The hardest part about this lifestyle?

[Iggy]

Were you fully prepared for all aspects of living full-time in your vehicle? The finances, organization of your belongings, how you feel physically, the rhythm of your days and nights, any mental stresses, etc?
For me, I've enjoyed almost everything about my life. There's some fine tuning to be done yet, especially on my diet, but I'd rather be in my van traveling, than anywhere else. Even being mostly stationary this summer, living primarily on a friend's farm in my van, hasn't been too bad. I inherited some money that will hopefully last a couple years or more.
The worst part for me is maintaining good healthy relationships with friends and family. Everyone looks at me differently now that I'm in a van. Some treat me like a leper, like poverty is contagious. Some try to take over, telling me how to live my life to get back on track again. Some feel sorry for me. Some criticize me for giving up. And so forth. No one believes that I actually love my life more than at any time in years! My actual living expenses are less than $500 per month currently. Excluding romantic entanglements (But that would be a whole nother thread!)

 

[caseyc]

That's why I don't tell my family or relatives. They have no idea. Better for everyone. I had already decided long ago to tell none of my family members. Only a couple close friends know.

 

[Iggy]

I'm a pretty open book to those close to me. Even on Facebook, I've had a couple people ask me if I'm alright because I've let something slip out. Not good with secrets or lying. But I wish people would be more understanding of my choice.

 

[caseyc]

Open book........hmm, not so good. I don't even accept friend requests on FB from family members!

 

[SternWake]

Yeah , other people might say they envy my freedom, but then turn up their nose and say they can never live like me.

I tell them their life is my nightmare. I don't want anything they have.
This blows their minds, and they probably go home sit down and start making lists of all their possessions convinced I am the crazy one.

To each their own, and screw the general public.

 

[Patrick46]

Amen to all of your posts!!!

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

The heat. And as you mentioned, the way people look at you or attitudes toward you change. In a lot of people's eyes you've somehow become something less than you were just the day before, for no other reason than you have done something they do not understand.

I had someone who was mad at me once fling the fact i live in my van at me like an insult. It almost made me laugh, how can something i set out to do be an insult?

 

[offroad]

Gypsy lifestyle is strange to some. Mention that people live like this world wide, just with different names. Travelers. Tinkers. Gypsy. Van dwellers. Has been going on for 1000 of years. Literally.

 

[decodancer]

My friends say they admire me for living "off the grid". I admire them for being able to live on it. Mutual respect, who could ask for more. My Mother worries about me but she worries about everyone, it's just her nature. My Father would have loved to join me if he were still alive. Worst thing about the lifestyle... having to keep things tidy to avoid tripping over the stuff you need on a daily basis. Laundry and all my (remodeling and job related) projects seem to take over the little space I have. I'm constantly moving something to get to something.

 

[Patrick46]

this fits here nicely...

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[cyndi]

The hardest part about this lifestyle is that my trusted mechanic may be 3000 miles away and because of that I have to put my trust in an unknown.

 

[Sameer]

Approximately three million people are living in a huge variety of vehicles and traveling seeing the sites in the US on a permanent basis. I don't think what I am doing is all that unusual. Nomadic lifestyle is in my DNA.

 

[freenez2]

Iggy, you asked about "The finances, organization of your belongings, how you feel physically, the rhythm of your days and nights, any mental stresses, etc?"... I'm relatively financially secure as planned and saved before jumping into the lifestyle, rid myself of all unnecessary belongings, physically feel well, and have no mental stresses. My immediate Family has reconciled to the fact that this is what I do. Extended Family considers me eccentric not that I care. I just float along while trying to avoid the authorities (Not that it's been an issue). Much of my time is spent in solitude and find it a peaceful existence. I'm rarely if ever lonely and run into acquaintances from time to time which meets any social needs. I read, watch T.V., listen to the radio, use the internet, and do a lot of lite hiking. Sometimes, I wish I had a GF (FB), but find it more trouble and expensive than it's worth. So, I'm very contented. Life is good and hope it lasts.

 

[freenez2]

Iggy, guess I failed to answer your question about the hardest part of this lifestyle... In my case there's nothing hard about it at all. I bailed on a conventional lifestyle in lieu of an easy and inexpensive way of living. Enjoying a life in natural beauty and serenity is all I need or want.

 

[jeanontheroad]

Iggy, it's a lot easier to "live poor" if people know that you have the resources to make that a choice. Then, you are just seen as eccentric. You are also seen as enviable free spirits by people who wish you well and might like to try the life, themselves. You are also seen as irresponsible and selfish by people who would like you to take responsibility for them.

 

[jeanontheroad]

The hardest part for us has been dealing with DH'S mother, who had grown use to having a bit of veto power over our lives. Whenever our plans don't conform to hers, it becomes an issue. If we wanted to go visit friends or other relatives without her, she'd make a fuss about us leaving her alone. Her intention was that we would hang around on call for her convenience or entertainment, doing a death watch until she finally went. When we started talking about fulltiming, she brushed it off and seemed to think it was subject to her permission. When we actually bought the RV and sold the house, I thought she was going to have a stroke. She acted like she had never heard about it before and we had been hiding our intention to abandon her. Our son and his family are about 3 miles away from her. He's getting an earful, now, about how awful and irresponsible his parents are, poor guy.

Most recently, she told DH'S brother in Oregon that she was coming for a visit and she told us to be there, too. Can't explain it, but I find that galling. For any number of friends or family, I would immediately change my plans and jump at the chance of seeing them. However, we will be at Glacier National Park, as we had planned in late August, and not in Oregon. What DH'S brother will have to put up with when she realizes that we are really not going to be there is unfortunate.

 

[PastTense]

I'm a but surprised no one mentioned no longer being able to take long baths in a bathtub. I guess no one here is into that?

 

[Hereandthere]

I've thought about that one myself, as we get ready to spend the winter in our rig. It actually has a tiny bathtub but we are used to a hot tub!

Hot springs, here we come!

 

[Iggy]

I'm a but surprised no one mentioned no longer being able to take long baths in a bathtub. I guess no one here is into that?

That was a problem with my (ex)girlfriend when she stayed with me for two weeks. We could shower every day at the public pool or the gym. But she was shy about showering in public. Weird, because she was a stripper when younger. I like hot springs but baths are only for when sick or sunburned.

 

[decodancer]

Every time I visit my Mother, A hot bubble bath is on my list of must do's. Nothing like it when it's cold outside.