van or stuff first?

[MaximumRide]

cold enough for a scraf and jacket, but that said we are used to 40degree summers.

 

[MaximumRide]

cold enough for a scarf and jacket, but that said we are used to 40degree summers.

 

[travelingchic]

This has given me a great idea! &nbsp;I have heard about couch surfing but in the past preferred to pay for a hostel BUT what about asking a couch surfer to park in front of their house or in their drive way? &nbsp;I'm sure they wouldn't mind since it's still someone being nomadic and travelling around. &nbsp;Just knowing that if a cop came knocking on the window you could say you are staying at your friends. &nbsp;<div><br></div><div>This might be good for places where walmart doesn't allow overnight parking or the city or town is particularly picky about people sleeping in their vehicle. &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I am looking for my van and I agree to wait till you buy your van before buying anything however I do agree with the person that said even if you buy something small it will make you feel you are moving towards the goal. &nbsp;Since right now I'm at the research stage and trying to find ways to jump my hurdles like my parents not wanting me to do it or the fear I have of being out in the forest alone. &nbsp;So something to say yup I'm doing this by making a small purchase for the van would be good.</div><div><br></div><div>I also like the idea for you to not get a van at the moment. &nbsp;Your dad has made sure that your wagon is in good order. &nbsp;I think you should full time for awhile in it. &nbsp;It won't be as noticeable to them if you use the wagon and it will save you money till you know the van you want to buy by knowing the space you really want. &nbsp;I suggest living in your wagon because it will set you more into doing it then if you get all setup in a house situation and talk yourself out of it. &nbsp;You are young and you have no wife or kids rooting you. &nbsp;Do it now if this is truly a dream of yours but it has to be your decision. &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Wish you much luck with this hard decision.</div>

 

[MaximumRide]

My only concern is my cat.<div>I like the idea of parking in a drive way, but i wonder if it would work with this:<a href="http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/" target="_blank">http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/</a></div>

 

[Ricekila]

Fred said -- "Don't worry about him - he'll adapt faster than you - in fact I'm sit-in here waiting for this moron to make a decision" !<br><br>

<br>

 

[MaximumRide]

We have had a rather firey debate about this in another topic. the question as the cat getting cooked when it is too hot.

 

[Ricekila]

Although I've seen shop cats sit right next to floor heaters - and sit on a top shelf in an extreamily hot room ?<br><br>Do a little googling <IMG src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/comp.gif" align=absMiddle border=0><br><br><A href="http://www.google.com/search?source...e+the+heat&amp;gs_upl=0l0l0l17422lllllllllll0" target=_blank>http://www.google.com/search?source...e+the+heat&amp;gs_upl=0l0l0l17422lllllllllll0</A><br>

 

[MaximumRide]

This is my Suzy.

 

[Guest]

I am with the "van first" group Max.....I think if you camp already you may have everything you need to make a vehicle totally usable. The rest is just gravy.<br>Suanne does an awesome job of traveling and living in her Prius and many folks do with an extremely small amount of stuff.....<br><br>not me tho, I have spent my life trying to lighten up and I STILL have way too much stuff. Yikes.<br><br>That said, I am going to be spending the next two months+ living on the road out of my sidecar motorcycle rig and I have shaved what I need down pretty small.<br><br>A young woman heading out like you plan to do is somewhat more risky and difficult than for a guy I believe so be sure to develop relationships with the women here and on Yahoo Vandwellers forum and you will have a good support group to advise and be watching your back.<br><br>Here are a couple women I like to follow...one on her blog and one on FB:<br><br>https://www.facebook.com/fatchickgoesawol<br><br>http://cherrywanders.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-want-you-to-draw-me-like-one-of-your.html<br><br>Both are cool, independent and like Ash the Tuckerbag woman, are strong, capable young women.<br><br><br> Another one of my cool women friends who lives very very simply and in a van most of the time is TwoKnives Katie....she is awesome and can be your best friend. She is the mod on here...<br> <br> <b>http://tinyurl.com/7zpnkvq&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp; </b><br>Cheers and good luck....<br><br>Bri<br><br>P.S. As a parent I know that your's are loving you and not wanting you to be hurt. It is the way it works. They may be awkward in expressing that, but it is love. Love them back and do what you want to do....<br>

 

[MaximumRide]

Hi Bk, thankyou so much for the support. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><div><br></div><div>Truth is that I think I may go crazy in such a small space.</div><div>But i'll defintly have a look at the fb links you posted.</div>

 

[Guest]

<span id="post_message_1273539041">Hi Bk, thankyou so much for the support. <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><div><br></div><div>Truth is that I think I may go crazy in such a small space.</div><div>But i'll defintly have a look at the fb links you posted.</div></span>

<br><br>Surely welcome Max...and you do need to find what you are comfy in, for sure. It may not be a car. <br><br>I know Suanne uses her Prius for travel and camping because it gets fantastic mpg and she covers lots of ground when she goes. She also has a stix and brix home like I do and so she only has with her what she needs...the rest of her belongings stay home in her house. That makes a difference in only one way that I know for sure and that is we don't have to pay for storage like some folks do. Or leave our stuff with someone else and hope they don't move while we are traveling.<br><br>Ash just had a car and needed a place while in school and challenged herself to a year in the car...she did it well. <br><br>Fat chick does just what she does cuz she's an Ozzie..<img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"> you will understand her better than I will.<br><br>And Katie has the gift of the old family farm her family owns as aplace for re-charging her funds and her spirit when needed.<br><br>She has her really sweet AstroVan which she lives in very comfy with Mutt the Wonderdog for long periods of time and if she shares some of her story with you, you will be amazed at it. It hasn't been easy and she is a champion to have survived and come through the other side. She is inspirational to me and I learn new things from her all the time.<br><br>So anyway, you are not alone and it is amazing how the world opens up for you when you venture out. <br><br>One little story about a guy I met in Mexico last winter. He had a Saturn 4 door sedan and he was traveling and living in it. Seriously this guy had a couple blankets and pillow and a laptop and some clothes. That is it! Nothing to cook with, nothing to make coffee with, just a tiny bit of stuff and he had been up to Alaska, all over Canada and the US as far up east and north as Newfoundland, and down into Baja where I met him and he was heading to Panama.<br><br>The thing is, he had no idea about that it wasn't possible or there was any other way he should do it. A very sweet and rather innocent young guy with good IT skills that made him enough money to travel with and do as he wished. I was amazed to say the least. He was doing what so many people want to do but with nothing but a car and a few dollars...<br><br>I find that inspirational and proves you don't need a fraction of the stuff we haul around. Or know what is down the road...<br><br>When I questioned his idea about Central American travel he just said.."isn't there a road"? Hah, of course there is and why not drive it?<br><br>I think we end up being only limited by our limited ideas of what we can or should do.....<br>Take care and thanks for reading an old man's ramblings...<br>Bri<br><br><br>

 

[MaximumRide]

<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">I think we end up being only limited by our limited ideas of what we can or should do.....</span>&nbsp;

<div><br></div><div>&nbsp;I defintly agree! Even when I have shown some of my&nbsp;friends&nbsp;my tiny house plan, they disagreed. I don't think they&nbsp;realize&nbsp;what is&nbsp;possible&nbsp;if you only try.</div><div><br></div><div>I 100% downloading the tiny house book, its only $10 and highly inspirational.</div><div><br></div><div>I ran away from home at 19, with no idea of where I was going and only $200 in my bank account,(And no home skills or street smarts what so ever.) but for years on, I am still here and doing well. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></div><div><br></div><div>Thank-you for all those stories, they are very inspiring. the only other thing holding me back is that I have a lot of food&nbsp;allergies, so &nbsp;I must make all my food at home, which required a fairly decent kitchen. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></div>

 

[MaximumRide]

Ive thought of that. It would take me a month to save 1k.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>but one of my friend bought me a present.</div><div><br></div><div>It's a professional flash kit. So with that, it would cost me far more to hire a space to have it set up in. So staying here for now seems to make sence, I hope to get some shoots soon.</div><div><br></div><div>I was thinking today, that it would be wonderful if I could have the tiny house as home and my current flat as a studio.</div>