As a part-time van dweller, I agree with your assessment 100%. I have the luxury of having sticks and bricks home to return to and a van to live in. So much of van life is a readjustment. Things that you take for granted, like running water or endless electricity, become precious resources. My tiny fridge limits what I can buy, and my small space (I can cook in the van) makes me reluctant to cook elaborate meals instead of a grilled cheese sandwich or scrambled eggs. I'm an introvert, but I still need people; sometimes, I travel solo and must readjust to that. I reorient my thinking to what I have rather than what I'm missing. A poor cell connection frees me (I'm retired, so I don't have to worry about a job) from constantly watching "cat videos." When all is said and done, I love my vanlife time. I feel like I'm 12 years old again. I have that fantasy fort or tree house I never had as a kid. I love that I can make do without significant suffering in the van. Do I need a complete set of knives? My pocket knife does almost everything, from cutting vegetables to spicing wires. Big screen TV? Well, I have a phone and an iPad. Microwave oven? Actually, I have a small microwave oven. It is fantastic that I have found ways to live with so little and not feel deprived. The simplicity gives me peace. All lifestyles have their pluses and minuses.
fantasy fort/treehouse analogy is probably the BEST way to explain this lifestyle. yeah, it’s the minimalism as well that i fell in love with. i should have talked a little about that in this video. i loved that i shed the things in life that were just weighing me down. the things i owned, ended up owning me. it’s a rewarding lifestyle, you just have to know that you’re giving up while you’re gaining so much. thanks for watching and commenting!
It’s good to see someone explaining the real world challenges of living on the road. Lots of folks say that “it must be nice” to live this way, but in reality they would never be okay with the sacrifices required.
Great video about reality of van life. As a senior on social security I can't afford rent, and have lived out of my Sienna and my storeroom for almost 4 years now. I stay in the same area, so not a nomad, but I can relate to everything you described. One issue with being static is that people start to see you around and realize that you are "homeless." That can create issues as there is a lot of prejudice against this lifestyle. You have to have a thick skin!
Don't allow people to think you are homeless. You have a mobile home. A miniature rv. If someone denigrates your style of living, tell them when they start paying your rent or mortgage, they can say what they want. Until then, their opinions really don't matter.
oh, i have Planet Fitness for the showers. but they get very desolate out west in some places. i’ve gone as long as 5 weeks before seeing one again. hotspot from your phone isn’t good for video uploading. and the cell phone companies don’t tell you that’s it’s limited high speed. i actually just got a notice today from TMobile that i’ve already reached my 50gb for the month and i still have 2 weeks left in my billing cycle before it resets. until i can afford Starlink (which isn’t always great either), i have to find strong WIFI or i’ll be uploading a 2 minute project to a client for 8hrs. sometimes, it just is what it is. thanks for watching though and commenting
Thx for the honest review of living in a car. So many unhoused people do it without much of a choice; unfortunately now a lot of people who work can't afford or find sticks and bricks living spaces, so too, are living and working from a car. We work with an aid agency in our local area, and it seems important now to us, that when buying a vehicle, we need to look at it from the point of view of being a possible home in times of financial or lack of housing stress. One TH-camr recently said he would never buy a car that he couldn't sleep in - wise words. We have a Rav and sleeping in that is very comfortable. We have a backpacking background, so really treat the Rav as a tent on wheels; backpacking teaches us to keep stuff to a minimum. The more crap we have in our car when travelling, the more annoying it is. Moving stuff to get at what you want is damn annoying. A backpacking stove allows you to at least boil water on a rainy day, so we can have cups of soup and reheated stuff from the fridge. We put down a fireproof blanket and crack the window to allow the fumes etc. to go out. Cooking a full meal, not a good idea in the car as everything stinks of the meal for sometime afterwards. When loading the car to go away for a month or so, it really is just the backpack with the usual backpacking clothes and needs, plus another small daypack of extra clothes. We don't do the table and chair thing; we just have a ground sheet that we lay down near the back wheel and sit on that, leaning up against the wheel of the vehicle. Quite comfortable. A backpacking tent (2 person) is also useful in inclement weather as an extra space when in the countryside. Less stuff, less hassle.
yeah, all great points. the subaru and Rav are basically the same. the subaru is actually really comfortable as well. and you’re right, having backpacking knowledge is incredibly useful to know what’s ACTUALLY useful to have and what’s not. i actually have a small electric kettle too. i talk about it more in my next video coming out after this (in roughly a week from now). i think about going back to a city nearly everyday and then realize that i literally couldn’t afford it. they just price people out. you have to nearly make six figures now a days just to afford a small apartment. it’s no wonder more and more people are turning to this lifestyle. tasks for watching and commenting!
There are definitely days that will test you but i have often found places that have all the amenities I need, where i can hunker down and call home for 14 days. Depending on your traveling speed, I have found that you can have more relaxing days than rough days if you stay put in a good spot.
very true! there’s been lots of times when i stay in a town longer than i thought- cause it has everything i need. a lot like the town i’m in now. haha. thanks for watching and commenting
Little tip I have done many times heavy snow or rain pull into a car wash, no one will be using it in the snow preferably with a convince store next to it, use restrooms maybe buy a coke or such use the roof of the car wash to stay nice and dry open up the back of your car cook as normal under the roof of the car wash i have spent up to 4 hours parked under them with no one bothering e at all
my sentiments exactly. I just don't have the $ for that. wish I did, but I don't. by sharing this video and liking it, it helps put some $ in my pocket to fund that dream however.
@@edwardbyrd7667 You are gonna find the whole thing goes much much smoother once you have a tarp or easyup. Tarp more work but MUCH more versatile. Also it seems to me you move too much. Park it for a few weeks & get a nice camp up. Saves a deal of money. New mexico BLM south of durango is nice. Are you riding? Find a BLM spot & only move to hit the area parking lot before a dump. Navajo lake state park, ride at wolf creek. Good stuff. Durango for girls. Pagosa for nice people. Shit, if you just wanna ride & have nice weather, that's the entire snow bird cycle: stay at Navajo lake for cheap, only move to shop or park at wolf creek pre dump. Or purgatory. Or telluride. Spring fall summer up there are great. Best hiking in N AM.
I am a 4 season nomad also. Use a Dodge Grand Caravan. Not sure what is worse really hot or cold weather. Probably cold is worse for me. I had a biddy heater before but never really used it. For cooking you could try one of those lunch box cookers like you see at the truck stops. Basically a slow cooker. I just put mine back in the van. I have property so I can switch gear when the seasons change. Happy if I find a town with a Mall for inclement weather exercise.
mall: exercise! done that before. yeah, hot and cold have their advantages/disadvantages. Cold: more comfortable to sleep but numb toes and fingers. Hot: way more uncomfortable to sleep but can put my chair down to take in the view for a while or go for a hike
Having lived in a van and now an Arvtic Fox RV, your very descriptive story is sobering, if not depressing. I don't know how you do it... you have the patience of a saint! God bless you!
haha.... well, like they say... you do what you love, you never work a day in your life. (thats not true- I work VERY hard! haha)' thanks for watching and commenting!
Thank you for a realistic presentation of this lifestyle, very much appreciated that you don't sugar coat the nomadic life, nor use click bait. The rewards are greater and fully savored, enjoyed, felt thoroughly because you consciously put in much more effort into making your life pleasant and meaningful. You sound like you don't take anything for granted, you have devised ways of making it work, you also have become resourceful and clever about how to make every moment count. I do this only part time but will be going full time next year (I have a full SUV, not a van) I slowly got used to it, modified placement and organisation in the car, changed my ways of doing things, learned to be more efficient, and will certain redo my build in a more practical manner. I have one advantage as I paint & draw, and can do this any time anywhere, for any length of time, never getting bored because there's always something new to learn and improve LOL. So maybe take up a hobby ? Thank you so much for this down to earth review. 👍😉🤸♂️
awe, thank you you’ll figure what works for you full time. bring a part-timer, you’re already ahead of the curve. hope my lil channel helps. i have a rig tour video and another on just getting into this lifestyle, if you find them helpful: th-cam.com/video/8SuYKuyuNCI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=GnUvTrVxStXOVPu0 th-cam.com/video/Z3XDMezMmO0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=-20hBjLYiw8nnmA0
Hi there, thank you for this video. It is always nice to see the real side of vehicle dwelling. My heart is still on the open road, but for now, I have to deal with my reality. I pray you have safe journeys and happy trails
I appreciate your honesty about the struggles of living in a vehicle. It’s not always easy, but your perspective on making the most of what you have is inspiring.
Subscribed and liked to help out. I've only done short term stints in my truck camper with my wife and our pup, but I have a sense for what you're talking about. Also, doing long distance/long term cycling tours presents similar problems. I have big sympathy for the car/van/camper/cycling folk. You run a tight ship, and one thing we can all do to help each other is to be super courteous to the people and businesses we encounter and leave campsites SPOTLESS. Clean up after others. Make the space you leave look fantastic for the next person who needs it. Great work and keep the faith!
Hey man, Great video, Now living in my van full time, I think it's even more mind blowing you are doing what you do! It ain't easy. lots of love, Caro and Tim
Best rundown of what it’s really like! Personally, I think the whole cooking thing is just unnecessary work. We can eat perfectly healthy without cooking a 3-course dinner on a full stove, oven, and microwave like some people do! Simplify! 🤓
oh thank you!! Means so much!! I try to convey what it's like out here while also giving some entertainment for you guys. really means the world to get that kind of feedback. thank you!
@@EscapingNormalLife you are very welcome, praying that your videos will reach more viewers because it’s really worth and entertaining every minute of it!
I can completely relate on the crowds issue! I'm not a vanlifer yet (picking up my van tomorrow ... hopefully), but I am a homebody for the most part. Other than work that is. Large crowds not only give me some anxiety, they also leave me mentally and emotionally drained. I can't explain why, but they always have. It's nice to know that I can look forward to it only get worse when I go full time on the road. lol
haha yeah, i guess i don’t paint a good picture do i. haha. sorry. most days are actually amazing. i spent thanksgiving in Zion for example and that’s only because i didn’t go to the Grand Canyon. so, some days are more a dream vacation. you just have to know what you’re signing up for. set expectations and you’ll find your groove. that’s probably the hardest part- finding YOUR groove. everyone does it a tad differently. enjoy it when you get out here. you’ll be living a life so many dream of. don’t take it for granted. thanks for watching and commenting
I just stumbled upon your channel, that full speech you gave on this video inspired me to subscribe to your channel, looking forward to your next one and I’m about to watch the other ones you’ve posted.
Thank you for sharing the realities of the nomad life style. Simple things like washing your hair, brushing your teeth or doing dishes take on a whole new challenge. I continue to learn from your channel.
oh my gosh- they really do! the simplest things take SO much more planning. it’s a very rewarding lifestyle, but you have to know what you’re signing up for. thank you for watching and commenting
amen to it all‼️ We are constantly challenged even in a home or van or big truck and that's a good thing to be challenged. so why not be out among nature enjoying it while you're being challenged? I spent 140,000 for a new airstream that poisoned me I lived in my diesel truck for a year. That really tested me. I thought I could run my diesel truck all night and I did because it kept me warm in the winter and cool in the summer using very little diesel but the exhaust system clogged up so there's always challenges. excellent video I enjoyed it very much stay safe and continue to have fun. Have a blessed day
Awesome and super informative video! Am also a fellow Subaru dweller, sure I am not stating anything you don’t already know -but for the rest, there are a TON of options for cooking/eating inside when weather is not ideal! Cold soaking, soups, salads, rehydrating foods by simply boiling water, etc, etc... Canister stoves are a great investment and easy to use inside the car - with caution and ventilation of course! In fact, backpacking gear in general works really well in this lifestyle as we share many of the same principals…Will save you a boat load of $$$ on the long (and short) run as opposed to eating out every time when weather is bad! Cheers & happy travels!
hey! yeah, i actually have an electric kettle and use it often for dehydrated meals. i actually had filmed a section where i talked about how i use that kettle and then completely forgot to use it in the video. oh well. thanks for watching and commenting!
Yeah, I've looked into it a little, but its very expensive and I can't afford it. Nor do I have the room to store it (even the mini version). Plus, Starlink is NOT always reliable. I've read that some people only get 12mbps down. thats not great. especially for video uploading. a lot of full time TH-camrs I watch actually say it takes them all night to upload content using Starlink. plus, it wont work under trees (you have to have a clear shot of the sky). Sometimes I camp in national forests because you can stay there up to 14days. it's an option for those that can afford it, but its not the best solution unfortunately. thanks for watching though and commenting!
@ My husband and I live in a small car too. We’ve been living a nomadic life for eleven years - THIS time around! We’re saving up to move to Thailand, God Willing. We’re senior citizens and can’t afford to live here any longer. Love and All Good Things, Jesse.🌹
@@jesseleighbrackstone852 oh wow- Thailand! Nice! I almost went to Thailand and was planning it out in December 2019 to go in Spring/Summer of 2020, and well.... you know the rest there. enjoy! I cant afford to live anywhere else either
@ Thailand visas are expensive, which is why we need to save up before we go. It’s going to cost us $110,000 for the two of us, and we have to leave that money in a Thai bank.🙄 Trudeau is trying to pass a law that says we have to pay a $50,000 exit tax for the two of us. He’s trying to keep us all poor and imprisoned! Bastard! Sorry, but that’s the least hostile word I can think of when describing him! Blessings! 🙏🏻 Jess.🌹
Thank you very much for this very useful and well-made video! WoW! Good job! 👏👏👏 Thank you for also showing some wonderful scenery that I will probably never see in my life! 💐❤️🙏 #LoveAmerica
Eric, I don't know how you cook outside. I lived in my Forester for 7 years and would just climb out of bed in the back into the front seat and then use a single burner stove in the other front seat, fix coffee and breakfast. Not set foot outside until after breakfast and coffee. The stove inside helps to warm up the car, too. I get it living on the road and traveling. There are challenges, but life isn't monotonous and just going through the paces. I never eat out and haven't eaten out in decades, too expensive.
i actually go into my cooking setup a bit more in my next video (be out in roughly a week). i’ve had a few people ask about my cooking setup. maybe i’ll do a dedicated 5 minute video about it. it’s actually a pretty simple setup.
@EscapingNormalLife I guess a lot of people have a setup where they cook outside. It just seems to work better for me to cook inside out of the wind, rain, and cold. I've always had a setup for cooking inside.
@@EscapingNormalLife There's always a pole or a tree + your truck. The trick is to stop for large rocks or larger logs if you know you'll be somewhere w/ no dirt. You really only need 2 since you can "stake it to the car" on one end. It's a lot like stopping for rocks/logs for your crapper if you don't carry a bucket. Something to keep in mind your last 2 hours on the road. Another alternative is to use heavy stuff for a temporary tie down - cooler/dometic + gear box say. or start low on the post/tree & go high at the truck by mounting your hiking poles to exend higher. 6 months & you'll be really good at this. Be creative. If you backpack, only use a tarp. I learned through necessity.
Good to have a video of what it is really like out there. I first started cooking out the back of my Hyundai Santa Fe and then on a table outside when it was too windy, raining or cold. That didn't last long as was a pain in the butt. I want to be able to do everything inside, at least to boil water for coffee and oatmeal. I love waking up and making breakfast right from my warm bed. I use a portable lunch box I can charge while driving plugged in solar generator or car 12 volt plug called a Hot Logic Mini. They have a 12 volt or 110 outlet and I just love it and it is a total game changer. Nothing like pulling in a spot and having a hot lunch or dinner ready to eat with no prep or clean up. I've even taken it when I fly somewhere to travel and cook in 12 volt rental car plug. I just pick up a prepackaged meal at the grocery store or make my own. Yeah the long nights really do suck. LOL I walked through a Walmart before to kill time and be out of the elements, ha ha. I'll have to try REI next time. Agree it is not easy, everything is new and changes at different stores and cites. I can't wait though to give it a try, setting up my 4Runner right now and house will be gone early next year. I really can't be around many people either in places, it really freaks me out. I just want things quiet and calm. Thanks for being real and giving people and idea of what it is like out there, good things to think about before taking the leap to fulltime.
did a little video about how to get started in Vanlife if you’re interested also, one on “why it’s good to travel solo”: th-cam.com/video/Z3XDMezMmO0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=sQ4TyxTeelmMs3rk th-cam.com/video/cjzV0PVmMOM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=nqHH8bYUTwgaGJ3s
I moved out of a city of over 100K to an unincorporated community of just over 1K - we have to go into bigger cities for shopping and I have difficulty with crowds now, as well. Safe travels
Had Subaru in the 80's, great except for wearing out universal joints. Bob Wells has just got a Forester to live out of so you're on the money. Wouldn't mind another Suby, but I'll probably end up with a Van because I need to store bicycles. Great to see how you live :)
oh really, Bob Wells has a subaru? i haven’t watched his stuff in a while. man, i would LOVE a good van. just not in my finances right now. one of these days. if this video gets liked and shared enough, then it helps put $ towards my desired setup. thanks for watching and commenting!
oh yeah, i’ve noticed those are pretty popular in the nomad community. actually have some really cool setups in those! thanks for watching and commenting
Great video. I’m going to be hitting the road next month - I’ve been in the same region for years - so I’ve been looking at vanlife meetups to attend next year. Have you done any? Any you recommend? That would be a great video topic and I haven’t seen anyone do it.
yeah, try downloading the app Seker. it helps nomads find nomad events and connect with other travelers. i went to Schoolie Palooza in Quartzite, AZ in 2022 and it was so much fun. met some amazing people that i still talk to today. Ascend on Bend is supposed to be another great event
Good video thanks. I'm a remote video editor as well (Premiere Pro). How in the world do you move 4K video files thru Mcdonald's or Starbucks wifi? I tried it for about a day and realized it was next to impossible. I eventually went with software to remote in to my employer.
haha- its not always easy. the one I tried this morning would have taken HOURS to upload my latest video. but I've been lucky and hit a few that had 200mbps down and like 75up. sooo.... goess they're definitely hit and miss
I work remotely. I am a freelance video editor. If you or anyone you know needs a video complted for commercial, personal or social, let me know. you can check out my Fiverr profile and contact me with any questions www.fiverr.com/s/WE6X3D5
Luckily my stint was a 10 mile drive to work 10 miles to "camp " For 10 years.. never got hassled until last year .. to many people trying to survive in their vehicles now.. ended up in a studio (pure luck) so sold the van and just trying to acclimate to having neighbors again.. so it's indoor survival..😅
i find that i’m basically living that way now a days. get to a new city. spend a week working and then move along. but you’re right, it’s getting harder cause there’s fewer and fewer places to sleep at. luckily, the last few towns i’ve been to- there’s BLM just a few miles away. but sometimes even those are being taken away. ugh. thanks for watching and commenting!
I actually got a CDL and started driving a truck so I could live in a truck (and have a company pay for fuel). I have a van but there's no way I could sleep in there in the Texas summer
oh wow! yeah, i’ve thought about driving a truck a few times in my life. get to see the country AND get paid for it. yeah, nice! thanks for watching and commenting
I am! haha. heading south right now for the winter. next video will show why. I wish I had the $ to invest in a van. but gotta work with what I got at the moment. I hope this video helped you in your future adventures! its rewarding being able to travel full time thanks for watching and commenting
Great video , I have been contemplating this , tired of the rat race , main thing for me is financing myself, coming out of the 8hr grind , I have a pick up truck, thought about getting a cargo trailer , i do like the outback though
pickup and slide in camper is my dream home. there’s a lot of used ones out there. even if you get a pop-up one for weight and cost. i’ll tell you this much- i had this dream for over 20 years. i would watch endless others vanlife it online and get jealous and think to myself “how can i make this happen?”. it was that first step, that was absolutely the hardest. to commit to it all and just “go for it”. i planned what i could and figured out what i couldn’t. after that first step was taken- the rest of it just fell into place. it felt like it was meant to be. finances are the hardest part i’ll admit but, this is not an unobtainable lifestyle. here’s what i did to make sure i would even like living in my car. i did a one month road trip across the country from FL to UT and visited all the parks out there. i tent camped some nights and slept in my car others. it gave me a taste of what its like to have to find a new place to sleep every night, find showers every 5 days, find fresh drinking water and if i can even lay down in my car. after just 2 weeks i was hooked. give yourself a trial run and see how much you like it and think you can make it happen. where theres a will, theres a way. thanks for watching name commenting
So I’ve been researching this lifestyle and even with your type of vehicle. Have you ever thought or even have room for the Joolca shower? Can you mount it on the side somehow? Great content btw. Thx!
i actually have a road shower. steel tube on top of the car that gets heated up by the sun. but i had to drain it a few weeks ago. literally turned to ice during a recent storm. thanks for watching and commenting
this is my first vid of yours! loved it. when I semi-retire I would like to do some van-life travel in the US. But, knowing the reality of how hard it can be is really important. I'm sure you've thought of it, but are unlimited 4G phone plans tethered not enough data for you/reliable enough? I see you mentioned starlink being too pricey for now and bulky.
yeah, unfortunately the thing the cell phone companies don’t tell you about personal hot spot, is that it’s not UNTHROTTLED unlimited. meaning, once i hit my hotspot fast speed limit (depends on your plan- but can be 5g-50g), that they do give you unlimited internet after that but it’s slooooow. way to slow to download 4k video for a client. i had to learn the hard way on that. i even have 2 lines to get more data, and still burn through them both. for me, finding strong, unlimited wifi where i can sit down and have a desk to work at, works the best for right now. but, maybe in the future i’ll have funds to look at starlink or other alternatives. thanks for watching and commenting!
Just curious, you mentioned you don't have the $ for a van or larger vehicle, but have you considered financing and using section 179 to write off the car. As you are a digital nomad, that would not be unreasonable. Not sure how you've structured your business (LLC or simply a schedule C filer) but the tax savings might cover the car payments. I've been a solopreneur for many years and set up my LLC 6 years ago. As I have the flexibility of also working remotely, I got myself a 4WD that I'm setting up for remote travel/work and will be using section 179 to write-off a portion that I use for work. Not giving any tax advice, but you may want to talk to a professional tax CPA see if this could make sense for you.
no, it was actually harder with the teardrop. just more to think about and drive with, especially now that i’m out west and mostly sleep on BLM land. the roads can get kinda nutty pulling a trailer. i actually filmed a small section for this video where i talked about why i sold the teardrop and just went with the car, but it felt ‘unnecessary’ and i thought people would want me to just “get to the point”, so i edited it out. but you’re not the first one to ask if i miss the teardrop. may have to do a dedicated video about why i got rid of it and why i like this setup better. thanks for watching and commenting!
Heyyy speaking of marinating chicken lol, you oughtta try tossing the chicken around in the bag with just a generous squirt of DIJON mustard before cooking, 🥘❤🎉yum!
I would love starling, however it's quite expensive. money has been tight lightly. and the car is a realllly tough place to try and put that thing in. even the mini versions are quite large to carry around. one day though. thanks for watching and commenting!
@@EscapingNormalLife I use Verizon Home Internet and use a Bluetti to power works flawlessly everywhere I go. $60 a month unlimited. Not sure how well it work for 4k videos though. Just used a home address to set it up and don't remember if they mailed it my PO Box or I might of used a hotel I was staying at back then.
Brother- I love the car looking for similar in a few months: about people , where to go etc , why dont you just book yourself into a backpacker every now & again for the human touch_ they are cheap you meet like minded people and get a bit of a home life every now & again...
Dude-why are you so attached to “cooking” all of your meals? There are lots of cold or cold soaking options that taste great and do the job (nourish you). With an additional pinch of creativity you can save a lot of time. Just curious why you don’t consider some additional meal options?
i actually do those a lot. i have an electric kettle and use that for dehydrated meals. and i’ve done overnight oats in the past too. i’m just more of a “real food” kind of person. i actually had filmed a small section where i talked more about my electric kettle and how i use it when the weather is bad, but then completely forgot to use it in the video. oh well. i’ve had lots of others ask me about my cooking setup, so i’m probably going to make a video dedicated to how i cook and eat on the road. thanks for watching and commenting!
@ Each has gotta do his own “thang”. For me, eating is just a nourishment necessity. I used to try to some cook meals, but it was too much of a drag to cook and clean up, so I guess I’m more of an eating minimalist. Roll on and continue to “dine fine” if that suits ya!
Wow! Congratulations this video has over 3,000 views! And since honeymoon is over, you are growing soo much on this reality! The freedom you have is awesome and sometimes not knowing what coming up is an adrenaline rush too! You were ment to live this way. And hey if you dont feel like doing it any more you can always do something else. This is the freedom you have to choose. Most people dont have this luxury. You are an inspiration for many, many people! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
i’m from FL. everything goes back there. great question about mail. i actually made a video about that a while back: th-cam.com/video/mtpwQ2wvpjs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=5BB6kyWDTbO3NB0t
Sleeping on the side of a busy road, to me that's poor planning. Also you took the time to have a good mic. Only to play stupid music in the background.
He's doing this 24-7-365. Just like you're not perfect, neither is he. Sometimes it's poor planning. Sometimes crap happens. When you're so perfect you levitate, post a video for the rest of us. Negative plant person is right about the music. Please don't play music when you talk. There's a reason popular vanlife channels don't play music anymore. It's annoying.
hi. you can’t plan most days in this lifestyle. i’m in new places every single week. and in the beginning, i was in new places every 2-3 days. and while i do plan and look ahead on apps like iOverlander to find out if others have found places to sleep near a place i’m headed to, the reality is sometimes those places don’t exists anymore. already have someone sleeping there or now have a sign saying “no overnight parking”. ever been to Taos, NM? Alamosa, CO? Monowi, NE? driven all of HWY 1 in CA? or the coast of OR? all of TX? WI? IA? these states/areas are either full of big cities, private land, or are LITERALLY just a hwy that travels for hundreds of miles. unless i want to sleep in a big city and take my chances with getting the knock or sleep at a busy loud walmart with lights on in the parking lot all night, then i don’t have a lot of options. especially when there’s private land everywhere else. do you know how many signs are dotted along the roads that say “no overnight parking”? unless you’re looking for them, there’s a lot. you have to go with what you see sometimes in this lifestyle. do you know how many times it’s already gotten dark before i’ve even had a chance to look up a place to sleep? either because i had to work all day, run errands or drive to my next destination? lots. too much in fact. sleeping on the side is A) safe (no one will most likely mess with you), B) usually has cell service (since i’m solo, i prefer to only sleep in places where i have cell in case of an emergency- like i did in ID, when my car wouldn’t start), C) what i can see in the dark that has no “no parking sign” and isn’t on private land. ask any full timer on here- Christian Schaffer, Niki Deventhal, Drew Simms, Nathanial Wise, Bob Wells, Victoria Rose. even part timers like Tristan from SUV RVing. they’ll ALLLLL tell you, you will be sleeping on the side of the road sometimes. because that’s all that’s available sometimes. also, my microphone is $19. it’s not good. i have to do a LOT in post to take out the wind. so much, that i didn’t think i could even use some shots in this video. the music in the background A) helps mitigate the annoying wind sound and B) invokes an emotion i’m going for in the shot. music sets a tone and fills the scene with a reaction. if you take a moment and think about your absolute favorite scenes in a movie, i’ll bet they were impactful to you because of the music being used in the background and how it made you feel “connected” to the scene. with that said, i take creative criticism and consider it in the future. thank you for pointing out an area where i can do better.
@ I live out of my minivan. While I’m not sleeping on side anyone’s road - too many high/drunk and texting people for me and I don’t mind parking lots - there are way too many variables to always have things planned out. Vanlife means going with the flow at a minimum 50% of the time, usually more like 80%. We make plans and the Universe laughs.
It’s not because you’re in a car, silly. It’s because you’re in a vehicle and not planning your stopovers. Small vehicles like cars may be easier to prepare food outside but most people plan cold meals when outside isn’t an option. Planning??? Silly video.
As a part-time van dweller, I agree with your assessment 100%. I have the luxury of having sticks and bricks home to return to and a van to live in. So much of van life is a readjustment. Things that you take for granted, like running water or endless electricity, become precious resources. My tiny fridge limits what I can buy, and my small space (I can cook in the van) makes me reluctant to cook elaborate meals instead of a grilled cheese sandwich or scrambled eggs. I'm an introvert, but I still need people; sometimes, I travel solo and must readjust to that. I reorient my thinking to what I have rather than what I'm missing. A poor cell connection frees me (I'm retired, so I don't have to worry about a job) from constantly watching "cat videos." When all is said and done, I love my vanlife time. I feel like I'm 12 years old again. I have that fantasy fort or tree house I never had as a kid. I love that I can make do without significant suffering in the van. Do I need a complete set of knives? My pocket knife does almost everything, from cutting vegetables to spicing wires. Big screen TV? Well, I have a phone and an iPad. Microwave oven? Actually, I have a small microwave oven. It is fantastic that I have found ways to live with so little and not feel deprived. The simplicity gives me peace. All lifestyles have their pluses and minuses.
fantasy fort/treehouse analogy is probably the BEST way to explain this lifestyle. yeah, it’s the minimalism as well that i fell in love with. i should have talked a little about that in this video. i loved that i shed the things in life that were just weighing me down. the things i owned, ended up owning me. it’s a rewarding lifestyle, you just have to know that you’re giving up while you’re gaining so much.
thanks for watching and commenting!
It’s good to see someone explaining the real world challenges of living on the road. Lots of folks say that “it must be nice” to live this way, but in reality they would never be okay with the sacrifices required.
it definitely has its pros and cons
that’s for watching and commenting
Great video about reality of van life. As a senior on social security I can't afford rent, and have lived out of my Sienna and my storeroom for almost 4 years now. I stay in the same area, so not a nomad, but I can relate to everything you described. One issue with being static is that people start to see you around and realize that you are "homeless." That can create issues as there is a lot of prejudice against this lifestyle. You have to have a thick skin!
Don't allow people to think you are homeless. You have a mobile home. A miniature rv. If someone denigrates your style of living, tell them when they start paying your rent or mortgage, they can say what they want. Until then, their opinions really don't matter.
@@sylviahill9973
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. NEVER give it!
Love and All Good Things,
Jesse.🌹
You are doing what legions of people only dream of doing but are afraid to take that step. You should be highly admired for pursuing your desires.
oh, i have Planet Fitness for the showers. but they get very desolate out west in some places. i’ve gone as long as 5 weeks before seeing one again.
hotspot from your phone isn’t good for video uploading. and the cell phone companies don’t tell you that’s it’s limited high speed. i actually just got a notice today from TMobile that i’ve already reached my 50gb for the month and i still have 2 weeks left in my billing cycle before it resets.
until i can afford Starlink (which isn’t always great either), i have to find strong WIFI or i’ll be uploading a 2 minute project to a client for 8hrs.
sometimes, it just is what it is.
thanks for watching though and commenting
I just turned 60 and I’m seriously considering this kind of adventure. Glad to see an unscripted life description of living on the road.
Thx for the honest review of living in a car. So many unhoused people do it without much of a choice; unfortunately now a lot of people who work can't afford or find sticks and bricks living spaces, so too, are living and working from a car. We work with an aid agency in our local area, and it seems important now to us, that when buying a vehicle, we need to look at it from the point of view of being a possible home in times of financial or lack of housing stress. One TH-camr recently said he would never buy a car that he couldn't sleep in - wise words. We have a Rav and sleeping in that is very comfortable. We have a backpacking background, so really treat the Rav as a tent on wheels; backpacking teaches us to keep stuff to a minimum. The more crap we have in our car when travelling, the more annoying it is. Moving stuff to get at what you want is damn annoying. A backpacking stove allows you to at least boil water on a rainy day, so we can have cups of soup and reheated stuff from the fridge. We put down a fireproof blanket and crack the window to allow the fumes etc. to go out. Cooking a full meal, not a good idea in the car as everything stinks of the meal for sometime afterwards. When loading the car to go away for a month or so, it really is just the backpack with the usual backpacking clothes and needs, plus another small daypack of extra clothes. We don't do the table and chair thing; we just have a ground sheet that we lay down near the back wheel and sit on that, leaning up against the wheel of the vehicle. Quite comfortable. A backpacking tent (2 person) is also useful in inclement weather as an extra space when in the countryside. Less stuff, less hassle.
yeah, all great points. the subaru and Rav are basically the same. the subaru is actually really comfortable as well. and you’re right, having backpacking knowledge is incredibly useful to know what’s ACTUALLY useful to have and what’s not. i actually have a small electric kettle too. i talk about it more in my next video coming out after this (in roughly a week from now).
i think about going back to a city nearly everyday and then realize that i literally couldn’t afford it. they just price people out. you have to nearly make six figures now a days just to afford a small apartment. it’s no wonder more and more people are turning to this lifestyle.
tasks for watching and commenting!
There are definitely days that will test you but i have often found places that have all the amenities I need, where i can hunker down and call home for 14 days. Depending on your traveling speed, I have found that you can have more relaxing days than rough days if you stay put in a good spot.
very true!
there’s been lots of times when i stay in a town longer than i thought- cause it has everything i need. a lot like the town i’m in now. haha.
thanks for watching and commenting
Little tip I have done many times heavy snow or rain pull into a car wash, no one will be using it in the snow preferably with a convince store next to it, use restrooms maybe buy a coke or such use the roof of the car wash to stay nice and dry open up the back of your car cook as normal under the roof of the car wash i have spent up to 4 hours parked under them with no one bothering e at all
damn- that’s actually a really good idea. haha
You are one of the realest dudes on youtube. I appreciate that.
haha
thank you
Great video! Honest and no candy coating it. I prefer that to all of the foo foo videos that make it all look like a dream.
haha
thanks!
i wanted to get “straight to the point”
The wind, cold, rain, snow, ability to stand up, cook, bathe inside and better internet could all be mitigated with a van and starlink..
You forgot and money, lots of money
my sentiments exactly. I just don't have the $ for that. wish I did, but I don't. by sharing this video and liking it, it helps put some $ in my pocket to fund that dream however.
@@edwardbyrd7667 You are gonna find the whole thing goes much much smoother once you have a tarp or easyup. Tarp more work but MUCH more versatile.
Also it seems to me you move too much. Park it for a few weeks & get a nice camp up. Saves a deal of money. New mexico BLM south of durango is nice. Are you riding? Find a BLM spot & only move to hit the area parking lot before a dump. Navajo lake state park, ride at wolf creek. Good stuff. Durango for girls. Pagosa for nice people.
Shit, if you just wanna ride & have nice weather, that's the entire snow bird cycle: stay at Navajo lake for cheap, only move to shop or park at wolf creek pre dump. Or purgatory. Or telluride. Spring fall summer up there are great. Best hiking in N AM.
I am a 4 season nomad also. Use a Dodge Grand Caravan. Not sure what is worse really hot or cold weather. Probably cold is worse for me. I had a biddy heater before but never really used it. For cooking you could try one of those lunch box cookers like you see at the truck stops. Basically a slow cooker. I just put mine back in the van. I have property so I can switch gear when the seasons change. Happy if I find a town with a Mall for inclement weather exercise.
mall: exercise! done that before.
yeah, hot and cold have their advantages/disadvantages. Cold: more comfortable to sleep but numb toes and fingers. Hot: way more uncomfortable to sleep but can put my chair down to take in the view for a while or go for a hike
Having lived in a van and now an Arvtic Fox RV, your very descriptive story is sobering, if not depressing. I don't know how you do it... you have the patience of a saint! God bless you!
haha.... well, like they say... you do what you love, you never work a day in your life. (thats not true- I work VERY hard! haha)'
thanks for watching and commenting!
Thank you for a realistic presentation of this lifestyle, very much appreciated that you don't sugar coat the nomadic life, nor use click bait. The rewards are greater and fully savored, enjoyed, felt thoroughly because you consciously put in much more effort into making your life pleasant and meaningful. You sound like you don't take anything for granted, you have devised ways of making it work, you also have become resourceful and clever about how to make every moment count. I do this only part time but will be going full time next year (I have a full SUV, not a van) I slowly got used to it, modified placement and organisation in the car, changed my ways of doing things, learned to be more efficient, and will certain redo my build in a more practical manner. I have one advantage as I paint & draw, and can do this any time anywhere, for any length of time, never getting bored because there's always something new to learn and improve LOL. So maybe take up a hobby ? Thank you so much for this down to earth review. 👍😉🤸♂️
awe, thank you
you’ll figure what works for you full time. bring a part-timer, you’re already ahead of the curve. hope my lil channel helps.
i have a rig tour video and another on just getting into this lifestyle, if you find them helpful:
th-cam.com/video/8SuYKuyuNCI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=GnUvTrVxStXOVPu0
th-cam.com/video/Z3XDMezMmO0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=-20hBjLYiw8nnmA0
Hi there, thank you for this video. It is always nice to see the real side of vehicle dwelling. My heart is still on the open road, but for now, I have to deal with my reality. I pray you have safe journeys and happy trails
thank you
it is a very rewarding lifestyle, but you have to know what you’re getting into
I appreciate your honesty about the struggles of living in a vehicle. It’s not always easy, but your perspective on making the most of what you have is inspiring.
thank you! I find that being forward thinking and positive helps me through each day.
thanks for watching and commenting!
Subscribed and liked to help out. I've only done short term stints in my truck camper with my wife and our pup, but I have a sense for what you're talking about. Also, doing long distance/long term cycling tours presents similar problems. I have big sympathy for the car/van/camper/cycling folk. You run a tight ship, and one thing we can all do to help each other is to be super courteous to the people and businesses we encounter and leave campsites SPOTLESS. Clean up after others. Make the space you leave look fantastic for the next person who needs it. Great work and keep the faith!
thank you!
means a lot to just hear you liked my little channel enough to subscribe and watch more. new one coming out in a day or 2!
erik thank you for your honest words
no problem! it’s a great lifestyle, you just have to know what you’re signing up for
I love the honesty of your video. Another thing others living in their cars don't talk about is the gasoline expenses.
oh that’s true. adds up quickly. i also do oil changes every 3 month vs every 6 months cause i do that much driving.
@@EscapingNormalLife Makes sense. Bottom line, playing it as minimalist as possible is made difficult in our system. Lol.
This was so educational! Thank you!!
you’re welcome
thanks for watching and commenting!
Hey man, Great video, Now living in my van full time, I think it's even more mind blowing you are doing what you do! It ain't easy. lots of love, Caro and Tim
heyyy!
how’s the job up there?!
if i think its cold down here, i can’t even imagine what its like up there
Best rundown of what it’s really like! Personally, I think the whole cooking thing is just unnecessary work. We can eat perfectly healthy without cooking a 3-course dinner on a full stove, oven, and microwave like some people do! Simplify! 🤓
You have a great videos and watched almost all of it, including your ads 😊. Stay safe!
oh thank you!! Means so much!! I try to convey what it's like out here while also giving some entertainment for you guys. really means the world to get that kind of feedback. thank you!
@@EscapingNormalLife you are very welcome, praying that your videos will reach more viewers because it’s really worth and entertaining every minute of it!
I can completely relate on the crowds issue! I'm not a vanlifer yet (picking up my van tomorrow ... hopefully), but I am a homebody for the most part. Other than work that is. Large crowds not only give me some anxiety, they also leave me mentally and emotionally drained. I can't explain why, but they always have. It's nice to know that I can look forward to it only get worse when I go full time on the road. lol
haha
yeah, i guess i don’t paint a good picture do i. haha. sorry. most days are actually amazing. i spent thanksgiving in Zion for example and that’s only because i didn’t go to the Grand Canyon. so, some days are more a dream vacation. you just have to know what you’re signing up for. set expectations and you’ll find your groove. that’s probably the hardest part- finding YOUR groove. everyone does it a tad differently. enjoy it when you get out here. you’ll be living a life so many dream of. don’t take it for granted.
thanks for watching and commenting
Thank you for your honesty. Stay safe and good travels. 🤓
Thank you for sharing.
thanks for watching!
Great video
awe, thank you! REALLY means a lot when others find enjoyment and good info from this little channel
I just stumbled upon your channel, that full speech you gave on this video inspired me to subscribe to your channel, looking forward to your next one and I’m about to watch the other ones you’ve posted.
oh sweet
thanks!
hope you enjoy it. almost done with my next video to go out in the next few days actually
Thank you for sharing the realities of the nomad life style. Simple things like washing your hair, brushing your teeth or doing dishes take on a whole new challenge. I continue to learn from your channel.
oh my gosh- they really do!
the simplest things take SO much more planning. it’s a very rewarding lifestyle, but you have to know what you’re signing up for.
thank you for watching and commenting
Long time watcher. One of your best videos. Nice work.
oh thank you! that really means a lot
I try. lol
amen to it all‼️ We are constantly challenged even in a home or van or big truck and that's a good thing to be challenged. so why not be out among nature enjoying it while you're being challenged? I spent 140,000 for a new airstream that poisoned me I lived in my diesel truck for a year. That really tested me. I thought I could run my diesel truck all night and I did because it kept me warm in the winter and cool in the summer using very little diesel but the exhaust system clogged up so there's always challenges. excellent video I enjoyed it very much stay safe and continue to have fun. Have a blessed day
thank you!
yeah, life out here has it challenges... but it also has its rewards.
thanks for watching and commenting
Awesome and super informative video! Am also a fellow Subaru dweller, sure I am not stating anything you don’t already know -but for the rest, there are a TON of options for cooking/eating inside when weather is not ideal! Cold soaking, soups, salads, rehydrating foods by simply boiling water, etc, etc... Canister stoves are a great investment and easy to use inside the car - with caution and ventilation of course! In fact, backpacking gear in general works really well in this lifestyle as we share many of the same principals…Will save you a boat load of $$$ on the long (and short) run as opposed to eating out every time when weather is bad! Cheers & happy travels!
hey!
yeah, i actually have an electric kettle and use it often for dehydrated meals. i actually had filmed a section where i talked about how i use that kettle and then completely forgot to use it in the video. oh well.
thanks for watching and commenting!
There is another TH-camr (Norwegian Explorer) who makes a lot of tacos / pita wraps.
Oh and I like being a foreigner too. I admire your organization. Good video.
Kelty clam shell made a world of difference for me in foul weather.
Stay safe out there 🙏
Excellent, excellent video! All true.
thank you!!
Get Starlink!
Blessings! 🙏🏻
Jess.🌹
Yeah, I've looked into it a little, but its very expensive and I can't afford it. Nor do I have the room to store it (even the mini version). Plus, Starlink is NOT always reliable. I've read that some people only get 12mbps down. thats not great. especially for video uploading. a lot of full time TH-camrs I watch actually say it takes them all night to upload content using Starlink. plus, it wont work under trees (you have to have a clear shot of the sky). Sometimes I camp in national forests because you can stay there up to 14days. it's an option for those that can afford it, but its not the best solution unfortunately.
thanks for watching though and commenting!
@
My husband and I live in a small car too. We’ve been living a nomadic life for eleven years - THIS time around! We’re saving up to move to Thailand, God Willing. We’re senior citizens and can’t afford to live here any longer.
Love and All Good Things,
Jesse.🌹
@@jesseleighbrackstone852 oh wow- Thailand! Nice! I almost went to Thailand and was planning it out in December 2019 to go in Spring/Summer of 2020, and well.... you know the rest there.
enjoy! I cant afford to live anywhere else either
@
Thailand visas are expensive, which is why we need to save up before we go. It’s going to cost us $110,000 for the two of us, and we have to leave that money in a Thai bank.🙄
Trudeau is trying to pass a law that says we have to pay a $50,000 exit tax for the two of us. He’s trying to keep us all poor and imprisoned! Bastard! Sorry, but that’s the least hostile word I can think of when describing him!
Blessings! 🙏🏻
Jess.🌹
Thank you very much for this very useful and well-made video! WoW! Good job! 👏👏👏 Thank you for also showing some wonderful scenery that I will probably never see in my life! 💐❤️🙏 #LoveAmerica
thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks for sharing!
Eric, I don't know how you cook outside. I lived in my Forester for 7 years and would just climb out of bed in the back into the front seat and then use a single burner stove in the other front seat, fix coffee and breakfast. Not set foot outside until after breakfast and coffee. The stove inside helps to warm up the car, too. I get it living on the road and traveling. There are challenges, but life isn't monotonous and just going through the paces. I never eat out and haven't eaten out in decades, too expensive.
He needs to learn to rig a tarp TOMORROW.
have one actually. not always in places i can stake it down.
i actually go into my cooking setup a bit more in my next video (be out in roughly a week). i’ve had a few people ask about my cooking setup. maybe i’ll do a dedicated 5 minute video about it. it’s actually a pretty simple setup.
@EscapingNormalLife
I guess a lot of people have a setup where they cook outside. It just seems to work better for me to cook inside out of the wind, rain, and cold. I've always had a setup for cooking inside.
@@EscapingNormalLife There's always a pole or a tree + your truck. The trick is to stop for large rocks or larger logs if you know you'll be somewhere w/ no dirt. You really only need 2 since you can "stake it to the car" on one end.
It's a lot like stopping for rocks/logs for your crapper if you don't carry a bucket. Something to keep in mind your last 2 hours on the road.
Another alternative is to use heavy stuff for a temporary tie down - cooler/dometic + gear box say. or start low on the post/tree & go high at the truck by mounting your hiking poles to exend higher.
6 months & you'll be really good at this. Be creative. If you backpack, only use a tarp. I learned through necessity.
Good to have a video of what it is really like out there. I first started cooking out the back of my Hyundai Santa Fe and then on a table outside when it was too windy, raining or cold. That didn't last long as was a pain in the butt. I want to be able to do everything inside, at least to boil water for coffee and oatmeal. I love waking up and making breakfast right from my warm bed. I use a portable lunch box I can charge while driving plugged in solar generator or car 12 volt plug called a Hot Logic Mini. They have a 12 volt or 110 outlet and I just love it and it is a total game changer. Nothing like pulling in a spot and having a hot lunch or dinner ready to eat with no prep or clean up. I've even taken it when I fly somewhere to travel and cook in 12 volt rental car plug. I just pick up a prepackaged meal at the grocery store or make my own. Yeah the long nights really do suck. LOL I walked through a Walmart before to kill time and be out of the elements, ha ha. I'll have to try REI next time. Agree it is not easy, everything is new and changes at different stores and cites. I can't wait though to give it a try, setting up my 4Runner right now and house will be gone early next year. I really can't be around many people either in places, it really freaks me out. I just want things quiet and calm. Thanks for being real and giving people and idea of what it is like out there, good things to think about before taking the leap to fulltime.
It is good to be realistic.
I also want to do this experience. Will try someday. 😅
did a little video about how to get started in Vanlife if you’re interested
also, one on “why it’s good to travel solo”:
th-cam.com/video/Z3XDMezMmO0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=sQ4TyxTeelmMs3rk
th-cam.com/video/cjzV0PVmMOM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=nqHH8bYUTwgaGJ3s
@@EscapingNormalLife Thanks for sharing.
I moved out of a city of over 100K to an unincorporated community of just over 1K - we have to go into bigger cities for shopping and I have difficulty with crowds now, as well. Safe travels
@EscapeNormalLife ... How do you handle tue Florida Heat 🥵 ? ?
Had Subaru in the 80's, great except for wearing out universal joints. Bob Wells has just got a Forester to live out of so you're on the money. Wouldn't mind another Suby, but I'll probably end up with a Van because I need to store bicycles. Great to see how you live :)
If you see a low mileage element, GRAB IT
oh really, Bob Wells has a subaru? i haven’t watched his stuff in a while. man, i would LOVE a good van. just not in my finances right now. one of these days. if this video gets liked and shared enough, then it helps put $ towards my desired setup.
thanks for watching and commenting!
oh yeah, i’ve noticed those are pretty popular in the nomad community. actually have some really cool setups in those!
thanks for watching and commenting
🥇 Perfect 👌🏼- Every single question answered in one, direct/to the point & short video?
Wait- did you say whyy you don’t cook in your car? 🙂🙃
thanks
i hate it when they don’t just go into the topic and dance around in the beginning.
Great video. I’m going to be hitting the road next month - I’ve been in the same region for years - so I’ve been looking at vanlife meetups to attend next year. Have you done any? Any you recommend? That would be a great video topic and I haven’t seen anyone do it.
yeah, try downloading the app Seker. it helps nomads find nomad events and connect with other travelers. i went to Schoolie Palooza in Quartzite, AZ in 2022 and it was so much fun. met some amazing people that i still talk to today. Ascend on Bend is supposed to be another great event
Real life, real travel!
You are so on target!!!!!!🎉
You don't want to get starlink?🌸💐🌸
Yep. Planet Fitness is the best.👌
a very sobering look at car life.
Good video thanks. I'm a remote video editor as well (Premiere Pro). How in the world do you move 4K video files thru Mcdonald's or Starbucks wifi? I tried it for about a day and realized it was next to impossible. I eventually went with software to remote in to my employer.
haha- its not always easy. the one I tried this morning would have taken HOURS to upload my latest video. but I've been lucky and hit a few that had 200mbps down and like 75up. sooo.... goess they're definitely hit and miss
how are you funding your trip? do you have an expense video?
I work remotely. I am a freelance video editor. If you or anyone you know needs a video complted for commercial, personal or social, let me know. you can check out my Fiverr profile and contact me with any questions
www.fiverr.com/s/WE6X3D5
Luckily my stint was a 10 mile drive to work 10 miles to "camp "
For 10 years.. never got hassled until last year .. to many people trying to survive in their vehicles now.. ended up in a studio (pure luck) so sold the van and just trying to acclimate to having neighbors again.. so it's indoor survival..😅
i find that i’m basically living that way now a days. get to a new city. spend a week working and then move along. but you’re right, it’s getting harder cause there’s fewer and fewer places to sleep at. luckily, the last few towns i’ve been to- there’s BLM just a few miles away. but sometimes even those are being taken away. ugh.
thanks for watching and commenting!
Hi
May I suggest a M6 pro 5g by neatgear.
For your internet any time any were.
I actually got a CDL and started driving a truck so I could live in a truck (and have a company pay for fuel). I have a van but there's no way I could sleep in there in the Texas summer
oh wow! yeah, i’ve thought about driving a truck a few times in my life. get to see the country AND get paid for it. yeah, nice!
thanks for watching and commenting
Guessing your chasing 70.....70 degree's! Just bought a Honda van yesterday......good and cheap. I'm preparing!! Timmy C Arizona
I am! haha. heading south right now for the winter. next video will show why.
I wish I had the $ to invest in a van. but gotta work with what I got at the moment. I hope this video helped you in your future adventures! its rewarding being able to travel full time
thanks for watching and commenting
Great video , I have been contemplating this , tired of the rat race , main thing for me is financing myself, coming out of the 8hr grind , I have a pick up truck, thought about getting a cargo trailer , i do like the outback though
pickup and slide in camper is my dream home. there’s a lot of used ones out there. even if you get a pop-up one for weight and cost.
i’ll tell you this much- i had this dream for over 20 years. i would watch endless others vanlife it online and get jealous and think to myself “how can i make this happen?”. it was that first step, that was absolutely the hardest. to commit to it all and just “go for it”. i planned what i could and figured out what i couldn’t. after that first step was taken- the rest of it just fell into place. it felt like it was meant to be. finances are the hardest part i’ll admit but, this is not an unobtainable lifestyle.
here’s what i did to make sure i would even like living in my car. i did a one month road trip across the country from FL to UT and visited all the parks out there. i tent camped some nights and slept in my car others. it gave me a taste of what its like to have to find a new place to sleep every night, find showers every 5 days, find fresh drinking water and if i can even lay down in my car. after just 2 weeks i was hooked.
give yourself a trial run and see how much you like it and think you can make it happen. where theres a will, theres a way.
thanks for watching name commenting
So I’ve been researching this lifestyle and even with your type of vehicle. Have you ever thought or even have room for the Joolca shower? Can you mount it on the side somehow? Great content btw. Thx!
i actually have a road shower. steel tube on top of the car that gets heated up by the sun. but i had to drain it a few weeks ago. literally turned to ice during a recent storm.
thanks for watching and commenting
this is my first vid of yours! loved it. when I semi-retire I would like to do some van-life travel in the US. But, knowing the reality of how hard it can be is really important. I'm sure you've thought of it, but are unlimited 4G phone plans tethered not enough data for you/reliable enough? I see you mentioned starlink being too pricey for now and bulky.
yeah, unfortunately the thing the cell phone companies don’t tell you about personal hot spot, is that it’s not UNTHROTTLED unlimited. meaning, once i hit my hotspot fast speed limit (depends on your plan- but can be 5g-50g), that they do give you unlimited internet after that but it’s slooooow. way to slow to download 4k video for a client. i had to learn the hard way on that. i even have 2 lines to get more data, and still burn through them both. for me, finding strong, unlimited wifi where i can sit down and have a desk to work at, works the best for right now. but, maybe in the future i’ll have funds to look at starlink or other alternatives.
thanks for watching and commenting!
starlink mini
can’t afford. wish i could though.
Just curious, you mentioned you don't have the $ for a van or larger vehicle, but have you considered financing and using section 179 to write off the car. As you are a digital nomad, that would not be unreasonable. Not sure how you've structured your business (LLC or simply a schedule C filer) but the tax savings might cover the car payments.
I've been a solopreneur for many years and set up my LLC 6 years ago. As I have the flexibility of also working remotely, I got myself a 4WD that I'm setting up for remote travel/work and will be using section 179 to write-off a portion that I use for work.
Not giving any tax advice, but you may want to talk to a professional tax CPA see if this could make sense for you.
oh wow, no i’m not familiar. but i’m gonna have to look that up.
thank you!! any help is appreciated
Was it easier or harder with a teardrop?
no, it was actually harder with the teardrop. just more to think about and drive with, especially now that i’m out west and mostly sleep on BLM land. the roads can get kinda nutty pulling a trailer.
i actually filmed a small section for this video where i talked about why i sold the teardrop and just went with the car, but it felt ‘unnecessary’ and i thought people would want me to just “get to the point”, so i edited it out. but you’re not the first one to ask if i miss the teardrop. may have to do a dedicated video about why i got rid of it and why i like this setup better.
thanks for watching and commenting!
Heyyy speaking of marinating chicken lol, you oughtta try tossing the chicken around in the bag with just a generous squirt of DIJON mustard before cooking, 🥘❤🎉yum!
oh, i will! nice, thanks!
👍😊
Also, not mentioned the inconvenience of having to go do #2 immediately.
ha!
true. true.
Ty for sharing ❤
Starlink would be a good investment for your business.
Musk is unreliable and unstable.
I would love starling, however it's quite expensive. money has been tight lightly. and the car is a realllly tough place to try and put that thing in. even the mini versions are quite large to carry around. one day though.
thanks for watching and commenting!
@@EscapingNormalLife I use Verizon Home Internet and use a Bluetti to power works flawlessly everywhere I go. $60 a month unlimited. Not sure how well it work for 4k videos though. Just used a home address to set it up and don't remember if they mailed it my PO Box or I might of used a hotel I was staying at back then.
Brother- I love the car looking for similar in a few months: about people , where to go etc , why dont you just book yourself into a backpacker every now & again for the human touch_ they are cheap you meet like minded people and get a bit of a home life every now & again...
0:01 Why are you yelling?
Dude-why are you so attached to “cooking” all of your meals? There are lots of cold or cold soaking options that taste great and do the job (nourish you). With an additional pinch of creativity you can save a lot of time. Just curious why you don’t consider some additional meal options?
i actually do those a lot. i have an electric kettle and use that for dehydrated meals. and i’ve done overnight oats in the past too. i’m just more of a “real food” kind of person.
i actually had filmed a small section where i talked more about my electric kettle and how i use it when the weather is bad, but then completely forgot to use it in the video. oh well.
i’ve had lots of others ask me about my cooking setup, so i’m probably going to make a video dedicated to how i cook and eat on the road.
thanks for watching and commenting!
@ Each has gotta do his own “thang”. For me, eating is just a nourishment necessity. I used to try to some cook meals, but it was too much of a drag to cook and clean up, so I guess I’m more of an eating minimalist. Roll on and continue to “dine fine” if that suits ya!
Wow! Congratulations this video has over 3,000 views! And since honeymoon is over, you are growing soo much on this reality! The freedom you have is awesome and sometimes not knowing what coming up is an adrenaline rush too! You were ment to live this way. And hey if you dont feel like doing it any more you can always do something else. This is the freedom you have to choose. Most people dont have this luxury. You are an inspiration for many, many people! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
thank you over and over again!
every video i post, i know you and a few others will give me the support i need.
thank you.
thank you.
thank you.
Can food dude can food, and hiker food, bag salads, grocery store deli has yummy prepared food. I did it b4 internet and did just fine.
Do you mind me asking how you handle mail and what state your car is registered in and do you have to have property residency?
i’m from FL. everything goes back there.
great question about mail. i actually made a video about that a while back:
th-cam.com/video/mtpwQ2wvpjs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=5BB6kyWDTbO3NB0t
Purchase starlink internet
You have beautiful teeth 😀
Sleeping on the side of a busy road, to me that's poor planning. Also you took the time to have a good mic. Only to play stupid music in the background.
He's doing this 24-7-365. Just like you're not perfect, neither is he. Sometimes it's poor planning. Sometimes crap happens. When you're so perfect you levitate, post a video for the rest of us.
Negative plant person is right about the music. Please don't play music when you talk. There's a reason popular vanlife channels don't play music anymore. It's annoying.
hi. you can’t plan most days in this lifestyle. i’m in new places every single week. and in the beginning, i was in new places every 2-3 days. and while i do plan and look ahead on apps like iOverlander to find out if others have found places to sleep near a place i’m headed to, the reality is sometimes those places don’t exists anymore. already have someone sleeping there or now have a sign saying “no overnight parking”.
ever been to Taos, NM? Alamosa, CO? Monowi, NE? driven all of HWY 1 in CA? or the coast of OR? all of TX? WI? IA? these states/areas are either full of big cities, private land, or are LITERALLY just a hwy that travels for hundreds of miles. unless i want to sleep in a big city and take my chances with getting the knock or sleep at a busy loud walmart with lights on in the parking lot all night, then i don’t have a lot of options. especially when there’s private land everywhere else. do you know how many signs are dotted along the roads that say “no overnight parking”? unless you’re looking for them, there’s a lot.
you have to go with what you see sometimes in this lifestyle. do you know how many times it’s already gotten dark before i’ve even had a chance to look up a place to sleep? either because i had to work all day, run errands or drive to my next destination? lots. too much in fact.
sleeping on the side is A) safe (no one will most likely mess with you), B) usually has cell service (since i’m solo, i prefer to only sleep in places where i have cell in case of an emergency- like i did in ID, when my car wouldn’t start), C) what i can see in the dark that has no “no parking sign” and isn’t on private land.
ask any full timer on here- Christian Schaffer, Niki Deventhal, Drew Simms, Nathanial Wise, Bob Wells, Victoria Rose. even part timers like Tristan from SUV RVing. they’ll ALLLLL tell you, you will be sleeping on the side of the road sometimes. because that’s all that’s available sometimes.
also, my microphone is $19. it’s not good. i have to do a LOT in post to take out the wind. so much, that i didn’t think i could even use some shots in this video. the music in the background A) helps mitigate the annoying wind sound and B) invokes an emotion i’m going for in the shot. music sets a tone and fills the scene with a reaction. if you take a moment and think about your absolute favorite scenes in a movie, i’ll bet they were impactful to you because of the music being used in the background and how it made you feel “connected” to the scene.
with that said, i take creative criticism and consider it in the future. thank you for pointing out an area where i can do better.
@ I live out of my minivan. While I’m not sleeping on side anyone’s road - too many high/drunk and texting people for me and I don’t mind parking lots - there are way too many variables to always have things planned out. Vanlife means going with the flow at a minimum 50% of the time, usually more like 80%. We make plans and the Universe laughs.
@@serenityjewel true. very true. (make plans and universe laughs. probably BEST way to explain).
It’s not because you’re in a car, silly. It’s because you’re in a vehicle and not planning your stopovers. Small vehicles like cars may be easier to prepare food outside but most people plan cold meals when outside isn’t an option. Planning??? Silly video.