Delusional? Seeking perspectives!

[Dreighen]

They say if you can dream it, &nbsp;you can do it (well I say that lol). So I've been doing a bit of brainstorming and "mind mapping" out the next year for me making my conversion to van life.<div><br></div><div>I start a decent paying job tomorrow and want to be living in a van around 6 months after that. &nbsp;This is what I am envisioning and also asking the community for a reality check on my vision lol! &nbsp;Thanks in advance btw.</div><div><br></div><div>I plan on living in my van while working full time. Using my gym membership to keep in shape, as well as showers, etc. Using the money that I am not paying in rent to open up an investment account (scotttrade, ameritrade etc) and start investing that money, while at the same time building up my emergency fund. &nbsp;Eventually upgrade my living&nbsp;accommodation (I'm still learning about RV's, Class B's (? that's what they're called right?&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Start a blog about my entire experience being "homeless" and finishing up college as well. &nbsp;Then just living life from there, traveling, seeking adventure. &nbsp;I know sometimes we tend to get carried away when we daydream, so that's why I'm putting this all out here to see what you guys think?</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Thanks!&nbsp;</div>

 

[freenez2]

Been there done that... and it worked well. A couple of things and this isn't advice. Just experience... Trust is such an expensive thing... Don't share what you're doing with co-workers. It'll invariably get back to the boss and you may be called on to "Explain yourself".&nbsp; Don't forget there's always a dumb prick out there who'll think you're unstable or some kind of risk because you're living a non-mainstream lifestyle.&nbsp; That sucks. The other thing is to find a legal place to park at night. I put an ad in Craigslist asking for off street parking at night for $100/month and enjoyed a quiet parking place with no hassles. Oh yeah... Don't forget to floss. ;-)<br>

 

[Dreighen]

ROFL, I'm actually flossing as I read this o_0 weird lol. Thanks for the input though, the paying for parking per month is a good idea! And I definitely don't plan on sharing my private business with coworkers lol. I just can't wait to be out there doing this already...

 

[Wild_E]

Hey there good luck with your plans which sound good to me! I am living my Vehicle (Truck/Camper) and working full time as well using my Astro for the job. Self employed, and please note, if you have a place to call home, your not homeless!<div><br></div><div>I feel more at home than i did living with my soon to be Ex-wife in that sticks and bricks contraption that I really did not like either. I park and pay, found someone who said you can live here, for $$ per month, so have both vehicles there.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Never say you live in your vehicle unless it is to someone very close with a small mouth! I just say I have a tiny place now or a small place that is too small for visitors, so where shall we meet for coffee or how about your place.</div><div><br></div><div>Cheers to you</div>

 

[cyndi]

Sounds like a workable plan to me.<br><br>I like to refer to the lifestyle as houseless<br>

 

[Dreighen]

Thanks guys, I put homeless in quotations because I too don't consider it to be homeless. Home is where the heart is, and if that's where your comfortable right in the confines of your own van/car/RV whatever, than who's to say any different. I am really glad I found this community, so glad to see people who's minds can expand beyond the status quo.

 

[Dreighen]

Forgot to mention, I play poker online as well as another stream of income, even though the govt tried to shut us down <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><div><br></div><div><a href="http://shystitalkspoker.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">http://shystitalkspoker.wordpress.com/</a></div>

 

[freenez2]

Not to split hairs but...<br><br><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="664"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" width="664"><div style="width:664px;"> <div> <div id="areattl">Federal Definition of Homeless</div> <div><table id="rg88907" summary="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr align="LEFT"> <td style="padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;" valign="top" width="100%"> <div class="hudpagepad"> <p><a target="_blank" class="external" href="http://uscode.house.gov/"><strong>The United States Code</strong></a> contains the official federal definition of homeless. In Title 42, Chapter 119, Subchapter I, homeless is defined as:</p> <h4>§11302. General definition of homeless individual</h4> <h4>(a) In general </h4>For purposes of this chapter, the term "homeless" or "homeless individual or homeless person" includes- <ol type="1"><li>an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; and<br><br> </li><li>an individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is - <br><br> <ol type="A"><li>a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill); <br><br> </li><li>an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or <br><br> </li><li>a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. </li></ol> </li></ol> <h4>(b) Income eligibility </h4> <ol type="1"><li> <h4>In general</h4>A homeless individual shall be eligible for assistance under any program provided by this chapter, only if the individual complies with the income eligibility requirements otherwise applicable to such program. <br><br> </li><li> <h4>Exception</h4>Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a homeless individual shall be eligible for assistance under title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 [29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.].</li></ol> <h4>(c) Exclusion </h4> <p>For purposes of this chapter, the term "homeless" or "homeless individual" does not include any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained pursuant to an Act of the Congress or a State law.</p> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table></div> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="332"> <div style="width:332px;"> </div> <br></td> <td valign="top" width="332"> <div style="width:332px;"> </div> <br></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" width="664"> <div style="width:664px;"> </div> <br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><br>

 

[bobbert]

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="664"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" width="664"><div style="width:664px;"><div><div><table id="rg88907" summary="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr align="LEFT"><td style="padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;" valign="top" width="100%"><div class="hudpagepad"> <h4>... (c) Exclusion </h4> <p>For purposes of this chapter, the term "homeless" or "homeless individual" does not include any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained pursuant to an Act of the Congress or a State law.</p> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table></div> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" width="664"> <div style="width:664px;"> </div> </td></tr></tbody></table><br>

<div><br></div><div>Damn! That leaves me out!!!</div>