I'm doing the gym way

[She]

Since Im quite overweight and wanting to join the gym(even before I thought of van dwelling) anyway I will joining the women's gym here which is 5 bucks a week. I will be staying near my jobs for at least a couple of years so it will be easy for me to go there and work out for a while...make some friends have a good time and of course to get a nice shower! 20.bucks a month is worth it I get to get some exercise. So in my case Im joining for another reason other than the shower. I wanted to do it a couple of months a go but where my apt is and no car makes it difficult. If Im van dwelling even if its near my job will my life a wee bit easier. 

 

[4x4tour]

The gym is a great idea.&nbsp; What better way to shower up, work out, and get ready for the day.&nbsp; Or, to relax in their pool (if they have one), after work... <br><br>I avoid the mens hot tub like the plague...<img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/nono.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><br><br><br><br>

 

[She]

The gym is a great idea.&nbsp; What better way to shower up, work out, and get ready for the day.&nbsp; Or, to relax in their pool (if they have one), after work... <br><br>I avoid the mens hot tub like the plague...<img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/nono.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<div><br></div><div><br><br>

</div><div><br></div><div>Would you like to join the women's hot tub LOL <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></div><div>Sorry that had to be asked. It was too tempting. But your right it will be a great thing.</div>

 

[Simran]

Although I am going to gear my van up with some sort of shower, initially, I will be joining you at the health club. It works for me because I am working in this area for an extended period and it will allow me to move out of the blasted motel sooner.<br><br>gus<br><br>

 

[Vivid-Dawn]

I've been putting off joining a gym because of health (immunity) issues. <br>My doctor says the pool would actually be wonderful exercise because of the buoyancy and wouldn't put a lot of pressure/strain on my arthritic joints.<br>And I LOVE the idea of being able to be in a hot tub as much as I want.<br><br>However, I've heard all sorts of stories about how germ-ridden these places are. I have enough health issues as it is, without contracting some sort of illness in a contaminated pool/tub and touching equipment that's not properly sanitized (I've heard you can swipe them with sanitizing wipes, but that seems a little inefficient)<br><br>Are they really that bad, or is it all being exaggerated?<br><br><br>

 

[She]

I don't know about that but I plan on using my crocks to go in. It matters it would seem as how clean they keep it.

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">The cleanliness depends on the gym... I regularly visit a number of different locations for Anytime Fitness and they have all been immaculate.&nbsp; My own bathroom in all the previous dwellings were never as clean.&nbsp; Gyms really make van living comfortable.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">It sounds like you've got a great place to work out and plenty of privacy.&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I'm a big guy and don't really want to get into the meat market thing at the co-ed gyms.&nbsp; It's nice to go at 4:00 AM for a great workout and have a long hot shower without feeling uncomfortable.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I would not worry too much about any fungus or other such issues.&nbsp; You can always wear flip flops to the shower and put a little sanitizer on your hands and feet if it's a worry.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Take care!&nbsp; Have fun.&nbsp; Working out is such a fun, mood lifting thing.</p>

 

[toupalumma]

I have a 19-foot class B-plus RV with a toilet and shower. I haven't even moved into it yet, but it will happen within the next six months. It's an older rig...1988...and I don't even know yet whether the water systems even work.

I have considered tearing out the toilet and shower and using that space for a little office. I would then use the gym idea discussed here for showering, etc I have a luggable loo (5-gal pail with toilet seat). Seems like it would be cheaper and easier in the long run to just use facilities that someone else has to keep clean.

If I'm boodocking in the boonies, I can use a portable shower tent from Walmart that folds up small when I'm not using it.

Any advice on this idea?

 

[Seraphim]

The toilet in the B is convenient, especially if you make a lot of night visits, or are out away from facilities. The water layer, trapped above the slide, also keeps the odor down if you have to soil into it - something we always tried to avoid. I can't see that small space being effective as an office when you ave the sofa area and a table. Just my .02 worth, but we always found the toilet and sit down bath worth the space.

 

[toupalumma]

Seraphim, please pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean by slide? You don't mean a slide OUT, do you? There must be a slide of some sort in a RV toilet. I am envisioning a sloping slide like on a playground. I am hoping you don't mean I might slide into the toilet some night, when I'm groggy. Can you please clarify your meaning to a newbie?

 

[Wild_E]

In a porta toilet in a Camper,&nbsp;<div>there is a slide - slide out piece that you pull out to use the toilet, then slide it back when not needed. This slide out piece, keeps the floaters and watery sluice in the tank and keeps the seat dry when you driving around.</div>

 

[toupalumma]

Aha! Thanks for explaining this, WildernessReturn. I have so much to learn!

So, now I have another question for Seraphim. You say you always tried to avoid soiling in the RV toilet. That would definitely keep things simpler, but where DID you soil?

 

[Seraphim]

<p style="margin: 0px;">

You don't mean a slide OUT, do you?<br>

</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">In the bottom of the toilet bowl of an RV toilet is a panel that blocks the bottom, and slides to the side when you flush. After flushing, the slide closes, and a layer of water generally remains which helps seal the odor out. If you have the original toilet in your B, it should works in this manner.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">

but where DID you soil?

</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Any available public facility: restaurants, hospitals,&nbsp; rest areas, stores, public parks...</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">You&nbsp;know you're&nbsp;going to have to at certain times of the day, so try to think ahead and take advantage of what's available.&nbsp; You're in a store, the facilities are clean, you're getting ready to stop for the night...</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p>

 

[toupalumma]

Thanks for explaining, Seraphim. You give me a lot to think about.

When I lived in my 15-ft camper trailer in 1970-71, there was no toilet or shower. And when I lived in my school bus in 1973-74, there was no toilet or shower. Hence, I have lived in vehicles, but never had one with such modern facilities. I lived in the boonies, so I always used a shovel and made a hole in the ground.

Sometimes, modern conveniences are actually more trouble than they are worth. I guess I should at least give it a decent test period first, before I make any rash decisions and go tearing out the toilet and shower.