Living in a van

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http://www.cheaprvliving.com/index.html

Escape from the prison of humdrum and unfettered freedom, the idea of living out of a van is captivating. People on the spectrum are prone to homelessness and living in a van is definitely better than sleeping on the streets. The website estimates that it will probably cost at least $500 a month and probably more like $1,000 to make it work, but I think if you do not drive around too much you can probably do it for less. Work the minimum wage box stacking type jobs when you need the cash and hightail out before the workplace politics catches up with you. Even if you cannot outrun autism, at least you can keep one step ahead of its scent.

I used to ride around from town to town on a bike with a trailer which contained all my living gear in a waterproof box. I did that for about a year on and off. Best fun I ever had.... but got a bit much in the end. The wandering lifestyle definitely suited me though, I agree.

....down by the river?

$500-$1000 a month? That's not cheap; my apartment is in that price range... but I have a car payment too...(Texas has a low cost of living, though.) I always wanted to be a wanderer, but never had the guts because I'm female. Plus I think my parents would have themselves committed....

I have used the 'cheap living' site to help me outfit my van. I havn't actually lived in it, but I could, if pressed to it. Matter of fact, that is why I got it. I have lived 'down by the river' withOUT a van and that, my friends, is more depressing than living in a van, down by the river.

Merle

Van-ity topic

My NT ex-husband lives in his van when he is homeless (because he defaults on the rent), and this time of year it is cold.

This is why my children do not live with him.

Sorry, I hope things are better for you now...

I'm moving to a little house on some acreage next year. My friend's parents own it so all I have to pay are the utilities since my friend doesn't make enough to cover it. I'm really blessed to know them. I think she is on the spectrum, (but I haven't told her that) and her parents are very well off, so I'm lucky they like me.

I was on the verge of living in a van once.
Back when I was 21, I was sharing an apartment with some people I thought were friends.
They suddenly bailed and left me with months-worth of payments that I could not make.
I felt like I had no option but to sell all my belongings, buy a used van, and flee into the night.

Fortunately, reason got the better of me, and I instead became the proverbial prodigal son...
I went back to my dad and begged him for help. He did, with conditions. I had to live by some of his guidelines for a while, until he was sure that I was more or less stable (at least not homeless).

To be sure, I've always admired Jack Kerouac and the whole On-the-Road-Dharma-Bums sort of thing... Wandering through the world in search of transcendence and enlightenment.

Right now I have repsonsibilities of stability, and I'm thankful to have a comfortable roof over my head.

There are people who do this, and do it well that you can learn from called Fulltimers in the RV community.

You can either pay rent to stay in a campground or state forest camp (or even rent a parking space with electricty from a friend). You'll need to rent a postal box service that will give you a street address (not a P.O. box address) so you can get normal mail and look like a typical renter/homeowner, especially if you have/want a normal job (or small business) and want people to assume your living situation is similar to theirs.

Some also people stay in Bureau of Land Management Lands (which are sometimes free).

Short term overnight stays can be done at some 24 hour Wal-Marts, truck stops, and rest stops if you're just passing through. Some RVers do workamping for inexpensive (or free) parking and power, help out at campgrounds and tourist sites in exchange. (Helps if you're handy.) Others find their own caretaker jobs and get permission to hookup to their host's power, etc. as part of their work deal.

You will need to switch from a landline phone service to a cell phone service. As far as the internet goes, many campgrounds offer wifi for a fee (most fulltimers use laptops and netbooks, not full sized PCs because of the amount of space and electricity larger computers require). You can also get free/cheap wifi at many libraries, coffeehouses, etc. within reason.

The best place for info advice on whether it is for you and how to do it is at http://www.rv.net/forum/ (especially in the Full Timing Forum).

(Fulltimed by choice for 3+ years in a restored vintage RV that we got very cheaply. That time may be drawing to a close very soon though for good reason...had a great time though!)

how about charceable batteries..there has batteries in car etc wich can be loaded with human power

I couldn't do it. I like camping and could camp for a couple of weeks, but I don't think I would choose to do it for an extended period of time. I was looking at the breakdown of the costs, and it seems like the cost of phone and internet is very low. Unless you already have a laptop and you are near a place (or go into a place) with wifi....but phone services with internet are expensive.
I know it sounds terrible, but I couldn't live without internet.

If I had to do it, well, I guess that would be what I would have to do.

I have a cousin who is Bipolar with psychotic symptoms and during his psychotic episodes he will wander off and live in his tent. He has a lot of family who offer to take him in, but he refuses. He wants to live in his tent. We do invite him over for dinner and send him back with leftovers.

The title of this thread reminds me of the book The Lady In The Van by Alan Bennett: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lady-Van-Alan-B ... 1861971222 . It is the true story of the eccentric Miss Shepherd who lived in a van in the street outside Bennett's house in London and then in his garden for nearly 20 years.

Interesting post, especially since I just lost my place to stay.

Thankfully (miraculously!) I think I have found a room to rent, but someday I would like to have a van, yurt, or some kind of home that I could never lose no matter what.

In the past ten years I have consistently found that it costs me about $1000/month to live, though. I must not be doing it right...

I considered this. I decided against it for a number of reasons. Instead, I decided that I want to buy some land in a forest somewhere and live like a homesteader. I'd have a little used mobile home and hopefully piped water from a spring, and a composting toilet so I wouldn't need a septic system. Solar, wind, and diesel generator for power. Satellite dish for internet, no TV. I'd raise and eat chickens and rabbits, and grow food. I'd work as a self-employed computer repairman in the nearest town for money. It would be totally off grid, off the books, Ayn Rand/John Galt "shrugging" style living. But yeah, I was obsessed with Chris McCandless for the better part of a year after the financial crash.

Most people would probably only live in a van if they had no other better choice. Nothing beats solid walls and a weather shielding roof for that sense of home comfort and security. Sadly, many people are finding that they do not have the choice and I would consider sleeping in a van to be far superior to roughing it in a tent. Not only is it more comfortable because you do not have to deal with rocks and protrusions beneath you or the battering of the elements above you, it is also a lot safer as you can stealthily park in places that are well lit and secured. The massive parking at every Walmart comes to mind as an ideal layover location.

Not only would a van afford you mobility to move to where jobs are available, you could also probably pack most of your more valuable belongings and carry it with you. In a sense, it is the difference between being a wandering nomad versus being a desperate hobo. And it is that sense of nomadic wonder that elevates living in a converted van from the degradation of sleeping amidst filth and detritus. It is unusual, but I can imagine people choosing to do it voluntarily. I even knew of some who retired to homesteads off the grid but chose to live in their RVs most days of the year to escape depressing winters and to seek company amongst like minded free spirited individuals. Is that not what we want? A world where others will accept us for what we are and not what we should be?

[quote="LinnaeusCat"] You can either pay rent to stay in a campground or state forest camp (or even rent a parking space with electricty from a friend).

Or even getting a gig as a remote duty campground attendant for the whole summer. http://cheaprvliving.com/Workamping.html


[quote="LinnaeusCat"] You'll need to rent a postal box service that will give you a street address (not a P.O. box address) so you can get normal mail and look like a typical renter/homeowner, especially if you have/want a norml job (or small business) and want people to assume your living situation is similar to theirs. [ /quote]

And with ingenious adaptations of showers and sanitation and a certain neatness to your rig and your own appearance you can let people assume you do. I have enough trouble with people one-on-one without having to fight against the impression that I am unkempt and a vagrant.

I have found I can come to love living in a very small place. I love the idea of being within reach of everything I need to exist when I am not taking up any more room on the earth than what I need to. That makes me happy.

i love freedom and i value my time highly.

i've lived in: nice houses, slum housing, a tipi, a schoolbus with two lofts, a yurt, and for a time on oahu, i simply didn't have a place at all. in fact, this will likely be so again for a time when i return next month.

a van is easier in some ways, but only if you have a place to park, or can be inconspicuous enough to not draw attention. else you might lose the van to tickets and such.

i do love wandering, on oahu anyway, where i never felt in physical danger (from people; illness is another tale). but it's also exhausting over time, and it's hard to reach goals, if you have some.

i have a couple, and in fact oahu is where i can reach them, so back i go....if i wanted to take up driving again, i'd for sure get a van. tho i'd probably choose a former U-haul, and leave it as it was. that way, i could park overnite in residential places, sleep, and get up early and drive of.

no flack. what's unusual about a moving van overnight after all?

i quit driving, tho, and really am happier w/o it. if you know what you're doing, tho, van living can be rather nice.