Echo Lake

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Matthew Allen
Unit # 112
440, 10816 Macleod Trail S.E.
Calgary, AB Canada
T2J 5N8
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My name is Matthew and I live in a van. I lost my job due to "cut backs" from the pandemic of 2020 and decided to seriously restructure my life. I am also a single dad who needed to find a solution that would allow me to remain in my daughter's life and plan for her future. After tons of research into #vanlife, I knew it was for me.
From March 2021 until October 2021 I spent my days building out my Chevrolet Express 2500, which came to be known as "Lucky" and as of October 18, 2021 I have been living in Lucky full time.
The build was done with almost no experience on my end and I used the one incredible tool I had at my disposal - the internet - to learn what I needed to build Lucky into a very comfortable tiny home.
I have always had a bit of a passion for being in front of the camera and really enjoy capturing the world around us. This really played into how I was feeling after almost a year of working from home when I "commuted" from the bedroom to the couch. I was starting to feel extremely unhealthy, unmotivated and despondent. I HATED that, and that's not a word I like to throw around. This new lifestyle gives me opportunities I just didn't have before and I am so excited to be able to share it all with you.
I truly believe we all have the capabilities to turn our lives around, should we choose to do so - and if I can inspire you to shoot for something better then I have done a decent job and that will keep me going.
There is more to life than the consume, consume, spend, spend lifestyle I feel we have all been conditioned to follow and I just want to do the best I can for myself first and foremost. Our time is limited and I do not want to waste another second on a lifestyle that doesn't bring me joy!
Be Happy, Be Creative, Be Yourself and BE POSITIVE!

[@tinafeatherston]

I have to say that these quiet, unscripted type of videos are some of my favorite favorite videos. This one is the best of the series so far. I hope I can say your grandparents are so proud of you. I can’t say thank you, to you and your family enough, for sharing this with us. Quality content, quality content.

[@VaguelyMeandering]

When you handed over the bag to your Dad I thought for a moment, that there might be ashes in them. What a lovely way to remember your grandparents. Family time at a lovely lake, making new memories while recalling old memories. Always the best. As long as we say their names, as long as we remember them, those we love never truly die. Be well my friend. God's blessings Allen Family.

[@Diana-ex5ig]

Thank you to the Allen family for sharing their time together with us.

[@cparker777]

Had to watch the video again, in case I missed anything ;) The nod to your previous generation in your family was touching and sweet. The collection of past memories & current ones that you capture are special to the future generations. Well done! Precious content Matthew, precious content.

[@hikersmama8813]

As long as we remember and share, our loved ones are never really gone 😢

[@patriciac5214]

Unforgettable memories! The best gift ever.

[@rachadventuresinliv]

Matthew you have always made us feel like a family here, easy to see as to why coming from a beautiful family. Many thank yous to them for letting us tag along on your personal family camping trip. Some of us have lost our families and miss these moments, some even may have never experienced what it is to have such a beautiful family that does things together. It has brought me much happiness and reminded me of the few good times I had with my family. I know your sister in law might not be at ease being on camera I understand her, tell her we appreciate and enjoyed seeing her, she is an amazing woman and mom. That song made me cried so much but yet brought me warmth to my grieving heart. You are the best Matthew I hope to see you in person one day to give you the best hug you have ever received. Day after day you bring joy and laughter in my world. You have found your calling. Thank you Allen family god bless 🙏💜

[@darcyallen3912]

What a fantabulous day that was! Beautiful Echo Lake Montana!! No wonder your Grandparents loved going there. Many happy times.

[@HeatherMasson]

Loved this video Matt, it even brought a tear to my eye as I remember my own younger years and family camping and sharing and loving each other. Those memories are so precious. Thanks for sharing

[@michelle18474]

What great family memories your making , beautiful lake ,👍🏼😘🇦🇺

[@KerriJean]

I had to watch this video twice... it's beautiful. What a lovely time with the family ❤

[@Valerygallery]

Me too ❤

[@dianedellarocca63]

Mathew you always make me laugh and smile but with this video with your family I was in tears brought me joy remembering my childhood memories thank you stay blessed to you and your family ❤❤❤❤😊

[@kimbrueck7811]

Excellent music choice Matthew!!! 😢😢 Thanks for sharing family time with us. My parents are gone so keep making all the memories you can with your family, it will make it somewhat easier when they are gone!! ❤❤

[@DirtyFeetHappyHeart]

Thank you for sharing more than just this video. How closely have you paid attention to you whole face during this vlog? Reason I ask, is that you have this complete look of contentment. A look that says everything is how it should be right in this moment, Amazing to see. safe travels

[@sharonbaker2775]

Your trip with your family reminds me of my trips with my four sons in the 70’s and 80’s. If you think you have any problems, just think of four young boys 4 to 11 in a camper van for two weeks. We were boaters, as well, so this video was especially nice. Our trips were all rather hectic but I remember those days fondly and you brought back those memories and made me cray happy tears.

[@cassandraweathers8522]

Thank you for sharing this video. It reminded me of our family trip to Glacier. I so love the mountains.❤

[@Diorella_scent]

Nice to hear a bit of Ed Sheeran in the middle of the vlog. He wrote that song about Australian legend Michael Gudinski. Ed even sat through our 2 week hotel mandatory covid 19 to write this song and sing at Michael’s State funeral and Memorial.

[@debbief2882]

Your family having fun on Sebastián brought such joy to my heart. Reminded me of the days my family used to go boatermoating.😂

[@naomijones8564]

If ypu know, you know, what a special day for the allen family, thankyou for sharing such a precious day, beautiful video, your grandparents would be so proud matthew xx❤

[@DoreenGregory-sj3df]

Matthew,thanks for this lovely video…good quality time ,so nice to see you and your family enjoying !!

[@rockysmumakagma]

I saw a notification and was surprised! A vlog on a Saturday 😊 Thank you Matthew for sharing such beautiful moments with your family ❤ Okay, was I the only one tearing up and feeling emotional listening to the song 😢? But It was unfortunate that Brooklyn wasn’t there with you all 💞 What a beautiful lake 🌞

[@freedomdove]

Coming from a fairly-broken home, it lightens my heart to see your family spending this quality time together. 😊

[@sarah_n_tank_girl]

I think I cried more on this one than on the one where you were on your Grandpa's boat for one of it's last trips. The music choices were perfect. You know they are looking down on you and love you very much!

[@ShinyNickelBlades]

That looks like a much nicer camp ground, but I'm confused. And what a fun day on the lake!

[@justlivingmylife]

I am so happy to see you and your family doing things together. It brings back some memories l had with my parents and brothers and my kids. I only have 1 brother now and 1 son and 1 daughter left. I see my daughter the most. Family is all we really have in our life.

[@49Ljackson]

Family time, the best time. ❤ You sure know how to put a video together. It was seamless. 🙂

[@connieshutts7074]

Montana has beautiful country and gorgeous lakes also. I lived in Salmon ID, not far from Missoula..great area. You brought back lots of memories, thank you. 😊

[@karenhalgren3889]

Beautiful video Mathew. Perfect song. Sitting here teary eyed thinking of both my parents and grandparents. Perfect family time. Enjoy your times together as time sure goes fast, faster the older we get. Hugs and love for sharing your vacation with us.

[@stacynissley7336]

This video is so awesome, reminds me of the many lake adventures I have had with my family! You are a lucky man to have such a close family. Don’t ever take it for granted!,

[@pamw5687]

Thank you for including us.

[@bonniejackson1321]

Happy Times, Happy Family.

[@WalkswithBender]

This was pure magic. More than once I was brought to tears thinking of childhood camping trips with my Dad (RIP) boating on Flathead lake. You captured those moments so beautifully. What a treasure & thanks to you and your family for sharing that with us.

[@MsCar2008]

Your family made me smile. Nice to see the love. Your mom is cool.

[@amyh1045]

What a fantastic day on the lake!

[@murielbiggs.4701]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful day with family. What a wonderful memory.

[@paulinegreen-1812]

Holds special memories for you and your family. Thank you for sharing that with us. X

[@odettec1]

To your Grandfather with love..Matthew.❤ A very beautiful tribute! I wish we got to meet your Grandparent's too.

[@mariaconley409]

❤ Thank you for sharing your life with us.Matthew, it's always so good to get a video from you and they are spectacular.Thank you

[@jackieluckyangel5610]

Such a beautiful tribute,Matthew💞

[@jackieluckyangel5610]

Now you’ve got me crying 😢, but in a loving, reminiscing way💞

[@jackieluckyangel5610]

Thank you for sharing your family with us💞

[@sandydouglas3799]

Thank you that was a lovely family day to share with us. Precious memories.

[@graceful6894]

Thank you for taking me back to my childhood memories

[@Scorpio1168]

This is absolutely one of my favorite vlogs you've done to date. That song you played brought a few tears to my eyes thinking about my father who passed about 2 years ago. This truly was a heartfelt vlog in so many ways. It was so beautifully put together that I truly didn't want it to end!! Hope you and your family made wonderful memories on your trip to the good ole USA!!

[@lisaking9659]

Quality content! Great video! Thanks for sharing your family with us. ❤

[@DeeBright-fo9kh]

What a wonderful vlog! You have such a lovely family; laughing, talking, swimming. This vlog made me long for my family. My parents and both of my brothers are deceased and I miss the time I had with them! 💞

[@annierouleau8688]

Thank you Matthew, for this nice surprise. A vlog on Saturday and such a peaceful and enjoyable one. Enjoy your long weekend. Hugs to you, Penny, Brooklyn and Amber

[@sheilacaine]

Awesome family time. A time to treasure. Excellent video. ❤

[@tracymac1111]

I liked this video very much. Thankyou Matthew, for sharing these wonderfully happy moments in your US summer 2024 holiday. It’s incredibly generous of you to invite us to spend a little time with you and a very special group of people…your family. Beautiful photography and editing, the content was hugely entertaining, well done Mr DeMille.

[@sbyrd342]

What a beautiful day thanks for sharing

[@clairem.4779]

I know you probably would have loved to have Brooklyn with you on this, but it's still a most beautiful family video. Echo lake has a rugged beauty. Thanks for sharing!

[@AliJServantOfJesusChrist]

I am bawling my eyes out right now, Matthew, because of all the videos You have shared with us, this one has to be the most closest to home for anyone who has ever been a member of a tight-knit family, whether still together or temporarily separated by Heaven’s Door. I can’t begin to tell You what watching and enjoying this beautiful, Love-filled vacation has done for me personally, as there is not enough time in a day for me to do so….so please accept my greatest and deepest thank You for bringing me along for the ride. May God Continue To Bless And Keep You All. May He Lift His Countenance Upon Each One Of You. May He Be Gracious Unto You And Your’s, And Give Each Of You His Peace. In The Mighty Powerful Name Of Jesus Christ I Ask And Thank Him For These And ALL Things. Amen.

[@Charlotte-bn4gp]

😢Same here!!! Got me all up in my feelings, but in a blessed and wonderful memories way😊

[@AliJServantOfJesusChrist]

@@Charlotte-bn4gp LoL!! Yes!!! 💯

[@karenshiels6566]

What a lovely time you guys had together. I'm sure the grandparents were peeking in on ya. They really aren't that far away.

[@Valerygallery]

LOVE the Allen family.💓

[@lindageiling5922]

The music is making me cry. Your family makes me wish I had mine. ❤😢 beautiful

[@cindysegar1426]

Oh my gosh. What a beautiful video. That song made me cry. So glad you and your family could have this time together. ❤

[@najruqwi7008]

It's so beautiful there. Enjoy! 👍👍👍

[@staceygiometti9680]

I Love Your Family, Love That Your Mama Likes To Have Fun.😊

[@kaytoka717]

I kind of think that Matthew gets a lot of his humor from his mom, and that Byron and Matthew like to “tease” / bug dad a little bit. 😂😂😂😂❤

[@karenbreslauer2053]

Loved seeing Lindsay joining in on the fun

[@naomidonovan-perry2667]

You have a beautiful family.

[@naomichristian1099]

This was very beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.💞

[@JustCameronAndHisJeep]

Loving this video Matthew. ❤

[@kjnz2804]

Matthew, you are a very lucky man to have such a awesome mum! Just like my daughter has an awesome mum😊😂 love your videos

[@LittleMo777.]

Family fun!😊 Enjoy them at every opportunity!❤

[@VikingShipExplorer]

Thanks for sharing your Family with us Matthew. This video brought back a lot of great memories of going to the cabin and having fun out on the lake. Cheers.

[@louellentrevino]

My Lighthouse is one of mine and my grandkids favorite songs. Thank you for using it Matthew! It brought me such joy!

[@lindakoon8694]

LOVE THIS VIDEO! ENJOYED YOUR DAY OUT.

[@elizabethcastello5496]

Beautiful, that's what life's about, family ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@preparingthebridefaithoutr6884]

WOW!😳😲 ...a Saturday 'treat', from VanlifePLUS!👍🤗💖🎉. AWESOME, thanks Matthew!☺️

[@brianbenedict8374]

Awesome vid my friend!!!

[@josephmorgan3715]

An unexpected but very warm and nice video! Thank you all for sharing your vacation with us!!

[@helene1779]

Beautiful video Matthew! Thank you for sharing this with us!❤️🙏🏼👍🏼👍🏼✌🏼❤️🐈❤️

[@cherylmckay9347]

Have you ever considered being an audiobook narrator? You have an amazing voice for it. I've been thoroughly enjoying the videos. Thanks for sharing your family travels with us all.

[@anon8219ak]

Yes, i heard the bit at the end, then an ad i eagerly skipped but that was the end. Dude, get on this asmr reading bit. Pirate sea shanties

[@aaronthedj12]

Happy to see you all back in the boat. Cheers and GB

[@Theodorussfo]

Wow! That vlog was over fast! It was a so cool.

[@carolinecaiger6717]

Now that's a vacation! And amazingly I could keep going with the Cremation of Sam McGee.

[@rajanikumari3672]

Thank you for sharing your family time with us Matthew. 😊🍀🚤

[@dawnmarazzi538]

How beautiful! And I love that song! Came at just right time tonight! Thank you for the reminder and for a lovely video!

[@jacquelineeick5986]

Beautiful...

[@annaleefinch7266]

Thank you for sharing your family vacation and sharing memories with your viewers. LOVE ❤ the music 🎶

[@taceyjohnson1122]

❤ Beautiful video, Matthew!

[@Charlotte-bn4gp]

Thank you Matthew, sharing this day took me back to the summer of '82, a big beautiful lake surrounded by mountains, a '65 Dixie with a 35 HP Evinrude, two boards off of a house would have been easier to ski on than those '65 skis but it was the best 2 weeks I ever spent with my 2 younger brothers. I was 18, my middle brother, 17 and my baby brother, 14. We camped in a sandy beach cove and at night the full moon shone like a beacon light onto our campsite like it was shining just for us. The Dixie boat had the seats that sit back to back and you could flip them up and stretch them out to make a mini bed. That's where my brothers chose to sleep, being gently rocked by the lake. I, in my tent with my teddy bear(still have it to this day), is where I slept like a baby. We had a johnboat and when morning came I'd get up early to quietly slip to the next cove over where I caught fish for the day, every day. The days were long with swinging ropes that slung you a hundred feet in the air and when you hit the water, immediately had to start kicking to be sure you had enough air to get back to the surface! Skiing, intertubing behind the boat, late evening fishing, relaxing on floats, sitting by the bonfire roasting hotdogs, telling jokes, singing and non stop laughing!! I cherish this memory and replay it in my mind so I'll never forget. My baby brother and I were very best friends. We got along so well all our lives and enjoyed each other's company so much, we worked together, went to church and raised our kids together. We took them to the river, to the lake, camping, church, dirt track racing, the beach, we were inseparable. When we lost him 22 years ago, life has never been the same. I have a good life but there will be...he will always be missing😢... except in my heart. There, he will always be. No words of how very much I enjoyed this video. My favorite by far and I have watched every one of your vlogs. Happy trails to you🌄

[@danielellington8407]

A Nice and peaceful easygoing vlog. Thanks I needed that after today Matthew! Have a great vacation buddy!

[@preparingthebridefaithoutr6884]

Touched my soul ...ABSOLUTELY!👍🤗💖😇. LOVE the family LOVE!🎉

[@patriciac5214]

As time passes, this video will be treasured by all

[@TLAR24]

Great video Matthew, great music too. ❤️🇨🇦

[@ItsOnlyMe13]

What a beautiful vlog. I cried.as it brought back a flood of memories.

[@TheSt1ngRay]

Quality content on a Saturday night is tight!

[@TheLeopardGirl]

Gone but never forgotten! 🤍🙏🤍🙏🤍

[@judymoyer3093]

Matthew, thank to you and your family for sharing such beautiful video with us God Bless you and yours

[@mikey8778]

That’s so cool I love that song you used My LightHouse by Rend collective such a great band!!

[@ovangal3852]

@VanLifePlus - 14:00 - THANK YOU😁

[@GrannyGiggles1]

My heart is full. You are a very blessed man Matthew Allen.

[@patriciabrackett4402]

Am so enjoying you and family on vacation ❤

[@sunshine47476]

Yay!!! A Saturday vlog. Thank you Matthew. Have a great weekend!

[@canadiannat8960]

💚💚💚💚💚 What a perfect song for the day. Definitely emotion filled and very touching. A wonderful day to honor your grandparents.

[@mariepalkiewicz852]

❤Simply PERFECT! You have so much to be thankful for❤

[@LoriFranklin-ee4sh]

The boat ran great. 🙏!

[@Az_VanGo]

Matthew, I loved this❤

[@douglaswhite1306]

Ahh...summer fun and carefree days. Enjoy every minute of your USA visit. By now you're probably already heading back.

[@rosesevers5181]

Simply beautiful 😁❤

[@dunspitz]

No words necessary.....Well Done