Michigan contemplating

[Aabreu]

Michigan man. Been lerking here for a couple weeks. Enjoying Bob's videos. Fascinating man. I'm an engineer making good salary with too many expenses. Downsizing would be in the cards but for a couple personal issues and logistics. No plans to quit but I want to save. I'm in cold country so there is that logistic. Where to park during the day? Storage rental?  Lots to consider and plan.

AA

 

[cyndi]

AA! Welcome to the CRVL forums! You've come to the right place to get it all figured out!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[slynne]

I am in Michigan too and while I plan to go somewhere warmer after Christmas, there is still plenty of cold weather van dwelling before Christmas! I think my plan is to find a place to park for Nov-Dec with shore power so I can run a furnace and maybe figure out a way to heat the tanks? Either that or winterize it and use a bucket for a bathroom those two months. Or winterize it and move into a cheap motel for those two months. There are lots of options! I know they make RVs that are four season too although I haven't found any which are affordable for me. There seems to be a lot of different ways to go about it. I used to go winter camping a lot and I lived in the Soo for a bit so I feel I can probably handle winter in SE Michigan.

Good Luck to you and please share any info you find

 

[eDJ_]

If you are doing that well,  a larger RV may be more suited to your needs so you could full time in it.  If you have a professional website you could display a photo of your RV with some lettering on it to indicate you are a traveling engineer. 

Then you could indicate that you will travel and take on jobs like a contractor escrowing your RV expenses.
Let them assume you have a home. (again display a photo of your present home) 

I agree with slynne,  you could garage the RV for a few months and indicate you don't travel in that cold of weather in the RV.  But as a business contractor you have the right to set your own policies.  One of the nice perks of this way of life.

 

[Aabreu]

I am in Michigan too and while I plan to go somewhere warmer after Christmas, there is still plenty of cold weather van dwelling before Christmas! I think my plan is to find a place to park for Nov-Dec with shore power so I can run a furnace and maybe figure out a way to heat the tanks? Either that or winterize it and use a bucket for a bathroom those two months. Or winterize it and move into a cheap motel for those two months. There are lots of options! I know they make RVs that are four season too although I haven't found any which are affordable for me. There seems to be a lot of different ways to go about it. I used to go winter camping a lot and I lived in the Soo for a bit so I feel I can probably handle winter in SE Michigan.

Good Luck to you and please share any info you find

Thanks for the reply.  keeping water from freezing is an issue.  A bird bathe warmer might work.  That requires a source of power though.  Bought one for my mom's bird bathe and she says it works.  
Good idea is to park it over the really colds months and find a month to month place to rent.  Nov and Dec is cold but it's not like it is in Feb.
Thank for that idea.  

I'm thinking about going with a box van.  Tons of industrial areas to stealth park in SE michigan.  Not sure if sleeping in a vehicle would be my thing.  Gonna try it out in the next few weeks.  Going camping.  I drive a Durango right now.  Find a walmart on the way or something.

Thanks 
AA

 

[slynne]

I don't know where you are exactly but most cities in SE Michigan seem to have rules about sleeping in your vehicle on public streets so a box van seems to be the way to go. FWIW, I see people sleeping in similar vans where I am in Ypsi quite frequently even though it is against the rules. I suspect that the police ignore it unless someone is causing a problem and most who do this either seem to be just passing through or are smart enough to move around and to not park in residential areas at night. I see the same van in the Park and Ride lot whenever I am coming home late but never when I get to that lot in the morning to park.

 

[jimindenver]

I grew up between Flint and Detroit. Even with a RV I would not handle the cold well.

 

[slynne]

The Michigan diaspora is vast indeed

 

[mayble]

there's a few of us mitten folk still here  
we really ought to have a michigan gathering

 

[speedhighway46]

Yes, great idea. I'm in Grand Rapids. Count me in!

 

[Aabreu]

Diaspora.  I had to duckduckgo search that one..  Read much?  

Working in Auburn Hills.  Pontiac is close.  Apartment is in Utica.
I don't know what the rules are around here.  Is it illegal to be houseless here?

I've read the blog post about stealth parking.  
Stay in a parking lot like McDonald's until your ready to sleep.
Then moving to the sleeping location.  Getting up early and be gone before anyone notices.


Or finding a farmer that will let you park a vehicle on their property?  I don't know any farmers.  Don't want to drive that far anyways.

One idea I had is if you are in a box truck.  Finding a house that is for sale and parking in front of that.  
Would that draw attention?

Doing this 365 times a year in an suburban environment.  How feasible is this?  I don't know.
Saving $10-$14K in rent a year adds up though.  Do it for a decade and that is a significant chunk for retirement.  
Plus, you're already in your retirement rig.

Thanks
AA

 

[slynne]

LOL. I will just say that I have a job where I get a lot of free books.

A Michigan gathering would be fun! I cant promise I will be free though. Summer is so short and I always try to cram everything in

 

[slynne]

This is an interesting TED talk about the Detroit diaspora, something I have experienced a lot in my travels including eating real Detroit Coneys washed down with Faygo Rock m Rye on the Sunset Strip in LA