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[roadWarrior]

<p>This is the first forum I have ever joined so be nice. <img class="emoticon bbc_img" title="Smile - " src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>My name is Andrew and I am a traveling field engineer/ wind turbine technician with a mountain of student loan debt.<br><br>I joined to get myself more into the cheaper living culture because I hate debt and I want it gone....forever. <br><br>Since I have graduated and have had to deal with the financial burden of student loan debt I have found that I need to seriously rethink my way of living. So one day after reading an article about a guy who lived in his van while attending Grad school at Duke, I got on craigslist. What I found there was a man who is willing to trade me my pickup truck for his 2001 Dodge 2500 cargo van...nice a roomy for living I would think. It was all great, then I got cold feet and backed out. I know why I backed out, who wouldn't be scared of selling everything they own except for a bed, select cooling tools, camping gear, guitars, and clothes? <br><br>That was week ago. This week I decided to do some more research on van-dwelling and immerse myself into the culture that is simplicity. So please, show me some love and share your knowledge and wisdom with me and I will do the same. We can all learn form one another<br><br>~ Andrew</p>

 

[whitewolf]

Welcome. I'm still about a year out from actually doing it. I get a lot of good ideas here.

 

[Stargazer]

Hello, Andrew,

As you read up on this forum, you will see many posts about the difficulty of parting with all those possessions. I part-timed in my van for two years until a month ago when I finally screwed up the nerve to ditch the house and most everything in it.

I realized I wanted a home base so I bought a 15 ft travel trailer and parked it in an RV park. I use this as my home base. $315/month plus electricity, wifi and sat TV included. I travel in my van without the trailer, although I could pull it with me if I should want.

My basic monthly expenses are RV park rent $315, phone $140, electric $50, insurance on van and TT about $75. Groceries and gas depend on whether I'm home or on the road but very controllable. That's all. I have no debt.

Getting rid of all the stuff was emotionally difficult but I knew this was what I wanted, although some days I had my doubts and fears. I just kept at it with my eye on the goal. Once it was finished, the load off was amazing!!

There are many ways to do this and each must find their own. It isn't for everyone and it's no shame to stay with the "normal" way of living. The hardest part is the beginning. There is gold at the end of the rainbow ;-)

Best wishes!

 

[dfunkt]

Moments before I read your post i walked through my house and thought, "Soon I won't have this anymore. &nbsp;All this space gone to someone else." &nbsp;I began to feel a bit of fear and doubt at that thought until I read your post. &nbsp;It reminded me of how our society constrains us with debt and fills us with a false sense of obligation to conform, to desire comforts which we really don't need, and to feel guilt when we fail to prosper. &nbsp;The real evil is the debt itself and fearing the renunciation of evil is like fearing to breathe. &nbsp;I think we both need to remind ourselves how great life can be without fear. &nbsp;<br><br>My introduction to van dwelling came many years ago when I travelled for a short time with nothing but what I carried with me. &nbsp;It was the best time of my life even though I had no roots, no money, and no stability. &nbsp;I hope you decide to try this alternative lifestyle and never look back and I thank you for reminding me that I am not alone with my doubt.

 

[jaxtonsgram]

Hi and welcome. I admire your considering living outside of the norm. I wish I had the nerve to do this when I was young. Now I have so many responsibilities that I cannot do this lifestyle for a few more years. I can understand your fears of letting go of things. Just a thought--things can always be replaced but time and the freedom to live this way may not always be available to you. This is a great group of people with a ton of knowledge. If you decide on this lifestyle they can show you how. Good luck with your decision. Nora

 

[roadWarrior]

<p>I understand that this lifestyle can be very liberating. I keep thinking that if I give everything&nbsp;up, I may be in the same position I was before. My fear is that paying for the gas to drive around from spot to spot around the area where I work will cost as much money as I pay in rent and utilities now. I just dont know how much fuel coasts would be.</p>

 

[Patrick46]

Hi RW.<BR><BR>Yes, it can be very liberating, but also quite challenging at times too. (don't kid yourself about this)<BR><BR>I don't think gas is going to be as much of an issue as you think, especially if you're not driving a huge truck or bus. I think the biggest issue is finding a nice place to park, be it in a campground, in someone's backyard, or out boondocking on BLM land. (my favorite) <BR><BR>It also depends on what part of the country you're looking to live. (I didn't notice where you're at now) East coast will be more difficult than here in the West, as there seems to be more wide open spaces out here, and not everyone is crammed together.<BR><BR>I would also think that your job would keep you out here too as there are alot of wind farms along the Columbia river in Northern Oregon, and quite a few West of Bakersfield Cal. (lotsa BLM land in those parts too) <IMG class="emoticon bbc_img" title="Thumb - :thumb:" src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif"><BR><BR><BR>btw, I like cargo vans, and especially&nbsp;LOVE stepvans!!! <IMG class="emoticon bbc_img" title="Love - " src="/images/boards/smilies/love.gif"><BR><BR>Welcome to a great forum, and keep those questions coming!!

 

[blkjak]

welcome from s.w. florida .... blkjak

 

[roadWarrior]

I'm in Pennsylvania until as late as&nbsp;March 2013.&nbsp;There is a state park called Ohiopyle near by, lots of outdoorsy/travel types&nbsp;stay there and work as river&nbsp;guides during the summer. That are if full&nbsp;folks my age that live in tents, vehicles and 15 people&nbsp;to a 5 bedroom house.&nbsp;I met a guy there who owns a ranch and rents out camping spots to the local guides during the summer. I have thought about connecting with him to see if I could work something out. There are also LOTS of national and state forests around here as well as state game lands(hunting lands) very similar to BLM land.&nbsp;The&nbsp;SGL and Forest require you to register that you're staying out there, I believe daily but I may be mistaken. If I were to rough it in one of those SGL&nbsp;I'd hunt&nbsp;small game for food and fish. Here in Appalachia I am worried about mobility on the State Land. The DCNR or PA maintains the roads but at a snails pace. So I am wondering if a 4x4 would be a better choice over a RWD cargo van.<br><br>I'm not sure if I want my time vandwelling to be through a Pennsylvania&nbsp;winter as I am worried about staying warm (obviously). I cannot travel&nbsp;right now, I am limited to this area for work, I love my job and&nbsp;don't want to leave it.&nbsp;My company is great. good pay, benefits, 3 weeks paid vacation,&nbsp;per diem, travel pay, and mileage. They also give one week RR for every 8 weeks on the road so I plan on using that time to hit my list of national and state parks. They are very willing to pay&nbsp;their employees&nbsp;to drive&nbsp;personal vehicles&nbsp;if it&nbsp;saves them money, if they say no, I have worked out&nbsp;how much money I can save them by driving my own vehicle.(they&nbsp;don't have to know I'd be living in it)&nbsp;There are some awesome sites up in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine that are in the middle of nowhere that I'd love to get my hands on but again, staying warm.&nbsp;I have been searching for areas of the country that are available for transfer within my company. There are sites in Washington, California, Colorado, Wyoming, Texas(would be nice in the winter months). I've also been looking at some conversions on here. At first I was just thinking I could get a van, throw&nbsp;all of my essential possessions&nbsp;in it and hit the bricks...LoL boy am I wrong. Sure glad I'm doing my research first.<br><br>I've given much thought to living in a travel trailer but then I'd have to pay campsites for their facilities and lets be honest, who REALLY wants to do that? The whole point of this lifestyle is to be more in control, right?<br><br>When I told my family that I wanted to live in a tiny home on wheels, they thought I was nuts. Wait until I actually do it, but in a van! HAHA My ex-girlfriend/best friend is very supportive, she's a sexy yoga instructor.<img class="emoticon bbc_img" title="Big Grin - " src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif"> We fell in love when we'd talk for hours about traveling the country living this way. I am kicking myself that we had to split for a while. Financial burdens got in the way, it sucks but I guess it's for the best right now. It gives us both room for some much needed self discovery and adventure, it's much needed at our age(24).&nbsp;Does anybody travel with a significant other? What is done for entertainment if you're solo. I was planning on just bringing books and my two beloved guitars, computers for work related and Internet usage too. Maybe go to bars and play some music. I'm definitely worried about Police and other Law officials finding me sleeping in a van after I've had a few. Does anybody have that worry also?<br><br>~ roadWarrior

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;Hey there.<br>&nbsp;Just go for it; you'll soon realize how little you really need to be happy and that a whole load of possessions serves as nothing more than an embedded boat anchor on your freedom. My buddy Nick used to program, recoding print drivers for his Dad's software company, in the evenings after picking fruit, whilst living out of his Jeep Cherokee. It was pretty basic living, but we both had a blast. ..Willy.

 

[Patrick46]

What ever happened with the cargo van...is it still available?? It'd sure be roomier then a standard van (even one with a high-top)<BR><BR><BR>yeah, and you don't wanna be driving after drinking. Cops or no cops.....that's just Bad Karma!!!<BR><BR>Get the van parked for the night, and take a cab to the bar......and back!

 

[roadWarrior]

I don't know if it's still available or not. I told him that I would contact him if I am going to go through with it and to not wait on me. It was an extended cargo van too. What about a 4x4 cargo van?