How do you handle the "What Ifs"

[anewbiewannabe]

Van dwelling is my best alternative in the "what ifs" for the next few years. After that, no matter what I do in the next few years, the "what ifs" at that point will be the same. If I get stuck in the "what ifs" sometimes I just remind myself that I can't cross that bridge or go around it until I get to it.

 

[akrvbob]

Let's stay on topic. Cats are of interest to many of us and so deserve their own thread.
Bob

 

[SoulRaven]

How do I handle the "What ifs"?

Frankly, I don't.

Most of the time I just live and take life as it comes. I take care of what I can take care of. I plan ahead as I can, I make preparations as I'm able, and do preemptive maintenance as possible. But honestly the amount that actually gets done is very little.

I think this is part of the big difference between carefully planned out, intentional vandwelling vs. sudden homelessness. With the former you have the luxury to go on the road when you're 'ready' - yourself, physically and mentally, your rig, outfitted with everything you might need, enough of a financial cushion to handle emergencies, etc. With the latter it's *poof*, surprise! You're on the road now, unprepared. Your rig isn't outfitted. You're sick most days of the week - physically with fever, projectile vomiting, and severe insomnia or mentally with PTSD and panic attacks. You spend your last dollar to fix the latest breakdown and then have nothing left for food the rest of the month. This is my normal life. I'm too disabled to take care of myself, so I've adapted to swinging around picking up people who enjoy my company or appreciate the crash pad to lend a hand here and there.

Most of the major "what ifs" posted in this thread have happened to me multiple times per month of the three months I've been living in my van. I'm generally too occupied dealing with pressing present priorities or recovering from recent crisis to concern myself with what else might go wrong. When something does, I take a deep breath, re-prioritize, and keep going.

 

[compassrose]

Most, if not all, of the "what if's" that you all are mentioning can happen if you weren't living a mobile lifestyle. The thing about a mobile life style is to try to keep enough $$ tucked back to move farther down the road to the next location. The next location can give you a needed job, better weather, etc. Enough $$ can keep you going if you get ill and can't work. But most folks do not prepare for the bad patches. I'm as guilty of that as anyone else.

I was not prepared when David died a few months back. I knew there was a possibility and I did nothing. I did not have any idea as to where to have him cremated at which cost me almost double of what it could have cost (I had 1 hour to find a funeral home at 7:30AM). There are websites where you can find whom to contact for budget cremations. Plus David was an organ donor. He was taken to ABQ for harvesting then brought all the way back to Roswell for cremation a few days later. If I had known that, I would have had everything done in ABQ where one of my daughters lives. I had been buying stock from the company I work at. 10% of my pay gone before I see it and the stock sold for far more than interest on a savings account would pay. BUT it took time to get the money out and NM law dictates funeral/cremation services are paid up front. Luckily my daughter and her credit card stepped in ($2200 just so you get an idea... and if I could have shopped around I could have paid less... $100 minimum for a plastic box for the ashes!). I paid her back later after the stock was sold and the funds transferred. I did have a fulltime job so I was not scrabbling to replace income. The bus is not to the point of where it can be moved. I have to do all that by myself. I'm capable of it but everything takes me longer. In NM as surviving spouse, I have the "inheritance" with no will. But I do need to write up a will and get my affairs in order and keep them in order. David's passing has been an eye opening lesson for me and the kids. There are things I need to do. But there are things I need to do in order to leave this state. Those come first. I do need to write a will that will be accepted in NM and in FL(?) or where ever I land. I need to tuck $$ back for a budget cremation. I need to keep putting money back for emergencies (right now all my $$ are going to the bus and trying to make extra $$ on ebay). I need to stop crying so much and get things done.

I post this as a warning. Things can and do change in minutes. When it comes right down to it, tucking back money is your best plan. It's portable, and you need to have it accessible as in cash on hand AND more $$ in an account. If you have a partner, do not let them allow you to put things off. I did because it was more comfortable for me to ignore things that I knew had a high chance of happening. But I could have just as easily been the one who died (I have near hits at least once a week driving to/from work). If you travel with another, then make sure they know what to do and WRITE IT DOWN! I was in no shape to deal with the fallout from David's death but I did because I had no other choice. I have never had the luxury of falling apart when things get rough. This was no different.

Set up an account where your money can sit and be re-invested into bonds. Low risk and makes you more $$ than a savings account. Tie that account to a checking account that you can access easily (check or debit card) to pay for things.

Get a good roadside assistance plan if you are traveling (I will be getting Coachnet because they will tow my bus to a qualified repair shop, not just the closest one).

Write a will (legal in your domicile state) and tuck in a fireproof safe as well as send a copy to another person. Include your wishes in case of death with both copies of the will. Don't forget to include any do not resuscitate wishes. If you can put these documents online where your doctors can access them, that's all the better.

If you have pets, then you need an emergency contact number (other than yourself) for someone willing to come and get your pets where ever they may be. Do you REALLY have that? You need to provide temp care and permanent care. No different than with kids.

I'm lucky in that I will soon be traveling with one of my daughters. I don't know how long that will be for. I am pretty sure that over the next few years, my two daughters and I will all end up being roughly 500 miles away from each other. For us, 500 miles is nothing. For others, 30 miles is an unmanageable distance. Keep that in mind when you are placing your affairs in other peoples hands.