New Beginnings in a 1995 Chevy Van

[Guest]

well said Karl...I second all that...<br>bri<br><br>

 

[KatieinKansas]

<font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thank you, Karl.</span></font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You're a very good minister,</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Katie</span></font></div></div>

 

[akrvbob]

I am in the incredibly wonderful situation that 365 days a year I wake up in nature. I step out of my little camper in either a wild forest or a beautiful desert. It was a long, sometimes very hard road to get here. I've cried myself to sleep in my box van many times--an awful divorce forced me into the van. I can say with the deepest sincerity, it was worth any cost to get where I am now. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. <br><br>I wish there was an easy answer, but there isn't. All you can do is keep your eye on the prize and keep moving forward, putting one foot in front of the other. The tears will turn into pure gold. Bob &nbsp; <br><br>

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

<P><b><FONT size=3>Karl and others give such good advice. Any change, good or bad is stressful.&nbsp; You are giving up a known part of your life for the unknown, no matter how great this is and sounds, it is still scary especially if you are alone.&nbsp; In several months when I am going to make the jump, may all of you please be there to hold my hand too.</FONT></b></P>

 

[KatieinKansas]

<font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thank you, Bob and Dragonfly, for sharing, and your encouraging words. &nbsp;...Yes, Dragonfly, we'll be there to hold your hand too. &nbsp; ...Very special group....</span></font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Katie<br></span></font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font></div></div></div>

 

[4x4tour]

<P>How about an update, Katie? <IMG src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/comp.gif" align=absMiddle border=0></P>

 

[WanderingRonin]

I'm doing the opposite of what Katie is doing. Instead of preparing for cramped conditions, I am living up the last days of my apartment before my lease ends. Right now, I have the porta potti out in the living room... my small future shower setup which is a small tub and a new trash bin for water... (probably use my shower curtains inside the van to prevent splashes to the rest of the vehicle)... the gear is slowly assembling itself in my apartment and each time I take a long shower, I remind myself to enjoy it while it lasts. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><div>I've lived in tiny one room quarters making tuna sandwiches in my bed so I guess that's enough training for me. The only thing I gotta get used to is not being able to stand straight up. But even that I am preparing for...</div>

 

[WanderingRonin]

It is inspiring to read all about your adventures, Katie!<div>I can feel the twinge of sentimentality indeed for the piano... Sometimes I have moved immovable objects before.. and discovered things like coins underneath. How long have they been there? Did I drop it while I was a kid? I can imagine the coin waited patiently all those years...&nbsp;</div><div>It's great reading your day to day blogs on moving out. I will be moving out in a month myself. It's a weird feeling, yes?</div><div><br></div>

 

[ice_maiden]

Hi Katie,<br><br>It was interesting to read your posts. In many ways it was like reading my own journey. I too am an empty nester and only a bit ahead of you. I also had the three bedroom house and 15 years of accumulation I had to shed. When I read the part about living in the bedroom and bath, I got tickled .....I did the very same thing.&nbsp; Although for a while I rented the rest of the house to someone I had known since grade school. So that way we had no problem sharing the kitchen.&nbsp; And all the while I planned and researched how to live on the road and camp in nature.&nbsp; I started with the idea of a C class but it never seemed to fit comfortably. I kept overhauling my thoughts and going with what life presented till I arrived here with my current van.&nbsp; Like you I am not quite on the road yet.&nbsp; Life gave me another bump in the highway because I now have to sell my Mother's home.&nbsp; But as I do this I build my van, write in my blog and live vicariously through those who are where I want to be.&nbsp; Also like you I take short trips and sometimes sleep in the driveway.&nbsp; You write so well you should start your own blog and chronicle your journey. I think it would be an interesting read.<br><br>

 

[KatieinKansas]

<font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's been awhile since I've updated this thread. &nbsp;I'm almost there... ...Almost on my way to living &nbsp;in my van for long periods of time. &nbsp;I'm having a moving sale this weekend and I'm selling everything. ...Almost... ..Gotta have a few things for the brief times that I return.</span></font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today is my last day of work. &nbsp;Wahoo! &nbsp;I'm retiring from teaching so I'll be free to do the van thing. &nbsp;I also have to turn in the school computer that I'm typing on right now. &nbsp; So I won't be on this site as often until I get a computer of my own. &nbsp;I'm still going to try to log on daily at a friend's or library. &nbsp;...Have to go to work now.... &nbsp;..Last day to write that!!!</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Katie</span></font></div>

 

[Seraphim]

<p style="margin: 0px;">You go girl! lol</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Keep us informed.&nbsp; DW retires from teaching in one week, and we're taking off to look for a camper for the truck. Pulling out the tent (and air mattress!) for the moment.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">If you get around SW Ohio let us know.</p>

 

[karl]

<img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0">

 

[akrvbob]

Katie, I am so happy for you!! I'm sure the days have been dragging by waiting for this momentous day! FREEDOM! <br><br>Be aware that you are in for some big changes in your life and everything probably won't be smooth sailing and great joy. But overall I think you are going to love it!! And it all just gets better and better. <br><br>I'm really sorry the RTR won't be in CO so you could come see a bunch of us. If you get out to CA be sure to stop in!!Hopefully we will see you in Quartzsite, right!?<br><br>Keep us updated on your progress and travels. Bob <br>

 

[stude53]

<p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="5" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Congratulations, Katie!!!! <img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif"><img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif"><img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif"></font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="5" face="Arial"></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="5" face="Arial">Bob</font></p>

 

[squire]

<p>Congrats, Katie.</p>

 

[Trout]

<p>You go girl, and keep us posted.....</p>

 

[Simran]

Gotta love it&nbsp; . . . .all the joys and sorrows wrapped into one. It's Katies life, my life and yours. It's just life!!! <br><br>Go live it!!!!<br>Awesome!!!<br><br>

 

[yesican]

<p style="margin: 0px;">You can almost hear the sound of the chains breaking!!! YaHoo for you Katie!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Rae</p>

 

[thinker]

so we see you're back on... but with no updates to this thread!!<br />what happened, i've been wondering.<br /><br />

 

[peacetara]

YAY Katie! Good luck!<br /><br />Your story is beautiful, and something I really needed today! thank you for the uplifting message!<br /><br />