Regret?

[Greenfirefly]

I've watched a lot of videos and read a lot of articles, but so far I haven't heard anyone say they regretted going on the road.  Have you ever known anyone who, after giving it a serious try, said "This is awful, it's not for me"?

 

[highdesertranger]

oh yeah, hang around here long enough and you will see a few. BTW go to the "Newcomers corner" and give us an intro, we will give you an official welcome. highdesertranger

 

[lenny flank]

I hear YouTube is full of people who sold all they owned, moved into a van, lasted a month or two, then sold the van and quit.

It's not for everyone.

Me, I'm in for 2.5 years now and have no plans to give it up.

 

[jonsun]

They prolly arent inspired to make vids about it

 

[sephson]

For most people, there is comfort in familiarity, even if the familiar is less than ideal. The problems of sticks and bricks dwelling are familiar to most people, therefore comforting.

As with any change in life, a change to a nomadic life will not result in an end to a person's problems. It's more a matter of exchanging one set of problems for another. Those who thrive as nomads are those who are mentally and emotionally equipped to deal with the problems that living on the road brings.

I'm a sticks and bricks resident myself and I'll admit that for the time being at least, I'm more comfortable staying that way. I may hit the road full time someday, but it will not be without careful planning on my part first.

 

[Ticklebellly]

I figure you need a high tolerance for uncertainty if going on the road, full time. Just leaving one locale without knowing where you will camp up next can be a daunting experience for newcomers. Lots of other examples come to mind. Going home to a fixed address is a comfort to some.

 

[mayble]

the only people you are likely to see talking about leaving van life behind are those who are moving on to boat life or backpack life or some other non-traditional lifestyle.
nobody wants to shout out that they tried something different and didn't have the cajones for it.  they just quietly slip back into their old life without any fanfare.

 

[bullfrog]

Years go by quick while you figure out what works for you, 15 for us and we are still learning.

 

[Thirsty Boots Nomad]

They prolly arent inspired to make vids about it

And most of the videos that are made/titled about it (at least the ones I've seen) are by fulltimers doing a "clickbait" to get views.  Of course, the fulltimers continue making videos about how much they are enjoying life on the road after that.

 

[blmkid]

" ...but it will not be without careful planning on my part first. "

Keyword. Planning.

 

[John61CT]

Actually very common is too much planning.

Spend tons of time and money getting everything perfect, but never actually doing it much first.

Could have found out you don't actually like doing it before making the jump.

Aside from the Instagramming hipster types, I reckon most fulltiming are mostly doing it out of need, if their income went up above the average $50K a year without breaking their body or selling their soul, they'd be more comfortable in a S&B.

Present company excepted maybe

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Better to have tried and failed then never tried at all......

I've tried and failed at many things, regret none of them, only regrets I have are the things I didn't do when the opportunity presented itself.

 

[CityWoman]

the only people you are likely to see talking about leaving van life behind are those who are moving on to boat life or backpack life or some other non-traditional lifestyle.
nobody wants to shout out that they tried something different and didn't have the cajones for it.  they just quietly slip back into their old life without any fanfare.

Just because a particular lifestyle turns out to be less satisfying than one anticipates, or just doesn't seem to work out for someone, does NOT necessarily mean that the person didn't have the cajones for it. To take the stance that a nomadic way of living is always superior to a stationary one is a very narrow view; it is simply a matter of what feels good and right for each individual. Nomadship isn't for everyone, of course, but that doesn't automatically mean that the people who reject it do so because they couldn't cut it. To say that is a bit mean.

Same goes for the idea that no one is going to want to admit that nomadding didn't work for them - discovering something isn't right for you doesn't equal failure nor something to be embarrassed or ashamed of, even if there is regret about it. I think there are plenty of people out there who wouldn't mind admitting that they tried living and traveling in a vehicle but it wasn't for them. There are several blogs I know of by people who only did it for a limited time and then returned to living in a house or apartment.

But blogging and making videos for YT is not for everyone, either! So what you see online only represents a small sliver of the vandweller subculture, and an even tinier sliver of the general population, which means one cannot really extrapolate nor make assumptions about the information one finds with any certainty.

 

[Stargazer]

What CityWoman said ^^^^.

I will add that what works for someone at one certain time in their life may not work as well when circumstances change. I loved being on the road in my little simple van, boondocking in out of the way places. But once my little grandsons stole my heart, I wanted them in my life so I came off the road, acquired a fifth wheel, parked it in a nearby RV park, and became Gramma! Who knew? Now they have moved away and I'm back out there in a Class B. Those RV parks that I shunned before have now become a nice place to stay and I have made new friends and enjoyed being around others, unlike before. Again, who knew? And recently I have looked at sticks and bricks again. Not sure if I'll go that way but we will see.

It takes cajones to make major life changes in any direction.

 

[mayble]

Just because a particular lifestyle turns out to be less satisfying than one anticipates, or just doesn't seem to work out for someone, does NOT necessarily mean that the person didn't have the cajones for it.  To take the stance that a nomadic way of living is always superior to a stationary one is a very narrow view;  it is simply a matter of what feels good and right for each individual.  Nomadship isn't for everyone, of course, but that doesn't automatically  mean that the people who reject it do so because they couldn't cut it.  To say that is a bit mean.

sorry you took offense where none was intended.  you misinterpreted my statement as a judgement, which it was not

personally, i don't have the cajones to work the 9-5 anymore.  does that make me a lesser person than someone who puts in their 40 years and gets the gold watch?
i also don't have the cajones for mountain climbing, but i don't feel like i'm less than you because you scale the peaks.

different strokes, is all.

and not many folks are going to post on a vandweller forum or a nomadic youtube channel that they don't care for van living. just like people are quicker to give bad reviews than good ones, because they don't give it a second thought. my widget works, i go on with my life. my widget doesn't work, i bitch about it. i like the van life, i talk about it. i don't like the van life, i move on and talk about something else.
it ain't AA

 

[CityWoman]

sorry you took offense where none was intended.  you misinterpreted my statement as a judgement, which it was not

I didn't take offense. Your previous post prompted a thought process in me and so I added another point of view to the discussion . In general, I never see much use in taking offense over something a stranger on the internet said..

 

[Greenfirefly]

Thanks for all the opinions, they were interesting. I'm not sure I'd want to go full-time, but I think getting out of your comfort zone can be very healthy sometimes.

 

[SoulRaven]

For most people, there is comfort in familiarity, even if the familiar is less than ideal. The problems of sticks and bricks dwelling are familiar to most people, therefore comforting.

Good point.  I had an interesting summer.  I stayed at a friend's house for SIX MONTHS, in his 5th wheel.  My whole trailer would fit in his living room.  
I started getting comfortable, and watching TV every night   I also ate too much. That became my familiar , comfort zone.  But something finally tore me away , and I'm back on the road; about 6 weeks now. 

And now THIS is familiar again.  And even though I've had some more challenges come my way, I'm so freakin glad I got back on the road. 
I should have been doing this 20 years ago.  I love this life. 

Pat