I Live In A Van
Ranked #686 in Culture & Society, #16,737 overall
Homeless By Choice
It is usually assumed that the homeless should be helped. Everyone wants to get them off the street and into safe, comfortable housing. What we often don't consider is whether that person wants to be helped. Maybe what we're really concerned with is our own comfort. We feel much better when we don't have to see those "unfortunate" people -- those who live differently from us. Yes, there are those who want and need help. But some people live on the street because they want to. They have chosen a different lifestyle, and why shouldn't they be allowed to live the way they want?
I live in a van. It was never my goal in life, but I've chosen to live this way as a means to an end. Of course, people rarely understand how I could give up all the creature comforts. They admired me when I lived without those comforts on my Appalachian Trail hike and my bicycle trip. Now they just think I'm nuts. They can't even conceive of such a pared-down lifestyle. Sometimes they even try to help me get a home. What they don't see is that I already have a home -- I just don't keep it in a house.
Photo: Nancy Shepherd
UPDATE
I am no longer living in my van. I have been offered a job with housing, so I'm now beginning my newest adventure...living and working in Puerto Rico. I will leave this information here in hopes that it will help anyone who ends up living in a vehicle.
Why Do You Live In A Van?
It's a step up from a tent
"Some people ride a bike to work to save the expense of a vehicle; why not live in a vehicle to save the expense of a house?"
Is It Legal To Live In A Van?
It's not illegal until you get caught
Where Do You Park While You're Sleeping?
It's never quiet
That's an advantage of a van over an RV. I can park all night at almost any place that's open 24 hours, and no one really notices. Walmart, Cracker Barrel, and truck stops are the old stand-bys. On the street, in the transition area between residential and commercial, usually works. I've heard that some van dwellers (oh, yes, there's lots of us out here) park at hospitals, but I haven't tried that. Sometimes I park overnight in motel parking lots -- Shhh! Don't tell! I do try to move around so I'm not in the same place too many nights in a row."If it's okay to live in a $150,000 RV, why isn't it okay to live in a $1500 van?"
Where Do You Go To The Bathroom?
I've developed a very strong bladder
How Do You Shower?
Yes, I keep clean
I've read about people showering at truck stops or joining a gym to use the shower, but that can be expensive. I just heat water, sit in a plastic tub, and pour the water over myself. It's not much fun when the weather is cold.
My Van Set-up
It takes trial and error to get it right
What About Electricity?
My needs are few
It would be nice to have a deep-cycle battery that would charge from the alternator and an inverter to change the DC to AC, but funds didn't allow for that. I don't have the room for it anyway. So I just don't have electricity. I charge my cell phone with the cigarette lighter, and I have a solar flashlight that charges on the dashboard all day. The challenging part is the laptop. I depend on it so much, and the battery is only good for about 12 minutes. I'm always seeking out restaurants with outlets by the tables. So Then, How About Internet?
The hardest part
This has been a major source of frustration for me, since it has to be free and there has to be an electrical outlet. The visitor center in town has 24/7 wifi, but no place to sit and plug in. The library has limited hours, few places to plug in, and it's often not working. The community college has the best set-up, but whenever I work there, my laptop tends to give me the blue screen of death. Some restaurants and coffee shops have free wifi and outlets, but I always feel like I have to buy something if I sit there for hours. McDonald's has wifi for a fee, and no outlets. Flying J charges for wifi. I have found one motel with $25 rooms and free wifi; I've stayed there a couple times, and I get the best work done with no distractions. Suffice it to say, internetting has been a challenge, and I do a lot of wifi hopping. How Do You Keep Warm/Cool?
The methods are still pending
I haven't had to deal with extremes of that yet. There were a couple of nights in the 30s -- I just put more blankets on the bed and washed my hair in McDonald's bathroom in the morning. If it gets really cold, I can light my propane stove for awhile. It hasn't been oppressively hot yet, either. There are places to get inside: stores, restaurants, the library. If it gets too bad, I'll do my actual living in the world, and the van will just be my bedroom. I'm not sure how that will go...my van doesn't have air conditioning. What About Food And Cooking?
It takes some thought and effort
I have a one-burner camp stove to cook on, but no refrigerator to keep perishable foods -- although many foods, even eggs and some produce, will keep at room temperature longer than you might think. When it gets colder in the winter, I'll be able to keep more. Otherwise, I tend to eat pantry-type foods and buy cold items daily for one meal at a time. I do eat in restaurants more than I'd like. In such a situation, a person learns what's cheap where and gets creative. My Stove
Where Do You Put All Your Stuff?
I don't own very much
"The advantage of living small is that it forces you to reduce clutter. The disadvantage is that what you do have still feels like clutter."
Where Do You Get Your Mail?
What mail?
That's a tricky one. Did you know you can't get a post office box unless you have a physical address? That just blows my mind. If I had a physical address, I wouldn't need a post office box! Apparently mailbox services like the UPS Store don't have that requirement, but I really don't get any important mail, so I haven't checked into it. I get all my communications and monthly bills online; I'll just use my friend's address here in town for the odd occasion when I need it. What Do You Think?
Should people be allowed to live in their vehicles?
Yes. This is supposed to be the land of the free. We should be able to live any way we want.
Garlicdawg says:
yes......I find it both preposterous and absurd that U R required to be in perpetual motion in your car....I tried it for a week and was harrased by police and even citizens.....U R gonna live in a house dammit!! and pay your utility companies.....those big fees....and they dont want anyone having extra money....b/c then they cant control you...and keep U sick eating cheap junk food.....b/c your electric bill and rent came to $1,200..
look at all the good organic food U could buy for that.....!!
Chris says:
Hell yes!
MindMart says:
Yes, especially in this economy.
Blues says:
The basic question, "Should people be allowed to live?" Yeah! Should someone dictate how we should live? No! What would someone back in the day say to someone trying to dictate how one lives? Live free and let live!-)
Melody McGuire says:
absolutely
Heck, no! Everybody should have a big house they never spend time in because they're too busy working to pay for it, just like me.
gaffary says:
no
Emily S says:
That response was too funny haha but no, I really do support you and think it's awesome that you can just go! :) And you should be able to live where you want!!
Tips For Living In Your Vehicle
Be prepared
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Thanks For Dropping By
Sorry I can't offer you a chair
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MaryThereseBennett May 25, 2012 @ 2:40 pm | delete
- I really enjoyed the candor of this lense.
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MindMart
May 22, 2012 @ 1:14 am | delete
- I know there are many people doing this and it says a lot about the stat of our country and people's determination to make it through.
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Dave
May 21, 2012 @ 2:39 pm | delete
- Great candid story. A place called Escapees (.com) is an excellent resource for 'full-timers' and has the best mail forwarding system in the world. (And, you get a street address.-) Additionally, Escapees has many parks and ideas of how to live 'rent free'.
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Millionairemomma
May 18, 2012 @ 1:37 pm | delete
- Just be safe.
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allenwebstarme
Apr 26, 2012 @ 6:51 am | delete
- What a lifestyle, truly like the way you are living, very interesting. There is so much we can learn from you.
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About MysticTurtle
by MysticTurtle
I had a normal childhood, but somewhere along the way I took off on my own path. I backpacked the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail in 2001 and the 700-mile... more »
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Ten Consecutive Years Living In Cars: Living, Traveling, Camping, Attending College and Performing Surveillance in Cars---and Loving It!
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 06/01/2012)
Camp, Travel and Live Forever on $20 a day!
