Vandwelling & America's failing dollar

[vonu]

Vandwelling has an important part of the development of my lifestyle the last three decades.<div>I have found that it is much easier to lower ones cost of living than it is to increase ones income. &nbsp;Ones cost of living drops significantly once the mortgage or rent, insurance, and utility payments are banished.&nbsp;</div>

 

[Guest]

Thursday June 23, 2011 - NEW YORK (CNNMoney) <br>The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">remaining above the 400,000 mark for the 11th straight week. </span><p> There were 429,000 initial jobless claims filed in the week ended June 18, the Labor Department said Thursday. That was <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">up 9,000 from the week before, and worse than the 413,000 claims economists surveyed by Briefing.com had expected. </span></p>

 

[vonu]

Anyone who can't find enough to eat in Florida, isn't looking or doesn't know what to look for. &nbsp;Linda Runyon can help inform both.<div>ofthefield.com</div>

 

[Butternut]

Steve and 4X4, when the Zombie Apocalypse comes I want to be with you guys. I'll supply the Twinkies.<br><br>-The Tuckerbag<br><br>

 

[Lyric]

Yamsack is more on point than he/she probably wants to know with this topic (US dollar devalue, that is).&nbsp; As far as being on the street and the safety of it . . . if I were going that route I wouldn't settle on any old street.&nbsp; In other words I wouldn't be living in my van in the city.&nbsp; I'd be somewhere like where our farm is, rural, off the beaten path where the asphalt meets the dirt road.&nbsp; JMO<br><br>Lyric<br>

 

[Lyric]

<table class="nested_invisible_table" height="42" width="466" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td width="2%">Vonu,<br></td><td><br></td><td width="3%" align="right"><br></td><td width="3%"><br></td></tr></tbody></table>THAT'S exactly why dear hubby says we are staying in Florida!!!!<br>

 

[Lyric]

"<span id="post_message_1269134838">lso, keep a shotgun handy in case of zombie apocalypse. Better to have and not need, I'm just saying."<br>I've lost count of the ones within inches AND feet of me right this sec. <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0">&nbsp; DH most recently told me I'm gonna learn before we go on our land.<br></span>

 

[Lyric]

"<span id="post_message_1268496082">of the yurt people and Mongolians (which explains my strange urge to want to break down walls)."<br><br>While researching whether or not we will be "allowed" to put our park rv on "our" land we stumbled upon yurts and thought, "ahaaaa; that would be wonderful!"&nbsp; That was the first time I saw a yurt (reminds me of glorified Indian Teepees).&nbsp; We also found some in resorts here (FL).&nbsp; I've got a feeling the powers that be would not approve a yurt on our A/RR zoned land.&nbsp;&nbsp; Then again, I'm wondering how people lock them while away, I mean the ones we saw were cloth.&nbsp; Still, I loved the concept.<br></span>

 

[Lyric]

<table class="nested_invisible_table" height="100%" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="4" height="100%" valign="top"><span id="post_message_1268642073">This is a most excellent idea!<br><br>"A full-time van dweller might form an alliance with a farm to basically provide a presence to deter crime, especially with many farmers getting up in years, they might like the company and exchange a campground setting for chores and added security just by being there. I'm looking for an older Dodge Explorer Class B now. Curious on thoughts as to how to approach farms or rural property owners with such a proposition?? This plan for those with not enough money to buy their own land OR family who have suitable property. Just wonderin'...."<br></span> </td></tr> <tr></tr></tbody></table><br>

 

[beemerchef]

<P>Is that a sidecar bk2valave that I see? I also read Terlingua where 10 acres where/are $1500!<BR>I just joined here, tired, late... will write again soon, actually on our way to Terlingua. Much to talk about here...<BR>Thanks and be well... Ara &amp; Spirit<BR><BR><A href="http://www.theoasisofmysoul.com" target=_blank target=_blank>www.theoasisofmysoul.com</A><BR></P><br><br>

 

[ready2cDaUS]

<p>All talks of owning land sounds redundant during lawlessness and chaos. do you think anyone will care that under old laws which&nbsp;will no longer&nbsp;exist or not gonna be upheld will mean anything?&nbsp;Not at all ! it would become who's on the land and who could defend it would own it so to speak. Also if u can't get fuel to leave yes u will be stuck where you are and so will those who are not vandwellers. The pillaging would start in homes before vans which would give the advantage to the vandweller, But if there was a way to get fuel the vandweller would already be packed and ready to leave thus another advantage. &nbsp;That's my opinion on the matter</p>

 

[ped]

That's no different than we have now. "land ownership" is and always has meant that you can effectively defend that land. Whether through the government forcing you to pay exhorbent prices for it through privatization&nbsp;in exchange for their militia and court forces, or direct defense means by yourself. Ownership of land is totally arbitrary. In truely free worlds land is not owned. Indians didn't have to pay $10k per acre plus $1k per year per acre. That is an invention of European governments to control access to land by people who cannot afford it thus creating a dependancy class.<BR><BR>If hyperinflation were to happen, which is highly doubtful, the people peddling gold and spreading this idea itself will not be of any help. Under hyper-inflation no one is interested in arbitrary exchange mechanisms like gold or paper money. They will be interested in direct bartering. Having items of real use will be the best thing to have.<BR>

 

[Mangyhyena]

I'll be darned. Looks like a survival/preparedness thread!

Self-sufficiency is always going to be the key to surviving hard times. Anything you can do or provide for yourself outside established systems is going to go a long way toward self-sufficiency.

I've found that most things we rely on for our day to day living--- like electricity, gasoline, food, water---can be self-supplied in an alternative way, if you're willing to learn how and put forth the effort.

wood gas, fuel alcohol, bio-diesel, waste veggie oil can all be used to fuel internal combustion engines. (generators and vehicles). Food can be grown/raised and foraged if you're willing. (gardening/sprouting. Livestock--rabbits to beef & everything in between. Foraging--learn what edibles grow in your area & which critters can be trapped or hunted.). Water--rain catch systems, wells, purifying lake/stream water, desalinating ocean water, atmospheric condensers.

Plenty you can learn to do if you're serious about preparing for hard times.

Also, if you can do for yourself, you can do for your neighbors, for a fee. Would make for a nice business to run during hard times.

If you can learn to do all this, you will be ready to live well during hard times as well as good times. Something to consider.

 

[Guest]

i got into the homesteading thing years ago for my young'uns. then y2k came along and we got really side tracked. but, that said, after i calmed down i realized how much i enjoyed travel, but also how much i loved having some land and little something to live in, grow food, have some small livestock, work towards more off-grid, to save the dollars in my pocket rather than using them to pay big light bills and taxes and toys. <br>i do believe things are gonna get worse before they get better, and being out of the city, living as frugally as possible will be a good thing. but i think for me, i enjoy it for the sake of it, not just waiting for STHTF. but because it is a simpler cheaper more healthy alternative. <br><br>

 

[Mangyhyena]

I think you would be better off in an RV during a serious economic crisis than a traditional house, assuming you outright own the RV.

It's easier to pay off an RV/vehicle than to pay off a home, in most cases. In a serious economic crisis, a ton of folks are not going to be able to pay their mortgages, which will put them on the street. If you are debt-free, no one will take your home. The average homeowner will have to pay property tax, mortgage, utilities, food, and fuel each month. You would pay fuel, tax on a depreciating vehicle (registration), and food. Heating costs? Not if you head South for the winter. Electric bill? Not if you use solar, which is easier to do in an RV with the assist from your engine when you drive.

Add to that your ability to physically bring your home with you as you travel to whatever work is available, and you have a huge advantage over the average homeowners, who have a limited range in which to find work.

We all know it is cheaper to live in an RV than a traditional house or apartment. That can only help if times get rough.

 

[owl]

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp; There are places all over the southwest states where property can be bought quite cheaply, often directly from the owner on payments. Water and temps are the big considerations. What is comfortable in the winter can be unbearable in the summer and vice versa. A well is certainly preferable to city connection. Interesting to think about.</P>

 

[ladma711]

These are valid concerns - while I always want to have a vehicle handy to get the heck out of dodge due to civil unrest, wanderlust or Mt Rainer blows (I was in Seattle when Mt Saint Helens blew and for a year, we were buried in inches of dust per day, etc.). yet having no access to gas is a valid cocern. What about hybrids, where do hybrid owners hook up to, to charge their batteries at night. Are there still open outlets at campgrounds? I have often stopped at campgrounds simply to use the 75 cent showers or do laundry, and not buying&nbsp;a camping lot. Still if one is traveling around are there charge stations for hybrids?<br><br>Regarding what makes more sense, renting, owning or cardwelling. With gas, the car - it moves and takes you out of danger if that happens, to your destiny. Also, it can get you to food. Yet, it requires power. I currently rent, always month to month so I can leave instantly, and am not happy about the apocolyptic rise in drug crime in Seattle. Biggy business now and there is no stopping it. Anything you have can and will disappear My last car was burgled 9 times, parked under lights in front of the house. So I see things falling apart. And a previous OP was right, if you deprive people of food, and shelter, law flies out the window and the strongest and most innovative survive another day. I do agree it is adviseable to get out of the city (unless you are working there) because the eruption of chaos generally doesn't travel as much, to rural, mountainous or coastal areas. If I could do anything, my next dwelling would be a boat, because you are on water, have a food supply beneath you, and can leave to places that are remote. <br><br>I would hate to invest in a nice travel vehicle when gas hits 11 bucks an hour. Re homeless, the homeless population here that is observable by eye has quadrupled in the last year. As have people living in their not so great cars that they probably don't have gas in, to move. I have dreams where I am visiting friends in their nice apartments and they are asking if I know of any stores that have food. This and no gas I think will be a very real concern soon. No trucks can afford to deliver the food, prices go up, people can't buy it, etc. The local foodbanks are bancrupt, meaning they have nothing. Literally, bare shelves. Only a crystal ball....<br>

 

[rattlesnake joe]

<p>This is the future.&nbsp; The Amero will be brought in as a new form of currency.&nbsp; Like the Euro Dollar, the Amero Dollar will be the new money.&nbsp; This will occur in December of 2012.&nbsp; United States Citizens will&nbsp;revolt.&nbsp; While the revolution is occuring, five different foreign armies will invade our country.&nbsp; We will lose the war and the country of the USA will cease to exist.&nbsp; The land of the former USA will be divided up into regions.&nbsp; The pacific northwest will become one of these regions.&nbsp; The New World Order will take over but it won't last long.&nbsp; Great Earth changes will continue and will get stronger.&nbsp; Already tornadoes have been seen turning counter clock wise in the USA.&nbsp; The Jet Stream has touched the Earth and will continue to get more erratic.&nbsp; We have been given a shot across our bow by the Sun recently.&nbsp; The next Sun burst may hit us, or the next, or the next.&nbsp; We are living in the last days, when are people going to wake up and see the handwriting on the wall?&nbsp; What can you do?&nbsp; Stay away from the coasts, go in land, get up high, get a deep drinking water well or wells.&nbsp; Go underground, stock up on food and all other amenities for living.&nbsp; Sell your property in urban and suburban areas.&nbsp; Move to rural areas and unite with those people already living there.&nbsp; You want to be one of them and not an outsider when TSHTF.&nbsp; </p>

 

[mockturtle]

Look, I'm new here.&nbsp; Are you people for real?? <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/confused.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp; We did the farm thing for a few years after DH retired.&nbsp; Grew our own vegetables, raised chickens, I canned our own food, etc.&nbsp; It was fun but it was also hard work and there was no way we could have lived off the land entirely.&nbsp; That was just before we bought an RV, gave away our chickens and hit the road. <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp; Adventure, not subsistence.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br>

 

[ped]

<SPAN id=post_message_1272884115>Look, I'm new here.&nbsp; Are you people for real??</SPAN>

<br><br>No, but rattlesnake joe is!<br>