, once we make that decision. And Maya? Well, she only cares about being close to us. No matter where and how.
December 8, 2025 at 05:38
Happy, happy, JOY, joy!! That chapter is closed! I know you must be thrilled that your rig sold to a nice couple. I’m sure they will love Thirsty Bella as much as you guys did. Enjoy your ‘downtime’ and rest up for your next nomadic experience. So excited for you….
December 8, 2025 at 10:25
Yes, yes, yes, Suzanne! While a tad sad, we are mostly happy about not having the responsibility of owning a camper in South America anymore and being ready to make new plans from a comfortable place. And we did find the perfect buyers for Thirsty Bella! Traveling without wheels and with a dog will bring its own challenges, but we will figure it out. Thanks for sharing our excitement!
December 8, 2025 at 08:45
Wow – huge changes ahead! You seem to feel mostly satisfied and happy with the sale outcome (I would too), but I’m sure it’s hard to move on from a chapter even if it had its hardships. Best of luck with next steps and enjoy the holidays!
December 8, 2025 at 10:29
Hello Lexie,
You are right that we are mostly happy and satisfied about the camper sale – and the couple who bought Bella. And we are excited about what’s next, but the need to rest up and do “nothing” for a bit is big. That being said, we’ve been busy washing everything we own in the machine of our Airbnb, researching rules about traveling with a dog, and looking for a camper in Europe.
I don’t think we could ever chill and do absolutely nothing, haha. But we will try for a couple of weeks. We did have five weeks to get used to the idea of being homeless and that seemed enough for us to be able to move on, mentally and physically.
Happy holidays to you both!!!
December 8, 2025 at 10:16
Wow! So exciting! Congratulations!🍾🎉
December 8, 2025 at 10:30
Thanks, Gail! Time for the next chapter. 🙂 Hugs to you all!!!
December 8, 2025 at 13:17
Congratulations and good luck with the next phase of your lives.
December 10, 2025 at 17:31
Thanks, Anabel! It’ll take a while to figure that out and make it happen. 🙂
December 8, 2025 at 22:09
Congrats to you and Mark for selling Thirsty Bella – I’m very happy for you both. It’s funny to think that you are so happy being ‘homeless,’ however! I hope you enjoy and can relax for the next couple of weeks you have left in Santiago before you begin the next phase of life as wanderers.
December 10, 2025 at 17:35
Hi Annie,
I guess you’re right. Who else would be happy to be homeless, haha.
I think just not having this huge responsibility of living in and driving around a big American truck and a home in third world countries and not having to figure out food, water, propane, groceries, sleeping, fixing things, … for a while is really attractive right now. Not having to deal with crazy drivers and low-hanging trees. No daily stress and frustration.
I’m sure we will get itchy feet again, but first, we need to rest up, which is easier said than done. Our Airbnb is still in a Latin American city and even here in this tiny apartment, sleep is elusive.
December 9, 2025 at 22:09
Amazing accomplishment! Congrats on selling! I look forward to hearing about where you will decide to spend the next adventurous part of your life. 🧡
December 10, 2025 at 17:36
Thanks, Debby. We are hoping the next adventure will take place in Europe by this spring, but a lot of logistics have to be figured out first and things have to line up…
December 10, 2025 at 10:24
This post is just full of smiles and happiness. What a great end to saying goodbye to Thirsty Bella. Enjoy the rest of your time in Chile, and relax and take it all in before the next adventure begins.
December 10, 2025 at 17:38
Hi Hugh!
You are right – everything went so smoothly and in great spirits before we moved out of Thirsty Bella, that we are very happy about all that and about the chance to move on. Right now, I can’t wait to catch up on sleep, before we jump on a plane to the cold northeast of the US… to switch hemispheres again. Aaah, winter.
December 11, 2025 at 05:56
I hear it’s going to be extremely cold in that part of the Northern Hemisphere this weekend. I’d make sure you have a hat, scarf, and gloves in the suitcase. But you’ve still got two weeks of summer to enjoy.
December 11, 2025 at 08:26
Don’t say that, Hugh! We hate the cold. It sure will be a surrealistic switch of seasons, hemispheres, cultures, and surroundings in two weeks. I admit that I’m not looking forward to it at all.. Luckily, I still have all my cold weather clothes from Antarctica and they are already packed in one of the two checked bags we are bringing back. 🙂
December 13, 2025 at 21:28
Hey Liesbet! Congratulations on the sale and the beginning of your next adventure! I always believe that the right step will appear at the right time. Looking forward to what happens next! ~Kathy
December 18, 2025 at 20:40
Hi Kathy,
I hope that you’re right with your prediction about the right destiny popping up at some point. 🙂 And until then, we will figure out what to do. Traveling with a dog and without a camper will bring some challenges!