Hello Everyone

[Harrison]

Hi all,<br /><br />My name is Harrison, I stumbled on this website after doing a lot of research on living in a van and making the situation work. If anyone has any good advice for me it would be much appreciated - I'll go ahead and give a little information about myself.<br /><br />I have a pretty decent job (thankfully) in Washington state. I live in Seattle but my rent is outrageous (900/month +gas/electricity/internet. I also have a difficult time living with my roommate and we don't get along very well at all. I commute about 30 minutes to work every day in my car. Fortunately I work for a very large company and they allow two vehicles per employee to be parked on campus and allow overnight parking for up to 3 days. Nearby my work is a 24 hour fitness that I have a membership to. At my work there are also showers, kitchens (microwave and toaster), free wifi, and drinks.&nbsp;<br /><br />I literally own just about nothing, I have no furniture, nothing at all except clothing, my laptop, my skis, and that is about it. I'm 24 years old and am thinking about spending my tax return this year on a Ford Econoline that I can convert into a stealth camper, and then park at my works parking garage along with my commuter car, and then just move them to different spots every couple of days.&nbsp;<br /><br />What do you folks think of my idea? I think the conversion will be easier than most because I don't need to wash/do dishes/use the bathroom out of the van.&nbsp;

 

[ttpadilla]

Welcome, Harrison!&nbsp; I applaud your plan to reduce living costs, and as you seem pretty "minimalist" as it is, the conversion from apartment to vehicle dwelling may be pretty easy for you.&nbsp; I would be reluctant to endorse your plan to make your place of employment your "permanent home base," however. Just in case that doesn't work out, you'll really wish you had a backup plan.&nbsp; Have you read Bob's book or the posts here about stealth parking?&nbsp;&nbsp; It can certainly work, and you have several months to plan everything out.&nbsp; As for the technical "conversion" advice, I'll leave that to the more mechanically inclined.<br /><br />

 

[blkjak]

welcome .... blkjak

 

[Pikachu711]

Welcome to the group Harrison!

 

[peacetara]

YAY Welcome!!!!<br /><br />Sounds like the minimalist van life might work for you!&nbsp; I am currently in Seattle as well, but leave next week (I'm just here visiting)<br /><br />I agree with ttpadilla, I'd be careful about living @ work, some people here have done that, and then got caught and ended up being fired.&nbsp; Maybe that's not an issue for you (I don't know) but I would guess that co-workers would take a dim-view as well.<br /><br />If you are long-term staying in Seattle, you may look into leasing/borrowing a parking spot.&nbsp; Or like ttpadilla said with stealth parking around town.<br /><br />Anyways, Welcome and I wish you lots of success!

 

[Guest]

Welcome from New Mexico, Harrison...good to have you. I ALWAYS think a van is a good idea....<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />&nbsp; You can hardly ever go wrong with a vehicle you can live in.....<br />Bri

 

[josephusminimus]

Hi Harrison.&nbsp; I operate on the philosophy that a good idea is the one I acted on, however it turns out.<br /><br />Here's welcoming you and wishing you a lot of good ideas to look back on.

 

[SirJoey]

<br /><strong style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Welcome aboard, Harrison!&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><br /><br /></strong>

 

[stude53]

<span id="post_message_1275502151"><span style="color: #008000;"><strong><span id="post_message_1275493363" style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Welcome Harrison! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><br /><br />Bob</span></strong></span></span>