Van life is miserable, consider all what this lovely lady has said. If you are on social security I think a good option is to move to a cheaper country. I live in Thailand for under 500 dollars a month, I have a wonderful toilet and nice air-conditioning.
Living in another country can be much more affordable. But, I don't think most people want to make such a drast8c change even if their quality of life might be better.
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621 I agree, most people in that situation do not even have a passport. Many are struggling just to buy their next tank of gas, so to buy an overseas flight may be unreachable. For a small percentage it may be a option worth considering. I love the way you present this type information from all aspects, not just the sugar coated version.
@@tiffanytremiti6996 They are all different but most offer some sort of 1 year visa. I stay in Thailand on a 1 year retirement visa and I renew that every year with no problems.
Lots of countries require some minimum income or savings available, not to mention the language barrier for most, especially if they are older. Not saying it can't be done but it can prove very challenging. Adaptability is key for both emigrating and the nomad lifestyle.
I’m 78 and have been van living for about 8 years. The two week trial seems wise but really isn’t because the fun of van life is using your imagination and intelligence to find solutions to every problem. The van life and equipment and setup I have now is vastly different than what I started out with but is really functional and answers every problem this lady worries about.
Brilliant. The best advice so far. I'm 73, I need my cataracts removed, all the roots of my teeth need to be surgically removed, and I have a prolapsed bladder that needs major attention. It's better for me to live vicariously through all you wonderful nomads and follow your adventures on line. My heart is with you. ❤
I have friends who hardly ever camped and think they can be a nomad! Hahaha...I think they have been so romanticized by some of the videos and really need to look at the ones where people have gotten stuck a hundred miles out in sand, snow, flat tires, break downs and they have to spend days in a hotel or renting another vehicle while theirs is being fixed, towing costs can break the bank. It's a harsh reality when you are out by yourself and no one is around to help you. I'm glad that woman realized it wasn't for her before she got rid of everything.
I was glad too and so happy she decided to come to the meetup before heading out on the road. She would have been miserable! As you noted, so many people have such an unrealistic idea of what van life can really be like sometimes.
I almost did it, iwas seriously looking for a van. I didnt only watched zBob welsh but everyone living on wheels, i saw many (healthy) people whom where very tired and because i am not healty that would mean that i would be constantly exhausted and in pain so i changed my plans, i emigrated from Holland to Hungary. I have lityle house in a small village and i love it. I have a nice plot of land with fruittrees and some chicken and goats. I am home.
Started camping 20 years ago starting with a 24 foot trailer and sized down to a 20 footer. My husband was not into camping so there is that. I got most of the tips and tricks down myself. So, my husband passed, the property was too much for just me to take care of. At the age of 76 I sold it all and bought a Mercedes Revel and hit the road in January with my little dog. Been doing my bucket list since. Yes, one runs into problems but one keeps on having a good time on the road. In the meantime, I'm looking for a final (destination) home......small please. Enjoying the nomad life. Girls just wanna have fun!😁
Thank you for the one positive comment, seems everyone is talking down on this lifestyle. Yes there's problems, no life is without problems, but for me I don't want to spend the rest of my life in front of the TV, while everyone around me already has an established life with family and friends. Sticks and bricks can be very lonely and dull existence.
I have thought about selling my modest living on 2.1 acres here in Twisp (Okanogan County), Wash.. I have accumulated a lot of stuff over a couple decades that I should sell or sell everything for $250K and do van life full time. I am on social security, and at 68 I am in excellent health with a sense of adventure. Maybe I could accept your Revel as a down payment!
It totally sucks. Full van lifer here. Really got sick and tired of trying to find a place to be. Just when I thought I had a good spot, rap, rap, rap on my door at 2 in the morning: "police". Can't count all the times I "supposedly" had the cops called on me. Suspicious van. Neighborhood watch. Van driving around the city... what a crock, the whole works, when I'd be minding my own business, not bothering anyone. Then the heat... I have 2 dogs and just can't walz in anywhere for air conditioning. I have ventilation and a maxxair fan. Still way too hot for all of us. Always had to be looking for water. Carried 30-42 gallons with me but always hunting for water. Who thinks running to the store every day is great for food? No way. Ate so much canned food, I began to feel it in my body. Sooooo unhealthy. I have a small fridge but then my batteries would become depleted. Always had to have my solar out. Always trying to resolve the battery issues. And then there's the bathing/showering issue. What a complete hassle to try to wash up in your van. When you figure out how to make it easier, you're dumping more money into other things. It never ends. I was an over the road semi driver for 9 years. I was used to being in a small area, being without things. I definitely have more room in my van, but not being able to shower or have a.c. or heat the way I could in a semi is beyond being miserable. Add in being bothered by the police when you're sleeping and even when you're not, just makes things worse and worse. I can say people knocked on my door 3 times in 9 years while I was driving semi. Compare that to 3-4 times a month in my van. Ridiculous and annoying. Spent nights and days in the national forests to be left alone. Yep, I was away from people. But then guess what? Ohhhhh... nobody told me about the ticks. Ticks, ticks, and more ticks. I'd get all comfortable to go to sleep for the night and those blasted bast#%ds would begin to crawl on me. And count my lucky stars they weren't all at the same time. Oh no. I'd get one and 10-15 minutes later another would be crawling around on me. 8, yes 8 one night! Drove me mad. Drove me right out of the national forest and I can't go back into any forest/woodsy area to this day. That's how bad it was. I have many true stories I could spend all day telling you about. I thank God, tremendously, for helping me out of the van life. I sincerely do. I take care of an elderly woman in exchange for a place with electricity, a shower whenever I want (no more body lesions from not cleaning enough with running water, painful), air conditioning, heat, refrigeration for healthy food (I'm so Blessed I can drink milk now) I can have fresh food that I don't have to eat all in one sitting so that it doesn't spoil or I don't have the room to keep it cold or the ice is no longer ice or the batteries aren't drained. And to top it all off, I thank God all the time I don't have to hope I find a good place for the night to be left alone... the cops haven't come since I've been back in a real home. True, true, Blessings from God. To Him I am forever grateful. To think it's a grand solution to high rent prices or the answer for solitude, van life is a whole nuther slew of problems you haven't even thought of until you're in the midst of the things you are without and how much trouble they cause to you.
Wow. You really got down to the. nitty gritty. Thank you for that raw but very honest look at ansude if van life that is not often shared. If I am ever in the area you are now II would very much like to interview you. If you are interested you can reach me at Gloriouslifeonwheels@gmail.com
what you described is what happen when you have no law and order. Dont blame the folks who call the police on you. Blame the few that ruin society trust.
@@jenniferd264 😢 I do feel for those who have no choice and in those situation, a vehicle is better than the street - but it is not an easy life. I wish I could help those in need somehow, but many of us are just trying to stay afloat as well and not be in a position to have to make such a difficult decision of van or sidewalk.
Thank you for this checklist. I was going to purchase an RV until I followed a family on RU-vid and the father showed his daily checklist of duties. I realized that was not for me! Reality checks like this are needed.
In most cases, I believe people don't have a choice. My husband and I often stop at a rest area in south Seattle off the I-5. This time, there were hundreds of cars parked everywhere! From the looks of the vehicles, new cars to old, people were definitely living in them. It was scary! Before covid it was a regular rest stop, not a community of car dwellers! Wake up America! This is appalling! We need to change this before we're ALL living on the streets!
I know that rest stop,& it was a homeless encampment long before covid, it just get cleaned up occasionally & then returns to a homeless camp. There is one in So Cal off I-5 near Camp Pendleton , north San Diego County, that has been a homeless camp for probably 30 years. Highway rest stops are maybe OK for using restroom & walking your dog, but that's it.
Also all the people coming from almost every country in the world is a risk for everyone, not just people in the RV community. Also As we get older stress from life gets harder with health concerns etc. I get it if you’re in good health and a back up plan, but if not too many negatives.
Great advice! I tried “Kia soul life” in 2019; drove from Minnesota to Georgia, then to Michigan, did quite a bit of sight seeing over about a week. But didn’t do everything you suggested on this video. I found it exciting and for the most part I enjoyed it. Nothing’s ever all roses. One night I stopped to sleep, but immediately left a not safe part of town in Indiana. A little over a year later I moved out of my condo, traded in my Kia for a new 2020 Sprinter hightop got a diesel heater installed, a friend helped me build a bed. I lived in it for the most part in Minnesota with only a 5 gallon bucket, 3M Thinsulate insulation on the walls, two Luci lights, and Walmart plastic drawers, for 9 months, while eating lots of packaged salads, and food that didn’t have to be cooked. I saved a lot of money, even with a vehicle payment. I gave up the life because I was uncomfortable about people’s attitudes and behaviors around politics and race. What spooked me was one morning I woke up in Utah to see a car with four flags that made me feel extremely vulnerable, but nothing ever happened. I had such a persistent uneasy feeling and concern for my safety as a 76 year old woman of color that I sold the van and moved into a different condo. I wanted to live the life and travel but I couldn’t shake the feeling. I worried about traveling and unknowingly parking in a small town where people like me wouldn’t be welcomed. My mind just got the best of me.
I'm very sorry you went thru these uneasy thoughts to where you couldn't live with it. I can tell you one thing, I'm not a person if color but if I would have been camped near you, I would definitely have asked you to join me for a meal or a glass of tea and we could have had a nice visit and kept in contact. People need peop🎉le sometimes. Look up and remember the good times you had out there. Love from Central Oklahoma.
Thank you for your kind and sensitive responses. While I realize that people are harmed for other reasons than their race. People are harmed because of their political views, gender identity, religious affiliations, as a result of road rage and more. They may be grocery shopping, at their places of worship, recreating, even innocent children at school, or individuals in their homes when harmed. Somehow I couldn’t get past the fear brought on by the oversized (for a vehicle) threatening flags displayed at each corner of the vehicle that I saw when I woke up that morning; coupled with the hateful statements that are almost commonplace these days. I appreciate your words, they give me hope during what I consider troubling times.
Oh! I’m really appreciating my comfortable bed, my spacious bathroom, my beautiful kitchen, looking out the window, hearing the birds, opening my big refrigerator and cooking myself a delicious breakfast. Going for a walk around the block. Coming back and putting my feet up to watch a show on my large screen tv while I wait for load of laundry to be done. I’ll do some van life but will definitely keep my apartment. We can do both. Thank you Gloria 😘
Unfortunately, some of us can't do both. That's why Glorious Life on Wheels truthful content is just so valuable. I am very happy you can financially do both. Blessings to you dear!
Yo same. I kept my studio in LA all these years and have had my van as a part time RV for 4 years. No way I can pull off working remotely, taking care of my dog, and seeing what I want to see in nature in this van full time. I have gone on overnight and 2 week long trips away in the van, at least once per month these past 4 years. These are my limits.
Test run is exact what I did! And everything that could have went wrong practically did! And I still wanted to do it! Sold the tiny camper I tried it in and got a new to me motorhome! Selling everything that’s left at my place this week 😁
Great to hear! Sounds like this life was meant for you and you wisely tested it first confirming that. You also made the necessary adjustment to the right rig for you. If you are going to be anywhere near where I will be this summer I would love to interview you and hear more about your "trial period". If interested you can reach me at: Gloriouslifeonwheels@gmail.com
Good for you! Love that you went for it, and learned what you needed, found your "yes" and are opening the door wide and running through it with eyes open. My test will be with a minivan, with the basics when they're ready and on from there. All the best...
I am very excited for you and hope you will let Carol interview you after you've been on the road a bit so we can find out how you're doing. Sounds like you have a great attitude and I think you will do very well. Good luck on your new life.
I lived in a minivan for two years. It isn't cheaper to live in a van than an apartment. Vehicles age and will need to be repaired and eventually replaced. If you didn't need to replace the vehicle you would save a ton of money. If you don't mind gambling and buying old vehicles, you could have a good run of vehicles and save money. Drive them until they're near death and get another one. The one great thing about living in a vehicle is that YOU own it. The second great thing is that you can move to someplace else really cheaply. After a lease ended and before I moved to a different state, I lived in a compact car for a couple of months. With the knowledge learned from living in the minivan it was very easy. I put everything owned into storage. I got a cheap gym membership for exercising and showering. A heavy duty sleeping bag got me through some below freezing nights. When it was time to move a trailer was rented and loaded with my things and I drove 1600 miles to the new place. No hotels were used because I knew how to live in the car. Anybody could live in a car with ease if they just kept their stuff in storage. If the windows are blocked so no light can get out, nobody will know you're there.
I have seen people literally save a ton of money. Enough to buy a piece of land. It all depends on how you do van life. Traveling thousands of miles per year and eating out regularly can indeed be more expensive than living in a sticks and bricks.
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621 A new short wheelbase low roof cargo van from RAM costs $51,000 plus taxes and fees. If somebody doesn't save their money for their next van, of course they can spend that money on land, but replacing a van costs a ton of money. That is only about two years of rent and internet bills. Vehicles break and deteriorate. They all need to be replaced at some point. That is why living in a van isn't really cheap in most of the country. The freedom is worth it for many people.
@@MrMoneyHelper that sounds like a great plan. It would not work for me because I live somewhere that's very hot. You would die if you tried to sleep in you car.
@@tennesseeterri Hey! I'm in Tennessee too. Just wondering if you are closer to memphis, nashville, Gatlinburg or Chattanooga. I'm closer to Nashville, 71, widowed, with an older Winnebago campervan.
❤Thank goodness your the mom I never had ! Learned so much from you ! I was thrown into car life not by my choice ! I failed miserably to say the least the 1 st few weeks ! You name it , it happened! It’s been a long 8 months of me being in my car ! A lot of crying 😢 ! I’m saving up now on a new vehicle and along the way I have been buying the basic things to keep me going ! Giving up wasn’t an option for me so listening to your videos some times more than once has given me the confidence to be able to make the BEST of a crapy situation ! Life is NEVER EASY ! Forward movement is better than giving up ! You can do it if you try ! Take it from someone that has no one and started out with NOTHING ! ❤❤
I've tried both and I found living in the city and its outskirts is way easier, especially if it's a place you are already familar with. In the city, you dont have to have a cooler, you can grocery shop every day or get ice from convenience stores. In the summer, you can hang out at the library all day if the heat is bad. A couple times in the summer I couldnt sleep it was so hot, so I got up early in the morning and went to my storage unit and slept on the cement floor. Unless the weather is extreme, half the time I forget I'm without a place, cuz I'm so busy with life. My past housing situations have been horrible, so this has seemed luxury to me in comparison. You'd be surprised how many boat launches or road side parks there are with porta potties that you can sleep at night. Once you start looking, you'll see them. As long as you dont draw attention to yourself, and go places during the day, people will just think your passing through. I stayed in one parking lot, with a porta potty, for a whole year and only the regulars probably knew I slept there at night. I kept the toilet clean and bought it toilet paper when it ran out, so if anyone ever said anything to me, I'd mention how I contributed to making it a better place.
If I am in an area you are in this summer I would really like to interview you and hear your perspective in van life in the city. You can reach me at: Gloriouslifeonwheels@gmail.com
Yes & a City Gym to w/o & Shower aLso, makes Nomad Life Much easier@ Summers, The Other Option 4 Heat escape is High ELevation Which can be DifficuLt Over 60 + Over 7000', i' Think HospitaLs are my *Secret Spot 4 a 1 - 2 Day Stay but..... Don't Take my idea without ✅ing instinct@ Certain Spots, & ALso a OLd Fashion ice Chest can HoLd some Diet Soda Or Yogurt / Treat makes it Better...even if You Got to Buy ice Every 3/4 Days, & a Pot to boiL 6 Or 12 eggs @ a Time is idea, bye i😮Wonder if This comments erased
Educate You @ ELevations The Fact iS if Your Respitory System isn't Near Full Capacity iT Does = Can Affect a Person's Breathing & Heart, & Another; Thing Remote Area Are Just PLain Harder To Get Services.
I can say right now the Nomad life is not exactly what I want. Unfortunately, I won't have a choice in the matter when the time comes. I will Retire in just a few yrs. and will have nothing but my SSI. Therefore knowing what I'm looking at I have prepared for it. I have everything that's needed to live out of my vehicle. Will I be happy? Yes! I refuse not to be! Sure, I'll have bad days and days that seem to never end, but that's life. A Big Shout-Out to all the Nomads who want the real Nomad life known. It's not all Fairy Dust and Rainbows, but what is? Thank you to All of You!
I am 77 and so appreciate your well rounded advise for senior women. I look forward to watching each and every video. Thank you for your thought-provoking content. I am on the verge of leaving my sticks & bricks. You are helping me make one of the biggest decisions of my life. Stay safe and well! Judy
Van life was our plan B if everything went to hell, but after listening to this video I believe we will just make plan A still work for now. Have A Bless Day Everyone ❤✌️
Sage advice! I took a couple of trips in my van before I set out full time, and that helped me realize that the setup I had was not practical. I did these trips months in advance of my “launch date,” so I had time to reconfigure things. I also learned a lot in those trips…don’t always count on GPS to work (buy an atlas), have a backup location in case the one you originally decided on doesn’t work out, etc. The one thing I didn’t have the opportunity to do was to stay somewhere hot. It wasn’t long into my full time journey that I experienced sweltering heat well before I thought I would have to & wound up having to escape to higher elevations! Great stuff, Carol!☮️
I really like the "Trial" described in this video, but I also think it should not be the first trip for someone new, do it the third or forth time. Start with a 2 night stay at a state campground with a restroom. You don't have to use the shower or toilet, like at night, but it is an option or a place to empty your piss jar etc. With running water you can stay clean but see how carrying water goes and how much you use at your van. You will see there are a lot of things to consider, and this way start with sleeping arrangement and food, and learn what more is necessary. Your power bank may work if always driving 5 hours, but not if parked for 3 days (saving gas money). Bugs! Noisy neighbors or lack of any (lonely?). Before quitting your lease you certainly need to know what to expect, and this video is great advice (do know your expenses and have a cash reserve for vehicle repairs).
Life is a hassle wherever you live but what I enjoy about vanlife is I’ve got all day with no deadlines or pressure. Keeping things simple is the secret. It continuously surprises me how little I need to be content.
But how could you not have any deadlines and pressure? Don't you have to constantly think of things like where to sleep, to get water, go to bathroom, take a shower and many and many other things?
@@nightskylights4501 Some folks stay the entire fall and winter season in Quartzsite at a single campsite on BLM land from September to March. Most others do have a way to use the bathroom in their vehicles. Some stay at campsites with showers, some do sponge bathes in between trips to their gym. Parking is an issue primarily for those traveling continuously. There are certainly challenges that is why I try b to make folks aware of them as with planning therr are ways around these challenges.
Bathroom: It helps to be fit. Especially using the bathroom I. The middle of the night. I have a gallon Gatorade cooler for #1, a half gallon suction container for #2. If I weren’t fit or when I have some sort of back strain, it’s hard to get in the position. Cooler: Bought a yeti and it sits in the front seat. I made a cardboard jig to level the seat, cut a piece of wood to fit all the way beyond the seat exactly to the door topped with a fitted rubber mat…made room for cooler to be level. It holds ice for three days. Inside cooler I have a perforated container so when ice melts it freely flows out the spigot. Food: I have four jobs so don’t have to budget. But for food, carrots and blueberries hold well out of the cooler. Avocado and bananas relatively well for less time. Hummus cottage cheese in cooler…staples to satisfy hunger that are healthy. I could go on and on about food. Coffee: I have an MSR windburner. Sleep: I used to have to do the “dance” to park. But a friend has allowed me to park on the curb outside their house for a few years now. I get there after dark and leave at 5 am. Never get out while there. Minimize visibility. Bed: It is vital that when you sleep that you are comfortable. I went through about 5 iterations of bedding. Settled on 4 inch foam with three inch Thera foam topper. I hand sewed removable covers to keep the foam protected.Invest in not too bulky but effective blankets. Gym: LA fitness for working out and showering. Clean honey bucket every morning. Run to stay fit on treadmill. Work: I teach at four community colleges, three online, one in-person. House sit: I house sit about 3-5 months a year. My circumstances now are ideal to live like this, but for the first 3 years it was awful finding parking. I only had one job and so had no choice because I could not afford rent and a vehicle. I chose the vehicle (Hyundai Santa Fe sport). But it and I evolved to where I am now. House sitting gives me a breather (I get paid for that) and can relax spread out, spring clean my SUV. I don’t want to do this when I am older, so my goal is to save as much money as I can and when I retire then I will be able to afford rent. This is not for everyone. It is hard and if I didn’t have a curb safe place to sleep without feeling like I am doing something wrong, I don’t know that my psyche could handle it. Good luck to everyone out there!
It sounds like you have figured out the ins and outs of this lifestyle and now are running smoothly. What a blessing your friend has provided a safe place for you to park. That is definitely one of the most challenging aspect of this kind of living. You are wise to be planning your exit plan. I speak to so many people who have no idea what they will do when and if they can no longer drive. I wohld love to interview you for a video on how to successfully live as a nomad in a city setting.. If you are interested you van reach me at: Gloriouslifeonwheels@gmail.com You can do it anonymously if that is a concern.
You’ve given me an idea. I’ve house & pet sat for 50 years now & have a home base that lost all its amenities while I was trying to get back on my feet after a bout with cancer, so I housesit every chance I get, but my place has plenty of overnight & day parking for now. I’ll check with the folks who run the food pantry.
I plan to rent a uhaul van for a week and camp at Quartzite with my emergency earthquake supplies before trading in my Kia Soul on a Dodge Ram. While I have camped many times over the years and was a Marine, I also wasn't in my 60's, lol. Great advice!
I no longer drive, but, I am constantly looking at those vans and wondering how I could get something like that to work for me if I had someone park it in Quartzsite blm land. LOL! I am almost sure I could make it work after having spent two months in a tent camping in Laposa South.
I got into a discussion with a woman that had watched a handful of van life videos and was just like the first woman you shared with us, she’d not even slept in her van. So I challenged her to try that. Well, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Not even in her driveway lol. We really have to push ourselves before making hasty decisions. Turns out she’d been watching a very popular RU-vid channel, and was shocked to learn that that creator has never hidden the fact she has a home base. She loves her camper van, and has wonderful videos, but some how she’d missed out on the fact that the creation question goes home after her get togethers, lots of RU-vidrs do, most don’t hide it, and I myself have come across a RU-vid channel, the way the algorithm recommends the videos is so nonsensical to me anyway, so she didn’t start at the beginning. Our precious LOLA, (RIP) hosted great get togethers, she was a real MVP, to the nomad community, but she had a home base and enjoyed getting out and about in her van. Your channel is such an important resource!
There are many many RU-vidrs who have a homebase. The difficulties that nomads faced during Covid was a big motivating factor. Even though I have traveled over 100k miles in my van over the past 5 years, I have a homebase and will always have one as I have a special needs daughter. Most nomads will at some point need to come of the road as they can no longer drive or experience other physical limitations. For this reason I believe having an exit plan that involves land is the best option for so many.
This is fabulous advice. I am a weekend carlife warrior. I have done this for years. That is basically my setup, a cooler, a warmer plate for food, toilet of my design, water, and my power station. I have 2 huge comforters I setup in my backseat to sleep with a mountain of pillows and I sleep like a dream. Windowcovers are a must. Your list was excellent to jump in the car and go.OH and the USB fans are a MUST for hot nights
A long term RV park is my friend! ❤ I can travel when I want, have AC and heater, can “plug in,” have showers - I prefer paying for long term fees of a RV park. It still allows me to travel only when I want, save money, and enjoy van life. 😊❤ Vehicle - Ford Transit, high roof, extended cab, professionally converted to a mini home on wheels. It has bathroom and shower. I do realize many don’t have the same setup, though.
For those who think Bob Wells is not doing a good job because he does not do a reality check that Carol did, u have not watched enough of his videos. bob is not advocating for u to live in a van for d heck of it, but his videos are to enlighten u what van dwelling s all about and how to survive living in one, if your other option is being homeless. He teaches u d ropes, share how others do it, explains how to live on a budget. Again, he doesn’t convince u to get rid of your apartment or home and do van life because it s better. If you will b homeless because of circumstances, then he teaches you how to live in a vehicle which s definitely better than living in a tent. Just making this comment since one viewer here stated that Bob s not doing enough transparency to d nomad community😅
Bob does an excellent job sharing valuable information that is helpful to nomads and folks considering that life. I have learned a great deal from listening to his videos. In fact, it was because of one of Bob's videos that I learned about DIY rvs and bought a Promaster and had it built out.
Yes, Bob is giving us an alternative to being homeless, which in this day in time is a must. You never know what life is going to throw at you in America these days. We are just waiting for the other shoe to drop. You have enough money now but as the conversation continues, you hear about the cutting of social security and continued rising taxes, and don't forget about inflation while money is being continually siphoned off to the latest war effort. Yes I'll be listening to Bob JUST IN CASE!!!
@@polly8844 yep i got penalized 70% of my SS because of a small pension check and was not told until the DAY i filed for SS i had my forty units too but i am a living witness to SS cuts so yes thanks Bob
I don't even want to live vanlife. I just want to start taking solo road trips and car camping and I've watched a lot of vanlife videos. I did a test run, and it went well, but I always had a option if I didn't like it. I've seen to many videos say how easy vanlife is and to just do it. But listening to various people who actually do it, you quickly find out more of the truth about it. My main thing is, what do I do once I get to a new town, and where do I sleep at night. For me, it's not too bad. Or, my test run wasn't to bad. But every night as a lifestyle? I'm not sure I could do it.
I agree I think knowing you have a home to come back to makes a big difference, I retire in 6 weeks and plan to travel to see the country but it will be by choice I will keep my home base, I have a small trailer and I also car camp I like to travel both ways but car camping only in cool conditions, I have a car camping trip planned in a couple weeks to NY near Canadian border but will cancel if the heat wave is still here, car camping allows me to travel farther in a weeks vacation time, trailer always takes longer to travel the same distance so I typically use my trailer at the local state parks and have access to their showers and bathrooms.
Such wise advise. Wanted to bail from Cali and move to fl. A good friend said “DONT sell in CA until you go to fl for a month and see if it’s for you. Everyone wants to jump in headfirst.
@@iquesnell I road tripped from Houston to Tampa during the beginning of Covid lockdowns early June 2020. I didn't realize how HOT Florida gets without SHADE. I was in a beautiful beach area but there was no shade trees or awnings, buildings, anything to block the sun. It was brutal. And when I first got to the beach I hopped out of my van and stepped on a broken drug pipe in the sand and cut my foot. Luckily the beach lifeguard gave my first aid. Florida ocean and beach are definitely beautiful, but too damn hot in Summer.
I have always known I was not Nomad material. I do love to camp in my Van, but even just taking trips, the hassles are real. Stopping and sleeping for a night anywhere is a hassle. I mostly do State Parks, but they book out so much in advance. I can’t even imagine daily life of this. I have done the math. Living this way would save me about $500 a month. I truly feel for those who are forced into the Nomad life due to finances. These Click Bate You Tubers ( which is not you) are making tons of money selling lies to people. Thanks for the honesty and genuine care of others. Some of us have a true Nomadic soul, I would consider myself as one. For me, that means keeping only what fits in a small U-Haul and then moving to new areas every few years. A far easier way to explore new places while having a home base.
The only bad thing about doing a test run with spartan outfitting is, it could discourage a person because it’s too miserable not being properly set up. Having a nice setup makes things easier. Great tip about the driving aspect. The way I see it, the biggest challenge is where to stop overnight, and it’s getting worse from what I’ve heard.
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621 I see it as a dealbreaker. I think as more people take to the road, cops are on the lookout for “lowlifes” that sleep in their vehicles. I say lowlifes because I believe that’s how van lifers are perceived by people in general, and especially by local governments and LE.
Great comment; it can help to plan and be set up right, even if all isn't easy or as one imagined. I bought a used minivan and will spend on maintenance, leveled floor, comfortable bed (most essential to me), power station, fridge, fans, window covers, rain guards and basic stove. Building a list of all needs over time but will try with these basics and see what is revealed first with some excursions before I commit more time/money.
We did the nomad thing for 2 years in our class C, boondocking, moving around to blm and state parks in AZ and NM. Then Covid hit, and it was hard to even find a place to park. Since 2021 we have been permanent at Rv park in Quartzsite. Same Rv, just stationary and it is a relief to do so. Not everyone is cut out for the constant travel and uncertainty of nomad life. We are stationary, but still able to move on if we don’t like a place. Rv parks in Quartzsite are very reasonably priced for long term set up. Many folks around us stay thru winter months and then leave for summer to visit family, but keep their spot here as they pay annually. That is an option, a seasonal pass or annual, with conveniences like showers, laundry right outside your door, and full hookups. Living in an RV at Rv park here is a lot cheaper than renting an apartment.
I'm conflicted. I understand your purpose but I learned things gradually by trial and error or looking it up on RU-vid...😂 I also had an emotional start so dealing with the reasons I needed to be in a vehicle was my first major challenge. It also kept me going because I had no other viable choice. To try to learn it all at once in a trial run may be overload. Everything you mention is valuable but maybe smaller chunks would be better. I wonder if all of it on one trip will discourage almost everyone. Of course everything you mention is good to know. I dealt with cold first and with this heat dome I'm now dealing with hot weather and bugs. And finally to maybe counteract the negative have them practice the positives too. When I first started I never missed a sunrise or sunset and took joy and solace in that. Now I often sleep through the sunrise...lol. Also from the start I took joy in living outside. Hearing birdsong, hiking trails or just walking in a park. I've started using my America the Beautiful pass and going to National Parks. I look for the brown signs designating wildlife refuges or historical sites. And I take the slow roads to my destination rather than highways. I stop at beaches and waterfalls and forests even if it's only for an hour. As any lifestyle there are positives and negatives. Conquering the obstacles develops pride in being competent. My daughter recently was very upset with me for nomading. In short she doesn't think I have the resources and skills. Her critique made me start to learn the mechanics of my vehicle. It was a valid point. Yesterday I was able to check my fluids and refill those that were low. Next oil change I will try to do myself. I am rebuilding my decimated repair cushion and am proud that I had it to begin with. In short I feel I'm getting more competent and feel how important that is. I wish everyone the best of luck and hope those who really want to or need to can find nomadic life joyful along with its' downsides. And thank you for trying to educate new comers. Its very important we support and help each other. Bless you for seeing the need.
I totally agree with you you are right on all counts. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and are open to learning new things. I believe that is one of the huge things that many miss out on. learning new things does give you competence and confidence, two of the main ingredients needed for this lifestyle. Keep up the good work.
@maureenhanley991 Thanks - I really admired your post. It sounds as though you can look at the big picture, such as knowing you needed to take care of the emotional situation which precipitated your move into a nomadic life (if I understood you correctly.) Then you're evaluating your own skills and are open to learning new ones. It seems to me those approaches are good for both nomads and stay-at-homers! Keeping flexible and honest with yourself. So many vanlifers (well, and domestic-dwellers!) get fixated on the kit - but it's the attitude and spirit which counts.
Darling, I did the nomad life for over 20 years as an OTR Trucker. 500-700 miles a day. Good times, bad times. Folks, this nice lady is stating the obvious, but most folks probably don't ever consider these basic ideas. Listen and learn.
I guess before you leave see how much gasoline you will need to and from your destination. Multiply the number of miles five hours of driving will take you by at least five dollars. I put my destination on my GPS to get the miles then multiply by five or six. This is because I was shocked by gas prices as I traveled west. Here in Louisiana our gas prices are way lower than Arizona and California. My traveling is definitely restricted to gasoline prices. Great advice. I’m so glad you helped that lady before she gave up her apartment! 😆
Yeah all my " destinations" gas prices really put me off.. a few years ago, I was planning on becoming a " nomad", but unfortunately, probably will NEVER be able to afford it now.. the only place I can think of, where I ( may) be able to save ( a little) is Quartzite.. if I'm able to bring a bunch of food from Louisiana.. idk it's not as appealing to me as it was a few years ago.. I'm only 63, just lost my Mom, but I'm getting old I guess.. also don't want to lose the rental I have that's affordable 😊
I personally always recommend if you want to do Van life or live. Fortunately, not to get rid of your house and everything. That's a lot of people do that nonsense but have a small local base. I do it part-time. I love you part-time. I have a base cause anything happens. I have my base to fall back on if anything happens to my base. I have my camp event. The fall on fall back on. Are you the way I have something to fall background? That's my recommendation but again, each to their own but don't be a fool to sell out. Everything just live in a Van. I'll let you do your research first or know what you want. Don't be a follower and a sheep and watch RU-vid thinking it's cool. Do your research know what you want first.
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621 Facts, I agree with you, you're absolutely right. I have a similar base. I don't own a house. I have a small room. I got rid of my expensive apartment. So I downsized and live alternatively, right now and I love it. Just the way that is as far as getting rid of my liquid basin live out of the round full-time. No, thank go to the world where I can't afford to live in a place no more than. Yes, then. I have my campervan and my trailer to go with it, but I plan to buy pizza land anyway, if possible start a 100% and this way, I'll have an anchor of some kind if I get sick. Or I don't want to travel around no more.
Great advice. Everyone is not cut out to live the nomad life. Had to live in my car for a while due to losing a job and home at the same time. Don't want to do that again unless forced to. I drove a tractor trailer across this country for years so I've traveled. At 70 and with health problems I like having my bed and my old beagle dog with no one knocking on my vehicle at 3am. Just hope and pray we can stay here with rents so ridiculous now. God bless those who are forced to live in vehicles and God bless those who love living in vehicles.
Great budgeting advice, Carol! I do agree that you need to 'try it out before you take it out'. Also, try mobile living and driving in all seasons in the areas you plan to go. Your rig might be fine in the winter but unbearable in the summer, you don't know. You also need to be aware that condensation builds when you live inside your vehicle and prepare a mitigation strategy. Lastly I would suggest trying this out with the pet you may be intending to bring along on this adventure. (Remember that leaving a pet or a child in a closed vehicle in the sun can be deadly.)
applies to those who buy an RV. Can't tell you the women from FB groups who buy an RV, sell everything then find they hate pulling a trailer or the RV life.
Bravo Carol! This video adds balance to all the vanlife videos that hype up this lifestyle without showing how hard it really can be. Having said that my wife and I love our 2017 Roadtrek campervan, just got back from a trip on the north shore. Even though our Roadtrek has everything we need to be comfortable, its greatly limited in space compared to our house. Sometimes I sleep in our driveway just to make sure everything is good and well be comfortable when traveling. Good luck and take care!
People need to understand the difference between living in your vehicle by choice , camping around the U.S. or living in your vehicle as your survival. Most all you tubers make nomadic life everyone’s dreams. I think you doing these kind of videos will help newbie’s transition into nomadic life a lot safer and knowledgeable of things to expect . Thank you for bringing awareness to the newbie’s.
😂 lol. Too funny.. bout the lady who changed her mind && went home, NO. 30 Day notice for her... Thank you Carol for sharing ur video of knowledge/thoughts.. makes sense.. to try 1st. God bless all nomads for the strength endure.. always running in.. much love ❤😊
I change my mind two years ago, because cant see to drive at night and what if i am asleep and i have to move what would i do? that is my biggest fear is finding some place to sleep every night. Thank you for your videos i will watch from the comfort of my living room,
I think spending several nights in your driveway is a good eye-opener for what it’s going to be like in the middle of the night different temperatures maybe not being able to stand up etc. so I think when first starting out is just been several nights in your driveway then maybe move to a close by state park then from there move on
Testing in my driveway was a very good thing for me. At first, I wanted to be a full nomad, but now I want to have a homebase and just be able to travel freely as I get closer to retirement age. The driveway for a couple of nights was helpful and I went to the state park twice by myself as well. I hope to have Havana stand-up in within the next year or so. But I’ve been watching nomads for years and have seen from the beginning where everybody was going out to people now. Really trying to have home bases. Great video and I hope it helps a lot of people.
I bought a van but before I took off I read "10 Years A Nomad" and while he wasn't in a van everything else applied. That book let me know full time van life was not for me. Short trips and small adventures really add fun and wonder to my life, but it also feels good to return to my home base to sleep in my own bed.
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621 yup, really thought i was just gonna drive a few hours everyday and park overnight. I hope ppl are paying attn and not misbehaving with their slides, trash, noise, etc bc it's gonna ruin a good thing, that means no free overnights anywhere. I have a bumper sticker on my car that says "JUST BEHAVE". It's not hard.
@@RetiredFreeBird from what I hear, it's already too late and that is why many Walmarts no longer allow you to park overnight (it all depends on the manager). People did ruin a good thing by leaving trash, making noise, cooking & partying - using it like a paid campground instead of just a free place to sleep overnight.
excellent guidance and coaching. physically, i no longer have the bones for van life. bbbuuuttt - the sparse lifestyle inspires me to let go of things i no longer “need” or think i “want” in order to simplify my life. thank you!
This is such good advice. Im 57. I thought I wanted to work on the road traveling, etc. So I took a 3 week trip from Cincinnati to Quartzsite this past RTR/WTR. I spent thousands getting ready to live in my suv, solar panels, battery bank, refrigerator, etc. I enjoyed it very much and I think that after my grandbabies get a little older I can be like a snowbird. But I said all of that to say that what I thought it would be like was different than what it was. I wasn’t ready to give up the luxuries just yet. So take her advice seriously.
I'm so glad that the lady tried it out first. Ohh my. All great advice, you did a good thing. I would also suggest placing everything that one uses on a daily basis, in a space, to give them a visual. Adding extra necessities, such as a bucket, T.P., fans, blankets, etc. This is what I did. It helped me plan better. Don't forget the first aid kit. Right ? Thumbs up and love from S. California.
Excellent video! I learned a lot and I will for sure do these things before I go on a longer trip far away from home. Thank you so much for putting this online for everyone to see. People with pets have that additional responsibility and things to consider.
brilliant advice! Carol, one thing you may add is if they are thinking of buying an RV RENT one first, see if it is somthing they can drive, park and live in. my 1st/2nd years on the road I met 2 diferent older women "doing van life." they literly brought everything they owned from their house, stuffed it into a van and had no way to move around, nevermind live in the van and hit the road. Both bought the low top white chevy van recomended by the nomad guru, where they could not even stand in it. WOW what an eye opener for them & me looking at this. Dont get me wrong Ive been a nomad for 10 years and i do have both ups & downs, but have evolved into a working system, compleate with, solar power, generator backup, AC, Heat, kitchen, full bed, toilet, and indoor shower, that sutes me, oh yea and plenty of room to move around. It can be done...IF YOU PREPARE.
That is a great point. I agree that at the very least anyone trying to decide on a rig should test out one in which they cannot stand for at least a week to see if they can tolerate bending over all the time.
Great video! Its not for everyone for sure. I'm 59, will be 60 this December. I've loved camping since I was a kid. I love being outside and I'm pretty much an introvert I socialize when I'm ready socialize when I'm ready LOL. I went to Fl, Quartzsite, and some other amazing places in southwest AZ & southeastern CA. from Nov 23 until May 2024 & I loved it more than I thought I would! I have an 04 Matrix & 2 tents. One I can stand up in. The other is a small 1 person that the deresrt wind won't blow apart. I can pack everything onto the driver's side & sleep in the car. Front passenger seat folds too. Pack light! And enjoy life. Only my doctors keep me coming back to Virginia. That's gonna change this fall.
I've traveled across the U.S. and Canada a couple of times, but only stayed at Walmarts, truck stops or places like a MacDonald's. Usually there were bathroom facilities, but I had my own little bucket system as well. And I had made several days worth of food to bring with me, so I didn't need to cook. I personally loved the whole experience although it wasn't always easy....I do plan on getting a vehicle soon to do a snowbird situation with my two pups and have gotten my little one burner stove. I will plan to stay in places for days at a time, so that it's not just constant gas usage. Am hoping to do winters as far south in the U.S. as possible and then make my way back up to Canada for the summers. (The exchange rate is going to take a bite out of my funds!) We shall see how it goes!! Even just having the 2 pups is going to be super challenging. (They bark...☹😄) Wish me luck!
Great advise. It's always good to be aware of realities of the big choices we have to make. Some don't have a choice and so education is the best course before prceeding. Knowledge is the power needed to be as successful as you can be. Van nomad life is better than living on the street any day.
About having to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I learned how much I could drink & when to stop drinking water in the evening so as not to have to go pee during the night. If you observe and test yourself, you'll end up finding the correct way for your personal situation.
I love living in my town and country, I've been living in vans year round in northern Michigan for a few years now. A whole heck of a lot depends on how well you're able to set up your vehicle. A comfortable bed and a decent heating system are critical. A 20 lb tank and my homemade vented flower pot heater keep me comfy .I have access to sticks and bricks but I still stay in my van in the driveway when I'm there.🎉
I think this is such a valuable video for people considering this lifestyle. With the overwhelming amount of positive videos proclaiming the freedom of the road, I'm concerned that not enough people are really taking all these factors into account.
Thank you so much for your honesty. I've been dreaming about this lifestyle for decades, but now that I'm turning the dream into a plan and watching 'real' videos instead of aspirational ones, it's clear that for me at this time, part time is best. I'll keep a cheap room in a sharehouse and between the two, I believe that's going to get me closest to the life I want within the limited budget I have. Thank you again for your realness!
Great suggestions. I’ve been rving for 2 weeks at a time since a child. Over the last 5 years my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. We’d always wanted to travel long term, so I left my teaching job and we hit the road. We went for 4months at a time. I had to do everything. You are so right it’s so different being long term on the road. We stayed in different places with different atmospheres. There was only 1 Walmart that really made me feel unsafe. We were in an rv and not a van. But traveling and moving constantly is exhausting. Presently my husband is in a nursing home, but I do plan to get back out there eventually. I plan to sell my house and travel for at least 5 years before settling back down. Thx for sharing some great advise.
With advance planning there are ways to mnimize the wear and tear on your body when doing rv life. One is to stay for at least two weeks or even up to a month in one location. The advantages to this in addition to being able to rest is being able to really get to learn about and see things of interest in an area and perhaps make some connections with locals in the area. Also, some campgrounds may offer a discount for stays of a month or longer and lastly the monthly gas bill will be less.
Great video. I commuted 3 hours daily for 20 years from one side of the metroplex to the other. Driving is a big stressful and exhausting chunk of daily life, but at least I knew where I was going to, and where I would come back home to every night. Yes, after work I would stop at a couple of different gyms to work out depending on which route I took home allowing for traffic snarls. I'd swim laps at the gym, and also rode trails at several different parks with ride mountain bike trails. I always kept my bike on my SUV rack (during season). I'd shower/shampoo/dry hair at the gym, then go home and have a lite dinner before bed. But the commuting all the time was exhausting! And I knew where I was going every day! I can't imagine being a constant traveler having no place to call home, constant daily stress of driving without a certain destination, just trying to find a place to exist for every few hours. Maybe you catch a rhythm when you get the hang of it?
I've lived out of a minivan in the city for over three years, and have managed to learn what I like and don't like regarding van life without being nomadic. You can have the experience of cooking, sleeping, etc. even if you are not currently in a position to do a lot of traveling. Since the South, where I am now, is pretty hostile to vehicle dwelling, I plan to relocate, get a storeroom and have a sort of home base that way. Stay in an area that interests me, do some local travel, without driving constantly for long distances.
A lot of people do exactly what you are doing The advantage to that is you know how to navigate the area since you stay there. Also, you can have the same dictors, pharmacies, and even a church home and so much more and venture out as you like. If you would ever like to share your experiences as a city nomad on one of my GLOW Love's let me know at :gloriouslifeonwheels@gmail.com
Great information; been living out of vehicles for over 15 years and meet so many people that see the instagram life, commit to a $50-$120k van/RV and call it quits after a couple months. This life isn't for everyone.
Thank you so much! Your video should be a duet with Bob Wells' $365 No Build Van. You provide all the nuance and perspective that completes the 2 components of the "tryout;" the equipment + the practicum. I can only speak for myself when I say that I feel my expectations are more realistic for my first time trying to live in my vehicle. I'd like to get to Quartzsite for the women's meet up.
the cost of gas turned out to be a lot more than i planned on. I travel in my campervan but actually living in it ended up being a pipe dream. i share an apartment with a roommate who i hardly see. This worked x2 mths then i got bored and left. I haven't stayed at a campground yet. Stay at Loves❤️when i'm on the interstate. Try to plan my traveling so i have a place to park for 7-10 days at friends & family. It's not easy & i traded rent for gas. Who knows, maybe in a few more months i'll have had enough.
Excellent advice. I would add one more thing, the first time out stay close to home, people tend to way over pack and this way you can cull out items that you didn’t use.
It’s definitely not for everyone nothing is and what maybe great for you may not be what your other half wants or can do. I don’t know if you have heard of the six Ps rule but nothing could be truer when it comes to being a nomad. Too me and my bride who have spent decades in the defence force and years travelling around on motorbikes with a three man dome tent two fold out stools and a couple of cans of baked beans,our life now in our 19ft van with shower,toilet,full sized fridge,cooker with oven and even its own washing machine is just next level opulence to us and even after a few years of doing it now the novelty hasn’t worn off,not even a little bit 😂😂. I also think that there’s a huge difference between wanting to be a nomad and having to be because of no other choice. I can only imagine how hard it would be to adapt and overcome, it’s comes down to being a mindset thing in the end. What’s going to be hard or impossible for one will be a revelation and complete release into freedom for another. 👁️👁️😎😇❤️🙏🦘🐨🇦🇺
It definitely takes more than a lot of people may think. First night is rough . If you are not prepared! Spend some nights in your rig before you head out. Just to trial run it.
I think this is such a great video. So many channels that you watch romanticize van life especially the ones that I watch with older women. Sure it’s easy to crawl around in the back of your car in your yoga pants and get a great nights sleep when you’re in your 20s, but when you’re pushing 70 it’s a whole different situation. It’s not so easy to maneuver in the backseat of my car, I think this is great advice. I have Camped my whole life but I’ve gone back to my little trailer to do it. People need to make this decision not based on fantasy, but based in reality. Valuable video.
Excellent video. Thank you for saying the truth of being a nomad and not fantasizing about this lifestyle like so many do. Bravo!!! I did this lifestyle for 6 weeks and was very happy to go back home again, best place to be. Not fun for me.
I'm not in a van but is love to come to one of your meet ups. Been watching you for a while now and find you so inspiring. And yes you can be comfy in anything if you design it well!!!
Best video ever, some of these people who live in vans and go on U tube only speak about their good days, which figuratively speaking is what we all like to hear. I am like that to; I don't like to hear "bad news" I am glad that you are also revealing the dark side of van living and creating awareness.
This was awesome Ms. Glo ~ I happened upon this life by circumstance, and got the hang of it quickly. Partly because I’ve never had much to begin with, and partly because I urban camp, and I haven’t had many of the issues you mentioned, except the budgeting part ( too many Starbucks’ ), but I’m still working on putting the contingencies in place… displacement is displacement no matter where one goes ~ Thanks for being an awesome resource ❤️
Lots of issues to think about. Sorry to say I think that their vehicle would require more maintenance of all kinds. Also what if your vehicle gets totaled by falling trees, heavy rain, hail, etc. Sickness on top of this would become a nightmare. Hopefully more affordable housing is created .🧡💚💙💜
Greetings from Brazil. Thank you for your advices. We, my wife and I, are waiting for my retirement to go nomad. We already done trips weeks long and went far, far from home as you said. Our goal is to try it for, at least, a year before say "we are into nomad life!". Until that, we are grabbing other people's experience. Thanks for sharing.
You are wise to do your research and studying before embarking on this lifestyle full-time. You learn so much about what you need and don't jeed everytime you go on a road trip. Good luck witth your plans and keep me posted. I'd love to learn what nomad living look like whre you are.
The voice of experience. All great points, especially testing things out as you described. Would also add another possible test that can be done at home. Life in your kitchen area of your home using the smallest area you can make. Use painters tape to mark the floor and try to live within that space. At first use your bathroom when needed, but slowly try stay within that space and use the methods you would use if you lived in your vehicle. Be creative and give yourself more flexibility at first and patently learn what you can in the safety of your home. Next stage, live out of your vehicle for a day. Get up on the morning and get into your vehicle and spend time, and don't return home until it's time to sleep. After this can spend a whole day, 24 hrs+ in your vehicle. You will learn a lot within just a few miles from home. All the while knowing you can stop the test, return home and use what you learned for the next test.
It is surprising that so many try to do this so unprepared. I went out for several weeks including Quartzite and the RTR. I have friends who are full time (you did a video on one of them). I’m not sure if full time is for me, but I do enjoy getting out there for a time. Great insights. Hope to see you in Quatzite again this year. Safe travels.
I've been trying to get my friend to test it out. He has this idea that it's easy. but I suspect that once he actually tries it, he won't be happy.Good video!
Great advice, especially the finance part. When I first started I did a comparison and found I only saved about $100 a month IF I kept the mileage down.
Great info everyone who is considering should hear. Too many people try to make it so romantic and I believe setting many up for great hardship or worse.
Carol I already did a trial run. I had my apartment renovated and had no choice. I just found a cooler at Aldi,an electric cooler that plugs into your cell phone charger. I did the expenses. Thank you Carol.
