I'm failing at Van Dwelling

[wanderin.pat]

I have to say that it depends on what you define to be an RV.   The traditional definition fits your statement.  Class A, 5th wheel, travel trailer, Class B .... 

I MEANT to say Class C.  I've seen some pretty fancy Class C's.

 

[cyndi]

THERE IS NO SUCH THINK AS CHEAP RV LIVING !  

I disagree. I bought my class c for $4200. Put a couple grand into it  plus solar and lived on less than $1000/month for 2 years. I was even able to save some money. I bought my van for about the same price and kept the same budget.

The moho is still out on the road. A friend of a friend is full-timing in it.

I couldn't live that cheaply in a house or apartment

 

[LadyJo]

I've now got more to think about, thanks.

 

[QinReno]

This video maybe of interest to newbies. How one van-dweller woman dealt with certain practical issues. And lots of other stuff.
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[Mechelle]

That is an interesting observation, Ding.  I have been pondering this lately.  Our parents' generation seems to have been the first to specifically not care about the well-being of the next generation.  "We're spending our children's inheritance!"



The Dire Wolfess

If your talking about the generation I think you are...

my mom told me that my sister (now late 50') was basically the first generation of female to go out without a chaperone, do what they want and all that... the whole sex, drugs and rock n roll thing.  That being said it destroyed my sister, literally and completely, and shes not alone in that.   So many of those grandparents are now raising their grandchildren.  Kids with lots of problems, not just their parents.  Those 60's kids were culturally conditioned to turn away from the authority of their parents. Those grandparents are all being told to reverse their mortgage, get Viagra, credit card and shop until you drop.  Very complex problem.  Bottom line divide and conquer.

Waiting for the Phoenix to rise from the ashes.

 

[Mechelle]

I disagree. I bought my class c for $4200.

Did you find that you had high repair bills on the RV???

 

[cyndi]

No. As a matter of fact, the one repair that was so costly turned out to be a non issue and was fixed at the RTR, for the cost of a sandwich.
I paid several mechanics that didn't or discover the problem. Mike the Mechanic (Von Brown, on my forum) realized someone had overfilled the transmission.

 

[Cammalu]

For a few years some years ago I did the snowbird thing and went to Florida for the winters. I had a truck and travel trailer at the time and stayed in a park with other retirees.

It cost me much less, even paying park fees, than it would have cost me to stay north and pay that high gas and electric bill at home.

Now I’m not paying for a park by going out west and have a motorhome it’s costing me even less.

I bought my motorhome for $15,000 and it’s super nice with real oak cabinets and just put together with care. I added solar which did cost but apart from that and new tires it’s been very good for over two years now.

So much cheaper than staying home in the cold, wet, gray icky stuff.

 

[jimindenver]

Headache

We have camped together on more than one occasion. I know of your struggles, your attempts of solving your issues and the complexity of your needs. I know that you have been frustrated looking for the answers here sometime but I also know that those answers are not always easy to find. In fact sometimes we have to invent our own answers because until we do they do not exist.

How many of us have been blessed to not have constant break downs, health issues or instability in income? It is hard to understand the problems faced by another if you have not seen them yourself. Sometimes the easy solutions to us are simply too hard to obtain when there are multiple issues going on at once. This is why I say we can only offer up what has worked for us and hope that it helps. I know it sucks when we do not have all the answers but as I said, they do not always exist until you create them.

I have seen comfort dealt with here and the man/woman thing but what I haven't seen is responses to your thoughts of tribe. I know that you were around others before, during and after the RTR for a while. I understand not feeling like you fit in. I also think that some get the idea that there were large bands of roaming nomads out here to join up with. Eventually you would possibly meet a group that travels together but most of us are solitary. I spend time with people but it's a few weeks here, a month there, always someone different as I move around. (when I am not craving being alone that is )

As far as what somebody says you can do, can do and want to is two different things. You CAN live out of a van. In fact you CAN live in a tent, under a tarp or even simply sleep on the ground with a rock as a pillow. I think the issue is people confuse camping for a short time with permanently doing it. Most after a longer camping trip are thrilled to get back to their real bed and other comforts that they are use to. Those that are living the life find out quickly the things that they miss and pine for those comforts. Some can accept the new reality out of necessity, other come to hate the existence. I was lucky to have used a van for camping long ago and knew that I would not be happy doing it forever. I am very comfortable in my trailer but even then I miss unlimited water/sewer and the constant moving leaves me unsettled. It may not seem like much of a sacrifice compared to what some deal with but after a while you get tired of dealing with it. I tend to take a vacation from dwelling for a month or two a year in a park with hook ups like I am now.

In the end I hope that you find the balance in what you must do and want to do so that we can spend some time together again in the future.

 

[abnorm]

^^^^^^^^^^^^Thank You JIM...……………..you spoke volumes

Headache...……..I've also camped with you...……..I hope you find Peace...…….here or there...……….doug

 

[vegasgregg]

There is much more but I'll save that for another day.  Right now I'm in the process of having yet another repair done so I can be on my way to AZ once again.  See y'all at RTR 2019.


The grouchy and reluctant van dweller.

I think that the most important thing here is that you tried rather than spending your remaining years in regret wishing you had at least made the attempt. Because now you have cleared the waters by learning more about yourself and the dream… you made it real for better or worse now you know that you were dreaming, and like most dreams you have your answers. Unfortunately as with most dreams the answers given are quite cryptic and difficult to understand what they are trying to tell us. You were challenged my the monsters and you out ran them all to awake feeling tired and spent in the effort, but if you look deeply I think you will find yourself renewed and relieved to have faced them. Congratulate your self for having the guts to chase the dream, most people would rather continue to wish they could overcome the obstacles they have placed in their path as insurance to remain in the comfort zone of knowing what to expect… tomorrow will be just like today, not realizing that they are the only ones that can give those problems the power to even slow them down. We never seem to learn that there are not many things in the world we have the power to change… but with a little effort we do have the power to change the way we feel about most of them. Had you left your situation in the world of I could have, or at least I might have been able to do it all, you never would have learned the lessons about yourself. Life is a learning process when you stop learning you stop living. Had you not tried you would have spent the rest of your days should-ing all over your self. Thinking I should have done this van thing and life would have been so much better. If only I did all those wonderful things I would be wallowing in the greener grass over there, because when you control the dream by not doing anything, then everything will always be wonderful compared to any form of reality you are actually living.


I am seventy two years old and three months ago I decided sitting in my condo watching videos waiting to die in comfort was not teaching me anything about who I am or had spent my life to become. Now I am three months into building and living in a van… so how am I doing? well now that you ask I must say I have my moments. I am scared to death that I am way too old and ill equipped to begin such an adventure. I find my memory dwindling, skills lacking, fear of the unknown daunting. I have outlived all of my family and most friends that I share any history with so my main discomfort is loneliness, at least in the condo I had neighbors who knew my name. I am capable with small projects but also have mental difficulties. I was born with a learning disability at a time in history when that was not understood, because of that I also have eminence difficulty with technological stuff, finances, math and a world that is changing so fast I cannot keep track of anything. With a ninth grade education which I failed like all the others. I am self taught and I learn slow, but well if interested… however not much interests me for long. Throughout my life I have always been blessed in that I did learned early that most things just are not very important, people make them important usually way too important. What I did learn recently is that God gave me absolutely everything I needed all my life, everything! I am seventy two years old and still breathing that is my proof… while he did not give me everything or much that I wanted, the lesson taught that that was my error because I misunderstood the ratio between want and need. Now while chasing the dream of a minimalist life style, with the monsters being the UN-needed complications keeping me from understanding the lessons of living my life. Basic lessons like gratitude for the simple things, like waking up in the morning to appreciate the gift of another day.


I am hoping to hook up with one of the caravans as soon as I finish with the V. A. here in Las Vegas. I have a doctors appointment coming up in a week, not sure yet but it looks like a go. I have a few issues with my van to clear before I am self contained. Hoping to be gone around the fifteenth on the way to one of them not sure which. The RTR is at the top of list as far as destinations go. My demons are social in nature that feeling of not fitting in anywhere... ever. I am hoping that rather than fighting with them I can learn to embrace them, maybe even cuddle a bit. Oddly it is the possibility I might find ‘people comfort’ that draws me to this reclusive nomadic life. The idea that I can come and go without obligations or suffer the need to ‘do it right’ whatever that is. The tribe sounds like heaven, to just be me as I am without meeting someones expectations of what I could be if only I were like them. Anyway looking forward to trying a tribal life… and I hope to lightly meet many new friends on the trail. Hope to see you at the RTR if you are still chasing your dream.

 

[LivGolden]

^This. :heart:

 

[wanderin.pat]

Headache
 Eventually you would possibly meet a group that travels together but most of us are solitary.

I would GUESS it would be many, but I know solitary is the way for me.  

Glad you responded, Jim. 

WP

 

[wanderin.pat]

vegrasgregg replied to Headache:

My demons are social in nature that feeling of not fitting in anywhere... ever. I am hoping that rather than fighting with them I can learn to embrace them, maybe even cuddle a bit. Oddly it is the possibility I might find ‘people comfort’ that draws me to this reclusive nomadic life. The idea that I can come and go without obligations or suffer the need to ‘do it right’ whatever that is. The tribe sounds like heaven,

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Dear Vegasgregg,

First off, I wish you very much success.  I personally find this life something I can't believe I waited 64 years to try. 

On the other hand, I would like to point out that despite things that you have read on this forum, and seen on YouTube, it is NOT a Utopian lifestyle, it is NOT for everybody.  I've heard and read comments from people who have claimed they were mislead.  It has it's challenges and disappointment, just like everything else.  Other nomads are by and large just like people in sticks and bricks.  Maybe a little more open-minded and helpful.  

I am a misfit, an outlier, a fringe dweller.   I don't feel any less so when I'm camping with a group of other nomads. 
It took me a few months to discover I vastly prefer to camp by myself, as far away from others as possible.  

I do enjoy visiting, but do not want to have to get along with other people.  

I don't know if I will have my hand slapped for so much cynicism.   But I hate to see someone come out and get emotionally wrought because it didn't meet their expectations.  

I will say, I love this lifestyle.  I am indebted to Bob Wells for sharing his experiences and inspiration with me.   I'm in Colorado right now, missing Arizona.  

Regards, 

WP

 

[Headache]

Oh wow the responses(aside from the ones about it being more difficult for women, kind of confused there) are awesome!

Don't forget I mentioned there's more and that includes there being more behind this. My own expectations were at play as well but I didn't have time to type all that out.

I'm sorry for the brief response. I very much want to explore and comment on this more but I'm getting ready to leave WA state next Thursday(now that my van is repaired, serviced and passed a travel inspection) so I'll be in the midst of packing up and taking care of the loose ends starting tomorrow.

Jim in Denver thank you for your touching post. I'd tried to get a hold of you more than a few times and a few different ways with no response. I thought I'd unknowingly upset you in some way so I gave up. I'm not a complete introvert. I found out I need to be around others but I don't have to be near them or talk to them if that makes sense. The couple of times I was completely by myself where there was no one in sight I couldn't sleep at all. I'm a better follower in this regard.

What's everyone doing for Turkey Day? I wouldn't mind hooking up with others. PM if you want.

 

[wanderin.pat]

Jim in Denver thank you for your touching post.  I'd tried to get a hold of you more than a few times and a few different ways with no response.  I thought I'd unknowingly upset you in some way so I gave up. 

Headache,

I have long periods when I have the same experience with Sir Jim of Denver.  
I think he gets so many people trying to reach him he puts his head back in the shell and just hunkers down. 
I'm pretty sure it's nothing personal, unless I've upset him too!  hahah. 

Regards,

WP

 

[IGBT]

I have found the small apartments in cheap parts of the country are a very good value compared to living in a RV or van.

Consider that my wife and I pay $500 a month (water, sewer, garbage included) for a 1 bedroom apartment of about 650 square feet, which sounds very small until you realize it is easily double the size of even the biggest class C and has 8+ foot ceilings.   This is right smack in the middle of a small town with a half block walk to the grocery store, library, post office, city hall.   The Wal-Mart is about 1/2 mile away as is the hospital.

You can't touch that in a van or rv for most people.   $250 per person per month for non subsidized housing costs?   It is almost in the range of what one might pay at a RV park for hookups.

That being said, I do like the idea of roaming and seeing new sights every few weeks, but for someone who needs more community support and services, I don't see a better deal than these small apartments in small towns.

 

[ladeeblaze]

OK!!! I have read most comments here, I was not going to say anything but here I go.
First let me say I am sorry for your bad experience. Please don't quit especially if your monies drove you to this decision. Money may be less since you started this journey. Bob has said more than once he does not understand women issues.... that is why we have the WRTR. So... we are not at the WRTR yet. Regroup!!!look at the choices you have:
You can join one of the caravans (listed under gathering tab) you can still be by yourself until you heal. spend more time out of your vehicle to be able to stand up straight. I will be getting a Casita because I do not know I can go without a shower or my own toilet etc. Just thinking in 5 years or 10 rather than just in months ahead.
You can go to NM get the year pass for $285 (I think) Be by yourself, you won't have to think about moving every 14 days to stay legal. Give yourself a chance to recoup from this.
Its not what you do its how you do to suit you.
Make this journey your own. if you do not like not having a toilet, hanging with people all the time, moving every 14 days, or not feeling safe. find the solution! So many people here on this site or almost anyone camping will help. Refuse to fail my dear, If you do decide to go home... I will understand. This lifestyle is not for everyone, but only you can take a deep honest look and decide. I'm sending you a big HUG! I pray I see you at the WRTR. Please consider these ideas.

 

[wanderin.pat]

Consider that my wife and I pay $500 a month (water, sewer, garbage included) for a 1 bedroom apartment of about 650 square feet, which sounds very small until you realize it is easily double the size of even the biggest class C and has 8+ foot ceilings.   This is right smack in the middle of a small town with a half block walk to the grocery store, library, post office, city hall.   The Wal-Mart is about 1/2 mile away as is the hospital.

I don't suppose you want to share where you are, or at least what State you are residing in?  

I would like the option of being able to hang out in an apartment for a month or 2. 

Regards,

WP

 

[highdesertranger]

actually in real small towns you can find apartments cheaper then 500 bucks. but these towns don't have wal-marts and most don't have national chain grocery stores. highdesertranger