Un-Vandwelling? Mr. Bob, you have ruined me.

[Guest]

I knew you couldn't un-do a truck driver. Once a trucker, always a trucker. But apparently for some of us, you also can't un-do a vandweller.

I was unemployed for 2 yrs, then homeless. Been 'homeless' for the past year+ now.
I converted a small cargo trailer I had, loaded up what little I owned and hit the road with no destination, other than finding work.

A couple months ago - I found work. I saved some money. I TRIED to look for a 'normal' place to live.........
And I realized that I do not want to live indoors, in stale dead air, in silence, with a ceiling over my head, walls blocking my view, no sunshine and artificial flooring under my feet.

Even with no heat, no a/c, no plumbing, no flush toilet and having to depend on the sun for electricity and hot water...

Even with winter coming again, knowing I'll freeze, knowing how much it sucks to take cold showers outdoors, live with no heat and to have to panic that every horrid storm might destroy my tiny trailer and tent....... Don't Care. Still don't wanna live indoors.

Even with the hot & suffocatingly humid summer of the South, the endless bugs, weeds, poisonous snakes and having to deal with feral dogs, coyotes and pain in the *ss coons, possum, skunk.......Don't Care. Still don't wanna live indoors.

From the bottom of my heart - *Thank You, Mr Bob*. I wouldn't trade this for the world.

 

[She]

Oh I hope Bob sees this ..you got totally ruined!!!&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

 

[cyndi]

Good to hear from you chebbie-man! I've emailed, even today, but they are returned by Mr. Mailer Daemon.<br /><br />Sounds like all is well!<br /><br />The new knees are freakin' wonderful!

 

[Mortisha]

What a wonderful post!! Truly inspiring Thanks so much for sharing this with us. HuggZ

 

[Guest]

You're welcome.

 

[cyndi]

Miss Cyndi - your 'letter' was returned to me. On purpose? Or bad address?

<br /><br />Dunno! if it was sent to general delivery in dirtville the forward I put in never worked. &nbsp;And now the post office will no longer allow me to use general delivery as my address.<br /><br /> If you sent it to my son's in Nevada it should have been fine.

 

[wrcsixeight]

My first experience Van dwelling was in June of '98. &nbsp;I was in South Africa and bought a '73 VW Westfalia Kombi. &nbsp;After 2 weeks of travelling in it and living it in I though it was the coolest thing I ever did.<br /><br />Jump forward 14 years. &nbsp;I'm typing this in my Van, have not lived in a stick and brick &nbsp;for more than a month or 2 here and there since.<br /><br />Can't imaging going back, and that doesn't always sit well with me.<br /><br />I just got to start moving around again. &nbsp;Living like this without the movement is not taking advantage of the freedoms I've made sacrifices for.

 

[yesican]

Hey...there's probably a pill for that!&nbsp; Let me check the PDR.<br />Rae

 

[offroad]

have read stories that this happened to the native americans. They could not live inside a building with walls and a ceiling.

 

[akrvbob]

I am a bad, bad, man!! What's worse, stories like yours make me happy and proud of it. Forgive me? Bob

 

[SoulRaven]

This is me now... I went back to my home state of WA. for the month of July to see family and friends... My sister and bro-in-law have a home valued at over 500K and have every bell and whistle ya could think of in there... I was very welcome to stay inside and over night(s), but I actually spent maybe 5 hours total inside, showering, washing clothes etc... I spent my time with my dog and nieces playing in the big back yard, spending the nights in my bed in my van... I find it very hard to spend time in any structure...<br /><br />

have read stories that this happened to the native americans. They could not live inside a building with walls and a ceiling.

 

[angeli]

Hmmm.... well, that explains why I never felt 'at home' in this home in the way I did in my little Scotty.&nbsp; I always felt I was 'borrowing' the place and that I'd be moving on.&nbsp; Oh dear, am I ruined, too?&nbsp; ... 5 months and counting.....<br /><br />Nice post, chevy.

 

[Journeyman]

Great Post, I soooo agree with you. It's all Bob's fault. Hopefully he can deal with the gut-wrenching guilt for making your life truly enjoyable. Since I found this group and this life-style through it, I've never been more content. Contentment is the desired result of life. Thanks Bob.

 

[Guest]

Agree with several others - staying in one place is not for me. I need to roam. <br />LOL, we've got ADTD - Attention Deficit Travel Disorder -LOL

 

[Vonbrown]

When I was a teenager back in the late 60's and early 70's, I had run away from an abusive&nbsp;alcoholic father and&nbsp;hitchhiked&nbsp;to Dallas,TX&nbsp;from Syracuse,NY, staying wherever I could "crash". People seemed friendly and&nbsp;accommodating and was even offered a meal. I continued this lifestyle into CA and all the way through to FL. I&nbsp;loved&nbsp;it. No responsibility, not a care in the world. I was free. After a stint in the Army, 2&nbsp;marriages&nbsp; 5 children and a world of trouble, I am&nbsp;finally&nbsp;coming full circle. Car camping, I love it. I am free. Thank you Bob and thank you 4by4 for the reminder.

 

[Guest]

Vonbrown - yeah, bud. Thank <em>you</em> for having what it takes to exist outside the mold.

 

[WanderingRain]

Yep... One more here. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br />Thank you, Sir Bob.&nbsp;<br />I take cold baths but I am smiling while I am doing it.<br />I type this from the confines of my small sleeping capsule and loving it.<br />The sense of freedom is indeed priceless. Even though I could get an apartment, somehow it doesn't appeal to me anymore. And seeing that stored up solar panel box in my storage marked "my dream" keeps me hoping that one day, I'll be able to bust it out and finally get the time to connect it to a decent battery and finally hit the open road. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif" />