Off Grid 24/7 said:
As a disabled young woman, concealing as best I can the fact that my living situation is particularly vulnerable to would-be attackers is a prudent security measure, one that even the public would understand. If the rest of you all want to come out that's fantastic and all but honestly if I did that I think I'd be assaulted within a week. I know some people in the area would have figured it out by now, and I don't keep it super-secret from individuals I come to know, but I'll take whatever shred of protection I can get and flying under the radar is one layer of that.
I know the demographics of this forum lean heavily towards who've chosen the vandwelling lifestyle as a personal preference, but not everyone has. Am I proud of the fact that I escaped an abusive situation and managed to survive a Seattle winter with no heat/cooking and minimal finances while too disabled by chronic illness to handle most necessities? You bet I am. But in order for me to live that out loud and proud I'd have to explain the nature of my disability, which isn't easily labeled or fully understood, as well as why no alternative housing or caregiving solutions have yet been found. Mine is a complex situation, and most people would rather believe I'm just a lazy bum leeching off the system than use their brains.
I'm super glad there are so many of you doing this lifestyle comfortably and ethically. I sometimes run into people who've heard of one vandweller or another and I'm always happy to confirm to them that yes, this lifestyle can be just as stable and comfy as your house! Then they look questioningly at me and what they know of my setup and I find I have to explain I simply don't have the resources to fix mine up nicely. Yet.
So yes, if you've got your life all sorted I'd totally recommend 'coming out' as a full-timer. As for me, trust me, I'm doing you all a favor by hiding.
