TrainChaser
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2016
- Messages
- 2,260
- Reaction score
- 1
I had several conversations with a woman about this about 35 yrs ago. She was doing most of the talking, most of which was complaining. She and her husband were parked beside me at a campground. They were in a LARGE, shiny, modern motorhome with cameras. They were traveling, doing some kind of events at different locations (fairgrounds, convention centers, etc).
Her husband seemed to do most of the work. She sat around a lot and stared into space.
I was homeless (1980s recession), living in my little Ford van with a 50-lb dog, a cat and a litterbox. Platform bed, cardboard storage boxes that slid under the bed, a laundry basket with clean clothes, a box for the dirty ones. Propane Grasshopper stove, Coleman cooler.
I was okay. The place had cold running water in the sinks, and a spigot. LUXURY! I went to the library and made copies of my resume and mailed them out, reread a lot of my favorite books, did some photography (couldn't afford to have them developed until I found a job), and made little dolls by hand. I was always busy. Every vacation I have ever had was camping, because it's cheap and interesting.
I've thought about this before, and I kind of think it depends on your experience, mindset and the luxury level of your regular life. People who have a lot of 'things', who spend half their life spending money to fill their time, who have no real hobbies or interests seem to have more problems with the van life than 'less affluent' people who are always doing something and planning for the next day or week. I'm poor, but I'm never bored. I don't think I've been bored since I was about 8 years old and had a sprained ankle.
I think it's all in the mindset. Some people have it, and some people don't. And if you don't, don't try to force it on yourself, because I doubt that it will work. If you really want the S&B life, go back to it -- IT'S OKAY! If you want to do it part-time, that's okay, too. If you only want to go out two or three weeks a year, or just on the weekends, that is perfectly fine. Don't try to live your life how other people think you should -- it's not worth it.
Her husband seemed to do most of the work. She sat around a lot and stared into space.
I was homeless (1980s recession), living in my little Ford van with a 50-lb dog, a cat and a litterbox. Platform bed, cardboard storage boxes that slid under the bed, a laundry basket with clean clothes, a box for the dirty ones. Propane Grasshopper stove, Coleman cooler.
I was okay. The place had cold running water in the sinks, and a spigot. LUXURY! I went to the library and made copies of my resume and mailed them out, reread a lot of my favorite books, did some photography (couldn't afford to have them developed until I found a job), and made little dolls by hand. I was always busy. Every vacation I have ever had was camping, because it's cheap and interesting.
I've thought about this before, and I kind of think it depends on your experience, mindset and the luxury level of your regular life. People who have a lot of 'things', who spend half their life spending money to fill their time, who have no real hobbies or interests seem to have more problems with the van life than 'less affluent' people who are always doing something and planning for the next day or week. I'm poor, but I'm never bored. I don't think I've been bored since I was about 8 years old and had a sprained ankle.
I think it's all in the mindset. Some people have it, and some people don't. And if you don't, don't try to force it on yourself, because I doubt that it will work. If you really want the S&B life, go back to it -- IT'S OKAY! If you want to do it part-time, that's okay, too. If you only want to go out two or three weeks a year, or just on the weekends, that is perfectly fine. Don't try to live your life how other people think you should -- it's not worth it.
