Innocuousness

[MrNoodly]

Due to unique circumstances, yesterday a friend drove my van while I followed as a passenger in a car. It was the first time I’ve ever been able to see my van as others see it, as one vehicle in traffic. To my surprise, it fit right in. Just another commercial van in the morning commute.

Now, if someone were on the lookout for nomad vans, they might pick out mine. “Look, a solar panel on the roof. It’s one of them.”

But stealth hasn't been my priority, only innocuousness. See me but fail to care. I suspect the "normal" world's lack of concern is easier to attain and maintain than the perfect camouflage of stealth.

However, when I take the van out of the city and into the desert or forest, it's out of its "proper" context. Fortunately, there's usually no problem there being a person living in a van. Then it's just a matter of whether anyone is allowed to be there, and how long.

 

[Rajendora1]

I'd be like omg omg, watch that truck, look out for that car, that idiot must be drunk, and nagging the friend driver on the phone, LOL!  

Hubby would like to duct tape me when we're on the road, but he's lucky he's not duct tapped up in the back of the camper with a gag tied on. >.<  
  

 

[RoamerRV428]

yea I get that. Don't want an offending, over the top crazy, raggedty, unsafe vehicle to draw attention.
I think a lot of society is glance and not care. People have their owns lives to attend, not everyone is out to 'get someone' or 'hey its one of them'....they don't care unless you are in their face or draw the attention in some bad way mostly. Many have blinders on.

 

[lenny flank]

There are two key rules to stealth:

Don't park where you are not wanted

and

Don't attract attention to yourself or the vehicle.

It really does all boil down to just that.

But most people don't seem to understand what "stealth" is for--they assume it is some sort of magic Romulan cloaking device that makes you invisible and lets you park anywhere you want to for as long as you like. It's not, and it won't.

 

[lenny flank]

PS--I have a panel on my roof too, and I have found that most people don't notice it at all since the van sits pretty high, and those who do see it don't usually recognize it as a solar panel--they think it's some sort of cargo rack.

 

[GreyWolf]

Unfortunately I got noticed the other day. I was street parked where there were several other vehicles. I was quiet. Some woman came out and took a picture of my license plate. I made tracks as soon as she was out of sight.

 

[lenny flank]

^^^ Good move. Once you're noticed, the game is up, and it's time to move on.

 

[Rajendora1]

I think a lot of society is glance and not care.

As long as you clean up and move every few days, they really don't.  There are just too many people out there doing this for it to be considered abnormal any more.

 

[Gypsy108]

I also have a cargo van (hightop), with a ladder rack....very stealthy in the burbs or city...but in the sticks or desert, will stand out like a sore thumb....i haven't been living the nomad life yet....but do these type vans get harassed more out of their element ?

 

[Gypsy108]

 took a picture of my license plate. 

unbelievable !!!!!    WHY ????????    What do these people hope to accomplish ????

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

unbelievable !!!!!    WHY ????????    What do these people hope to accomplish ????

We don't know, could be anything:
 - She could be the neighborhood busybody,
 - Neighborhood could have had a number of break-ins lately,
 - a recent child abduction attempt,
 - city has problem with mobile meth labs,
 - previous overnighters left garbage and human waste,
 - could have taken 'her' parking space.

The point is that for whatever reason GreyWolf was easily spotted.  And anytime people have a reason to notice, you will be noticed.  The woman thought it was important to document who was parking there.

 

[RoamerRV428]

agree with Spaceman

as much as we think 'why' there could be a zillion reasons the other person has so ya can't kinda just say that. too blank statement.

for those who have blinders on, there are a ton waiting for whatever reason to check you out

 

[lenny flank]

The point is that for whatever reason GreyWolf was easily spotted. 

Yep. As I noted before, the key is to NOT be noticed. Nobody can object to your presence if they do not notice that you are there.

 

[maki2]

unbelievable !!!!!    WHY ????????    What do these people hope to accomplish ????

There are many neighborhoods that have had a lot of problems with break ins. Those areas often organize a neighborhood watch group for self protection. So what they seek to accomplish is to reduce crime by paying attention to stranger danger. If a strange vehicle suddenly starts hanging around at odd hours they pay attention to that and document it.   Don't make those persons into criminals because they are doing the right thing by being aware of what is not something normal in their environment. Safety on the road for yourself is also derived by being aware of activity around you that is outside the range of something normal.

 

[Gypsy108]

OK....THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE !
Thank you Maki2

 

[Doubleone]

unbelievable !!!!!    WHY ????????    What do these people hope to accomplish ????

 
Actually, I think it's good a practice and people should do that 'just in case' something were to happen.  It demonstrates a sense of ownership and territoriality, a stake in the community and people willing to take action, and that's a very thing.  You weren't doing anything wrong, it wasn't about you personally, they don't even know you,  but their actions show they were sensitive to your presence and so it's not the right place to be.  It's always better to work with human nature rather than against it.  It's an inconvenience because you had to move.  The conundrum... it's neighborhoods and places were no one really gives a damn that you should probably avoid.

 

[Doubleone]

... see my van as others see it, as one vehicle in traffic. To my surprise, it fit right in. Just another commercial van in the morning commute.

Now, if someone were on the lookout for nomad vans, they might pick out mine. “Look, a solar panel on the roof. It’s one of them.”

Just need some fake orange ladders made out of balsa wood to dress up the sides and complete the look...  

 

[vanbrat]

Unfortunately there are to many problems around here with folks living in their vans. We have had too many folks that are druggies hanging out in our neighborhood that live in abandoned and or trashy cars and vans. I do not believe anyone would care if they just lived around and didn't do anything, but they have caused a lot of trouble, if it ain't nailed down, it's gone, if you want to hang out and listen to some music pretty soon there he is (Sorry guys the neighborhood tweeker here is a he) peeking in someone's yard or window. If you had a tool out and went in to eat lunch, a good chance it was not there when you got back out and if you looked, it would be found in his or his friends van/car or truck. So if someone is out taking photos of your van or what ever blame it on someone who is a problem in the neighborhood. I hate it when our local tweeker gets a new ride or haircut when we can see him it's easier to avoid problems.

 

[Dingfelder]

As long as you clean up and move every few days, they really don't.  There are just too many people out there doing this for it to be considered abnormal any more.

I half want to agree with you and half not.  What you say sounds true for regular people.  But people who think anything different is bad, and even get upset about it, are legion.  In many neighborhoods, people create trouble for and are suspicious and gossipy about their own neighbors, so they're even more that way with strangers.  Even as a caretaker, I've been grilled by neighbors what I'm doing there.  I've seen security guards shoe people away even during business hours, and neighbors try to shoo people away off city streets and sidewalks, which they have no legal right to do, of course. 

I guess I'm saying I don't assume being a clean, presentable, and decent person is enough, because often it isn't.  There are a lot of petty and wanna-be tyrants and bullies around.

I respect that some people have never been around that type or seen much of that.  Just saying that I have, and seen it done to others as well as myself.

 

[Dingfelder]

 
Actually, I think it's good a practice and people should do that 'just in case' something were to happen.  It demonstrates a sense of ownership and territoriality, a stake in the community and people willing to take action, and that's a very thing.  You weren't doing anything wrong, it wasn't about you personally, they don't even know you,  but their actions show they were sensitive to your presence and so it's not the right place to be.  It's always better to work with human nature rather than against it.  It's an inconvenience because you had to move.  The conundrum... it's neighborhoods and places were no one really gives a damn that you should probably avoid.

Good points!

It's hard to find just the right level of involvement.  Reminds me of forum moderation!  It's so easy and natural to do too much or too little, and make things worse accordingly.  And become truly heedless and your own kind of trouble in the process.  Being truly moderate is far more difficult ... and in some ways less "feel-good" and psychologically rewarding.  Taking the easy way out is always more tempting than having to really think about what you're doing.  It takes a further and more difficult measure to be a good person and a good neighbor than to play at being one.