Completely new - "exploring my options" stage

[Renee78]

Hi Everyone,

I was so excited to discover this forum/website last night - I stayed up almost all night reading and still have a ton more to get through!

I currently live a pretty traditional lifestyle that, unfortunately, makes me miserably unhappy.  Basically, the "work, eat, sleep, repeat" model.  I've lived a fairly conventional life in terms of college/grad school/jobs, but I've never felt like I "fit in"; my priorities are often different than the people around me.  I am single and don't have kids, which, as a woman in my late 30s, makes me a bit of an outsider as well (at least in the family-centric large town in which I live).  

The one bright spot is that my job has afforded me a lot of opportunities to travel.  This may sound odd, but I find that I am rarely happier than when I am "leaving" somewhere.  Sometimes I'll even rent a hotel room in my own town, just to give myself the illusion of being somewhere else.  When I'm traveling, I never feel lonely, even if I'm alone; it's only this day-to-day drudgery that upsets me.  

I've had a dream of "living on the road" since I was young, but it always seemed out of reach - an unrealistic fantasy.  A few things have happened over the past few years that seem to have made it more "real" to me though.  First, an ex-boyfriend of mine told me about all of the adventures he'd had living on the road in his twenties; before him, I'd never met anyone who had actually lived this lifestyle.  Then, a year ago I went on a long road trip around Europe with a friend.  Due to poor planning, we had to sleep in the car one night, and we found it so easy/not a big deal that we wound up doing that a bunch more times on the trip to save money.  Finally, the depression I've been having over my work/life situation got so bad that I couldn't go a day without thinking about suicide.  Suddenly, it seemed utterly ridiculous to not start exploring other lifestyles - no matter how scary it is, if the alternative is suicide, you might as well try, right?

Anyway, I am falling absolutely in love with the idea of the vandwelling lifestyle, and I really think it might be for me, but I'm still just at the exploring stage.  I have a ton of student loans, unfortunately, but I am not going to put my life off indefinitely until they are paid.  However, they do mean that I have some practical constraints on how little money I am able to live off of so I may have to get more creative than some others need to be - temp jobs would be fine if it were just about lifestyle, but they wouldn't cover the loan payments.  I currently live in a climate where I don't think it would be a great idea to make a first try at vandwelling (too cold - I know some people manage, but I'm talking regular double-digit negatives in the winters, and I just don't think I could handle that as a newbie).  So maybe a first step would be to find a regular job in a better climate and then try out the lifestyle while still working in one place full-time.  

Well, I won't force you all to listen to every little idea in my head.  Just wanted to say hello and that I'm so happy to have found a forum where I will be able to meet people who are actually DOING this thing that I've only fantasized about.  It's very inspiring, and it makes me feel like I can do it too!

 

[highdesertranger]

welcome and good luck. WARNING no one here is going to talk you out of this lifestyle it's addictive. even though we are not all fulltime yet. highdesertranger

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Renee! There a quite a few single, young women who have found work that allows them to live in a van or RV and travel at least part of the year. It sounds like something like this would be a good fit for you too. You might have to work extra hard right now to get your expenses down to a reasonable amount but it's worth it for the freedom you'll gain. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[akrvbob]

Renee, you have come to the right place!! You seem to be the perfect fit with us.

You do have some obstacles to making the whole leap to full-time travel, but this doesn't have to be an all or nothing deal. While you devote your work life to paying down your loans, you can tremendously enhance your personal life by taking steps toward your new life. Consider these possible steps:

1) Start selling everything that won't fit into a van and put every penny into paying the loans or buying a van.
2) If it can all fit in a van, maybe you can move into a new place that's much smaller and costs less. Keep making the full payent but the extra goes to you, not a LandLORD.
3) Stop buying new things unless it will directly apply to your new vandwelling life. Everytime you don't buy something, put that money toward the loans or your van instead.
4) Start studying van builds and conversion to get a vision in your heart and mind of your new life and help you decide how to convert your van.
5) Decide what vehicle would be best for you. Start window shopping different vans and go look at them and try to decide how you would fit in it. You'll learn the market and prices.
6) With a little luck, at just the right time the perfect van for you will fall into your lap--Grab it!!
7) Devote yourself to learning new skills for your new life. Take a course in basic auto mechanics. Take the classes that Home Depot offers and learn basic handyman skills. Take a self-defense course--you'll be safer in a van than in a house, but the course will give you confidence and everyone needs more confidence--especially women who are constantly trained by society to live in fear.

I think you will find taking concrete steps toward a new life will make this life much more bearable. As you take small steps and make changes you will be encouraged and taking more steps will become better and easier.

You will find yourself in an upward cycle of hope, happiness and joy--that will be be worth anything it costs you.

I also think that your new attitude will in some way get you into your new life much faster than you could ever imagine!

Welcome to the very best times of your life!!!!
Bob

 

[Renee78]

Thank you all for the thoughtful replies!  I especially appreciate the list of things I can do now - I'm a sucker for lists!  Plus, getting started on something like that makes me feel like I'm moving toward this rather than just sitting around waiting for the right time/circumstances to magically appear.

I just recently began the downsizing process.  I don't have much to downsize - I've always been kind of a minimalist - but even if one is not generally materialistic, it's amazing how much crap you accumulate over time.  Just yesterday, I decided to do a really quick 20 minute scan of my closet and was able to fill a whole bag of clothes to donate - and that was without making any hard decisions (if I had any hesitation over something, I just skipped it) and without even opening my overstuffed dresser.  I also have shelves and shelves (and shelves) of books - always hard to let those go, but it's easier when one has something to look forward to.

I also really like the idea of taking some classes/looking at vans now.  I know that part of my fear is my lack of knowledge; I've only changed a tire once in my life, and that was with someone standing right there telling me what to do at each step.  My car has overheated a few times in the past, and I always wound up just standing around until I spotted someone who seemed nice and then asking them for help.  (I did finally learn how to check/replace the coolant, thankfully).

I'm actually in the process of moving into a slightly bigger/more expensive apartment, which I know sounds contradictory, but my current place has outrageous utility bills and the new place has utilities included so I'm hoping it's a wash.  Plus, I currently live right next door to a very expensive health food store, and the temptation to just pop in there after work rather than doing regular grocery shopping means that I often spend stupid amounts on food - the new place is right near all of the inexpensive grocery options so that will help me not to become a victim of my own laziness. : )

Thanks again!

 

[Theadyn]

Hi and Welcome!! Beware.. this is addictive.. Enjoy!!

 

[ilovemyvan]

Hello and Welcome Renee

What a burst of energy to have finally found what you were looking for and needed so badly. All of a sudden the "Frist day of the rest of my life" expression makes so much sense. Exciting isn't it?

Don't be surprise if your friends/family/coworkers try to talk you out of it. It will take time for some of them to understand and some will never do, but that's ok. You are taking YOUR LIFE into your own hands and so only what YOU know is right for YOU matters. I went thru that when I decided to leave after 15 years at a very good paying job. During the last few days there several people were telling me about their dreams. My reply was always the same "Well just go ahead and do it?" They all came up with different excuses but deep down I knew it was fear that stopped them. Very sad.

While I was reading your post I thought of a blog that might give you some good insides. http://www.interstellarorchard.com/ Becky is about your age and has been on the road full time for a few years now. She also wrote a very informative ebook on how to get started. I'm pretty sure you'd get a lot out of the blog and the ebook.

I don't know if you noticed already that there is a section in this forum for female only, seriously man are not allowed there. This is a very cool and safe place to ask questions that you might not feel comfortable asking on an open forum. I think you'll be amazed to see how many very supportive solo female travelers you will find there.

I know what you mean about letting go of your books. I decided to give mine to the public library and thrift store. It made me feel a little better to know that someone else would benefit from them, but it was still a difficult thing to do. I personally think that ebooks were invented by a vandweller, what do you think?

Bob is right, when you know you found your van grab it. You don't have to wait to be full timer to hit the road on weekends and vacations. That'll give you a good idea of what to expect and what you need.

HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nicole

 

[Patrick46]

Hello Renee!!

Drastically changing your lifestyle has got to be one of the hardest things a person can do to their life, (unless you get shoved into changing by some outside force...like a serious accident)
Everyone will question your sanity, and at times, you'll even question your own! (but don't sweat it)

And altho this forum is dedicated to the van lifestyle, there are a ton of different options available for cheap, mobile living.
Not much of a handyman (or handygirl)...small RV's come fully equipped and ready to go. (and are often found pretty cheaply too) Class 'B' motorhomes are those van bodies with the high tops and come self contained. (but these tend to have a higher resale on 'em) Of course there's travel trailers, pick-up slide-in campers, and motorhomes. (and don't forget boats too)

Take some time during your weekends, and go window shopping at RV dealerships and car lots and see what kid of rigs are out there and what they each offer and don't offer. Notice how each different rig feels to you, and consider if you could see yourself living in this rig or that one.

What kind of work do you do?? What part of the country (or province) are you from?? Any critters??

Lots of stuff to learn, but you've come to the right place! There are so many experienced folks on here ready to lend you a hand and get you pointed in the right direction.

Welcome, from the Oregon Coastline!!

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I also have shelves and shelves (and shelves) of books - always hard to let those go, but it's easier when one has something to look forward to.

Hi Renee

I sympathize with the book situation.  My attitude was always:  "The barbarians may have gotten the Library at Alexandria, but they're NOT going to get mine!"

Do you have a Kindle or Nook?  Or an Ipad or Android tablet you can run the kindle and nook apps on?

Start going through your books and classifying them as either can or can't live without.  Then see which of the can't live without books can be gotten in kindle or nook format.  Start buying ebook replacements as finances allow and start donating or selling the ones you no longer need.  Perhaps you live someplace where the street gets together and does a neighborhood yard sale once a year?  If so, you could run a table with your unneeded books on it.

I second Becky's Interstellar Orchard site, you can find it here:  http://www.interstellarorchard.com/

There are also Youtube videos by and about her.  Try this one:

In addition to Becky, I also recommend Technomadia:  http://www.technomadia.com/

They LITERALLY wrote the book on connectivity on the road, and their How-To series called "No Excuses: Go Nomadic"  is the perfect primer for beginners.

Bob's book, HOW TO LIVE IN A CAR, VAN OR RV  is also a must read:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=B008S129XY&linkCode=as2&tag=cheaprvliving-20

Regards
John

 

[RollinWOT]

Welcome Renee! I completely understand with the "not conforming" to modern society. I can't get out into vandwelling full time yet. I've got 2 small kids. I actually envy you because you have a blank slate so to speak. If you need help deciding on a vehicle to get, send me a message, I'm more than willing to give you a mechanic's solid advice on finding one that suits your needs. Welcome aboard and cheers!

 

[akrvbob]

Renee, as you can see, you have stumbled on one of the best groups of people in the world!

We want to help you and answer any questions you may have!
Bob

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

welcome aboard. your situation sounds very similar to mine. Its very easy to get going in this life style, you can buy some things, stick it in a van, and boom, ready to venture. could do part time at first to try it out and relieve stress.

 

[ilovemyvan]

Martin, you should tell Renee how many more days before you hit the road? What is it 3 or 4?

 

[ramblingvanman]

Welcome Renee. It is an interesting lifestyle, though I have barely scratched the surface. Good luck finding the right vehicle and I hope to see you on the road.