Self Expression, Subterfuge and the road

[Matt71]

I have a few things I'd like to discuss.
First, I'm curious about everyone's views on self expression as it relates to being a van dweller. Your vehicle is your home and you should be able to decorate it however you choose. We talk a lot about the inside of our vehicle, but not so much the outside.

Every now and again I'll run across a van or a station wagon that is painted an atypical color or hot glued with stuffed animals, antlers, bumper stickers from front to back and stuff like that. These forms of self expression immediately trigger the "that person must be crazy" response, even though in a lot of cases they're probably the most interesting and sane people you'll ever meet. So I'm wondering what sorts of things do you adorn you portable home with that tell the world who you are? What kind of response does that generally lead to?

There are a lot of white cargo vans out there and when I get mine I'd really like to make mine represent who my wife and I are. At the same time, I'm a bit nervous about doing so because I don't want to draw unwanted attention from LEOs or people that might choose to cause trouble. My car was once vandalized because I had a Darwin Fish on the bumper and ever since I've been concerned about my vehicle being targeted for my religious or political views. I'm particularly concerned about being pulled over in heavily red states.

This leads to the second part of the discussion. Have you ever lied about your lifestyle to avoid harassment or having to explain yourself to people? 

I've pretty much decided that once we're on the road I'm going to lie to most people outside the VanDwelling/RV community by telling them that we're on vacation and/or camping. Which I suppose isn't a complete lie as we will still have an actual address back in Michigan that we could return to at any time. I mostly want to avoid the stigma or assumptions that we are homeless  or vagrants.

,Matt

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

It works for some people, just forgoing stealth and putting it out there. Probably the more you travel the better. here is a great example. this girl just puts out markers and paint and lets people express themselves too you can clearly see later in the video the van is an integral part of her


As for me, i dont act sneaky but i avoid casual scrutiny if i can. I never lied about it but ive chosen carefully what to divulge. At first i was eager and excited to talk about it but ive learned to be more guarded. But i am stationary.

 

[LeeRevell]

"Red" states? I worry about the heavily BLUE states! I do avoid certain 'displays'. I am heavily into the shooting sports, hunting, handloading, etc. but would not show any decals or bumper stickers such as for the NRA (I am a life member). Such invites trouble, both from certain 'elements' in population and the LEO in some areas.
I try to maintain the 'gray man' approach, not to cause undue interest from anyone. Once my van conversion is done, I will paint it a nice color with pleasing trim, nothing garish or 'odd'.
Strangely the only time a cop pulled me over when I did nothing wrong, was he thought it strange I was being so careful to NOT do anything wrong! Guess that was 'suspicious'.......

 

[jimindenver]

It's a risk you take at home, on your vehicle, even on your person. No matter what it is, somewhere there will be a person that will react negatively.

You being from Michigan might mean you understand what I deal with here in Denver. I grew up in the country around Flint and followed the Wing thru good and bad. When the Avs came to Denver I was thrilled as not only was there hockey here again, I would get to see my Wings play and unlike when I lived at home, they had some real hot shots. If you know hockey, you know what the rivalry between the two teams became and I had a blast. I flew the winged wheel above the house, it was on my 65 Falcon and on game day, you knew who I rooted for just by looking at me. 99% of the time it resulted in some really good trash talking but there were a few occasions that the house was vandalized, so was the car when we took it to the games. At the games it could real heated and I had heard of incidents but at my size, it never got out of hand.

As far as getting pulled over for it, yeah it's happened. One time I was told that I would have gotten a warning but hey, Red Wings suck.

Would I lie? How about maybe omit the things that are not relevant to a relationship. I find that any lifestyle that is in anyways the least bit controversial is like politics. There is nothing either side can say that would in any way change the opinion of the other. It is just easier to avoid the unnecessary conflict that can not be resolved in any event. In some instances it is just unwise to expose yourself to it when there is no purpose in them knowing anyways.

 

[vanman2300]

I always find it better to blend in almost every situation. The more recognizable or even odd you are the more you're like a magnet that draws both good and bad elements toward you. I don't think it matters where you are either...whether a blue or red state. I've lived in both and it doesn't matter at all IMO. The only exception I can think of would be New Orleans where oddities are hardly ever noticed.

Regarding being open about van dwelling I wouldn't do it. Bottom line why take the chance at all if you really don't have to? Call it risk management. I know some like to talk about themselves and what they are doing so if I absolutely had to I would tell someone who lives where I am only passing through.

 

[Wabbit]

I have experienced something like what you talk about with the whole not having a "house" address. I have camped the past few summers and hit a motel during the winter. The first year I stayed at only a few close campgrounds and got to be known by the surrounding local towns. It being Iowa and the towns being small and understanding that corn or pigs were the only other alternative news...lol. It wasn't horrible, but it is disconcerting to have people "recognize" you and you have no idea who they are or how they know you. Last year my camping area expanded a bit and it wasn't as bad with the locals recognizing me.

When it comes to self expression, I am old enough to know that many people in my world do not appreciate uniqueness quite as much as I might. To some, it seems to me that if they can't relate or understand something, it scares them at some real basic level. I don't totally understand it, but I realize it happens and is a part of life, so I continue to put pants on when I go out in public.

In the end, I think if people don't like or appreciate me, who cares. I know I am awesome and I would rather feel good about myself than to have to try and convince anyone else of my "cool" factor....lol.

 

[akrvbob]

On my last truck camper I had a map of the 50 states and you added in a color state whenever you visited it. I had most of the country except the midwest.

I also collected bumper stickers from all the cool places I visited and had them all over the camper. I loved them and was very sad when I got rid of the camper to lose them all. Fortunately I bought extras and have been carrying them around to put them on my next vehicle.

I'm not certain how long I'll keep my current van so I haven't put them on it yet. But I still collect bumpersticers everywhere I go and when I'm sure I'll keep a vehicle for along time I'll put them back on it.

As a boondocker I don't care about stealth and I am going for the "Just Passing Through" look. Everyone understands and likes travel and can appreciate that you travel a lot. Sometimes people see them and want to talk about them. I see it as a positive and not a negative. I see it as a reflection of the "true" me.

I have a friend who is an atheist and he put a "Ask me About Jesus" sticker on his truck. He says everyone stays away when they see that!
Bob

 

[akrvbob]

About the other question of lying. I rarely have interactions with Rangers, but when I do I have a lie ready if it's needed, and it has been on numerous occasions.

I prefer to tell the truth if possible, but have no problem lying when I must.
Bob

 

[mconlonx]

I bought my truck used, from a business which didn't make it. When I peeled the vinyl decals off -- even using a hair drying -- it took part of the bad paint job with it. So it's a black truck with abstracts chunks of the original red color showing through. I got about halfway through it and thought, instead of peeling all these stickers off, I can get creative with what I leave behind. So while one side is cleared of all stickers, the hood has "Work" on it. Back says "U Work." On the side of the body, "Leaning Clean G"; passenger door and fender, "Work" again, "Fully licensed & insured," "D2."

Very funky looking. Never (knock wood) been hassled about it. Was alternately thinking of painting it white and having a buddy tag it up with some graffiti -- he's an excellent designer and street artist. And someday, I'd love to build out an older International Metro with some classic, non-stealthy paint job. Not there yet, though.

But for now, the random lettering and peeling paint serve as enough personal expression. If I get tired of it, I'll hit it with some white Monstaliner, go vanilla, call it a day.

 

[rvwandering]

I love seeing van and cars with lots of bumper stickers, unusual paint jobs or covered with trinkets but I'd never do any of that to my own vehicle especially one that I was living in. It just attracts too much attention, some good, some bad. Forget about staying in one area and being stealthy to some extent. Everyone will notice you.

As far as lying to people about van dwelling, just tell them as much as you think they should know. Most people will have a good reaction to it but since it's hard to tell what a stranger will think or do hold off on details if you feel uncomfortable.

 

[GrantRobertson]

About Uniqueness: 
If you are going for stealth and you plan to frequent the same areas, then I think that would be a terrible idea. Even a business logo (fake or real) makes it far, far more likely that people will notice seeing your van around before. Unique in some personalized way guarantees that people will KNOW that van should not be parked in that lot overnight. 

If you are not going for stealth then uniqueness guarantees that you won't be mistaken for that other white van that was driving around doing suspicious things.

Finally, I think that the artistic uniqueness really only works well if it looks as if you either spent a lot of money on it OR a hell of a lot of time and talent. Almost everything else will just look trashy and all the people who see it will assume you are trashy. Perceptions may not be EVERYTHING but they are a huge part of how people treat you. Bob's suggestion of travel stickers works because people assume that means you can afford to travel a lot. They don't have to know that you "travel" ALL the time. So, if you get really artistic with the travel stickers, then you might end up with a good combination.


About Lying:
That is exactly what I plan to do. All of my life I have been too honest with people when things were none of their business and they have ALWAYS  used it against me in the end. All of my friends and family know I have a dream of having some land and living off the grid. That is acceptable to them. What they don't know is that part of how I plan to be able to afford that is to live in a van or small RV for several years. If I never end up being able to afford the land, I want to make sure I can enjoy my life and have time to think. So, I plan to go "all in" on the vandwelling thing even if it isn't my absolute end goal.

 

[SoulRaven]

I pretty much gave up on stealth. Never been bothered stopping for a few hours in an urban area. I think when the cops believe you are trying to hide something is when the hassles start. 

 

[LucyImHome]

There are places that weirdness is accepted, even expected. Bisbee, Portland, Austin come to mind. When I lived in Bisbee, I painted my MH white, pink and black, very mod. When I moved, I painted over the pink. I didn't want to, but did to be able to pass as a regular person.
I'm very private, so I share my living situation with VERY few. Not many will understand. They'll be freaked out by it. I have evolved to understand that my weirdness isn't defined by what is seen on the outside, of me or my home.
Be creative on the inside of your home.

 

[Sameer]

For me, as a retired 'baby-boomer', I don't feel that I am doing anything unusual living in my mini-RV (Van). I just park overnight where it is legal to park or hope it is, and spend 98% of my time boondocking on public land. In the United States there are 3 million people living life in various types of vehicles on the road. I do not think my lifestyle for the past two years is odd or strange. I think of my self as a 'Retired Traveler'. How we define ourselves is very important to how we interact with the world. I think of my lifestyle as creative and innovative. I am open and honest with everyone I meet and have never been bothered by the authorities or anyone else.

 

[GrantRobertson]

There are places that weirdness is accepted, even expected. Bisbee, Portland, Austin come to mind.

Don't believe the hype about Austin. The natives will tell you that the weird died years ago. Now it is just a commercialized version of weirdish that has been carefully designed to appeal to hipsters and tourists.

A weird van, parked anywhere for long, WILL attract negative attention.