People Think I'm Crazy!!!!!

Barryusa · Jun 20, 2013

I once read that many famous people said that when they shared some of their best and greatest ideas of their lifetime, friends, family, and coworkers laughed at them! The ideas were so great the same old way of thinking couldn't even embrace the new concept because they couldn't see the new solution through the same set of eyes that had created the problem. It wasn't until the solution was implemented and the positive results surfaced that they let their guard down and were willing to accept the new idea. With that being said, if you've determined that this will make you happy, you've found the value in something that others haven't yet, and you'll have the last laugh. Even if you don't have the last laugh, you laugh more because you'll be watching the rat race not living it. 

Boris Badanov · Jun 21, 2013

Amen to that, Barry. I'm not just learning about van dwelling, I'm learning a lot about human nature!!!

mockturtle · Jun 21, 2013

I rather like the quote from Jonathan Swift:  "When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him".

Boris Badanov · Jun 21, 2013

A maxim to live by. Thanks for that.

sparky1 · Jun 21, 2013

Car companies realized people would & Can live in their Vehicles--Look at (Born Free & other class "B" vans) there is a huge market- I have (3) GM.vans & they all run.(2) have tags & insurance,the 3rd I bought 3 months ago from a member on here as he upgraded to a better living arrangement.not sure how many active members are on this site but surely there are many 1,ooo's with no internet & aren't aware of this site,but as I travel some it's easy to see Vandwellers, & etc, living out here & not in a stick & Brick home,but Cheapliving applies to all of us. have a great weekend all. i'm parked in my grassed field, camping out for the last 3 weeks.in southern, Va. sparky1.

caseyc · Jun 21, 2013

When I was young and stupid in my early 20s, everyone thought I was living the good life, relatively speaking.  I had a full time job, albeit a deadend job, was married, just bought a brand new house in the suburbs, and had 2 cars in the garage, plus a dog. In truth, that was one of the worst times of my life. I had a long 3 hour commute round trip that was killing me. The house was too large, too far away, and doing simple chores like mowing the front and back yard lawns was murder for me. I hated everything, and my wife at the time was driving me to drink by constantly trying to keep up with the Joneses and putting me more in debt.  She was nuts, and I was even nuttier for putting up with it. <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/rolleyes.gif">  When I finally divorced her, my life improved considerably.  However, over the next 20 years thereafter, I would pretty much sum up my life as a wage-slave in a rat race to get ahead, but going nowhere fast. Granted, part of my problem is that I like to spend. But spending only contributed to more stuff and clutter and depleted my savings. Nowadays, I'm more inclined to just give stuff away because I actually feel stressed having too much stuff. I've donated many items to GoodWill, and I need to still make a few more visits there to give away more stuff.  Bottom line, I'd rather have less than more nowadays. Less is better. It would be a refreshing change for me.  That's why the whole subject of "van-dwelling" appeals to me.  I have also learned to be extremely selective as to who I tell about my plans for the future. Friends and family simply don't understand, and I don't expect them to. So I don't even bother telling anyone. It's better that way because I prefer to be "anonymous" in the sense that I'd rather have nobody know my business or what I'm up to. I feel more stress-free when people don't know what I'm up to, including friends and family, seriously! I really can't stand it when people ask me too many questions, so the less they know, the better. I've been living in various apartments now for the past 20+ years. My current rent is $1100 monthly which is lower than average for my neighborhood, the place before that was $1600 monthly for many years. I figure I must have spent over $300,000 easily in the past 20 years on rent alone. A person might ask me why haven't I "purchased" another house instead of renting? That's because in the area I live, home prices are so high that it would take 2 persons (eg: husband & wife) with good incomes to even have a chance of making the monthly mortgage payment. It really is that bad. With divorce rate so high, if there is a divorce, or one spouse loses a job for an extended time, then the house could easily go into foreclosure. That's why I never bought a house again, because I couldn't do so on my own single income. Plus I simply did not want the stress of a monthly mortgage bill on my head on top of whatever other obligations I may have. Nowadays, I simply want to live a stress free life.  That means no debt (or very low debt), no mortgage, no kids (ye-gads!), no anything that saps my energy or drains my resources. Does all this sound selfish? Probably to the un-initiated. But all this make sense to me, regardless if anyone might think I'm crazy! Anyway, good luck to you, you are in good company, we can all relate on this forum!

cleanheart · Jun 22, 2013

Wow! Soooo many great responses to this thread!  I too,as well as many here, went through this and ended up moving back into the place I was renting. Not a big mistake because it caused me to really take a hard look at what was going on IN ME! I let others dictate what I was going to do and now I am slowly getting rid of the desperate feeling! I am moving back into my little RV and shedding this burden that society has placed on me. I will not conform any longer! I'm glad you're getting IT! I finally got IT but it took me a lot of moving and soul searching! I will move once more and then I'll settle down in Sweetie and be happy! Good Luck Monica!

tylergurl72 · Aug 12, 2013

I've kept my choosing to live free to myself with exception of my kids. Two have moved on but my youngest who I'm trying to get our relationship back support whatever I choose. I need a change of pace, scenery ect. I want to lie on beach or wake up in woods or just whatever and where ever I desire. My fear is, taking that step. Right now I'm still planning and saving but I will do this so help me god!