The worst part about vandwelling...

[One Awesome Inch]

In my opinion the worst part about being a vandweller who travels alot would be being alone.

One of the major advantages of someone who stays in the same spot is you can still regularly visit friends and family. You can get involved in local community events and establish relationships and build new friendships.

Knowing people online is cool and everything as we can discuss things that are not too common... especially if you live in a small town. However, online life is just not the same as real living with genuine relationships with people you have a connection with.

When I watch youtube vlongs of guys like Nomadic Fanatic I think it would be fun for awhile to drive across the country and see all those wonderful things, but before too long, I would get bored being by myself.

I know everyone is different and that this is just my point of view, but to me that old cliche, "No man is an island," very much rings true.

 

[Almost There]

Some of us have roots that are deeper than others and some just grow where they are planted/replanted. I'm like one of those that grows in just water, change it often and I thrive...

I travelled for 14 years 24/7/365, albeit doing art/craft shows where I soon met others in the same business and aside from making bad choices in dates , I really didn't feel alone or lonely (two different things).

I guess it mostly depends partly on whether or not one likes their own company and also how easily one makes acquaintances.

Oh, and not all have family that they would choose to remain in touch with.

 

[mockturtle]

While I've made quite a few new friends on my travels, I prefer traveling alone [with my dog]. I never feel lonely.

 

[One Awesome Inch]

Yup, we are all different. I actually love my own company and wish I had alot more alone time than I do. However, 1 or 2 days a week its nice to be sociable. The one thing I have to be careful of is staying in the van 7 days a week as I could easily fall into that trap.... wrapped up in my own little world.

 

[cyndi]

Attend the RTR and make lifelong friends who will be your net work of friends out on the road. We're everywhere.

Follow and comment on blogs of other Nomads and meet them out on the road.

Join the many various facebook groups of Nomads to meet out on the road

Write your own blog and collect friends in different locations to spend timewith out on the road.

Really, you only have to be as alone as you want to be.

 

[akrvbob]

I've found that by camping in Arizona I have dozens or even hundreds of vandwelling friends all winter, then in the summer we all scatter to the wind. and we are aloe again.

Best of both worlds!!
Bob

 

[flying kurbmaster]

I don' know if being alone is the worst part of vandwelling, with todays technology that is pretty easy to fix, I think cold weather, finding a good spot to park, bathroom, shower stuff, are the worst things about vandwelling.

 

[mockturtle]

Yes, cold and/or wet weather is the worst, IMHO. Especially windy and cold and wet.

 

[jimindenver]

Since we own our business, Honey and I have spent pretty much 24/7 together for near 30 years now. I cherish every moment I get alone. LOL

 

[LucyImHome]

Ha! I think that being alone is the BEST part of vandwelling! lol

 

[One Awesome Inch]

In some ways being in a van is the best of both worlds as you can have tons of alone time and when you want to be sociable you can do that to, but as I said, easier done if you are rooted to one area.

In my current situation I have way too much "unalone" time and am subject to the other person's mood swings, grumpiness etc. As time goes on, I am finding I have less tolerance for those things.

 

[Patrick46]

I'm right there with ya OAI

I lived (full time) in a semi truck for many years, and got to see just about everything north of central Mexico through my windshield. Covered all of the US, including Alaska, and a good chunk of Canada. Saw some amazing things.

And that was actually the problem for me too.

I'd see all this beauty and wonderment, and alotta crazy schtuff too...but I had no one to share the experience with.
I did have a dog that went with me for a few years. He was a great listener...but unfortunately, wasn't much of a conversationalist.

Now that my kids have grown, I'm finally getting some traveling time again...which is GREAT!!
I LOVE traveling with my wife, but I'm also finding that I like my alone time more now too.

 

[RVTravel]

Meetup.com has all sorts of groups for socializing.

 

[GotSmart]

As long as I have my "great hulking cat" (as someone called him) I am never alone.

 

[LosAngelesVandweller]

I hear ya, man. I think at certain points in our lives we have to embrace loneliness. It's healthy, if approached the right way.

Until we start talking to ourselves.

Wait, did I say that out loud? Aww crap, I need a Van-Mate...

 

[LeeRevell]

I talk to myself all the time. Sometimes it's the only way to have an intelligent conversation. Sometimes though the other feller can be a bore......

 

[66788]

In my opinion the worst part about being a vandweller who travels alot would be being alone.

In my opinion the BEST part about being a vandweller who travels a lot is being alone.

I find peace and calm in nature and I also find myself to be excellent company.

As you said, we're all different!