Would you live in a van?

[squatting dog2]

Look out people... it's going mainstream  Next thing you know, big govt. will notice and start slapping regulations on us. (tongue in cheek)

"The 'van life'
Imagine paying $120 to live in a studio in Los Angeles, California, where the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is about $2,300.
Sounds nice, huh?
Stephen Hutchis, 22, a freelance animation artist and rapper by the name of Lateral , does just that, except he doesn't live in an apartment -- or a studio, really. He lives in a van..."

http://circa.com/whoa/the-bizarre/people-are-ditching-apartments-to-live-the-van-life

 

[Vagabound]

Look out people... it's going mainstream  Next thing you know, big govt. will notice and start slapping regulations on us. (tongue in cheek)
...

Somebody, please, delete this thread before Bob sees it!  ;-)

Vagabound

 

[KASibson]

Is it "mainstream" or just a sign of the times and the horrible economy?

 

[Yogidog]

Same type of kids I worried about five years ago hassling me sleeping in vehicle now think I am coo, cracks me up, I am the same person, doing the same thing. All summer I had them asking questions.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

The thing is it's not all that mainstream. Less than .25% (1/4%) of America is doing it. Even if it grew to 1% that's only 1 in 320 people doing it, that leaves 319 people per one van dweller to keep the cog (society) moving. I wouldn't worry about government cracking down on it, there are easier ways for gov't to make money.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Exactly.  Remember, "Dog Bites Man isn't news.  Man Bites Dog is news!"

 

[TrainChaser]

ERLH: "I wouldn't worry about government cracking down on it, there are easier ways for gov't to make money."

They would have to CATCH you first!

 

[LeeRevell]

The more folks doing it, the more crowded it gets and harder to find safe parking. And, more chance TPTB will try to tax and regulate it.

 

[Vagabound]

The more folks doing it, the more crowded it gets and harder to find safe parking.  And, more chance TPTB will try to tax and regulate it.

I think that's exactly right.  Whether it will reach the tipping point or not, who knows.  Hard to judge the overall status as reactions are on a community or city basis.

It does bring up an interesting thought.  Many people doing this spend a good amount of time and energy on stealth.  However, it doesn't matter how stealthy you are, if there are 10 people parked around you being "equally stealthy".  Why?  One such van might not attract attention, but a group of 10, even unaffiliated and somewhat dispersed, that's a different story. My point? Even if you're stealthy, you can still lose control over the result. 

An early social lab for this, in some ways, is Walmart overnight parking, though I know that isn't typically about stealth. More about what happens when something becomes more popular, people's awareness and reaction to that trend, etc.

Vagabound

 

[BradKW]

There's really not many "stealthy" camper setups out there at all, so it's kinda like the old question: "How fast do you have to run to escape a bear?" ...Just a little bit faster than the slowest guy around

 

[Vagabound]

There's really not many "stealthy" camper setups out there at all, so it's kinda like the old question: "How fast do you have to run to escape a bear?"  ...Just a little bit faster than the slowest guy around  

Good point. Reminds me of the old scuba diving joke: Why do divers always dive in pairs? In case you see a shark, stab your dive buddy, and then swim away really fast!

Although I don't think I'll be able to fool the initiated, for most things and people, I think I've got the problems mostly solved in my head.  The one thing that's causing me design problems is how to be stealthy with a 16' bright green kayak on the roof?  :/

Vagabound

 

[TrainChaser]

Vagabound: " The one thing that's causing me design problems is how to be stealthy with a 16' bright green kayak on the roof?"

Oh, just paint it in camouflage and no one will see it.

 

[Almost There]

Although I don't think I'll be able to fool the initiated, for most things and people, I think I've got the problems mostly solved in my head.  The one thing that's causing me design problems is how to be stealthy with a 16' bright green kayak on the roof?  :/

Well, as long as you're hanging out at a launch point, no one will notice you. Unless, of course, all the other kayaks are red.

A hundred miles from any water...not so stealthy...

 

[Vagabound]

Well, as long as you're hanging out at a launch point, no one will notice you. Unless, of course, all the other kayaks are red.

A hundred miles from any water...not so stealthy...

Yeah, I'm starting to think that the way to solve all of this is with an inflatable kayak.  Just like David Copperfield (or the current cool replacement) -- one minute it's there; the next, gone.   

"Okay, people, move along! Nothing to see here, you lookie-loos!"

Vagabound

 

[LeeRevell]

As we say with KLR650 bikes, "the green ones are fastest!"

 

[Ella1]

Actually, if you set a blow-up barbie in it--one wearing a yellow polka-dot bikini-- no one would pay any attention to the kayak.  Probably wouldn't even see it!      

 

[flying kurbmaster]

how many blocks from the beach do a pair of speedos turn into underwear.

 

[BigT]

The one thing that's causing me design problems is how to be stealthy with a 16' bright green kayak on the roof?  :/

This is how I did it on a kayak trip to Mendocino one time.  Just find a tree that has branches at roof level and drive right in! 

This angle is from the Safeway store, and I had permission from the manager to park there.  From the street you couldn't see it at all.  

 

[steamjam1]

I think, as a generality for young people, this statement from the article is true:

"We have habits that were created in the 20th century that are beginning not to work so well in the 21st century,"

However I think this was well under way in the 1990's when my generation was "young".

 

[Vagabound]

Actually, if you set a blow-up barbie in it--one wearing a yellow polka-dot bikini-- no one would pay any attention to the kayak.  Probably wouldn't even see it!      

Now that's some truly original thinking!  I like the cut of your ... bikini! ;-)

(flying kurbmaster) how many blocks from the beach do a pair of speedos turn into underwear?

See, that's exactly the problem.  With all of the political (ignore that last word) gridlock in D.C., those people never get around to answering the really serious questions.  But my answer:  Standing on the beach.  Underwear is underwear, a fact unchanged by fancy logos.

Besides, everybody knows that this is the only self-respecting way to go swimming:

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4c3k5Y2OkMg/hqdefault.jpg

Vagabound