Without Bound - Perspectives on Mobile Living (Documentary) 

After working for about 40 years, I retired and got killed in a divorce. I had to learn to live on less, and discovered, that everything I own actually owns me. I now live in an RV park, in a trailer, and have a small pickup. Everything is paid for. I have a much less stressful part time job and feel more free than I ever have. God is good.

1980s: "If you don't get your life together, you'll end up living in a van down by the river." 2020s: "If you get your life together, you might be able to live in a van down by the river."

Just turned 50 and decided to live in my truck and hike all the trails. Life is too short not to live it.

This doc was made 10 years ago (released in 2014), I am one of the Nomads. Well, I was. For 12 years. Then, in 2020, at 77 I decided to settle down and now have a very small 1BR apt in my home town of Vermont. I loved my years of traveling, lots of adventures and made many new friends. I keep in touch with most of them. Love that I have this video as a memento. Nomadland too. It is a wonderful life. But then I love my life now also. Just pay attention to the good. What you pay attention to you'll get more of.

All my life I ve wanted to live in a camper van for a summer, just one summer. But, my family always thought they knew best and discouraged me every time I mentioned it. My husband was only interested in sitting in front of the TV , then my children grew up and moved away and I got cancer so Im 65, facing illness and financial insecurity due to medical bills. The moral of this story is , do it now, enjoy life now, don't be stupid like me and wait til everyone else is happy and then you get the leftovers. Don't be me. Ive wasted my whole life doing for my family and working 50 hours a week and there has been NO reward for doing the "right" thing. Go , Now.

It was about three years ago that I first watch this film. About a year-and-a-half later I've moved into a van , now I've been living in a van full time for a year-and-a-half and I have no regrets

2015 my son, only child,20 drowned in a kayaking accident.( previously lost my mom to suicide after her 6 yr battle with mental illness,anxiety depression that meds didnt control) so after losing my son, nobody and nothing left, my life as i knew it all gone, no present no future, i never went back to my job of 26 years. I was sure i was just going to go to sleep and die, i wanted to. But i kept waking up, no longer fitting into any part of society, depression and anxiety stole my ability to function in this world. .. when i hit the road,left the home i raised my son in, the depression and anxiety lifted away, the nervousness that trying to live in a society i no longer had anything in common with, melted away, i am lucky because i have camped and my entire life, since digging worms with grandpa at 3 yrs old. All i need is the necessities, PEACE, freedom, and nature

I am 67, still working without retirement income, and if I lose my job due to age prejudice, I am reassured that there is a lifestyle for me.

Houseless, Not Homeless. ive been Van Dwelling in the UK for the past 3 years now, im able to work all over the country and i can wake up every morning to a different view. my bank account healthy and so is my soul. if you're thinking about this life style don't hesitate to give it a try, even if its just at the weekends to start with, i promise you wont regret it, my main tip would be is to learn what you NEED and what you WANT!

I Love that there's not a hot girl with tiny shorts and lushious hair in sight. This is real and raw! Older people, with so much wisdom and a wealth of stories. Love it!

Starting at about 15:03 - "...because this is what society tells me I'm supposed to do, with no possible payoff beyond going home to watch TV at night..." Hit the nail on the head. I've been feeling this exact same way lately.

I don’t want to give up my small house but Bob and the van dwelling community inspired me to get out of debt and live a more simple life. I’m a nurse and find the profession intolerable. So for the last three years I have clawed and saved and paid off a significant amount of debt. I hope to have my home paid off this summer. Then I will be debt free! Blessings to all. Update I paid off my home in April!

Wow. I go home from work every day in tears. I pray for a better way. To see others achieve it is phenomenal

I think this Documentary is 1000 times more relevant then it was when it first came out ....

These people are truly successful. I didn't hear one of them mention debt, they are the bankers worst nightmare. Living within your means, what a concept!

After I retired from truck driving, I made the easy transition into living in my van. I lived that way for nearly eight years, and now at 73 I’m going back to living in my van, to experience once again that sense of security and freedom that you can’t find anywhere else. If you have an inclination to do this, don’t let the chance go by.

Can’t believe the amount of people complaining about the music in this documentary. I barely noticed the music I was too focussed on listening to them and their experiences for my own research into vanlife 😁😁😁

When the woman said.... " I had a fire, but it wasn't my house that burned down it was my life" touched my soul. And I don't know what's more real than that.

My sister is doing this and is happier than she's been in years.

I'd rather live, than merely exist. I'm perfectly happy in my very unfinished van.

Happy to include myself with the nomads in this documentary. Free from stuff. Free from fear. Free from conformity. Free from living anyone’s else’s ideas but our own. Congratulations to us all. I hope our brothers and sisters out there will lighten up soon and come ride along with us.

What does a person really need? Sleep safe and warm, food and a way to clean you and clothes. Everything else is a blessing.

I am four years away from retirement and I rent a room and live alone, so thinking about my future after my working life is over, sitting in a tiny room all by myself all day and night frightened me. This video made me realize that I can live on the road and travel. There is hope if you are willing to think outside the box!

I come back to this video from time to time to watch again. I very much enjoy it.

This could be a documentary for today in 2024. Rent, food, gas, taxes … I see more people living like this.

About five or six years ago I saw this documentary… It was one of the motivating factors that inspired me to change my life. My wife and I lived in a 3000 square-foot home that we were finishing the renovation on, deciding to sell it and downsize our lives. We have lived in a sprinter van now for almost 5 years and we are so happy that we did it. We have gone and lived so much life in this time… I still work 8 to 10 months a year, but our life is so much more stress-free. We used to run a company with five employees and I was working 60 hours a week.. it was what society told me I needed to do to be successful. However I burned out and realized it really meant nothing. Now we gave up the comfort of life to live free, happy, and still comfortable in the 1% of the world.

I lived in a van for close to 2 years. My first night in the van was pure heaven. For the first time in my entire life, I had a fully paid house. I have no rent costs. No electricity costs. No property taxes. The peace I felt was indescribable. I slept like a contented baby. Water can be acquired anywhere. I got more time to myself. My income did not change. So I was saving the equivalent of my rent and electric costs every month. Think about that. On that first month, I bought a new phone. Then a new laptop. The rest of the time, I saved and ate out more at better places. NOT fast food. Once I passed 35, I became a porcelain plate restaurant goer. No more fast food for me. It was a good life. I enjoyed MORE of my money as a result of this lifestyle. Freedom is real with van life. Owning land is a farce, anyway. You can't have it forever. And the way titles are written, you really ARE just a glorified renter for life. That's it. Owned and tied to a post by the system.

I've lived in my van for 3 weeks now. Never been happier!

he hasn't worked in 35 years, I am definitely inspired

One of the greatest times of my life was when I lost a farm job I had in Colorado and left with only $700 in my pocket and drove on Highway 50 all the way from Colorado, across Utah and Nevada, and on to the Redwood Forrest in Northern California, camping along the way. I then drove up the California Coast to Oregon and Washington State, all the way across Idaho and Montana, and eventually back to my home state of Alabama, covering over 5,000 miles. This was around year 2000 or so, and I remember being able to fill my Saturn SL2 up with only $14 in gas. I could go 500 miles in that Saturn on that $14. Man them was some good times and the good old days. Wish they were still here.

I bought a piece of property on a lake After my divorce and I started living in a rv I absolutely love it !! Completely debt free,, it's amazing that every day feels like a Saturday and my money stays in my pocket !!

Wonderful video! We (my wife, 3 daughters and I), sold our houses, got out of debt, chucked my job in, culled 95% of our belongings, bought a 4x4 and new caravan and started travelling while doing house sitting. We have never looked back. What an awesome way of living. I earn money doing handyman jobs. From a family of happy campers in Australia!

I watched this documentary on our sticks and bricks back in 2016 to 2017, then on January 2018 the wife and I along with our three four legged companions are full-time rv dwellers on our 31 foot house on wheels. As of now, November 2023 and we are still going strong except with only one remaining four legged companion as the two has crossed to the other side during their rv living adventure. "Home is where we park it". "Take the less traveled path." Live life now, tomorrow may never come. Howdy, from the Nevada Desert!🤠🏕

Many thanks to Bob Wells for all that he has done. He is a tireless champion of the vandweller community and the world is a much better place because of his efforts!

I just wanted to put my 2 cents in... Back when this pandemic hit us I suddenly had to review my own life. I had started watching RU-vid for the first time and came across Bob's Cheap RV living. He blew me away! Suddenly I understood how our society has enslaved us with fear and consumption. We really have lost our way. Since than I have been working towards being a full-time Nomad. So far I have lived in a tent and now have an SUV that I'm converting into my mobile home. The world is changing so quickly and we ought to think carefully how we proceed. I choose to live as a nomad and do my art. Meet wonderful people. See incredible places. And most important I will be kind to everyone I meet. Love all you Nomads out there!

"The more you worry about what COULD go wrong...The less you think about what IS going wrong." Steve Ballee

Absolutely loved listening to the guy in the red floral shirt. He had some serious nuggets of wisdom tucked in there and seemed ridiculously down to earth.

I'm going to watch this every day until I make this lifestyle a reality for me!!! Such an inspiration!

this documentary probably has more meaning now in 2022 then it did in 2014

Bob still in the mix! You can't help liking him! Guess it's time for me to get out there asap before I'm white headed , and go meet him in Arizona ! God bless

I was laid off two months ago. I took what money I had and bought an RV to live in full time. Selling all my stuff is filling my savings fund and allowing me to renovate my rig. For now, I will camp host. This will allow me to live, save, and pay off student loans faster than I would have made paying rent on six figures. I have no idea what lies ahead but I am so excited about the bounty of options I have.

I am starting the nomad life within a year. I was an upscale chef for over 15 years . Im building a food truck. I need nothing but a van , my food boat & wilderness. I will travel to see friends , dojos , nature , play music & I can work security & sale good ole fashion Texas cuisine. I'm so ready. The rat race had me fooled. At 42 , I've now woke up

I made my fortune, but then chose to build a rural off-grid self-sufficient homestead, and travel in a converted cargo van. Best of both worlds.

Best line out of the whole documentary: “Not to seek love, but to be love.”

living on the road since 2005. under the radar.

i lived in my Ford Ranger camper for 7 years..and i lost so much fear i know i can do anything.

Thumbs up if you watched this with a big smile on your face like I did.

19:25 "The fruits of the Industrial Revolution ought to be liberty." I couldn't have said it better.

These old people rock!!

Been playing the work game for 35 years, career, mortgage and stress. This is my future

I’m a senior citizen who was displaced after hurricane Ian in Florida. It’s been several months, and there are ZERO affordable rents anywhere. I bought a ford transit connect. It has low mileage, but I’m really scared to even try to go on a road trip, and haven’t got a clue how to even BEGIN transforming it into a home. My time is running out…necessity is the mother of invention, so here’s hoping! Thank you for making this video!

Because I live in my SUV, I was able to retire this year at the age of 26. I started working at 14 and saved and invested religiously for a decade, so now I have enough savings to live the rest of my life this way (high 6 figures) since my costs are so ridiculously low. I am not homeless, I am houseless and I wouldn't have it any other way. I spend my days hiking with my dog, fishing, and meeting cool people. I spend my nights on my computer using my unlimited data to hotspot internet. I have never ben motivated by career, and my goal in life has always been to work as little as possible.

Peace, security, and happiness is a state of mind which does not depend on your belongings.

In 2013 my business went bankrupt. I had held on since the recession began and couldn't take it anymore. All I had left was my '56 Dodge pickup truck and a '63 Scotty camper. I left Pittsburgh with the intent to take a one-week road trip to visit a friend in Woodstock, NY. Half-way there, I made a left turn on a back road and just kept going and didn't return home for a year. I drove 17,000 miles with nothing but a Rand McNally map on the front seat. No radio. No air conditioning. No power steering. I intentionally stayed off the major highways and stayed on the back roads. You don't get to see America driving 75 MPH on a highway. You see it on the soft, white underbellies of this nation's back roads. The beautiful two lane roads that lead from one small town to the next. We have everything in America...the mountains, deserts, forests, beaches, and especially the beautiful people. Every bend in the road was another adventure waiting to happen another stranger to become friends with. Everyone I met...hundreds....were all special, kind people who had that same look in their eyes that said, "I wish I could do what you're doing". That year changed my life and it took a long time to get over. It's very hard to just "stop" once your journey comes to an end. Traveling like this can easily become an addiction, but a cleansing addition. The road can baptize you. I tell everyone, and I will tell all of you who read this.....get out there and do it before you die. No matter what it takes, just do it.

29:42 that poem that guy told was amazing

This video couldn’t have been more relevant today than it was 8 years ago….just wow

Love this video and have watched many times! Unfortunately, after divorce....I re-evaluated life....sold the house, tired of working 70-90 hour weeks, corporate corruption, etc....bought an RV and am about to celebrate 1 year living in an RV fulltime in the near future. I have more friends than ever before and live life to the fullest without worrying about materialism. Currently selling off remaining items and cant' wait to be free to just travel and enjoy life. I do work still but only 6 months out of the year and am 43 years old but enjoy life to the fullest! :)

Wow these are people I can relate too. I am 52 and live in a caravan in NZ because I refuse to pay the price of a rental flat . I think we waste so much energy and money in our big houses . I aspire to build a tiny home and be self-serfient in my retirement and live freely.

I've always been debt-free lived under my means. I rented a place for many years. I didn't want to buy a place to be tied down. I was the second best tenant my landlord ever had he would say. Put my landlord was a scum bag. But the more I did the worse my land lord got. After watching all these RU-vid videos of people living off grid. I was jealous and I wanted to do it so bad. And I knew if they could do it I could do it because as a teenager I was homeless for a while. And that's when I made it happen before covid I moved off grid and haven't looked back since. The only regret I have I wish I would have done it years ago!

Great documentary ! Fast forward to 2023 and how exponential have van dwellers and rv dwellers have grown. Many with families and young children in tow. Some go back to sticks and bricks. But the experience those children lived and their family, unforgettable memories 🎉

"The fruits of the industrial revolution ought to be liberty." This man has WISDOM.

This is not being homeless, it is being house-less.

I have lived in my van for the last 18 months but working in construction gives me little free time. After listening to these inspirational people I know exactly what needs to be done to regain my quality of life! Thankyou kindly! Dan from the UK

Been living out of my Prius with my terrierist for a year & a half and have never been happier. No debt, always out in nature, I work when I want, and at the moment sleep in as much as I want. Finally finished my first book and am shopping it around. Getting a house is not on my bucket list. The dog is happy and so am I. Living stress free and fancy free. Be a freethinker and live different.

I truly love all these people and wish them peace and happiness.

I usually fall asleep to RU-vid on quietly in the background. Tonight I started out somewhere on my massive Watch Later list and I woke up in the middle of the night on this one. I remember seeing it before, years ago, and I remembered the craving for freedom it nurtured in me. So nice to watch it again and see the constantly growing list of comments - some, helpful and joyful- and others... not so much. Doesn't it seem as if some people's freedom only extends to whining, arguing and making fun of others who are simply living by living simply? But that's OK... Freedom of speech is precious, too. I'm glad I stumbled upon this video again in the dark of the night; it fills me once more with that sweet longing for true freedom.

I'm watching this in December 2022, at least eight years after this documentary was first aired... nothing has changed. Gas is back up to $4++ a gallon, inflation is rampant to the point people can't feed their family, and we are still chasing the dollar with jobs paying wages that can't keep up.

This film is even more urgent and relevant in 2021. This lifestyle needs to be accepted and appreciated and validated by Society. Excellent and sensitive exploration of the people who do it and the philosophy that underpins it. You did it before 'Nomadland'!!

I think after my mother (92) goes to the Lord, I will embrace this lifestyle. It will enable me to do the things I am longing to do. I won't worry mom that is why I will wait. I want to bush craft. camp, travel our grand country. Thank you folks!!!

I'm 70 and seriously considering this. I take care of mom at present. Id rather die in the wilderness than in a filthy nursing home.

He said 9 years ago but the number of people without options are going to grow and eventually the government will have to listen. We're almost to that point in 2024! California is insane!

We live in a 30 ft shuttle bus and we bought an acre of land in a small desert town with a 3 year loan and it will be paid off in 7 months. We have ab awesome solar system that we can run anything off of and a generator and we dug a well. We will never have to worry about being homeless because everything is paid for in cash and we're only in our 40s. If you're willing to live simple you can retire at a much earlier age.

After a really bad divorce I lost my business and my home and now I live in my RV in an RV park in NC. I'm working on saving up for a little newer and bigger RV and a newer truck .. once I get to that point I'm hitting the road and going West like the old pioneers. What helps me through the grind of working every day and coming home for a few hours of down time before I have to go to bed and do it all over again is the excitement of the outcome I'm working towards. Not a house, new cars, etc. Just a decent running truck and a little nicer camper and enough money to hit the road and I'm gone!

Just bought my rv. Hitting the road in 3 weeks!

I come back to watch this every few months to keep my dream alive...

I don't believe this lifestyle is something I can do. But it is comforting to know that it is an option if all goes bad.

i am 78 yrs old and working on paying off all my bills right now next year this time i well get a trailer and hit the road just me and my dog have no idea were i well be going well be doing lot of sight seeing

I live in a rv next to a river. Can’t think of a better life than this.

This is one of the first videos I had seen before I started my new life in the car. I had been a bit unsure back then, because society tells you you should be afraid to live in the car, that it’s uncomfortable and that people will pity you. Only when I stopped listening to society and started listening to my heart, I realized that I had finally discovered how to live my life with the freedom to go wherever I want.

These people really have it made! Im prepping for freedom.. Ive had enough of working for nothing..

I grew up on a sailboat traveling with my parents . I loved it and we were very happy . When I was a teen we came back to the states and I tried to find my place in a structured society ,it never really worked well for me and have always wanted to go back to a more nomadic way of life. This documentary really hit home for me and the thought process of these individuals makes me feels not so out of place .. Thanks :)

Avoid the 40/40/40 scam. Where you spend 40hours a weeks for 40 years helping someone else get rich then try and live on 40% of what already wasn't enough for the rest of your life. Follow a dream. No one dreams of labor for someone else...

Been living tiny for years.These lovely people just inspire me

156 real estate agents disliked this.

Thank you to everyone that was part of this awesome film! Props to all the cool vibes. I have 4 years until my daughter graduates and I’ll be joining you all. We live in a 500sq ft cabin now. You are all incredible!

Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose --Janis Joplin

I turned a school bus into an rv and lived in it for a few years. good times

“The fruits of the industrial revolution oughta been liberty.” Best quote of this documentary... to me

I'm 47. I pay my taxes, raise my kids, work fulltime, obey, and keep my mouth shut... but I've had enough. I deserve their lifestyle, and I'll be there in less than 10 years.

I wish I had seen this Documentary when I was 40. Now it it time to start.

The lady singing and playing the guitar 🎸 brought my heart Such JOY! Thanks Beautiful Lady.

Watching in 2021, Bob has helped so many people & I can see the happiness in him today, he's come a long way. He's such a great human 🙂

Even if van life isn't for you, the characters in this doc have some good wisdom about valuing experience and friendships over material wealth or social status. Great doc!

I don’t want to be in the rat race anymore. A bigger house, newer car, fancier watch isn’t worth it. I’m happy I realized this before it’s too late

Watching January 2023, things are even more out of whack than when this great film was made. This group of folks really found meaning in the simple stuff.

I think it’s different for different people. You can not really tell anyone what would be right for them. Some people like having the security of walls and doors while others are content with living in vans. So what we actually need to do is let everyone be and appreciate whatever choices they make for themselves as long as they are happy and not hurting anyone.

"If you have a dream chase it" absolutely agree, just make sure it really is your own dream not what someone else wants for you, or worse what you are guessing they want or what media of any kind makes you feel your dream should be. Maybe it is living off grid, or perhaps it's something totally different, let's respect each others choices.

What you said at the beginning is ole so true. I spent the last 15 years living way off grid in the mountains. I'm 68 now and i had to move into an apartment a month ago cause of my health. I feel like I'm in a prison. I don't think i can continue living here. I'd rather take a chance on my health and die in the woods than live here. No freedom whatsoever. I can't believe how many camera's are everywhere. I'm going back to the woods.

Nothing is wrong about living in a van, and being free thinking 😎😎😎 I bless you all

In the nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland) we have 'Right of Public Access'. In other words 'the public has access to private land where no damage is likely to result and prohibition would be unreasonable'. You can camp anywhere you want. The nature is available for everybody. You can pick berries in the woods, fishing, climbing or hiking in the mountains of the north etc. There's no trespassing anywere. (With a few exceptions like peoples gardens, military areas and suchlike of course). :-)