The Moment That Changed Everything

"It was 6 AM and I was sitting at my desk, staring at the spreadsheet I needed to finish before the morning meeting," Noemi recalls, her eyes brightening as she recounts the pivotal moment. "Outside my window, I could see the perfect morning swell rolling in at my local beach. That's when it hit me—I was living someone else's version of success."

That morning three years ago marked the beginning of Noemi Žonta's transformation from office professional to full-time van lifer, adventure sports enthusiast, and eventually, one of Slovenia's most recognizable ambassadors for alternative living. Today, her Robeta van sits parked on the volcanic shores of Lanzarote, where she's been living for the past five months with her two furry companions.

"People often ask if I had some grand plan," she laughs, running her hand through salt-tousled hair as her dogs play in the black sand nearby. "The truth is much simpler—I just couldn't ignore that feeling in my gut anymore. The one that kept saying there was more to life than staring at screens and counting vacation days."

When Unconventional Choices Lead to Extraordinary Opportunities

For someone who chose to reject conventional career paths, Noemi has ironically become one of Slovenia's most effective international representatives. When Lonely Planet ranked Slovenia fifth among the world's top destinations for 2022, they didn't choose a tourism professional to showcase the country's appeal—they chose Noemi.

"It was completely unexpected," she recalls of the email that landed in her inbox inviting her to represent her homeland. "At first, I thought it was a prank. Why would they want someone who lives in a van half the year to be the face of Slovenia?"

The answer became clear when the video was released to widespread acclaim. Noemi's authentic connection to nature, her passion for outdoor sports like skateboarding and surfing, and her genuine love for her country resonated with viewers in a way that polished tourism professionals could not achieve.

"I think people are hungry for authenticity," she reflects. "They can spot someone who's truly living their passions versus someone who's just doing a job. That's what Robeta understood when they approached me to become an ambassador for their vans—I wasn't just posing with their product; I was actually living this life every day."

Finding Home in Movement

For the past five months, Noemi and her dogs have called Lanzarote home—though "home" has become a fluid concept in her life.

"There's something magical about waking up to different views, following the weather patterns, and adjusting your life to natural rhythms instead of alarm clocks," she muses, watching the sunset cast golden light across the volcanic landscape that makes Lanzarote so distinctive.

The Canary Island might seem an unlikely winter base for a Slovenian, but for Noemi, it represents the perfect confluence of her passions: consistent waves for surfing, dramatic landscapes for skating and photography, dog-friendly beaches, and a climate that allows for year-round outdoor living.

"The dogs have absolutely thrived here," she says as her larger dog bounds back from the shoreline, showering everyone with saltwater. "They have more freedom than they ever could in a conventional home. Every day is a new adventure for them—new smells, new beaches, new friends."

The challenges of van life—limited water, restricted space, occasional mechanical issues—fade in comparison to the freedom it provides. "Sure, there are days when I'd love a long hot shower or more counter space to cook," she admits. "But then I watch the sunset with my coffee at a spot most people will never see, with my dogs snuggled up beside me, and I think: this is wealth that can't be measured in square footage."

Building Community While Constantly Moving

One common misconception about van life is that it must be lonely. Noemi's experience proves quite the opposite.

"I've built more meaningful connections on the road than I ever did in my static life," she asserts. "There's something about meeting people while you're both living authentically that creates instant, deep connections."

The van life and digital nomad communities have provided Noemi with an ever-expanding network of like-minded individuals. Many started as Instagram connections and became real-life friends as their travel paths intersected.

"Last month, I was having engine trouble, and within an hour of posting about it, three different van lifers showed up to help—people I'd only met briefly at a beach gathering weeks before," she shares. "That's the kind of community you can't find just anywhere."

This sense of community extends to her role as a Robeta ambassador, where she frequently connects with people curious about transitioning to van life.

"People see the beautiful Instagram moments but have questions about the reality," she explains. "As an ambassador, I get to be honest about both the challenges and rewards. It's not about convincing everyone this lifestyle is perfect—it's about showing it's possible if it calls to you."

The Entrepreneur on the Road

Financial sustainability is often the biggest question surrounding alternative lifestyles. Noemi has turned her passions into a diversified income stream that supports her mobile life.

"When I left my office job, I had no grand business plan," she admits. "I just knew I needed to align my income with my values."

Today, her business portfolio includes her line of retro-inspired skateboarding socks (with proceeds supporting various charitable causes), content creation for brands that resonate with her lifestyle, ambassadorships like her partnership with Robeta, and occasional workshops teaching skateboarding and surfskating when she returns to Slovenia.

"Working remotely was challenging long before it became mainstream during the pandemic," she notes. "I've had video calls from beach parking lots, edited content using campground WiFi, and learned to structure my work around the best surf conditions rather than conventional business hours."

The entrepreneurial path hasn't been without challenges. "There have been months when I questioned everything," she acknowledges frankly. "But that's true of any entrepreneurial journey, whether you're in a van or a corporate office. The difference is that my bad days still end with beach sunsets."

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The Future: Rooted in Rootlessness

As for what comes next, Noemi embraces the uncertainty with the same enthusiasm she brings to catching a new wave.

"I think conventional wisdom tells us we should always have a five-year plan, always be working toward some future security," she reflects. "But I've found incredible freedom in embracing the present fully and letting the future reveal itself."

Her partnership with Robeta continues to evolve, with plans for collaborative content showcasing how their vehicles enable lifestyles like hers across diverse European landscapes.

"The beauty of this life is that it remains open to possibility," she says. "Maybe next year I'll be exploring Portugal's coast, or back in Slovenia sharing these experiences through workshops, or discovering some place I haven't even considered yet."

What remains constant is her commitment to the philosophy that led her here: "Trust your dreams," she says, echoing the personal mantra that has guided her unconventional journey. "I believe we must trust our dreams because they are the most authentic thing we truly desire."

As the Canarian sun dips below the horizon, casting her Robeta van in golden silhouette, it's clear that Noemi Žonta isn't just living in a van—she's living proof that following your authentic path, however unconventional, can lead to a life richer than any conventional success story.

"Sometimes people see this lifestyle as 'dropping out' of real life," she concludes, gathering her dogs for their evening walk along the shore. "But I've never felt more engaged with life, more present, or more purposeful than I do now. This isn't an escape—it's a deliberate choice to live fully in each moment."

For this Slovenian ambassador, surf enthusiast, entrepreneur, and devoted dog mom, home isn't a place—it's a feeling of alignment between your inner compass and your daily reality. And thanks to her trusted Robeta, that feeling travels with her wherever the road leads next.

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