First time posting

[Guest]

Hello all.&nbsp; About a year ago I became interested in van-dwelling as a way&nbsp;of looking into&nbsp;alternatives to the 9-5, Monday to Friday rat race.&nbsp; <br><br>Figuring that rent and utilities came to about 30% of my income, I thought that if I could operate a van on 10% of my income, I could work 20% less (i.e. a 4 day week) without any change to how much I was saving and spending,&nbsp;and I could spend the extra day of freedom looking into other alternative lifestyles, or better jobs or start my own business; basically using van-dwelling as a stepping-stone out of the rat-race.<br><br>I mentioned the idea to a few people, with mixed responses, but due to my work going through an insanely busy time, there was never an opportunity for me to reduce my hours and the idea was put on the back-burner.<br><br>Then I traveled to the UK, where I (far too briefly) once lived.&nbsp; I spoke to some inspirational friends there and have come back with renewed determination to make this work.&nbsp; <br><br>I'm now doing some&nbsp;thorough research to make sure I don't get in over my head, purchase a van that is wrong for me, or end up taking on&nbsp;anything I'm not prepared for. <br><br>To be honest, planning this has been almost as fun as I imagined it would be to actually do it.<br>

 

[cargovanconversion]

<p>Welcome to the forum,</p><p>I'm just started converting my van into a one-person home <a href="http://cargovanconversion.com" target="_blank">cargovanconversion.com</a></p><p>Van.</p>

 

[Guest]

Welcome to our little family of footloose and fancyfree people....good to have you and keep us posted as to what you choose to do...<br>Bri<br>

 

[Seraphim]

Welcome to the group

 

[Les H]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Hope that you find a home here, and look foreward to more posts from you.

 

[yesican]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Welcome...great bunch of people here; you came to a good place.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Rae</p>

 

[akrvbob]

I know what you mean about the planning being the best part! Nearly everything I have ever done has been that way. I loved the research and preparation but was generally disappointed by the real thing. <br><br>NOT SO WITH VANDWELLING!! The longer I do it the more I love it. It has changed and evolved and only gotten better for me, and I think that's true for most people in the forum. <br><br>Come on in, the water's fine!! Bob<br>

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Greetings.... I spent most of a year planning and dreaming.&nbsp; When things worked out and I bought a van, there was a little low spot where I thought "What in the he**did I get myself into?"&nbsp; All of the planning really did help a lot.&nbsp; The only thing is that it was the tip of the iceberg - a beginning.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">You will find that lots of planning will give a you a great van but along the way you will discover that certain things are not how you expected them to be.&nbsp; Some changes and tweaks might be needed - they yield&nbsp;a feeling of accomplishment.&nbsp; Useful treasures might show up on clearance racks and a the Goodwill store.&nbsp; Your whole outlook will change.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I sleep in my van 7 days a week now.&nbsp; Each day is better and better.&nbsp; Waking up to the sky above me and going to sleep hearing the sounds of the city or countryside is soothing...&nbsp; If I won the lottery, all it would mean is buying something bigger and with more tires.&nbsp; The indoor allergies are so much better, too!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I would love to meet some UK vandwellers.&nbsp; I ran into an Italian vandweller who was touring the US.&nbsp; His old van and homemade bed was a super motivator!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Have fun!</p>

 

[Ricekila]

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