Home Depot attracts Vandwellers

[wheelsoffreedom1776]

  When I arrived there to do some shopping I noticed three others were there too. I've seen them around town and parked in various spots but never met them, as they seem to keep out of site. Has anyone else seen or met others? 

 

[Tara]

Once upon a time I kept parking next to this same van at Walmart all the time. It was winter in Alaska and we were probly the only vandwellers in town and I would always feel all cozy when I pulled in and saw the windows all fogged up and knew I was sleeping next to another vandweller. So one day I decided to leave him a note. His dog barked at me and it didn't go so well, but what te he'll, none of us are at our best in the middle of the night, right? Well a couple weeks later he came and knocked on my van early in the morning. He had gotten an apartment and was quite insistent that I come live with him. Then he started telling me about all his guns and how fun it would be to hunt people.

Other times I've met people (usually fellow translate sleeping at truckstops or rest areas) and it's gone much better. When I lived in a colorful bus it was like a people magnet and those were all good experiences.

 

[akrvbob]

In the winter I am at popular snowbird (RVers and vandwellers that move north and south with the seasons) spots and there are an amazing variety of vans, trucks and homemade RVs there. In one spot I camped pretty close to a guy in a class C camped out in the desert, so I went up, knocked on his door and introduced myself and my dog, Homer. He was an old desert rat that had lived in the NV desert for over 15 years. We became great friends!! I think Homer loved him more than he loved me. We camped together for 3 years, but this year when I got back he wasn't there. I've emailed and called him but no word from him. I hope he is okay.<br><br>Another time I was in a BLM office getting a permit for a hike I was going on, and there was another guy there getting one for the same hike. We decided to hike in together and we became great friends. He and his wife live full-time in a slide-in truck camper.&nbsp; Every fall we try to get together but haven't been able to yet, but we will keep trying.<br><br>Bottom line is this, I have&nbsp; made more deep, genuine friendships since I became a "loner nomad" than I ever made living in a house. Bob<br><br>

 

[Belinda2]

I do see vandwellers occasionally at Home Depot but I have never seen them there at night.
I'd like to give a shout out to two Vandwellers I met at the Home Depot in Maryland this July, 2016:
They were on their honeymoon in the van coming from California. They were building a shower on the roof at the home depot.
I gave them this website, and of course we all wish them well on their new life together!!!
Belinda2