Is this common?

[user 2252]

I am a newbe to living in my car. In my research on this subject, I occasionally read about the dangers associated with this lifestyle. How do I prepare myself? I know the world is a little mad at times and the life on the road is my answer to sanity, but is this a common occurrence? Do cardwellers have to disguise themselves?

 

[Seraphim]

What specifically are you refering to?

There are always dangers in life. Generally, the solution is a little common sense.

 

[Pikachu711]

Vonbrown, I'll echo&nbsp;the question that Seraphim asked you. I don't know what you referring to when it comes to the safety issue of living in a car.<br /><br />When&nbsp;it comes to your safety just&nbsp;use common sense &amp; you'll be fine. Living in a&nbsp;vehicle should be&nbsp;no more dangerous than any other way of living.&nbsp;When it comes to your safety it's just a matter adapting your new life living in your car.<br /><br />Actually, if anything, you can blend in that much better if you're living in a car. One more car parked somewhere on a street will blend in that much better than a van, camper, rv, etc.<br /><br />

 

[user 2252]

Oh, I'm sorry. I just have been researching on many blogs and&nbsp;websites&nbsp;about living in a car and some of the stories were down right&nbsp;frightening. Anyways, I was just&nbsp;practicing posting stuff so I can get to know some peoples on the road. My new friends!!! Hello!!&nbsp;

 

[akrvbob]

Welcome Vonbrown, we are really glad you are here! I understand where you are coming from. The idea of living in a van is far out of most peoples comfort zone so their imaginations run wild and they see images in their mind of every possible danger. And then very rarely those bad things do happen and that just throws fuel on the fire. It gets reported everywhere and blown totally out of proportion. We see and here all the time about police officers shooting someone, but the truth is 90% of all officers never have to pull their guns and even less ever use them.&nbsp; <br /><br />While there are real risks to being a vandweller, they aren't very likely.<br /><br /> Most vandwellers who live in cities use stealth in their parking. But that isn't because they are afraid of being hurt, it's because many cities either frown on living in vehicle or actually pass laws against it. If they don't know you are sleeping in your van, they won't hassle you. it isn't about danger, it's about getting a knock in the middle of the night and told to move on.<br /><br />The bottom line is you don't have to fear for your safety, but you may have to be a little sneaky. Bob

 

[Guest]

<p>First&nbsp;&nbsp; and most Important&nbsp; for city&nbsp; parking&nbsp; is to&nbsp; Black out your windows so no one&nbsp; can&nbsp; see in...AT ALL &nbsp;. Of course&nbsp;&nbsp; these&nbsp; black outs&nbsp; will&nbsp; need to&nbsp; be easy to&nbsp; removed&nbsp; to&nbsp; drive , so&nbsp; keep&nbsp; that in&nbsp; mind&nbsp; when&nbsp; you&nbsp; pick&nbsp; a&nbsp; method to do it&nbsp; with.&nbsp;<br />Heres&nbsp; what&nbsp;I did.&nbsp; There is&nbsp; a product&nbsp; call protection&nbsp; board&nbsp; at&nbsp; Lowes. It is&nbsp; a 1/4 inch&nbsp; thick&nbsp;blue foam sheet&nbsp; that&nbsp; comes in&nbsp; 2 foot&nbsp; X 4 foot&nbsp; bundle of folded&nbsp; sheets.&nbsp; The&nbsp; fold makes it&nbsp; easy&nbsp; to&nbsp; store If&nbsp; you&nbsp; use it to your benifet.&nbsp; I&nbsp; cut panels&nbsp; that&nbsp; fit the frame out opening of all the&nbsp; windows .&nbsp;<br />(&nbsp; larger than the actual&nbsp;windows&nbsp; Like as big as the&nbsp; trim&nbsp; Around the windows )&nbsp;The&nbsp; foam is&nbsp; easy to cut&nbsp; with&nbsp; sizzors or&nbsp; utility&nbsp; knife.<br />&nbsp; On one side I painted&nbsp; Black with&nbsp; latex paint . The other&nbsp; I&nbsp; laminated&nbsp; with regular&nbsp; kitchen foil&nbsp;with 3M super 33 spray&nbsp; adheasive&nbsp;.<br />I&nbsp; use&nbsp; the foil side&nbsp; out ,&nbsp;For&nbsp; summer&nbsp; reflective,&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; and the other side for&nbsp;winter&nbsp; solar gain.&nbsp;&nbsp; I used&nbsp; Velcro&nbsp; adheasive&nbsp; tabs&nbsp; (also at lowes) to&nbsp; attatch the&nbsp; foam&nbsp; to&nbsp; the&nbsp; window trim&nbsp;&nbsp;to hold&nbsp; the&nbsp; Panels securly in place&nbsp; Inside&nbsp; the vehical.&nbsp; The&nbsp; small tabs&nbsp; can actually&nbsp; stick&nbsp; right to&nbsp; the inside&nbsp; glass&nbsp; , like&nbsp;on the&nbsp; windsheld&nbsp;&nbsp; to&nbsp; help&nbsp; keep&nbsp; the foam&nbsp; board&nbsp; from&nbsp; sagging in the middle&nbsp;. The little&nbsp; dots&nbsp;&nbsp; dont&nbsp; cause any&nbsp; difficulty&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; fron&nbsp; seeing out .<br />&nbsp;At&nbsp; Night&nbsp; I&nbsp; always&nbsp; put&nbsp; the&nbsp; black&nbsp;side&nbsp; out , as it&nbsp; gains&nbsp;no attention . Just&nbsp; another&nbsp; dark&nbsp; vehical&nbsp;. &nbsp;In&nbsp; the&nbsp; day time with the&nbsp; aluminum&nbsp; side out&nbsp; It looks like&nbsp;&nbsp; those&nbsp; sunblocker&nbsp; shades&nbsp; everyone uses now .&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; The&nbsp; heat&nbsp; gain&nbsp; in&nbsp; winter&nbsp; can&nbsp; be&nbsp; pretty good if you&nbsp; park with&nbsp; the&nbsp; majority of&nbsp; glass&nbsp;facing&nbsp; south and&nbsp; the&nbsp; black side&nbsp;&nbsp; out&nbsp; .&nbsp;&nbsp; I also&nbsp; found&nbsp; that by placing&nbsp; small&nbsp;ink&nbsp;pin&nbsp; size&nbsp;holes&nbsp; in&nbsp; selected areas&nbsp; I could&nbsp; see out&nbsp;&nbsp;fairly&nbsp; well. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>