The only thing I feel like I have a problem living full-time on my van is loneliness. And when I get lonely that's when I go into town and run my errands and talk to everybody by the time I'm done with that I'm ready to be alone again
I saw a video explaining just what you said. She said she would wear out the ear of the cashier The Bag Boy drive-thru person at the coffee shop. Other people in line any place she was and she was done.
Michelle, I get it as I have been away from family for 40 yrs., but I do speak to people a little throughout my day. I really feel for the people who are in broken down vehicles, etc. Soooo, I went to the library and typed up a list of approx 10 Utubers (different ages) who needed to do van/car life to exist. I stop and talk to them (trying to give them hope) give them a copy of the van dwellers, and let them know that they are not alone. Also, I would like to meet with people, locally, once a month who are struggling and have a brainstorming session (i.e., food, clothing, housing options, mechanics, job opportunities) to actually help each other. We CAN solve a lot of this when we work together!!! 👍👍👍👍👍
Great topic for further thought n discussion. Some YT channels work hard to make vanlife seem like nothing but beautiful, exciting n awesome. That causes people to think that it is magical n effortless for the most part. Thats sadly deceptive.
This video of Matt's van life is the most honest and to the point that I have viewed. Thank you, Matt, for some of your true facts about 'van life'. I'm in Canada, so year-round van life up here is challenging as well! FJT!
I lived static, working a full time job in a town, for two years… after a year I hit upon an idea that worked great for me. I found a secure storage facility that had spaces on the back for storage of boats and RVs. I rented one and told them I need a place to park my work van overnight. $30 a month, got a secure place to park, in at 9:00 out by 6:00 and never got a knock or had any issue in over a year.
Personally if I am going to do something drastic such as van life, I would have spent years researching it myself. Van life RU-vidrs are not responsible for any lifestyle I adopt. Accountability is personal. Happy Friday
What's Up Matty! Van Life is a Lifestyle if people do their homework and ask around they will get a clear picture. I'm an Introvert so the being alone is ok and being Semi- Social is the norm for me I have anxiety too. I plan to have a home base and do Van life part time due to medical conditions I have but I'm still excited to do Van Life . Your honesty is appreciated💕👍🚐🍺
The rules of 3. a person can go: 3 seconds to make the correct extreme survival decisions 3 minutes without air 3 hours without shelter 3 days without water 3 weeks without food 3 months without human contact (mental)
Most are homeless who live in vans it’s not something they wanted. I did it in 1993-94 way before it was a trend or a need? After a year I went back too renting a condo it was way cheaper to rent a place and way way more convenient and comfortable. In that tyear o jad at least 4 very scary moments where I was sleeping and woke to getting broke into! That was 1993. Can’t imagine how much more danger lurks with the Fentanyl and Meth Crisis…
Good message. You have to be in a really well-balanced mental health situation to boondock alone. At 65 I can do it now and I love it. But there was a time in my life when I had to be in a nice hotel at a golf resort.
People that can't make sticks and brick work won't be able to handle being out in the world. I've found that it is cheaper to live in a van though. You have to move according to your budget. I boondock solely. I don't ever get lonely..I have two dogs that is all the company I need. You just have to be prepared... for anything😊 Also I'm not a worrier... If I got a knock I would just move... If I break down I either call a mechanic or a tow.... If someone tries to break in I'll... 😊
I'm not a van dweller, I have a 25' class C. I like my own company but I know I would feel claustrophobic living in a van. My short class C has a slide out so my space is like a tiny studio apartment and I just love it. At 73 I hope I have another 10 years to travel; I guess I'll give it up when I feel I shouldn't drive anymore. I'm living such a great life, I'm fortunate.
Thank you for being candid about the van life, which has pros and cons. People post all the pros instead of being honest about their van life struggles. Even with the battle, you can leave some tips to benefit other newbies' van life.
Great discussion! From what I’ve been hearing, the current surge of quitters are the impulse buyers in 2020 who fled the pandemic and had no idea what to expect of vanlife. There are hundreds of 2020 & 2021 vans for sale with anywhere from 2,000 to 12,000 miles on them. Prices are still unrealistically high but coming down pretty quickly. Curious as to why you stayed mostly in the Flagstaff area this summer? 7,000 to 7500’ wouldn’t be nearly high enough for me, especially considering this summer in the Southwest has been much hotter and drier than normal. I’d be sitting on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim (9,000’) or somewhere even higher in Colorado.
So true. I've done both as well and I much prefer traveling in my van rather than city dwelling, hands down. In fact, because my SS isn't enough and I'm now having to work part-time to supplement, I'm renting a room close to my work. I really wish I had the money to travel full time again, but unforeseen circumstances drained me of all my savings and I'm at the mercy of the system once again. But I'm making the best of things and my pets and I are content. Thankfully, I love the State, City and area I work and live in. Take care.
Overcrowded has a direct relationship how much is available. When I think primarily the locals trash a area they shut it down they block off the entrance. The cough shut down a lot of areas at least for a while. That was when a whole lot of people cut off the road. Many that I follow are homesteaders now. I think partly because of burnout and partly because of new content opportunities. With so many big channels doing that homesteading or at least a home base thing it's going to take a lot of attention off Van life. Thank you for another thought-out deep dive
Everyone does things based on their own experiences. True it's not as glamorous as it seams. Kind of like people coming to America. Its not always what its cracked up to be.
Actually many upon many vanlifers, part-timers, full-timers, and weekend warriors have talked about it a lot. Many over the course of their videos, but maybe not as much or to the extent you have in one video. Many have though too. I think unfortunately many fixate on the more glamorous videos that tend to want to glamorize everything.
I definitely see less so called van lifers since covid ended. I think RVers are more prevalent. July and August are the busiest because there vacation months. Like the tiny house fad, I think the van fad is dwindling 👍
The thing I will miss if I get a van will be flush toilets, showers and washing machine for clothes. lol I am former military so I can live out of duffle bag/backpack but I like my own toilet. lol
Hi Matt . Interesting topic . I think people get into van life for many different reasons. No major responsibilities, pay no taxes , mortgages , bills, mental health issues, to travel the country, meet different people everywhere, to live a simple way of life, etc. I say each to their own . Take care . Have fun. Deborah 🇨🇦
Maybe no mortgage or rent, unless you have a storage unit. Theres still all the vehicle responsibilities, plus showers n laundry n mail box plus other responsibilities such as buying food, water, fuel for cooking, more fuel for the vehicle, medical, personal care items, cleaning items, if you have a pet, theres vet services, vaccines, registration n licensing in most places, pet food dental treatments n sometimes grooming n nail clipping plus washing n brushing. As far as taxes, theres sales tax along with federal, state n local taxes on income, so theres no escaping those. Remember that a vehicle used more often requires more maintenance more often. Vanlife can be cheaper than renting for instance, but it is not nearly as cheap as it use to be.
@@k8k9vanlifeplusLets not forget the expense of cell n Internet services. The added expenses of equipment n maintenance plus the possibility of a camp site fee.
New Zealand have noticed ever increasing numbers of low cost van / bus / truck dwellers we rent tiny studio wife wasn't coping with working and van life in morning's USD $180 per week for 20 square yard studio crazy rather upgrade to a truck we House sit too
After 7 years of living in without water & electric, with the average temps in the upper 90s, I think I’m ready. Now to find a van that doesn’t cost more than I can sell my place for…
I am definitely an introvert. I don’t mind being alone and am rarely lonely when I go camping. But I don’t live in my van. I think I would miss my family too much. I would never ever want to live in a city in a van. I need to be in nature. The truth is not negative or positive. It’s just the truth. I personally like the truth so thanks for that.
I'm renting a tiny off-grid place in the desert. 64 square feet. About the same amount space as a van. I have two dogs and Los Angeles rents are ridiculous. When my dogs pass i want to try van life. It will simply be a place to sleep when my dogs pass. (They're 13.) The van will basically be a place to sleep as I'll start working a lot more to put money away. Something is pulling me to do this. I have to do it.
I’m a quitter 😂 but it’s because of my daughter and her struggles as a single Mom and my role as a grandparent and the only living family she has (besides her kids). My hubby rigged a ProMaster with 1005watts of solar and lithium and a mini spilt. He doesn’t need propane, he has the microwave and induction burner. Mini split and Webasto. I traveled in my Prius with 100% climate control and never turned it off. But now I’m a quitter. 😂 but when he gets back after his 4 month journey out west, I’m gonna do my own Journey. I might go to Walmart and spend the night 🤣 I miss the life 🥰
I’m naturally introverted. It is very draining for me to be around other ppl. I’m empathetic & it takes a lot out of me to take on everyone else’s emotions/states of mind. I love spending most of my time alone. I’m in a location where it’s peaking at around 85 to 90 degrees in the day & at night cooling to the low 60s. I’m so glad I left texas this summer where it’s well into the 100s. So far I’m doing alright. I have a fridge so I can have cold water. And it has a freezer so I can even make ice & keep frozen foods. I have enough solar for the summer but when it gets cloudy I’ll have som issues. I may need to update my power over the winter though my fridge will also be less power hungry then.
I’ve gone on family road trips since I can remember. I love being on the road. And I never want to pay rent again. I’d like to save up to buy some land.
I got a Klos carbon fiber guitar for Summer travel .. it's pretty much impervious to heat, cold, and dry conditions. Other times I carry a inexpensive Breedlove that has a great tone .. I'm a finger picker and am usually in 'D' tuning. Understand about the lonely times. Traveled for years on a motorcycle by myself. I will go out for a few weeks at a time but I have a home base to come back to. 🤠
The wild card in the future is how hot the summers will continue to be going forward. If we have a cycle where temps are going to be extreme for several years that will push everybody into the higher elevations. Nomads, weekenders, vacationers, and summer residents will all be staking a claim on ground above 8000ft.
It's the same feeling riding motorcycle around the world. Lot of isolation. It's tough then you meet or find a place that makes it worthwhile. I've spent a lot of time alone oretty much with work on the road. Not what people think it is.
It definitely takes a unique person with skills to be able to van life. Y’all would be laughing if I was out there because I would have way too much stuff lol. Arizona is the place I would definitely try. This was a good video thanks.
I started in January in the city. Had a rotation of sleeping spots. I’ve been able to be on blm land since the summer started and have been part time city, part time dusty desert. Today is my first day that I’m about to make a go for one full week in a spot. I got my water, plenary of food, my plan for how I’m going to cook and everything I need for a restroom. I’m excited
Hey Matty - just got through watching the replay of Brian's livestream from last night, and you got a couple of great shoutouts. Hopefully, you'll get some new subscribers from it. Cheers!
What about getting you a generator and a little portable air conditioner that don't cost too much to run to keep your house cool there so it'd be nice and cool in your van the only need a generator big enough to run your air conditioner
City VanLife in one single city is the biggest challenge. "They will find you out ". Moving from city to city is much easier " I’m just passing thru". Doing a mix of city and country boondocks is the most interesting and is what I’m going to do. I love both nature and culture.
Thank you for being real. I've never been a city person. I wouldn't want to even think about city van life for more than a night or two even when younger. I love camping, but I don't think I could have done it younger. Mentally & physically, I think I could have, but I didn't want to give up my critters. Then I had kids, horses and/or other animals. As I got older, I've become less tolerant of weather extremes. The arthritis in my knees is more reliable than any meteorologist. Now, with my birds and physical limitations I couldn't do van life. Even a full RV would be difficult, though I'd love to travel. If I had it to do over, I think I might have tried it to travel and see more of the country. There are many things I would have changed. Some things I wouldn't have. I don't think hindsight is 20/20, but if I'd known back then what I know now....
Hello Matty thanks for sharing the cons of vanlife it's really a important subject. Question if someone was forced to live in their vehicle and had to work in the city and couldn't afford to rent a sticks in bricks what would you recommend doing I do believe the city vanlife would be very difficult. I guessing talking to the boss is a good idea as long as they didn't fire you. ps Eastern city's would be to tougher than city out west to vanlife? Thanks for you sharing your advice. Take care out there!
I don’t know why some people take to this lifestyle so easily and others don’t. You and I started at the same time and are of the same mindset. 5 yrs..went so fast. I still love being this free. Now every summer, I head the other way..up to the NY, NH, Maine area of the US…wonderful weather and not crowded…shhh..don’t tell anybody! Luv ya Maddie. See you soon in Quartzsite. ,
Havent followed you too long so maybe youve covered it before. But how do you make an income? If you feel thats personal that's fine I understand. You laid it out really well to some who may be considering that way of life.
Carolyn just put out a video with her theory of why people are quitting. She thinks it's not that it's challenging or hard or the weather. She thinks it's that after you master all the details like finding places to boondock, how to stealth park, how to handle all the practical matters including mechanical breakdowns, it's less of a challenge and more of a routine you're comfortable/confident doing. Like a job you've mastered, showing up every day to face only the same challenges you've had the previous 1000 days, it gets boring. Same stuff, even if in a different forest or desert. Just another beautiful sunset, another beautiful mountain, after you've seen a lifetime's quota of them. But of course, many people get weeded out by the workload of living on the road, before reaching the point of mastery and boredom. Personally, I think it's often just people mistaking an adventure phase of life, for a permanent change in lifestyle. Someone who craves a major change in lifestyle once, is pretty sure to crave another change at some point also. And then there's the swinging pendulum of bringing people into your life, and often finding it's not a permanent thing with most of them. Seeing old friends might recharge you, or might prove you've drifted apart for a reason.
It would be pure hell to have to go back to the vity for any extended length of time. A matter of a few days is enough. I lived and worked the biggest. No more. Good vid. People need to know and understand what it's like. Good job
I would still be out doing it if my heart was in better shape and it allowed me to go higher in elevation to escape the summer heat. don't think I woulda made it the 2yrs I did it if I had to do it in the city either or if I didn't have an extended and hightop van. i'm gonna be putting the old girl up for sell if ya know anyone looking.:)
Jerry I just talked about you on a video about 2 days ago! I mentioned you while I was thinking about how you mounted your solar over the high top...I didn't know you were having heart trouble very sorry to hear that. 🙏🙏🙏
I'm not worried either because it is a fad and people will get over it quickly. Looking for a place to park that is warm enough or cool enough is difficult and some people just will not want to deal with it. Vehicle repairs will devastate some people living on budgets. I've been out 1 year and absolutely love it! It is a little difficult at times, but won't change it any time soon! See ya down the road!!
@@valeriehancotte-galan4790 yeah thats kinda what I was getting at!! I really almost can't even afford living in my van but if I had known back in the day what I know now I would have been doing this along time ago its really for me a great way of living
I think it is laughable anyone would call Vanlife a “fad”. Tell that to someone who cannot afford rent. It’s the car/van or the street. Not everyone is doing it for fun and games. Many are doing it just to live.
I think I'll always want a home base, but I do want to build an adventure vehicle and spend some quality time exploring the country. I've spent most of my life on the East Coast, and I really want to explore the Midwest and the West. I will play the cards I'm dealt, as Rusty says.
Talking to a camp host this week, that is about your age, he thinks after us baby boomers are gone, that the rving lifestyle will die off. Why? Because of a lack of pensions. I,m betting he is right. Hope you’re making enough off you tube.
On my Van life journey, after being married for 35 years and being a responsible adult, my goal was to be a child and to deal with no responsibilities other than my job. Kind of worked for a while while healing.
I think as we get older our lives change. It is amazing to think about the work that I did. I have always been blessed to live within 3 miles to stores, pharmacy, 2 hospitals, etc. Worked was within 3 to 5 miles. I am very blessed to own my place. We have to count our blessings. I have been spending time In Tennessee. They have two Buc-ee’s now. One in Crossville and the other in Sevierville. I have been to both. Went to the grand opening to the one in Sevierville. Everyone was excited and hanging out there for that day. Matt, it was even broadcast on NBC Today Show the entire time segments!!!!
Have you considered a carbon fiber/composite guitar like the joytar, donner rising g, or the enya nova go? They're affordable and sound surprisingly good. I've had similar concerns living tiny. Most of my issues are related to condensation more than temperature changes. The ukuleles they make these days can sound great and are tiny compared to a guitar. I have a Lava U carbon fiber composite tenor scale ukulele that's nearly indestructible.
