49 yr old student starting M-F van dwelling!

[LongInTheTooth]

Greetings everyone!

I've been so blessed by this forum, holy cow! What a wonderful wealth of generous information! Who knew?

When I told my significant people that I was gonna retrofit a van and live in it during the week instead of commuting, they looked at me like I had lobsters crawling out of my ears! When I showed them how many other people live in vans full time and are loving it, they looked at you guys like you have lobsters who've taken up residence in your ears LOL Seriously though, I have a wonderfully supportive, albeit somewhat worried, clan back home. But knowing their mother, it doesn't really surprise them LOL

Has anyone stealth van-camped in the Morgantown, WV area? Any safe and/or friendly spots you could share? I'll be living in my yet-unpurchased van Monday thru Friday while I attend classes at WVU. I live in Pittsburgh and I just can't do the commute AND have time to study. I'm not 21 anymore, I need my beauty sleep! LOL

Thank you to all who have contribute pd to this site. I look forward to sharing many posts over the next 2yrs.

Wish me luck!!!
LongInTheTooth

 

[Fearnoevil]

Welcome from one newbie to another ;?D
I know what you mean about most folks just not getting it, it's hard thinking outside the box, especially if you're living in it, lol. But yes, lots of great information here and the folks are real friendly, so hope you find what you need and good luck with your project and studies.

 

[Patrick46]

49 years old is considered "Long in the Tooth???" WOW!!

but, what does that make me??? A "Walking Relic???"






eh....I'm going for a motorcycle ride! That'll make me feel better!

 

[LongInTheTooth]

Awwww Patrick! I didn't mean I'm long in the tooth in general, I meant I'm long in the tooth to be a college student! Lol the first day so classes are always amusing... When I first walk in the classroom, they always think I'm the professor until I sit down amongst them! Hehehe

I'm sure you're far from a walking relic! But to prove that, you're gonna have to take me for a ride on that motorcycle you mentioned! I miss mine terribly, had to sell it a few years ago, still lamenting its loss

 

[offroad]

Makes sense. Don't tell people you are doing this. First rule of fight club (stealth van club).

 

[crazy_dave]

eh....I'm going for a motorcycle ride! That'll make me feel better!

I try to do this every day after work, and living in upstate NY that’s no small task. We measure the snow by the feet. I have snowmobiler’s solute me all the time.
Every once in awhile I get popped doing wheelies where I shouldn’t be. I just tell the officer that its part of my therapy. This, and after they find out I not some young squid they just walk away shaking their head asking when I’m ever going to grow up.

 

[LongInTheTooth]

Offroad, yeah Ivd told my immediate family of my plans to live in a van down by the river! Literally the parking garage I'm considering visiting occasionally is actually down by the river lol. Chris Farley nailed it lol

As a woman I'm acutely aware that I need to be super-stealthy-ninja-dweller!

Thanks for the reminder

---

Patrick, you tell them you have no plans on doing so right?? Lol

---

Oops! Sorry Patrick, I read crazy faves post and thot it was you.

Go Dave!!

 

[Patrick46]

Snowmobiles?? Oh, don't get me started on those things!!! (We had 7 of 'em just a few years ago!!)



...and as for giving you a ride on ma chopper.....you'll hafta ask my wife, as that's HER seat back there!!

 

[LongInTheTooth]

Patrick, I would never take the good lady's seat! How does she like van dwelling? You have ur bike with you when ur van'ing it?

 

[Patrick46]

Sticks & bricks for me ....er....US. (she refuses to give up her gardens)


so we're not full timers. We, however, do ALOT of traveling and living on the road, and I was a full-timer for many years, until she got her claws into my heart!!! (whacha gonna do, eh???)

but I'm slowly transforming my business to where it'll PAY me to travel...then I'll be set!!

 

[Dragonfly]

Grinning at 'long in the tooth' reference. My dear child, wait till you get out here!
Welcome! And may the road be long before you..and behind you.

It's a great life.
Had 30 years of it and about to start out again.
Times have changed so we have to make allowances for Government Mules. Oops Rules.
Passports to go 1 block down into Mexico.
Passports to cross the friendly border into Canada.
Have to have a permanent address for many reasons..ouch on that one.
etcetera.

I wish you the greatest time of your life.

Oz

 

[eDJ_]

I live down in the southern end of WV where KY & Ohio come together.  I used to date a girl
who was going to WVU and went up there a few times in my Van.  There was Coopers Rock & State Forest with a large lake "Cheat Lake" north east of Morgantown on I- 68. (maybe 10 miles)   We camped there on the weekends.

I'm sure today that that area has grown for campers.  

Your Public Library may have some Campground Atlas Books


There are lots of online resources too.

US National Forest Campground Directory

http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/intro/introduc.htm

WV State Parks & Camping

http://www.wvstateparks.com/lodging/camping.htm

I would note that it does get Cold in the winter in that area.
Doing this in summer terms may be fine.   But pending on the
severity of the winter.....November through March could be
challenging.   Using the Van half of the year would be a way
of cutting your annual rent cost way back.

I have one retired friend who presently is living in a 28' travel trailer that
is set up on a more permanent basis.  His lot is 45' X 35' with a
view of the Ohio River.  He pays $400 annually for the lot and
his utilities. (cable/internet, power, water, sewage, propane) He and his two
terrier dogs love it there.  He's fenced in and the dogs have their
own door to go out into the yard at will.   He's there in the evenings
most of the time.  He bought the trailer of a retired couple on Craig's
and got a dynamite deal on it. Bedroom and living room crank out.
He teaches Golf and plays at one of the Country Clubs in the summer
and plans to snow bird in Florida with a friend and teach and play Golf
there in the winter.  He'll live similarly there.

Where he lives now is outside any city limits and there are few codes
to restrict the rental situation there.   There are 5 other sites around him
like his.  He didn't sell his riding mower (from last home) so he mows
the property for the land lord and keeps the whole place looking nice.

You may find a place like this around Morgantown outside the city limits
where you could set up similar to this for cheap rent.   At school you may
have use of the Gym for cleaning up etc.

 

[c_hasbeen]

Greetings everyone!


Wish me luck!!!
LongInTheTooth

While you are thinking about additional schooling you may wish to look around this website.
http://www.overfiftyandoutofwork.com/

The company I work for announced three days ago it was laying off 10,000 folks nationally;  I dodged that bullet. (they have 60 days till the last check)
Eight people I know who got the hammer dropped on them were late 40's early 50's educated, and kept up with further self development and training and degrees to try and avoid being on the list.  Yesterday I was told I could expect to be taking on double the work load first of August. 
One week prior to the lay off announcement they proudly announced they had hired 7,000 fresh young eager college grads.
Last year one of the top executives stated on camera industry would rather hire a fresh young willing mind over experience.


They say they are staying agile to stay a strong company, and while putting this post together I think that is very good advice for anyone especially myself.  I am now focused on being agile.

I am wishing you good luck.

Respectfully
~C

 

[c_hasbeen]

While you are thinking about additional schooling you may wish to look around this website.
http://www.overfiftyandoutofwork.com/

they have a face page also that has some reading on it as well.  I do not have a face book but I can still read these at the link below
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Over-Fifty-and-Out-of-Work/122824164434815
Respectfully
~C

 

[SoulRaven]

Staying agile has nothing to do with it, they want to get rid of the higher wage earners and replace them with lower wage earners. Plain and simple.

 

[offroad]

Staying agile has nothing to do with it, they want to get rid of the higher wage earners and replace them with lower wage earners. Plain and simple.

It happened to my father who refused to read the tea leaves and predictions of the long timer employees. Layed off at 55. He had to take jobs at various machine shops using bending machine or punch machines. No easy task to learn again. All until he could retire at 62.

 

[SoulRaven]

Welcome and good luck!

I don't have any safe spots to share, only that it's been my experience that once you start doing it you quickly acquire a "sixth sense" about what's safe and what isn't, and you learn to listen to it. Quick access to my keys and the driver's seat was essential for safety during the times I didn't.

 

[BC Guy]

The OP's last post on this thread was July 30th, last year.

 

[cherterr]

it's hard thinking outside the box, especially if you're living in it,

 

[sillysal54]

Dear Long in the tooth: I am a 64 year old Pittsburgher, and intend to live full time in my 2012 Dodge Caravan at some point in the near future. Gonna sell the house and possessions and finally free myself of a lifetime of responsibilities. So I wish you a successful college education, and a safe "vanatory" experience. AND a lot of luck and blessings.