I just read the article and understand Bob's point of view. We all come to this in different ways and from different backgrounds. And not all of us are full time at it either, yet some of us it when necessary if job hunting in the real world becomes necessary. So many of the companies where I live go out of business, move, or have massive layoff's and having this skill/mindset is quite an asset to overcome that adversity.
A lot of people where I live work for the CSX railroad and get laid off from occasionally for several months at a time. They hop in their rig and travel a few hundred miles up into Ohio and find jobs to work until such time that they are called back. Those stuck with a lot of seniority often come back while others who don't often relocate all together. But if they are laid off again there, they know how to hop in their rigs and go job hunting once again. I know some who started with a Van rig and in time moved up to a larger Class C towing a small car or pickup truck behind it.
Hunting for a job was what brought me to the Van scene. In those times most of the Van culture was thought of as being "Hippie Sin Bins" (of sex, drugs, & rock & roll) with outrageous paint schemes and LEO's were always checking them out. My rig looked more like it was for camping, fishing, and touring.
plain solid color paint scheme and the interior could be removed to make it back into a cargo van so it looked respectable.
In those times people traveling & living out of their cars wasn't as common as it was in Europe. Often VW Bug's had modified front seats that would lay back to make a bed of sorts. Folding gear shift kits
were common with this conversion and many removed the rear seat back to have plenty of unobstructed room. But circumstances are seeing growth in people living out of their cars.
This experience is what I brought with me to CRVL.
One of the first threads I started was in "Matters of the Heart" titled "Choosing to be single and on the road". It got quite a response. This was long before Covid.
I had started the "Van Conversion" website on another forum (see it at the bottom) for some much younger people who were "stuck" in the great recession much like those Bob's article reflects on.
Later I put together the edjsautoservices site as a portal to help those with rigs but not enough experience to know how to go about going on the road. I had once thought of rolling all of this information into a booklet to publish and sell. Much like those little 6 x 3 1/2 inch novelty booklets like you see at the grocery store check out counters with titles like, "Is your cat psychic?", "Oriental Horoscope 2020", "Mysteries of the Bible" etc for $1 dollar. But I saw the need for this information as being too great and immediate to just make a small profit to a limited audience.
Presently I'm trying to develop a thread in "Off-Topic Chit-Chat", "Education & Skills needed to work online from your Rig". During this pandemic I've read so many stories of people never wanting to go back to the office if they can work remotely. Some can work with a computer while other with trade skills for working outdoors or in shops may only live out of their Rig's. Some may even work in Maritime industries where they are on large boats for a month on and a month off, returning to their Rig for a month of free time to do whatever.
This is the side of Cheap RV Living I'd like to promote. As the saying goes, "Ya gotta trade, ya got it made". (but you may have to travel frequently to stay employed) A remote worker with office skills
may share in the same advantages. (provided the employer doesn't require you coming to the office)
The "Branding" of a frugal RV lifestyle shouldn't necessarily have to be indicative of poverty. Further it should be stressed (as Bob suggest in the article) that those in financial hardships can use this lifestyle to "bootstrap" themselves back into a more comfortable & secure life. Retraining may be necessary but there is so much of this now FREE online. (with certifications)
The signature at the bottom contains the other two sites
Choosing to be Single and on the Road
Education & Skills needed to work online from your Rig
