Intro, newb, not yet dwelling...

[mconlonx]

Hey all,

Not yet van dwelling, but soon to be. At least that's the plan.

Short story: Reluctantly getting out of marriage no. 2 -- her idea, not mine. With the separation comes bankruptcy and foreclosure. At the moment, I am debt free (planning to stay that way), and making good money at a professional job, some of which will be going into a van build.

Longer story: We got sick of the lifestyle we were living, which needed at least one professional level job and another source of income to support. I quit my job and went into bike mechanics/sales out of interest and development of more portable skills. All was fine until wife quit her job and tried drumming up freelance business. I don't fault her or me for any of this, but our economic situation became untenable.

We were planning on a tiny house. To that end, I accepted another professional job (publishing, production/print management) in order to scrape together funding for a tiny house and setting sail together, in spite of immensely enjoying my new career in the bike industry.

A few short months later, I was told it would be best if we split. OK...

We were downsizing pretty dramatically anyway in anticipation of a new tiny house lifestyle, but the split added a new dimension. Didn't need the expanse of 120' living space and was looking into smaller plans than what we had been thinking.

And then I got turned onto vandwelling. Oddly enough, through the "Living Car-Free" subforum of a bicycle forum. In a thread about living with a small footprint, someone posted a link to the blog of a guy who built out a VW van, which turned me onto the search term vandwelling...

Which has become my main focus at the moment. Bought a sweet van -- '98 Ford E-350 Econoline cutaway w/ Stahl utility body. Always wanted one of these, cheap as the other decent cargo vans I was looking at, still stealth. Plenty of already built-in storage. Although quirks, like no side door, and it's a New England truck, so there's some rust mitigation which needs to be done. But 95k mi and running super sweet. Score!

I'm a couple decades away from retiring and I'm hoping to ease into migrant work. Bike season in the southern states like FL is winter; head back to ME for the summer season. Take time off in between to wander and WWOOF.

Becoming suddenly unattached also opens up opportunities for moving places she didn't want to be, like PNW, CO, etc. And adopting a migrant mindset with a frugal lifestyle opens up all kinds of interesting but low-paying occupations for consideration.

So far, I've got all the stuff which will come with me in one bedroom. If anything, it seems like the cutaway utility-body van might even be more space than I really need. But we'll see...

An Eno hammock seems to have solved the sleeping arrangement issue, although I need to do an overnight or two in it to make sure. It's been great for naps!

Next up will be install of a vent/fan, some rust repairs, a bit of work with a grinder/cutter to make adjustments to the interior, especially as concerns inside access to the outside storage boxes. Then insulation and finish work. Hope to be utilizing it part time over the next month with things buttoned up through the summer.

After that, big decision time: quit the publishing gig and get back into bikes? Work the professional job for another year or so to sock some cash away? In either case, vandwelling will be the new lifestyle, but whether mobile or relatively stationary is up in the air at the moment.

If you made it this far, thanks for reading. As things progress, I'll post updates and pix. Just lurking and researching on this site has answered a lot of questions, but I'm sure there will be more...

 

[GrinningPanther]

Hey Mconlonx,

Welcome to the forum and the group! You seem to be skilled and competent at various things, and to have planned out several aspects of your vanliving arrangement.

As you indicate, you've already picked up some tips and answers by reading the material written by others at this site--and I'm sure others can learn from you, too, as you share your ideas and plans and discoveries with the group.

Welcome, again, and best of luck on your transition. I know from my own experience (which is not yet far along yet in the transition) that not every part of the process is fun, or chosen. But we can hope to make the process as a whole an enjoyable and liberating experience.

'Looking forward to updates on your plans and vehicle build-out/set-up.

GP

 

[akrvbob]

It sounds like this is the place for you, and we're very glad you're here. Nobody can know what is best for you other than you, but what I can tell you is what I've decided for myself: Life is very short and there are no guarantees for tomorrow so I'm trying to live life to it's fullest right now.

But just because that philosophy works for me doesn't mean it will work for you. Waiting another year may be the smartest thing you can do.
Bob

 

[mconlonx]

Waiting another year may be the smartest thing you can do.

Plan is to be living in the van full time by this summer, so no real delay on that part. It's new to me, so that may be adventure enough.

Just not sure if I'll shove off into the world this fall or try to winter-over locally.

Money in the publishing gig is about twice what I made working on bikes, so a bit of patience might result in the ability to take more time off, establish a decent financial cushion.

Or I could very well be in the mood for Big Change and set sail.

We'll see...

 

[Patrick46]

Welcome to the forum Mconlonx.

Sounds like this autta be the right place for you.

I like the idea of work/travel with the seasons.

What kind of bike repairs are you refering to?? Bicycles, or those motorized contraptions??


Patrick from the Oregon Coast.

 

[mconlonx]

What kind of bike repairs are you refering to?? Bicycles, or those motorized contraptions??

Bicycles! Love 'em, still work part time in a local shop. Owner is on-board with hiring me back seasonally, so that part of this new lifestyle is already in place... Another thought is to take the repair work on the road and become a mobile bike repairman.

Between jobs, I headed out to UBI in Ashland OR to get trained up on bicycle mechanics. Loved it out there.

But I've also been into motorcycles as well. Just sold a 01 MZ Skorpion Tour to a buddy -- part of downsizing my life to fit in a van.

 

[FrugalandFree]

Hello & Welcome!

 

[Patrick46]

Between jobs, I headed out to UBI in Ashland OR to get trained up on bicycle mechanics. Loved it out there.

Where are you at now??

 

[mconlonx]

BTW, thanks one and all for the warm welcome--it is certainly appreciated!

Where are you at now??

Southern ME/Seacoast NH area. I'm getting out of a house in Berwick ME, temporarily renting in York ME until the van is built out over the summer, working in Portsmouth NH or Newburyport MA depending on the day...

 

[akrvbob]

I'd give thought to a box van, step van or box truck and turn the back part into a bike shop and be a mobile bike mechanic. You could do it with an extended van but I'm not sure there would be enough room.

Of course you would do general bike work but I would consider specializing in setting the little cheap 50cc chinese (or some of the better ones) motors on bikes. They are cheap and a great idea but they are too hard for a lot of people to install. Maybe buy 10-20 of them wholesale and sell them for retail plus $40 an hour to install them.

I'd give serious thought to doing electric bike conversions as well. They are the future but still too new for a lot of people to do-it-yourself. I think you would do really well in Quartzsite. Just a thought
Bob

 

[mconlonx]

Of course you would do general bike work but I would consider specializing in setting the little cheap 50cc chinese (or some of the better ones) motors on bikes. They are cheap and a great idea but they are too hard for a lot of people to install. Maybe buy 10-20 of them wholesale and sell them for retail plus $40 an hour to install them.

I'd give serious thought to doing electric bike conversions as well. They are the future but still too new for a lot of people to do-it-yourself. I think you would do really well in Quartzsite. Just a thought

Good ideas!

I've gone through a couple of those Chinese gas engines and do not like working on them, not one bit. They involve a lot of committed owner involvement, so people are better off building their own to understand what's what; not a buy from someone else and expect rock-solid reliability for the less mechanically inclined proposition.

However, the electric bike conversion scheme is a fantastic suggestion. Hmm...

 

[akrvbob]

Agreed, the Chinese engines are questionable, but there are many other good quality 50cc 2-stroke engines people put on bikes, many of them popular name-brands. Honda even makes one some people use. Tanaka is a pretty good and reliable engine for bikes. But they cost a lot more. It might have priced itself out of the market.
Bob

 

[Belinda2]

Welcome Mconlonx! Were sorry for all you had and are currently going through. However, we are all here to support you as best we can.

 

[mconlonx]

Welcome Mconlonx! Were sorry for all you had and are currently going through. However, we are all here to support you as best we can.

Appreciated!

Life changes happen, big and small. Nobody died.

And if it precipitates The Great Van Adventure, well then it may have served its purpose.

Building out a van--taking this opportunity to transition to vanliving--is inspirational, it's giving me an immediate goal, a postive step forward in a self-affirming manner.

Ignore the decals, they are coming off, and a white paint job is in the works...

 

[blkjak]

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

 

[mconlonx]

Here I am, about a year after the split, still in the same professional job, still living out of the truck.

Mechanicals on the truck have been superb. For a '98, anyway. Total repairs have been less than $600 -- vacuum line and exhaust manifold gaskets. I'll have put about 20,000 mi on it this year as a result of it being a commuter vehicle in addition to being a bedroom.

I have not done any of the mods I was contemplating, basically because I've not needed them. Insulation, venting, etc., the hammock plus cold weather mitigation, like a really good sleeping bag and cheap hammock insulation teks have done the trick. I sleep just fine -- snug, comfy, and warm -- without need for insulation or overnight heat. I run a Mr. Heater Buddy unit hooked up to a BBQ propane tank to warm things up when I'm changing into and from sleeping undergarments to street clothes, night and morning. The interior racks and exterior storage compartments in this thing provides all the storage I need for daily living, and then some.

Stealth factor with a utility body truck like this is way high. I had a chance to talk with a local law enforcement agent who acknowledged the van's presence at place of work, overnight, even with me sleeping it it, without any issue. They were not, and are still not, aware that I routinely use it to sleep over at work, it's in an industrial complex with many other utility rigs parked there overnight. I've also utilized it in many different situations, like having drunk too much at a friend's house, or needed to crash for a nap in just about any location.

I still cook/eat and bathe in my son's apt -- I hang out there as part caretaker, as he is mentally disabled. If I had to or want to be away from this situation, I have no doubt I could easily do both: work has a shower, already have cooking/eating gear for life away from a fixed location.

Condensation is an issue, merely sleeping over in the van, the heater adds more. Insulation will be the first spring project...

-------------------------------

The job has been a deciding factor. Turns out, they want me to stay on for the indefinite future, at least a few years. The money is great, the job is... if not ultimately rewarding, at least it doesn't suck out loud. Right now, I'm actively banking mad cash toward a nomadic future since my expenses are way down. I don't pay rent or mortgage, but do contribute to my son's household expenses.

Recently, I was able to buy a cheap used car for ex-no.2. Not something I had to do, but something which was right and proper. I have a line on a wicked cheap space which might be used for living/storage/business from current PT job boss, and am building a tiny house, 8 x 12, out on ex-no.1's land, with her permission and blessing.

To tell the truth, I am really, really grooving on my non-standard lifestyle at the moment.

 

[cyndi]

Sounds like you've built a great life! I really love hearing that people are truly content with a simpler life.

 

[mconlonx]

Sounds like you've built a great life! I really love hearing that people are truly content with a simpler life.

Thanks!

Sad thing is, simple life is my predilection, but conflicts with most situations which might involve a life partner. Currently not searching for such, real happy to be living the way I want to live. But inevitably, I seek companionship -- this time, I'm hoping on my own, simple living terms. 

Last time I left a long term relationship, I immediately fell into another one. Which came along with the usual, understandable set of compromises. This time, I've smartened up a bit -- not only were there no immediate options, but I'm not even looking/seeking at the moment. I'll get there, I'm sure, but this new lifestyle is way to precious to waste on a mere new hook-up. 

Not giving up hope and expectations that there will be new intimate relationships in my future, but not at all actively seeking such. Taking this time as an opportunity to chill, figure out where I'm at, and go from there. 

 

[cyndi]

I don't think that's true! Ifyou are able to attend any gatherings you will find there are lots of single women (I'm assuming you're a guy, but it works both ways) full-timing and van-dwelling. And they're not just retirees!!! At the RTRs I'd see the woman/man ratio is almost even.

But as Randy, the mobile kodger says. Don't sell yo0r rig.

 

[SinnTek]

That's just it though... If you're not looking, why stress it?

So far I have met 3 women when living in a van, all of which were either just using me for a ride or looking for a companion as they were homeless too.

There are definitely options out there as far as dating and meeting people when living in your van. The stigma however makes it appear that we are all criminals or trashy. Just look clean and be honest, the worst thing that someone can tell you is no and then you move on.

Tried to refrain from posting here since I can be very opinionated with a lot of things however figured I would lend my 2 cents to this topic.

Also, the van looks good. I wanted to buy one of those over my cargo van to be honest.