Thoughts on vandwelling

[bwallenjr]

A thread that we hijacked over and conversions and modifications got me thinking about the van dwelling movement and where it's going.

It seems to me that the van dwelling movement has become more and more popular with the economic hardships that are currently going on. I dont yjink it is simply cases of people losing their homes and having nowhere else to go. I think in many cases now its people looking at the economic situation and making a conscious choice. Greed is becoming more and more rampant. The government is almostly completly tun by the wealthy. Wjo wsnt to ensure their own place by exercising more and more control over its people. Its no wonder people arr escaping "...into the black.." to what my favorite series Firefly.

The story of the show always appealed to me I've always felt like been on the losing side of society.

Of course this is all just my opinion curious what others think I love and willing is it increasing popularity any thoughts on the reason why

 

[Theadyn]

I feel like most people either know of someone or has been the one to feel the sting of any number of things. From job loss, illness, business going under, home foreclosure, death, recession, stagnant wages, increased housing, ever rising college tuition, etc. etc. SOOO many things going on, it's hard to imagine anyone that hasn't either known someone affected or been affected themselves.

Some have sought out vandwelling because they had no other options. But more and more, there seems to be a lot of people doing it by choice. To me, anyways. I'll not lie, I am seeking this alternative out because of the above mentioned things that can and do happen in life. I don't see things getting any better in the foreseeable future. So, hedging my bets by getting into this now, researching, and trying it out. I don't fulltime now, but I now know I CAN. And to me, that gives me peace. It is probably what drives a lot of people seeking out this way of living.

Oh.... and the FREEDOM. It could be they sought out the idea of vandwelling/rv living while sitting in their cubicle Mon-Fri only dreaming of being not so tied down. Tied down with all their stuff, and their house, the maintenance, the multi car payments, and credit card bills. Hardly any savings and not much retirement. They think there is no escape. Then they read about others who are doing it and an idea is born. Freedom. The word is getting out there.

 

[minimotos95]

I don't even remember why "hey I could seriously live in here"  popped into my head originally,  I can tell you it was right after I bought my van,  either when I was working and making good money or immediately after I left that job. I know at some point in my s&b life I grew stingy,  I went from eating steak or ribs every night to pop tarts or ramen.
Maybe the idea came into my head because I wanted to move somewhere with more jobs,  it's hard to say at this point as my memory is shot.
Since I was a kid dream has always been a few acres with a simple dugout or cabin on it but every time I saw a schoolbus or box truck I thought about how I could live in one. Maybe some people are programmed to live simply or in vehicles but it gets suppressed by the norms of society.

I have yet to experience the true freedom of vandwelling but I'm betting it's just like being on a motorcycle with a full tank of gas,  tent and sleeping bag strapped to the back.

 

[sillysal54]

Wow, I loved this. I fell the same way. As a kid I used to hide in my closet when the house would get noisy with the everyday family of 6 living. I remember I wanted to always have that closed in, quiet, no hassle or stuff life. As time goes on you do get programmed to go with the norm! But I do believe as you said there are some of us wired differently. I am getting very close to achieving my childhood dream after 60+ years. I guess I'll find out if my dream matches reality. Thank you for your candid thoughts you penned to

 

[sillysal54]

Oops hit post too soon. Thank you will do!

 

[66788]

The one thing that has disappeared fastest in America is freedom.

Being locked into the status quo is a dead end street. I chose to do this because it is my own act of defiance towards the government and gives me the freedom to travel where I want when I want. By not participating in property taxes, mandatory hookup to city water, sewer, electricity and other services I am opting out and exercising the LAST bit of freedom left in this country.

My original dream was to own a few acres of land so far out in the boonies that I would have no neighbors and be totally off grid living. This has been more difficult to achieve, so the next best thing is to off grid live in my van in different locations, which is just fine with me. The ability to turn the key and instantly change locations is advantageous on many different levels. Good weather can become a reality. Bad neighbors can be left behind at will. Boredom is a thing of the past.

As a van dweller you don't have much in the way of possessions, but you are rich in nature, peace, freedom, and independence.

 

[gcal]

The one thing that has disappeared fastest in America is freedom.

Being locked into the status quo is a dead end street.  I chose to do this because it is my own act of defiance towards the government and gives me the freedom to travel where I want when I want.   By not participating in property taxes, mandatory hookup to city water, sewer, electricity and other services I am opting out and exercising the LAST bit of freedom left in this country.

My original dream was to own a few acres of land so far out in the boonies that I would have no neighbors and be totally off grid living.   This has been more difficult to achieve, so the next best thing is to off grid live in my van in different locations, which is just fine with me.   The ability to turn the key and instantly change locations is advantageous on many different levels.   Good weather can become a reality.   Bad neighbors can be left behind at will.  Boredom is a thing of the past.

As a van dweller you don't have much in the way of possessions, but you are rich in nature, peace, freedom, and independence.

--------

After 28 years actively employed as a lawyer, how did you end up without the resources to get those off grid acres? That must be quite a story, an adventure worth telling and hearing.

 

[66788]

3 ex wives.

 

[Brian_and_Jesse]

3 ex wives.

I should have put money on that one, LOL!

I'm sorry that you didn't get your acreage though, 66788.

Blessings.

Jesse.

 

[SoulRaven]

The one thing that has disappeared fastest in America is freedom.

Being locked into the status quo is a dead end street.  I chose to do this because it is my own act of defiance towards the government and gives me the freedom to travel where I want when I want.   By not participating in property taxes, mandatory hookup to city water, sewer, electricity and other services I am opting out and exercising the LAST bit of freedom left in this country.

My original dream was to own a few acres of land so far out in the boonies that I would have no neighbors and be totally off grid living.   This has been more difficult to achieve, so the next best thing is to off grid live in my van in different locations, which is just fine with me.   The ability to turn the key and instantly change locations is advantageous on many different levels.   Good weather can become a reality.   Bad neighbors can be left behind at will.  Boredom is a thing of the past.

As a van dweller you don't have much in the way of possessions, but you are rich in nature, peace, freedom, and independence.

I have those "dream" off grid acres, and they turned into something closer to a nightmare.

It is illegal for me to take water from the creek running through my property, it is illegal for me to use the creek to generate power, and it is even illegal for me to capture rain water for my own usage.

I don't know if big brother is watching everybody via satellite or what, but clear out in the middle of nowhere, I can't get away with anything.  I can not legally have an outhouse or any type of sewer system.  The only thing I can have legally is a composting toilet.

I can't even fish in the creek running across the land I'm paying taxes on without paying for a fishing license, and then to top that off it is illegal for me to deny anyone access to that creek.

Life on the road is far more rewarding than life on my own land.

 

[ilovemyvan]

Wow Off Grip, where the H**l is that piece of land? I want to make sure I'll never even drive thru that crazy place.

-Nicole

 

[eDJ_]

To address the questions of the OP,  it isn't only the "economy" although that's a major part of it.  With men in their middle age years, say 40+, there is a growing trend to go their own way.  Part of what is driving this is the Marriage Divorce Industry.  It appears to have become an Institution like the Government.  These older Men don't have the luxury of moving back home and living in their folks basement like so many Men in their late 20's or early 30's.  (and work to pay pay pay the ex)  I read a lot about this MGTOW "attitude". (it isn't a movement but it's beginning to seem like one)

Many of these Men are now taking to Stealth Vans and other such vehicles where they are both Mobile and can go search for better paying jobs far from where they were.  Many are going to work in other countries as
Expatriates.  They negotiate with their Lawyer to send that Law Firm the payment money and the ex is paid through the Court. 

I've spoken with one local Guy here who fixed up a "short bus" as a full timer.  He is a Welder by trade and
he is now in South Dakota doing something with that pipe line project. (as I understand)  Good paying work
and he plans to work there around 5 months of the year and then go south into Texas for the rest of the
year to Snow Bird.  He can if needed rent a small place to live and park the Van or live in the van if he can get
it into the remote areas where he's needed. 

He tells me that if there is any question about him living out of his Van/Schoolie,  he just states that he is a
contract welder and is en route to a job.  Just pulled over long enough to get a little bit of sleep so he wouldn't fall asleep at the wheel.  Just trying to be safe on the road.

I mentioned a Book titled "Blue Highways; A journey into America" by William Least Heat-Moon (a Native American)  who in 1982 wrote this book after a bad Divorce.   He took to the road  driving all through
America to rediscover himself and his country. The book is credited by a lot of people as turning their imagination to considering becoming a Full Timer.  

Todays Van people often have some trade skill they can employ as they travel, or they have pensions.  Those you see standing around with "Will Work for Food" signs around their neck or calling to people on the street saying, "Can I ask you a question?" are "loop hole" tactics to get around Vagrancy while pandering for hand outs.

 

[SoulRaven]

Wow Off Grip, where the H**l is that piece of land? I want to make sure I'll never even drive thru that crazy place.

-Nicole

Northeast New Mexico

 

[Canine]

I can tell you that in the mid 90's I tried to find 20 plus acres in NE Washington state, up past Wenatchee off highway 97. I had cash to buy and spent a day with a realtor. I wanted unimproved treed land that was off a school bus route and had power and phone to the property line (by the road). I never found anything I wanted because:
1) the water on the property wasn't yours to use, illegal to divert due to water law
2) the trees on the property belonged to a timber company that had bought up the timber rights in the 40's and they didn't have to let you cut anything at all
3) of course no mineral rights
Every property we looked at had some problem with the 3 items above, some had all 3 issues, or they were landlocked (no legal access) or had no power nearby or there was no chance for a well (proven wells went too deep and many dry holes).

Just because you have land out "in the woods" doesn't mean it's even useable.