Brilliant. The best advice so far. I'm 73, I need my cataracts removed, all the roots of my teeth need to be surgically removed, and I have a prolapsed bladder that needs major attention. It's better for me to live vicariously through all you wonderful nomads and follow your adventures on line. My heart is with you. ❤
@@jenniferd264 😢 I do feel for those who have no choice and in those situation, a vehicle is better than the street - but it is not an easy life. I wish I could help those in need somehow, but many of us are just trying to stay afloat as well and not be in a position to have to make such a difficult decision of van or sidewalk.
It totally sucks. Full van lifer here. Really got sick and tired of trying to find a place to be. Just when I thought I had a good spot, rap, rap, rap on my door at 2 in the morning: "police". Can't count all the times I "supposedly" had the cops called on me. Suspicious van. Neighborhood watch. Van driving around the city... what a crock, the whole works, when I'd be minding my own business, not bothering anyone. Then the heat... I have 2 dogs and just can't walz in anywhere for air conditioning. I have ventilation and a maxxair fan. Still way too hot for all of us. Always had to be looking for water. Carried 30-42 gallons with me but always hunting for water. Who thinks running to the store every day is great for food? No way. Ate so much canned food, I began to feel it in my body. Sooooo unhealthy. I have a small fridge but then my batteries would become depleted. Always had to have my solar out. Always trying to resolve the battery issues. And then there's the bathing/showering issue. What a complete hassle to try to wash up in your van. When you figure out how to make it easier, you're dumping more money into other things. It never ends. I was an over the road semi driver for 9 years. I was used to being in a small area, being without things. I definitely have more room in my van, but not being able to shower or have a.c. or heat the way I could in a semi is beyond being miserable. Add in being bothered by the police when you're sleeping and even when you're not, just makes things worse and worse. I can say people knocked on my door 3 times in 9 years while I was driving semi. Compare that to 3-4 times a month in my van. Ridiculous and annoying. Spent nights and days in the national forests to be left alone. Yep, I was away from people. But then guess what? Ohhhhh... nobody told me about the ticks. Ticks, ticks, and more ticks. I'd get all comfortable to go to sleep for the night and those blasted bast#%ds would begin to crawl on me. And count my lucky stars they weren't all at the same time. Oh no. I'd get one and 10-15 minutes later another would be crawling around on me. 8, yes 8 one night! Drove me mad. Drove me right out of the national forest and I can't go back into any forest/woodsy area to this day. That's how bad it was. I have many true stories I could spend all day telling you about. I thank God, tremendously, for helping me out of the van life. I sincerely do. I take care of an elderly woman in exchange for a place with electricity, a shower whenever I want (no more body lesions from not cleaning enough with running water, painful), air conditioning, heat, refrigeration for healthy food (I'm so Blessed I can drink milk now) I can have fresh food that I don't have to eat all in one sitting so that it doesn't spoil or I don't have the room to keep it cold or the ice is no longer ice or the batteries aren't drained. And to top it all off, I thank God all the time I don't have to hope I find a good place for the night to be left alone... the cops haven't come since I've been back in a real home. True, true, Blessings from God. To Him I am forever grateful. To think it's a grand solution to high rent prices or the answer for solitude, van life is a whole nuther slew of problems you haven't even thought of until you're in the midst of the things you are without and how much trouble they cause to you.
Wow. You really got down to the. nitty gritty. Thank you for that raw but very honest look at ansude if van life that is not often shared. If I am ever in the area you are now II would very much like to interview you. If you are interested you can reach me at Gloriouslifeonwheels@gmail.com
what you described is what happen when you have no law and order. Dont blame the folks who call the police on you. Blame the few that ruin society trust.
Started camping 20 years ago starting with a 24 foot trailer and sized down to a 20 footer. My husband was not into camping so there is that. I got most of the tips and tricks down myself. So, my husband passed, the property was too much for just me to take care of. At the age of 76 I sold it all and bought a Mercedes Revel and hit the road in January with my little dog. Been doing my bucket list since. Yes, one runs into problems but one keeps on having a good time on the road. In the meantime, I'm looking for a final (destination) home......small please. Enjoying the nomad life. Girls just wanna have fun!😁
Thank you for the one positive comment, seems everyone is talking down on this lifestyle. Yes there's problems, no life is without problems, but for me I don't want to spend the rest of my life in front of the TV, while everyone around me already has an established life with family and friends. Sticks and bricks can be very lonely and dull existence.
I have thought about selling my modest living on 2.1 acres here in Twisp (Okanogan County), Wash.. I have accumulated a lot of stuff over a couple decades that I should sell or sell everything for $250K and do van life full time. I am on social security, and at 68 I am in excellent health with a sense of adventure. Maybe I could accept your Revel as a down payment!
Oh! I’m really appreciating my comfortable bed, my spacious bathroom, my beautiful kitchen, looking out the window, hearing the birds, opening my big refrigerator and cooking myself a delicious breakfast. Going for a walk around the block. Coming back and putting my feet up to watch a show on my large screen tv while I wait for load of laundry to be done. I’ll do some van life but will definitely keep my apartment. We can do both. Thank you Gloria 😘
Unfortunately, some of us can't do both. That's why Glorious Life on Wheels truthful content is just so valuable. I am very happy you can financially do both. Blessings to you dear!
Yo same. I kept my studio in LA all these years and have had my van as a part time RV for 4 years. No way I can pull off working remotely, taking care of my dog, and seeing what I want to see in nature in this van full time. I have gone on overnight and 2 week long trips away in the van, at least once per month these past 4 years. These are my limits.
Van life is miserable, consider all what this lovely lady has said. If you are on social security I think a good option is to move to a cheaper country. I live in Thailand for under 500 dollars a month, I have a wonderful toilet and nice air-conditioning.
Living in another country can be much more affordable. But, I don't think most people want to make such a drast8c change even if their quality of life might be better.
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621 I agree, most people in that situation do not even have a passport. Many are struggling just to buy their next tank of gas, so to buy an overseas flight may be unreachable. For a small percentage it may be a option worth considering. I love the way you present this type information from all aspects, not just the sugar coated version.
@@tiffanytremiti6996 They are all different but most offer some sort of 1 year visa. I stay in Thailand on a 1 year retirement visa and I renew that every year with no problems.
Lots of countries require some minimum income or savings available, not to mention the language barrier for most, especially if they are older. Not saying it can't be done but it can prove very challenging. Adaptability is key for both emigrating and the nomad lifestyle.
I almost did it, iwas seriously looking for a van. I didnt only watched zBob welsh but everyone living on wheels, i saw many (healthy) people whom where very tired and because i am not healty that would mean that i would be constantly exhausted and in pain so i changed my plans, i emigrated from Holland to Hungary. I have lityle house in a small village and i love it. I have a nice plot of land with fruittrees and some chicken and goats. I am home.
I was in my van, a small safari, but was given a camping trailer in a RV Park. RENT went up last year but was still affordable. But the electric for my little space heater went through the roof. If the rent goes up this coming year 2025, I will have to move back into my old van.😢 WHAT else can I do?😢 I'm not getting any younger at 78, diabetic, partially disabled from a stroke, and trying to eat from a food bank. This is My reality.
I have friends who hardly ever camped and think they can be a nomad! Hahaha...I think they have been so romanticized by some of the videos and really need to look at the ones where people have gotten stuck a hundred miles out in sand, snow, flat tires, break downs and they have to spend days in a hotel or renting another vehicle while theirs is being fixed, towing costs can break the bank. It's a harsh reality when you are out by yourself and no one is around to help you. I'm glad that woman realized it wasn't for her before she got rid of everything.
I was glad too and so happy she decided to come to the meetup before heading out on the road. She would have been miserable! As you noted, so many people have such an unrealistic idea of what van life can really be like sometimes.
I’m 78 and have been van living for about 8 years. The two week trial seems wise but really isn’t because the fun of van life is using your imagination and intelligence to find solutions to every problem. The van life and equipment and setup I have now is vastly different than what I started out with but is really functional and answers every problem this lady worries about.
I can say right now the Nomad life is not exactly what I want. Unfortunately, I won't have a choice in the matter when the time comes. I will Retire in just a few yrs. and will have nothing but my Retirement. Therefore knowing what I'm looking at I have prepared for it. I have everything that's needed to live out of my vehicle. Will I be happy? Yes! I refuse not to be! Sure, I'll have bad days and days that seem to never end, but that's life. A Big Shout-Out to all the Nomads who want the real Nomad life known. It's not all Fairy Dust and Rainbows, but what is? Thank you to All of You!
In most cases, I believe people don't have a choice. My husband and I often stop at a rest area in south Seattle off the I-5. This time, there were hundreds of cars parked everywhere! From the looks of the vehicles, new cars to old, people were definitely living in them. It was scary! Before covid it was a regular rest stop, not a community of car dwellers! Wake up America! This is appalling! We need to change this before we're ALL living on the streets!
I know that rest stop,& it was a homeless encampment long before covid, it just get cleaned up occasionally & then returns to a homeless camp. There is one in So Cal off I-5 near Camp Pendleton , north San Diego County, that has been a homeless camp for probably 30 years. Highway rest stops are maybe OK for using restroom & walking your dog, but that's it.
Also all the people coming from almost every country in the world is a risk for everyone, not just people in the RV community. Also As we get older stress from life gets harder with health concerns etc. I get it if you’re in good health and a back up plan, but if not too many negatives.
People need to understand the difference between living in your vehicle by choice , camping around the U.S. or living in your vehicle as your survival. Most all you tubers make nomadic life everyone’s dreams. I think you doing these kind of videos will help newbie’s transition into nomadic life a lot safer and knowledgeable of things to expect . Thank you for bringing awareness to the newbie’s.
❤Thank goodness your the mom I never had ! Learned so much from you ! I was thrown into car life not by my choice ! I failed miserably to say the least the 1 st few weeks ! You name it , it happened! It’s been a long 8 months of me being in my car ! A lot of crying 😢 ! I’m saving up now on a new vehicle and along the way I have been buying the basic things to keep me going ! Giving up wasn’t an option for me so listening to your videos some times more than once has given me the confidence to be able to make the BEST of a crapy situation ! Life is NEVER EASY ! Forward movement is better than giving up ! You can do it if you try ! Take it from someone that has no one and started out with NOTHING ! ❤❤
Great advice! I tried “Kia soul life” in 2019; drove from Minnesota to Georgia, then to Michigan, did quite a bit of sight seeing over about a week. But didn’t do everything you suggested on this video. I found it exciting and for the most part I enjoyed it. Nothing’s ever all roses. One night I stopped to sleep, but immediately left a not safe part of town in Indiana. A little over a year later I moved out of my condo, traded in my Kia for a new 2020 Sprinter hightop got a diesel heater installed, a friend helped me build a bed. I lived in it for the most part in Minnesota with only a 5 gallon bucket, 3M Thinsulate insulation on the walls, two Luci lights, and Walmart plastic drawers, for 9 months, while eating lots of packaged salads, and food that didn’t have to be cooked. I saved a lot of money, even with a vehicle payment. I gave up the life because I was uncomfortable about people’s attitudes and behaviors around politics and race. What spooked me was one morning I woke up in Utah to see a car with four flags that made me feel extremely vulnerable, but nothing ever happened. I had such a persistent uneasy feeling and concern for my safety as a 76 year old woman of color that I sold the van and moved into a different condo. I wanted to live the life and travel but I couldn’t shake the feeling. I worried about traveling and unknowingly parking in a small town where people like me wouldn’t be welcomed. My mind just got the best of me.
I'm very sorry you went thru these uneasy thoughts to where you couldn't live with it. I can tell you one thing, I'm not a person if color but if I would have been camped near you, I would definitely have asked you to join me for a meal or a glass of tea and we could have had a nice visit and kept in contact. People need peop🎉le sometimes. Look up and remember the good times you had out there. Love from Central Oklahoma.
Thank you for your kind and sensitive responses. While I realize that people are harmed for other reasons than their race. People are harmed because of their political views, gender identity, religious affiliations, as a result of road rage and more. They may be grocery shopping, at their places of worship, recreating, even innocent children at school, or individuals in their homes when harmed. Somehow I couldn’t get past the fear brought on by the oversized (for a vehicle) threatening flags displayed at each corner of the vehicle that I saw when I woke up that morning; coupled with the hateful statements that are almost commonplace these days. I appreciate your words, they give me hope during what I consider troubling times.
Van life was our plan B if everything went to hell, but after listening to this video I believe we will just make plan A still work for now. Have A Bless Day Everyone ❤✌️
I've tried both and I found living in the city and its outskirts is way easier, especially if it's a place you are already familar with. In the city, you dont have to have a cooler, you can grocery shop every day or get ice from convenience stores. In the summer, you can hang out at the library all day if the heat is bad. A couple times in the summer I couldnt sleep it was so hot, so I got up early in the morning and went to my storage unit and slept on the cement floor. Unless the weather is extreme, half the time I forget I'm without a place, cuz I'm so busy with life. My past housing situations have been horrible, so this has seemed luxury to me in comparison. You'd be surprised how many boat launches or road side parks there are with porta potties that you can sleep at night. Once you start looking, you'll see them. As long as you dont draw attention to yourself, and go places during the day, people will just think your passing through. I stayed in one parking lot, with a porta potty, for a whole year and only the regulars probably knew I slept there at night. I kept the toilet clean and bought it toilet paper when it ran out, so if anyone ever said anything to me, I'd mention how I contributed to making it a better place.
If I am in an area you are in this summer I would really like to interview you and hear your perspective in van life in the city. You can reach me at: Gloriouslifeonwheels@gmail.com
Yes & a City Gym to w/o & Shower aLso, makes Nomad Life Much easier@ Summers, The Other Option 4 Heat escape is High ELevation Which can be DifficuLt Over 60 + Over 7000', i' Think HospitaLs are my *Secret Spot 4 a 1 - 2 Day Stay but..... Don't Take my idea without ✅ing instinct@ Certain Spots, & ALso a OLd Fashion ice Chest can HoLd some Diet Soda Or Yogurt / Treat makes it Better...even if You Got to Buy ice Every 3/4 Days, & a Pot to boiL 6 Or 12 eggs @ a Time is idea, bye i😮Wonder if This comments erased
Educate You @ ELevations The Fact iS if Your Respitory System isn't Near Full Capacity iT Does = Can Affect a Person's Breathing & Heart, & Another; Thing Remote Area Are Just PLain Harder To Get Services.
Thank you for this checklist. I was going to purchase an RV until I followed a family on TH-cam and the father showed his daily checklist of duties. I realized that was not for me! Reality checks like this are needed.
A long term RV park is my friend! ❤ I can travel when I want, have AC and heater, can “plug in,” have showers - I prefer paying for long term fees of a RV park. It still allows me to travel only when I want, save money, and enjoy van life. 😊❤ Vehicle - Ford Transit, high roof, extended cab, professionally converted to a mini home on wheels. It has bathroom and shower. I do realize many don’t have the same setup, though.
Test run is exact what I did! And everything that could have went wrong practically did! And I still wanted to do it! Sold the tiny camper I tried it in and got a new to me motorhome! Selling everything that’s left at my place this week 😁
Great to hear! Sounds like this life was meant for you and you wisely tested it first confirming that. You also made the necessary adjustment to the right rig for you. If you are going to be anywhere near where I will be this summer I would love to interview you and hear more about your "trial period". If interested you can reach me at: Gloriouslifeonwheels@gmail.com
Good for you! Love that you went for it, and learned what you needed, found your "yes" and are opening the door wide and running through it with eyes open. My test will be with a minivan, with the basics when they're ready and on from there. All the best...
I am very excited for you and hope you will let Carol interview you after you've been on the road a bit so we can find out how you're doing. Sounds like you have a great attitude and I think you will do very well. Good luck on your new life.
I am 77 and so appreciate your well rounded advise for senior women. I look forward to watching each and every video. Thank you for your thought-provoking content. I am on the verge of leaving my sticks & bricks. You are helping me make one of the biggest decisions of my life. Stay safe and well! Judy
Sage advice! I took a couple of trips in my van before I set out full time, and that helped me realize that the setup I had was not practical. I did these trips months in advance of my “launch date,” so I had time to reconfigure things. I also learned a lot in those trips…don’t always count on GPS to work (buy an atlas), have a backup location in case the one you originally decided on doesn’t work out, etc. The one thing I didn’t have the opportunity to do was to stay somewhere hot. It wasn’t long into my full time journey that I experienced sweltering heat well before I thought I would have to & wound up having to escape to higher elevations! Great stuff, Carol!☮️
I really like the "Trial" described in this video, but I also think it should not be the first trip for someone new, do it the third or forth time. Start with a 2 night stay at a state campground with a restroom. You don't have to use the shower or toilet, like at night, but it is an option or a place to empty your piss jar etc. With running water you can stay clean but see how carrying water goes and how much you use at your van. You will see there are a lot of things to consider, and this way start with sleeping arrangement and food, and learn what more is necessary. Your power bank may work if always driving 5 hours, but not if parked for 3 days (saving gas money). Bugs! Noisy neighbors or lack of any (lonely?). Before quitting your lease you certainly need to know what to expect, and this video is great advice (do know your expenses and have a cash reserve for vehicle repairs).
I plan to rent a uhaul van for a week and camp at Quartzite with my emergency earthquake supplies before trading in my Kia Soul on a Dodge Ram. While I have camped many times over the years and was a Marine, I also wasn't in my 60's, lol. Great advice!
I no longer drive, but, I am constantly looking at those vans and wondering how I could get something like that to work for me if I had someone park it in Quartzsite blm land. LOL! I am almost sure I could make it work after having spent two months in a tent camping in Laposa South.
For those who think Bob Wells is not doing a good job because he does not do a reality check that Carol did, u have not watched enough of his videos. bob is not advocating for u to live in a van for d heck of it, but his videos are to enlighten u what van dwelling s all about and how to survive living in one, if your other option is being homeless. He teaches u d ropes, share how others do it, explains how to live on a budget. Again, he doesn’t convince u to get rid of your apartment or home and do van life because it s better. If you will b homeless because of circumstances, then he teaches you how to live in a vehicle which s definitely better than living in a tent. Just making this comment since one viewer here stated that Bob s not doing enough transparency to d nomad community😅
Bob does an excellent job sharing valuable information that is helpful to nomads and folks considering that life. I have learned a great deal from listening to his videos. In fact, it was because of one of Bob's videos that I learned about DIY rvs and bought a Promaster and had it built out.
Yes, Bob is giving us an alternative to being homeless, which in this day in time is a must. You never know what life is going to throw at you in America these days. We are just waiting for the other shoe to drop. You have enough money now but as the conversation continues, you hear about the cutting of social security and continued rising taxes, and don't forget about inflation while money is being continually siphoned off to the latest war effort. Yes I'll be listening to Bob JUST IN CASE!!!
@@polly8844 yep i got penalized 70% of my SS because of a small pension check and was not told until the DAY i filed for SS i had my forty units too but i am a living witness to SS cuts so yes thanks Bob
I lived in a minivan for two years. It isn't cheaper to live in a van than an apartment. Vehicles age and will need to be repaired and eventually replaced. If you didn't need to replace the vehicle you would save a ton of money. If you don't mind gambling and buying old vehicles, you could have a good run of vehicles and save money. Drive them until they're near death and get another one. The one great thing about living in a vehicle is that YOU own it. The second great thing is that you can move to someplace else really cheaply. After a lease ended and before I moved to a different state, I lived in a compact car for a couple of months. With the knowledge learned from living in the minivan it was very easy. I put everything owned into storage. I got a cheap gym membership for exercising and showering. A heavy duty sleeping bag got me through some below freezing nights. When it was time to move a trailer was rented and loaded with my things and I drove 1600 miles to the new place. No hotels were used because I knew how to live in the car. Anybody could live in a car with ease if they just kept their stuff in storage. If the windows are blocked so no light can get out, nobody will know you're there.
I have seen people literally save a ton of money. Enough to buy a piece of land. It all depends on how you do van life. Traveling thousands of miles per year and eating out regularly can indeed be more expensive than living in a sticks and bricks.
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621 A new short wheelbase low roof cargo van from RAM costs $51,000 plus taxes and fees. If somebody doesn't save their money for their next van, of course they can spend that money on land, but replacing a van costs a ton of money. That is only about two years of rent and internet bills. Vehicles break and deteriorate. They all need to be replaced at some point. That is why living in a van isn't really cheap in most of the country. The freedom is worth it for many people.
@@MrMoneyHelper that sounds like a great plan. It would not work for me because I live somewhere that's very hot. You would die if you tried to sleep in you car.
@@tennesseeterri Hey! I'm in Tennessee too. Just wondering if you are closer to memphis, nashville, Gatlinburg or Chattanooga. I'm closer to Nashville, 71, widowed, with an older Winnebago campervan.
This is fabulous advice. I am a weekend carlife warrior. I have done this for years. That is basically my setup, a cooler, a warmer plate for food, toilet of my design, water, and my power station. I have 2 huge comforters I setup in my backseat to sleep with a mountain of pillows and I sleep like a dream. Windowcovers are a must. Your list was excellent to jump in the car and go.OH and the USB fans are a MUST for hot nights
THANK YOU. I think it is a wonderful idea. I will be reading the 6 Hard Truths. One of my barely adult grandkids decided it would be a good idea to be a nomad in a van. I gave them every cautionary warning as to why it would be a bad idea.They said they weren't afraid. I said there were many things of which to have a healthy fear. So far, the van has not come to be.
It really is something that needs to be well thought out and even perhaps tried on a short trip if possible first. It can be a lot harder than most realize.
I have always known I was not Nomad material. I do love to camp in my Van, but even just taking trips, the hassles are real. Stopping and sleeping for a night anywhere is a hassle. I mostly do State Parks, but they book out so much in advance. I can’t even imagine daily life of this. I have done the math. Living this way would save me about $500 a month. I truly feel for those who are forced into the Nomad life due to finances. These Click Bate You Tubers ( which is not you) are making tons of money selling lies to people. Thanks for the honesty and genuine care of others. Some of us have a true Nomadic soul, I would consider myself as one. For me, that means keeping only what fits in a small U-Haul and then moving to new areas every few years. A far easier way to explore new places while having a home base.
We did the nomad thing for 2 years in our class C, boondocking, moving around to blm and state parks in AZ and NM. Then Covid hit, and it was hard to even find a place to park. Since 2021 we have been permanent at Rv park in Quartzsite. Same Rv, just stationary and it is a relief to do so. Not everyone is cut out for the constant travel and uncertainty of nomad life. We are stationary, but still able to move on if we don’t like a place. Rv parks in Quartzsite are very reasonably priced for long term set up. Many folks around us stay thru winter months and then leave for summer to visit family, but keep their spot here as they pay annually. That is an option, a seasonal pass or annual, with conveniences like showers, laundry right outside your door, and full hookups. Living in an RV at Rv park here is a lot cheaper than renting an apartment.
My personal opinion is that people need to plan where they're going to stop not one hour before but at least a week before I mean that's what it's all about is planning and I think that a lot of the people that are having a hard time are it's all due to planning they didn't plan how they're going to meal they didn't plan how they're going to sleep they didn't plan how they're going to take care of themselves personally they didn't plan their finances it's all comes down to planning and if you're not the type of person that like to go camping then that you're not going to like being in a car and traveling around and the other thing that's got to be more than just driving here and there it's got to be enjoying life and doing things and and keeping yourself busy and being occupied it's it's should not be a struggle. I mean you've got the plan for cold weather you got to plan for hot weather you got to plan your water and your cooking fuel and your gas mileage and your finances and your maintenance. And you got to be smart stay ahead of the weather keep a daily if not three times a day check on the weather what's going to be happening in the areas that you're going to.
I got into a discussion with a woman that had watched a handful of van life videos and was just like the first woman you shared with us, she’d not even slept in her van. So I challenged her to try that. Well, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Not even in her driveway lol. We really have to push ourselves before making hasty decisions. Turns out she’d been watching a very popular TH-cam channel, and was shocked to learn that that creator has never hidden the fact she has a home base. She loves her camper van, and has wonderful videos, but some how she’d missed out on the fact that the creation question goes home after her get togethers, lots of TH-camrs do, most don’t hide it, and I myself have come across a TH-cam channel, the way the algorithm recommends the videos is so nonsensical to me anyway, so she didn’t start at the beginning. Our precious LOLA, (RIP) hosted great get togethers, she was a real MVP, to the nomad community, but she had a home base and enjoyed getting out and about in her van. Your channel is such an important resource!
There are many many TH-camrs who have a homebase. The difficulties that nomads faced during Covid was a big motivating factor. Even though I have traveled over 100k miles in my van over the past 5 years, I have a homebase and will always have one as I have a special needs daughter. Most nomads will at some point need to come of the road as they can no longer drive or experience other physical limitations. For this reason I believe having an exit plan that involves land is the best option for so many.
Great video. I commuted 3 hours daily for 20 years from one side of the metroplex to the other. Driving is a big stressful and exhausting chunk of daily life, but at least I knew where I was going to, and where I would come back home to every night. Yes, after work I would stop at a couple of different gyms to work out depending on which route I took home allowing for traffic snarls. I'd swim laps at the gym, and also rode trails at several different parks with ride mountain bike trails. I always kept my bike on my SUV rack (during season). I'd shower/shampoo/dry hair at the gym, then go home and have a lite dinner before bed. But the commuting all the time was exhausting! And I knew where I was going every day! I can't imagine being a constant traveler having no place to call home, constant daily stress of driving without a certain destination, just trying to find a place to exist for every few hours. Maybe you catch a rhythm when you get the hang of it?
I don't even want to live vanlife. I just want to start taking solo road trips and car camping and I've watched a lot of vanlife videos. I did a test run, and it went well, but I always had a option if I didn't like it. I've seen to many videos say how easy vanlife is and to just do it. But listening to various people who actually do it, you quickly find out more of the truth about it. My main thing is, what do I do once I get to a new town, and where do I sleep at night. For me, it's not too bad. Or, my test run wasn't to bad. But every night as a lifestyle? I'm not sure I could do it.
I agree I think knowing you have a home to come back to makes a big difference, I retire in 6 weeks and plan to travel to see the country but it will be by choice I will keep my home base, I have a small trailer and I also car camp I like to travel both ways but car camping only in cool conditions, I have a car camping trip planned in a couple weeks to NY near Canadian border but will cancel if the heat wave is still here, car camping allows me to travel farther in a weeks vacation time, trailer always takes longer to travel the same distance so I typically use my trailer at the local state parks and have access to their showers and bathrooms.
Bathroom: It helps to be fit. Especially using the bathroom I. The middle of the night. I have a gallon Gatorade cooler for #1, a half gallon suction container for #2. If I weren’t fit or when I have some sort of back strain, it’s hard to get in the position. Cooler: Bought a yeti and it sits in the front seat. I made a cardboard jig to level the seat, cut a piece of wood to fit all the way beyond the seat exactly to the door topped with a fitted rubber mat…made room for cooler to be level. It holds ice for three days. Inside cooler I have a perforated container so when ice melts it freely flows out the spigot. Food: I have four jobs so don’t have to budget. But for food, carrots and blueberries hold well out of the cooler. Avocado and bananas relatively well for less time. Hummus cottage cheese in cooler…staples to satisfy hunger that are healthy. I could go on and on about food. Coffee: I have an MSR windburner. Sleep: I used to have to do the “dance” to park. But a friend has allowed me to park on the curb outside their house for a few years now. I get there after dark and leave at 5 am. Never get out while there. Minimize visibility. Bed: It is vital that when you sleep that you are comfortable. I went through about 5 iterations of bedding. Settled on 4 inch foam with three inch Thera foam topper. I hand sewed removable covers to keep the foam protected.Invest in not too bulky but effective blankets. Gym: LA fitness for working out and showering. Clean honey bucket every morning. Run to stay fit on treadmill. Work: I teach at four community colleges, three online, one in-person. House sit: I house sit about 3-5 months a year. My circumstances now are ideal to live like this, but for the first 3 years it was awful finding parking. I only had one job and so had no choice because I could not afford rent and a vehicle. I chose the vehicle (Hyundai Santa Fe sport). But it and I evolved to where I am now. House sitting gives me a breather (I get paid for that) and can relax spread out, spring clean my SUV. I don’t want to do this when I am older, so my goal is to save as much money as I can and when I retire then I will be able to afford rent. This is not for everyone. It is hard and if I didn’t have a curb safe place to sleep without feeling like I am doing something wrong, I don’t know that my psyche could handle it. Good luck to everyone out there!
It sounds like you have figured out the ins and outs of this lifestyle and now are running smoothly. What a blessing your friend has provided a safe place for you to park. That is definitely one of the most challenging aspect of this kind of living. You are wise to be planning your exit plan. I speak to so many people who have no idea what they will do when and if they can no longer drive. I wohld love to interview you for a video on how to successfully live as a nomad in a city setting.. If you are interested you van reach me at: Gloriouslifeonwheels@gmail.com You can do it anonymously if that is a concern.
You’ve given me an idea. I’ve house & pet sat for 50 years now & have a home base that lost all its amenities while I was trying to get back on my feet after a bout with cancer, so I housesit every chance I get, but my place has plenty of overnight & day parking for now. I’ll check with the folks who run the food pantry.
I ended up in an rv, not by choice. My mom bought it about a year before she passed away and a couple of months later, covid hit so everything in price was going up so I had to stay with it because of rent rates. I'm in a trailer park, I tell you, it's not easy. Emergencies? Ha, I'm having an electrical problem where I have to flip a poped circuit breaker every 5-10 minutes going on 3wks now in the Phoenix, AZ hot azz summer, up to 115 so far. I'm handicap with a really bad hip so getting up that often every day is painful. I pray for the sun to go down so I can relax for a couple of hours just to do it all again tomorrow.
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621 yup, really thought i was just gonna drive a few hours everyday and park overnight. I hope ppl are paying attn and not misbehaving with their slides, trash, noise, etc bc it's gonna ruin a good thing, that means no free overnights anywhere. I have a bumper sticker on my car that says "JUST BEHAVE". It's not hard.
@@RetiredFreeBird from what I hear, it's already too late and that is why many Walmarts no longer allow you to park overnight (it all depends on the manager). People did ruin a good thing by leaving trash, making noise, cooking & partying - using it like a paid campground instead of just a free place to sleep overnight.
I guess before you leave see how much gasoline you will need to and from your destination. Multiply the number of miles five hours of driving will take you by at least five dollars. I put my destination on my GPS to get the miles then multiply by five or six. This is because I was shocked by gas prices as I traveled west. Here in Louisiana our gas prices are way lower than Arizona and California. My traveling is definitely restricted to gasoline prices. Great advice. I’m so glad you helped that lady before she gave up her apartment! 😆
Yeah all my " destinations" gas prices really put me off.. a few years ago, I was planning on becoming a " nomad", but unfortunately, probably will NEVER be able to afford it now.. the only place I can think of, where I ( may) be able to save ( a little) is Quartzite.. if I'm able to bring a bunch of food from Louisiana.. idk it's not as appealing to me as it was a few years ago.. I'm only 63, just lost my Mom, but I'm getting old I guess.. also don't want to lose the rental I have that's affordable 😊
Yes whoever it’s thinking of going into the nomad life do a test period especially I’m the cold winter time it can get very freezing cold in the van not everything it’s glamorous like they show on media
This was excellent information. My trial runs have been work related.. I stay anywhere from four days to a month. I also travel anywhere from an hour away from my home to work on someone else’s home to 4 hrs away. My job is decluttering, organization and I help people pack to move. My big trip will be coming up in September, where I will head to Minnesota I live in Virginia. I will be there a month to six weeks packing up a house. The lady has lived there 45 years. Smaller jobs have helped me prepare for the big trip. I do find it very important to me that I have a tiny house on my sister’s farmland . It is a blessing to come home and rest. I love traveling as well.🙏🏻😊
Great advice, Carol. I drove 3400 miles in the shoulder season to pick up my rig and bring it back here to build it out (1700 miles each way--no build in either vehicle). It took me 11 nights and 12 days, and I drove 400-600 miles every day. It was a new camping spot every night except when I stayed for two nights at Honey's Park in Arco, Idaho after picking up my rig in Twin Falls. I slept in the driver's seat in the rental and the passenger seat in my Suboverland. I knew this wasn't going to be how I lived but that's how it was when I took that trip. I did have a fridge and a couple power stations with me, plus everything else I could think of that I would need. My biggest downfall was not having good window coverings. That meant I couldn't comfortably overnight in store parking lots--not that I want to really do that, if possible. I had some rather sheer (but colorful) sarongs that I put in the windows but they blocked almost nothing at night when I had a light inside the cabin area. I had to utilize public lands, campgrounds (paid and unpaid), and even a night in a motel. Thankfully, it was after the camping season, so I didn't have a lot of people around me. [That did mean that I was cold at night sometimes, and I wasn't really prepared for that.] The lack of proper window coverings is a serious hindrance to being nomadic. I didn't have any on that trip because it's hard to make them to fit two totally different vehicles. I have made them by now, of course. That was a whole other story, and not a pretty one. But at least it's done. Lol. Because I was in such a hurry and was driving so much each day (and I'm a late starter), I found myself trying to locate camp at night several times. I absolutely hated that. I even knew approximately where I wanted to go (and I had 3 choices for each night because it was a well-planned trip), but it didn't really help. If at all possible, one should find camp before it gets dark--especially if you don't have perfect vision and you're somewhere unfamiliar. I had to rely on the kindness of a local in Iowa to find my way one night (my first night of the trip, actually). I knew I had passed up my destination, so I pulled into the nearest gas station. It was pitch black out and I was surrounded by forests on the back roads. I went in and asked the young clerk for help figuring out my exact location. Her friend was there chatting with her (small town/rural behavior--lol) and so she offered to escort me where I needed to go. I happily followed her lead. (Yes, I could vibe that they were good kids and not psychotic...) She took me right into the campground of the state park I was seeking. Thank goodness! [The signage was hard to spot from the road, so it was no wonder I didn't see it at night.] But even then, I ended up parking in a site with electrical hookups instead of the primitive spots because it was so dark that I couldn't really see much. The next day, the ranger had to come along and request the extra money it costs for an upgraded site. Lol. On the way there in my rental, I didn't have anywhere to even pee in a jar. Thankfully, I had my pop-up shower tent with me to utilize. My Suburban had enough floor space for me to use my Reliance toilet in there (it came with me on the trip to Idaho but I couldn't use it in that small rental). That one trip taught me many things. It gave me a good idea of what I need and don't need. I knew I wanted to do everything from inside my rig in case I can't get out of my truck for whatever reason (bad weather, etc.). I want to be able to sleep, have food available, go to the bathroom, and change my clothes in there. After much thought and designing, I was able to come up with a build that suits me and checks all the boxes. I still have some ironing out to do, but that's because I'm not a minimalist. Lol. I've literally been living in our unfinished garage for a decade or longer. I go into the house to "work" and take a shower once a week. I long ago had to learn how to live without a toilet or running water. I went through the gamut of alternative loos. I think I've found the right system for me in my situation when I'm on the road. I'm interested in the Trellino (sp?), when I can afford it. I added up my costs for the trip, including food. I've also calculated all my expected monthly expenses, in general. Unfortunately, the cost of my fuel back when I took that trip in 2020 and the cost now is substantially different. 😔
Such wise advise. Wanted to bail from Cali and move to fl. A good friend said “DONT sell in CA until you go to fl for a month and see if it’s for you. Everyone wants to jump in headfirst.
@@iquesnell I road tripped from Houston to Tampa during the beginning of Covid lockdowns early June 2020. I didn't realize how HOT Florida gets without SHADE. I was in a beautiful beach area but there was no shade trees or awnings, buildings, anything to block the sun. It was brutal. And when I first got to the beach I hopped out of my van and stepped on a broken drug pipe in the sand and cut my foot. Luckily the beach lifeguard gave my first aid. Florida ocean and beach are definitely beautiful, but too damn hot in Summer.
This is such good advice. Im 57. I thought I wanted to work on the road traveling, etc. So I took a 3 week trip from Cincinnati to Quartzsite this past RTR/WTR. I spent thousands getting ready to live in my suv, solar panels, battery bank, refrigerator, etc. I enjoyed it very much and I think that after my grandbabies get a little older I can be like a snowbird. But I said all of that to say that what I thought it would be like was different than what it was. I wasn’t ready to give up the luxuries just yet. So take her advice seriously.
😂 lol. Too funny.. bout the lady who changed her mind && went home, NO. 30 Day notice for her... Thank you Carol for sharing ur video of knowledge/thoughts.. makes sense.. to try 1st. God bless all nomads for the strength endure.. always running in.. much love ❤😊
Best video ever, some of these people who live in vans and go on U tube only speak about their good days, which figuratively speaking is what we all like to hear. I am like that to; I don't like to hear "bad news" I am glad that you are also revealing the dark side of van living and creating awareness.
The only bad thing about doing a test run with spartan outfitting is, it could discourage a person because it’s too miserable not being properly set up. Having a nice setup makes things easier. Great tip about the driving aspect. The way I see it, the biggest challenge is where to stop overnight, and it’s getting worse from what I’ve heard.
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621 I see it as a dealbreaker. I think as more people take to the road, cops are on the lookout for “lowlifes” that sleep in their vehicles. I say lowlifes because I believe that’s how van lifers are perceived by people in general, and especially by local governments and LE.
Great comment; it can help to plan and be set up right, even if all isn't easy or as one imagined. I bought a used minivan and will spend on maintenance, leveled floor, comfortable bed (most essential to me), power station, fridge, fans, window covers, rain guards and basic stove. Building a list of all needs over time but will try with these basics and see what is revealed first with some excursions before I commit more time/money.
Yes! Two week trial run in a rented van!!! One week not long enough! Test your stamina for chaos! Test your ability to weather weather! Test your comfort level with uncertainty! And BE. TRUTHFUL with yourself!
Omg thank you for talking to people about it I watched videos were the nomads don’t do this so thank you for not pushing van life on people between you and Bob you both explain to everyone before they want to do that I hate to see people throw there stuff away they work hard on to this like you said you either have in you or you don’t great video
I've traveled across the U.S. and Canada a couple of times, but only stayed at Walmarts, truck stops or places like a MacDonald's. Usually there were bathroom facilities, but I had my own little bucket system as well. And I had made several days worth of food to bring with me, so I didn't need to cook. I personally loved the whole experience although it wasn't always easy....I do plan on getting a vehicle soon to do a snowbird situation with my two pups and have gotten my little one burner stove. I will plan to stay in places for days at a time, so that it's not just constant gas usage. Am hoping to do winters as far south in the U.S. as possible and then make my way back up to Canada for the summers. (The exchange rate is going to take a bite out of my funds!) We shall see how it goes!! Even just having the 2 pups is going to be super challenging. (They bark...☹😄) Wish me luck!
When we sold our business to retire, we downsized to a much smaller house. I wanted to do the nomad life but my husband wanted a home. We couldn't afford to do both. I believe now my husband was the wise one. You are offering sound wisdom here Carol. I know some folks may not have a choice and make the best out of their circumstances. Maybe someday cities and towns will offer a safe, free zone for Nomads to stay overnight without getting that knock on the door.
Great video! Its not for everyone for sure. I'm 59, will be 60 this December. I've loved camping since I was a kid. I love being outside and I'm pretty much an introvert I socialize when I'm ready socialize when I'm ready LOL. I went to Fl, Quartzsite, and some other amazing places in southwest AZ & southeastern CA. from Nov 23 until May 2024 & I loved it more than I thought I would! I have an 04 Matrix & 2 tents. One I can stand up in. The other is a small 1 person that the deresrt wind won't blow apart. I can pack everything onto the driver's side & sleep in the car. Front passenger seat folds too. Pack light! And enjoy life. Only my doctors keep me coming back to Virginia. That's gonna change this fall.
Bravo Carol! This video adds balance to all the vanlife videos that hype up this lifestyle without showing how hard it really can be. Having said that my wife and I love our 2017 Roadtrek campervan, just got back from a trip on the north shore. Even though our Roadtrek has everything we need to be comfortable, its greatly limited in space compared to our house. Sometimes I sleep in our driveway just to make sure everything is good and well be comfortable when traveling. Good luck and take care!
I'm conflicted. I understand your purpose but I learned things gradually by trial and error or looking it up on TH-cam...😂 I also had an emotional start so dealing with the reasons I needed to be in a vehicle was my first major challenge. It also kept me going because I had no other viable choice. To try to learn it all at once in a trial run may be overload. Everything you mention is valuable but maybe smaller chunks would be better. I wonder if all of it on one trip will discourage almost everyone. Of course everything you mention is good to know. I dealt with cold first and with this heat dome I'm now dealing with hot weather and bugs. And finally to maybe counteract the negative have them practice the positives too. When I first started I never missed a sunrise or sunset and took joy and solace in that. Now I often sleep through the sunrise...lol. Also from the start I took joy in living outside. Hearing birdsong, hiking trails or just walking in a park. I've started using my America the Beautiful pass and going to National Parks. I look for the brown signs designating wildlife refuges or historical sites. And I take the slow roads to my destination rather than highways. I stop at beaches and waterfalls and forests even if it's only for an hour. As any lifestyle there are positives and negatives. Conquering the obstacles develops pride in being competent. My daughter recently was very upset with me for nomading. In short she doesn't think I have the resources and skills. Her critique made me start to learn the mechanics of my vehicle. It was a valid point. Yesterday I was able to check my fluids and refill those that were low. Next oil change I will try to do myself. I am rebuilding my decimated repair cushion and am proud that I had it to begin with. In short I feel I'm getting more competent and feel how important that is. I wish everyone the best of luck and hope those who really want to or need to can find nomadic life joyful along with its' downsides. And thank you for trying to educate new comers. Its very important we support and help each other. Bless you for seeing the need.
I totally agree with you you are right on all counts. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and are open to learning new things. I believe that is one of the huge things that many miss out on. learning new things does give you competence and confidence, two of the main ingredients needed for this lifestyle. Keep up the good work.
@maureenhanley991 Thanks - I really admired your post. It sounds as though you can look at the big picture, such as knowing you needed to take care of the emotional situation which precipitated your move into a nomadic life (if I understood you correctly.) Then you're evaluating your own skills and are open to learning new ones. It seems to me those approaches are good for both nomads and stay-at-homers! Keeping flexible and honest with yourself. So many vanlifers (well, and domestic-dwellers!) get fixated on the kit - but it's the attitude and spirit which counts.
applies to those who buy an RV. Can't tell you the women from FB groups who buy an RV, sell everything then find they hate pulling a trailer or the RV life.
excellent guidance and coaching. physically, i no longer have the bones for van life. bbbuuuttt - the sparse lifestyle inspires me to let go of things i no longer “need” or think i “want” in order to simplify my life. thank you!
I think this is such a great video. So many channels that you watch romanticize van life especially the ones that I watch with older women. Sure it’s easy to crawl around in the back of your car in your yoga pants and get a great nights sleep when you’re in your 20s, but when you’re pushing 70 it’s a whole different situation. It’s not so easy to maneuver in the backseat of my car, I think this is great advice. I have Camped my whole life but I’ve gone back to my little trailer to do it. People need to make this decision not based on fantasy, but based in reality. Valuable video.
Life is a hassle wherever you live but what I enjoy about vanlife is I’ve got all day with no deadlines or pressure. Keeping things simple is the secret. It continuously surprises me how little I need to be content.
But how could you not have any deadlines and pressure? Don't you have to constantly think of things like where to sleep, to get water, go to bathroom, take a shower and many and many other things?
@@nightskylights4501 Some folks stay the entire fall and winter season in Quartzsite at a single campsite on BLM land from September to March. Most others do have a way to use the bathroom in their vehicles. Some stay at campsites with showers, some do sponge bathes in between trips to their gym. Parking is an issue primarily for those traveling continuously. There are certainly challenges that is why I try b to make folks aware of them as with planning therr are ways around these challenges.
I have to say this was the MOST intelligent and logical thought process for people to think about before cutting all the dock ropes and setting adrift. One day 11/12 yeas ago i decided to pack my ford windstar with camping gear, and take my son who is facinated with civil war and revolutionary war sights, fir a drive about. We started from Maine, traveled down the entire coast with a brief pull into Gettysburg. It was about November 26 and we spent thanksgiving eating at a homeless shelters food offering just for the company. We bought some turkey oieces at store and i fried them in a cast iron pot at a closed camp sight next to a river that was not locked up. Had a lovely day enjoying the river. Found a feral abandoned kitten in So Carolina next to camp LaJune and she became a camping partner. I knew jack about living in a car. And didnt have a lot of common sense about to much STUFF in a crowded car. We reclined the front seats and slept with no privacy shades as i didnt know about that. One thing i did do was to always stop the security guards at wallmarts and ask if it was OK to sleep there. Explaining ALWAYS we were NOT homeless, just travelers sightseeing on a Very tight budget. About $800. A month. We spent a lot if time in parking lots waiting for check to show uo so we could get more gas and move on. Cambles poo top soup and a propane stove wedged between front seat was our cooking. Hiking my butt from back if parking lot to wallmart super store at 2/6am. Sucked. I soon learned to wear ling summer dresses, almost gowns, no undies, to be able to squat and pee in the front seat if a car in a bucket of any kind. Slacks were not an option. Not without peeing all over them trying to hit the bucket. We came across many really nice people. Most thought we were homeless despite me saying we were just visitors and did have a home in Maine. One thing not addressed here especially for older women, is UTIs. One naturally stops drinking fluids to stop the constant peeing. If you go to bed hungry or just soup you end up peeing even more. I developed some serious UTIs on this trip one which i had to get medical help for. Sucked the strength energy and life right out if me. Lucky we were not alone an i was able to find a er. But women need to address the peeing issue before anything else. How hard is it going to be to strip to pee. Will u have urine all iver the place and have to stop to disinfect the car. So that brings up lymph fluid retention from sitting and sleeping in not straight lay down positions. When we stopoed inwould constantly prop one leg on the roof of my car and stand there to help drain leg fluids buikding up in my feet. A serious issue that folks should consider, if driving a lot ir sitting at home. Next trip im buying the Velcro shut foot and leg massage machine to use daily to help push the lymph and blood up and out My sin and I lost so much weight that we stopped at thrift shops and just traded old clothes for smaller clothes. Staying at state and federal campgrounds along the coast afforded me stretch out on my I found it at a georgia thrift shop foam mattress. It was a thousand dollars new designed to stop any oressure points from becoming bed sores. I had it flying on roof of the car on top of the turtle storage. We were with a friend, who had two packed with stuff vehicles totally break down to the point of if unrepairable. Had to throw a lot if my stuff out to side of road so his stuff could be in there. And him. Axel snapped on small car in a church parking lot, and his van dropped its universal axel at a store. Next to another dumpster. I had a huge tarp like a boil griwing iver the windshield on the roof as we had run out of space. Made it to Texas to see the Alamo. Made a brief jaunt into mexico until we were told the CAR, based on maje and year, had to have a visa!!! The CAR. Needed a $200. Visa to continue into Mexico!!. So we turned around and went back. The wouldnt refund our $20. Human visa money either. So. Medical issues. Water verses peeing issues. Showering issues. Went into bathrooms at gas stations and did a water bath. Left bathrooms a lot cleaner then when i went in. Mom decided to try and die of gangareen after they cut off her leg. We were at my sisters house resting in GA. Had to abandon my camping gear at her house which i never returned for. Mold, rats, spiders wrecked everything. Might as well have dumped ut into a dumpster. I have lived at home in a rv, for 4 years. Want to gi to Oregon to see daughter. This has been training to figure out what we need and do not need. 99% of canned foods, unless meat, wont be coming. Bought a solar refrigerator that can recharge off car. Or solar. Frying meat is a challenge on the road. But no need to chop, blend, saute. Deviled eggs and beef jerkey on road. Electrolytes in water. And road pro 12 V cookers to roast a small roast while on a long trip. Got to buy another camper. Hopefully a class C. Which brungs me to next issue. Do you know how to do your own vehicle repairs? Can u get under a jacked up car and coat hanger a falling muffler and tape a hole in the container? Can u change ur own oil? If car won't start do u have the kniwledge to check negative ground on battery to be sure you have good connection? Do you know how to change a tire? Dogs or cats and you in a hot car broke down on side of the road waiting hours for AAA to show up? Know where u are all the time to tell people in Brazil or India where u are on a map. Carry a fan with replacable batteries. And a soray bottle with clean or distilled water to soak yourself and pets and sit in front of fan to get cool. Im rambling. Great info for everyone.
I have never seen anyone else address the swelling of the feet. Happened to me on a 6000 mile road trip last year..scared me big time..had to buy other shoes. Got better ad weather got cooler and I decided to limit my driving to 200 miles a day and took lots of hikes. Thanks for your insights.
such an insightful reply! i am so appreciative of the details even more excellent info i was thinking about doing this but renting out my sticks and bricks i had started a TH-cam channel in January to make a connection and move forward to maybe part time van life in my 70s then i fell watering my garden freak accident slipped broke my wrist had surgery three days ago suppose i was on the road with this trauma ??? thank you for your comment gabrial
Thank you so much for your honesty. I've been dreaming about this lifestyle for decades, but now that I'm turning the dream into a plan and watching 'real' videos instead of aspirational ones, it's clear that for me at this time, part time is best. I'll keep a cheap room in a sharehouse and between the two, I believe that's going to get me closest to the life I want within the limited budget I have. Thank you again for your realness!
I bought a van but before I took off I read "10 Years A Nomad" and while he wasn't in a van everything else applied. That book let me know full time van life was not for me. Short trips and small adventures really add fun and wonder to my life, but it also feels good to return to my home base to sleep in my own bed.
Great budgeting advice, Carol! I do agree that you need to 'try it out before you take it out'. Also, try mobile living and driving in all seasons in the areas you plan to go. Your rig might be fine in the winter but unbearable in the summer, you don't know. You also need to be aware that condensation builds when you live inside your vehicle and prepare a mitigation strategy. Lastly I would suggest trying this out with the pet you may be intending to bring along on this adventure. (Remember that leaving a pet or a child in a closed vehicle in the sun can be deadly.)
Great information; been living out of vehicles for over 15 years and meet so many people that see the instagram life, commit to a $50-$120k van/RV and call it quits after a couple months. This life isn't for everyone.
I love living in my town and country, I've been living in vans year round in northern Michigan for a few years now. A whole heck of a lot depends on how well you're able to set up your vehicle. A comfortable bed and a decent heating system are critical. A 20 lb tank and my homemade vented flower pot heater keep me comfy .I have access to sticks and bricks but I still stay in my van in the driveway when I'm there.🎉
Thanks. Great advice! I'm already a nomad - been travelling around Europe and the Caribbean, but am planning to head back to Canada and pick up my car and live out of it inbetween housesits and that way I might get an idea of whether or not it's the life for me or just a place to live while I drive from one housesit to another.
Lots of issues to think about. Sorry to say I think that their vehicle would require more maintenance of all kinds. Also what if your vehicle gets totaled by falling trees, heavy rain, hail, etc. Sickness on top of this would become a nightmare. Hopefully more affordable housing is created .🧡💚💙💜
Carol, thank you so much for this! I think many of us senior solo women romanticize van life so this reality check could be a life saver, honestly.. I bought a 25 yr old Roadtrek last year & couldn’t wait to sell my house & hit the road! I decided to do a trial run in it last year & honestly after 3 weeks, I couldn’t wait to get home & kept my home & now use the Roadtrek for wonderful weekend or week long trips which I love, but now I know the reality of van life was not for me at 70 years old..luckily, I work remote & so I could go try it…I also was shocked at how much money I ended up spending.. It was summer, I needed A/C during day & ended up paying for campsites half the time until I got from FL to higher altitudes..It was a real eye opener!
Great advise. It's always good to be aware of realities of the big choices we have to make. Some don't have a choice and so education is the best course before prceeding. Knowledge is the power needed to be as successful as you can be. Van nomad life is better than living on the street any day.
Great suggestions. I’ve been rving for 2 weeks at a time since a child. Over the last 5 years my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. We’d always wanted to travel long term, so I left my teaching job and we hit the road. We went for 4months at a time. I had to do everything. You are so right it’s so different being long term on the road. We stayed in different places with different atmospheres. There was only 1 Walmart that really made me feel unsafe. We were in an rv and not a van. But traveling and moving constantly is exhausting. Presently my husband is in a nursing home, but I do plan to get back out there eventually. I plan to sell my house and travel for at least 5 years before settling back down. Thx for sharing some great advise.
With advance planning there are ways to mnimize the wear and tear on your body when doing rv life. One is to stay for at least two weeks or even up to a month in one location. The advantages to this in addition to being able to rest is being able to really get to learn about and see things of interest in an area and perhaps make some connections with locals in the area. Also, some campgrounds may offer a discount for stays of a month or longer and lastly the monthly gas bill will be less.
I'm so glad that the lady tried it out first. Ohh my. All great advice, you did a good thing. I would also suggest placing everything that one uses on a daily basis, in a space, to give them a visual. Adding extra necessities, such as a bucket, T.P., fans, blankets, etc. This is what I did. It helped me plan better. Don't forget the first aid kit. Right ? Thumbs up and love from S. California.
I wouldn't last a day and a half doing van life !!!!!!! Plus I have NO sense of direction! I get scared and start crying ! 😢 And I am to overly , very trusting and friendly. I give huge kudos to all who are van lifers . 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 Be safe and be blessed. 😇✝️🙏
If you have a workplace, you can use those reusable freeze packs for the cooler (or coolers). Just refreeze them in the work freezer, like 2 or so at a time. Bring them in a lunch cooler. Nobody will care. Mark your surname on them, too. Anyway, that's what I'd do. Plus charge up rechargeables at work or at Laundromat. I'd pre dry wet clothes washed by hand, too. Just throw them in dryer with other wet stuff to soften or at least to complete drying. Dry things thrown in with wet things will cut down on dry time ☺🧺🌞
You are so right. Try it first, it can be hard work too. Thank you , you really hit on everything. Most of the things u mentioned, most people wouldn’t even think about. I have been thinking about doing the Nomad live for some time, haven’t managed to put it together yet. But after listening to you, I need to do just what u are saying. I have this idea it would be so fun, but there is so much more to it, not just fun. Thank you again.😊
Greetings from Brazil. Thank you for your advices. We, my wife and I, are waiting for my retirement to go nomad. We already done trips weeks long and went far, far from home as you said. Our goal is to try it for, at least, a year before say "we are into nomad life!". Until that, we are grabbing other people's experience. Thanks for sharing.
You are wise to do your research and studying before embarking on this lifestyle full-time. You learn so much about what you need and don't jeed everytime you go on a road trip. Good luck witth your plans and keep me posted. I'd love to learn what nomad living look like whre you are.
The voice of experience. All great points, especially testing things out as you described. Would also add another possible test that can be done at home. Life in your kitchen area of your home using the smallest area you can make. Use painters tape to mark the floor and try to live within that space. At first use your bathroom when needed, but slowly try stay within that space and use the methods you would use if you lived in your vehicle. Be creative and give yourself more flexibility at first and patently learn what you can in the safety of your home. Next stage, live out of your vehicle for a day. Get up on the morning and get into your vehicle and spend time, and don't return home until it's time to sleep. After this can spend a whole day, 24 hrs+ in your vehicle. You will learn a lot within just a few miles from home. All the while knowing you can stop the test, return home and use what you learned for the next test.
before leaving to do vanlife, come up with a menu you plan to live on in vanlife, then cook those meals WITH the same stove and utensils that you will use on the road. Even cook them outside in the backyard or a park to get used to doing these things outside.
Some great suggestions, thanks. But I don't believe in the 5 hours/day thing for everyone. I've done the nomad life in a camper van at 2-3 hours (100-150 miles) from campground to campground, no problemo, but I keep my old van in REALLY good shape and looking cherry, so I'm always welcome. Managers don't like trashy looking rigs. Also, I'm not heading for hotter places, but colder ones, so MY test period would cover proper insulation, bedding, heating, evening- and sleepwear. Thanks so much for everything, Lady GLOW, you truly are a queen of the road.
Thank you 🥰. I was telling folks to drive 5 hours 3 days in a row so they could see what it felt like if that was what they had to do at some point so they could understand how being weary on top of them having to find a safe parking space and cook dinner felt like. Basically experience some of the more challenging aspects and see if they could handle it before jumping into this lifestyle
Absolutely wonderful advice! Truly. Even if you plan on being part time before you go to the expense of buying a van or camper, you will find out, one way or the other!
Great info everyone who is considering should hear. Too many people try to make it so romantic and I believe setting many up for great hardship or worse.
I would never ever attempt to sleep in a neighborhood. People watch out windows and have camera's they do not like strangers in vehicles. Im one of those people. LOL it would freak me out to see a person in a van or car parking by my house all night. And Im planning to be a nomad soon so kind of ironic huh. LOL Good advise you gave thank you.
If you are doing it right, they will never actually see you. Your car will pull up and park. The head lights will go off that's it, they will see nothing else. You will already have done all your nightly rituals and routines and may already be wearing your pajamas by the time you park your car. Ideally You will be gone in the morning before they are up and out.
This is the best video ever. In making a decision on what kind of lifestyle you want to live it's always good to have the pros and the cons laid out before you so you can make proper choices. You're definitely an angel sent by God for many people let me tell you thank you for your honesty and for the command you have. You definitely sound like a professor teaching in this video. Thank you so much
Thank You for some good insights on this important life style. I have wanted to be a Nomad for maybe 3 or 4 years. But some family responsibilities have kept me from being able to. And when my son gave me an older cargo trailer, i was overly excited to hurry and make an almost no build build. I got out my graft paper, sharp pencil and eraser and started drawing my plan. But because of my age and finding out that i couldnt get some, For Sure help, i stood back and had to agree that I had to step back and re- evaluate my decision. I believe now, that i only can take short trips to close places, maybe a few meet-ups. I could live with that. I think of Wendys channel from Canada. A senior with a happy, fulfilling life. Camping, fishing,and being in nature as she is pleased to be. Thank you for caring about people in general. Love to you.
Excellent advice. I would add one more thing, the first time out stay close to home, people tend to way over pack and this way you can cull out items that you didn’t use.
I change my mind two years ago, because cant see to drive at night and what if i am asleep and i have to move what would i do? that is my biggest fear is finding some place to sleep every night. Thank you for your videos i will watch from the comfort of my living room,
![[MV] A leap of faith...ความเชื่อใจครั้งสุดท้าย (From "Petrichor the series")](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1piZH2CNXA/mqdefault.jpg)
Brilliant. The best advice so far. I'm 73, I need my cataracts removed, all the roots of my teeth need to be surgically removed, and I have a prolapsed bladder that needs major attention. It's better for me to live vicariously through all you wonderful nomads and follow your adventures on line. My heart is with you. ❤
❤❤💜💜❤❤
Oh, I hope you are not in pain. It sounds like you have a lot to deal with. One step at a time eh. God bless and I hope it all works out for you.
Best wishes to you. It seems sometimes like it is one thing after another with health concerns. 🙏
Monique, you have a lot on your plate. Good luck to you, wishing you no pain and better days ahead.
🙏🙏❤
A test run isn't a wierd idea at all. It's completely reasonable and excellent advice.
I’ve been watching nomad videos for the past 10 years and this is the BEST video explaining what it takes to live in a van. Applaud 👏
Wow. Thank you so much.
1000% agree that this is a winner! what a great gift to those considering this lifestyle before they take that plunge!
100% agreed! And then some! Only for some of us it’s not an option 😢it’s the sidewalk or our car.
Van life is terrific. For the first week.
@@jenniferd264 😢 I do feel for those who have no choice and in those situation, a vehicle is better than the street - but it is not an easy life. I wish I could help those in need somehow, but many of us are just trying to stay afloat as well and not be in a position to have to make such a difficult decision of van or sidewalk.
It totally sucks. Full van lifer here. Really got sick and tired of trying to find a place to be. Just when I thought I had a good spot, rap, rap, rap on my door at 2 in the morning: "police". Can't count all the times I "supposedly" had the cops called on me. Suspicious van. Neighborhood watch. Van driving around the city... what a crock, the whole works, when I'd be minding my own business, not bothering anyone. Then the heat... I have 2 dogs and just can't walz in anywhere for air conditioning. I have ventilation and a maxxair fan. Still way too hot for all of us. Always had to be looking for water. Carried 30-42 gallons with me but always hunting for water. Who thinks running to the store every day is great for food? No way. Ate so much canned food, I began to feel it in my body. Sooooo unhealthy. I have a small fridge but then my batteries would become depleted. Always had to have my solar out. Always trying to resolve the battery issues. And then there's the bathing/showering issue. What a complete hassle to try to wash up in your van. When you figure out how to make it easier, you're dumping more money into other things. It never ends. I was an over the road semi driver for 9 years. I was used to being in a small area, being without things. I definitely have more room in my van, but not being able to shower or have a.c. or heat the way I could in a semi is beyond being miserable. Add in being bothered by the police when you're sleeping and even when you're not, just makes things worse and worse. I can say people knocked on my door 3 times in 9 years while I was driving semi. Compare that to 3-4 times a month in my van. Ridiculous and annoying. Spent nights and days in the national forests to be left alone. Yep, I was away from people. But then guess what? Ohhhhh... nobody told me about the ticks. Ticks, ticks, and more ticks. I'd get all comfortable to go to sleep for the night and those blasted bast#%ds would begin to crawl on me. And count my lucky stars they weren't all at the same time. Oh no. I'd get one and 10-15 minutes later another would be crawling around on me. 8, yes 8 one night! Drove me mad. Drove me right out of the national forest and I can't go back into any forest/woodsy area to this day. That's how bad it was. I have many true stories I could spend all day telling you about. I thank God, tremendously, for helping me out of the van life. I sincerely do. I take care of an elderly woman in exchange for a place with electricity, a shower whenever I want (no more body lesions from not cleaning enough with running water, painful), air conditioning, heat, refrigeration for healthy food (I'm so Blessed I can drink milk now) I can have fresh food that I don't have to eat all in one sitting so that it doesn't spoil or I don't have the room to keep it cold or the ice is no longer ice or the batteries aren't drained. And to top it all off, I thank God all the time I don't have to hope I find a good place for the night to be left alone... the cops haven't come since I've been back in a real home. True, true, Blessings from God. To Him I am forever grateful. To think it's a grand solution to high rent prices or the answer for solitude, van life is a whole nuther slew of problems you haven't even thought of until you're in the midst of the things you are without and how much trouble they cause to you.
That has to be the most honest comment I’ve ever read about van life. It sounds like an awesome way to live, but obviously it isn’t without sacrifice.
That is true, you just don't eat the same way as when at home.....and nature has its own annoyances.
Amen. Especially the issue about pets and the weather. It is a serious issue and not talked about enough.🙏🙏💐💐🙏🙏
Wow. You really got down to the. nitty gritty. Thank you for that raw but very honest look at ansude if van life that is not often shared. If I am ever in the area you are now II would very much like to interview you. If you are interested you can reach me at Gloriouslifeonwheels@gmail.com
what you described is what happen when you have no law and order. Dont blame the folks who call the police on you. Blame the few that ruin society trust.
Started camping 20 years ago starting with a 24 foot trailer and sized down to a 20 footer. My husband was not into camping so there is that. I got most of the tips and tricks down myself. So, my husband passed, the property was too much for just me to take care of. At the age of 76 I sold it all and bought a Mercedes Revel and hit the road in January with my little dog. Been doing my bucket list since. Yes, one runs into problems but one keeps on having a good time on the road. In the meantime, I'm looking for a final (destination) home......small please. Enjoying the nomad life.
Girls just wanna have fun!😁
Thank you for the one positive comment, seems everyone is talking down on this lifestyle. Yes there's problems, no life is without problems, but for me I don't want to spend the rest of my life in front of the TV, while everyone around me already has an established life with family and friends. Sticks and bricks can be very lonely and dull existence.
Keep going and enjoy the ride!
Good for you for living life to the fullest.
I have thought about selling my modest living on 2.1 acres here in Twisp (Okanogan County), Wash.. I have accumulated a lot of stuff over a couple decades that I should sell or sell everything for $250K and do van life full time. I am on social security, and at 68 I am in excellent health with a sense of adventure. Maybe I could accept your Revel as a down payment!
Oh! I’m really appreciating my comfortable bed, my spacious bathroom, my beautiful kitchen, looking out the window, hearing the birds, opening my big refrigerator and cooking myself a delicious breakfast. Going for a walk around the block.
Coming back and putting my feet up to watch a show on my large screen tv while I wait for load of laundry to be done.
I’ll do some van life but will definitely keep my apartment.
We can do both.
Thank you Gloria 😘
Unfortunately, some of us can't do both. That's why Glorious Life on Wheels truthful content is just so valuable. I am very happy you can financially do both. Blessings to you dear!
❤
You absolutely can do both and enjoy life to the fullest.
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621maybe years ago but now most are lucky if they can afford rent so no right now, most of us can’t do both.
Yo same. I kept my studio in LA all these years and have had my van as a part time RV for 4 years. No way I can pull off working remotely, taking care of my dog, and seeing what I want to see in nature in this van full time. I have gone on overnight and 2 week long trips away in the van, at least once per month these past 4 years. These are my limits.
Van life is miserable, consider all what this lovely lady has said. If you are on social security I think a good option is to move to a cheaper country. I live in Thailand for under 500 dollars a month, I have a wonderful toilet and nice air-conditioning.
Living in another country can be much more affordable. But, I don't think most people want to make such a drast8c change even if their quality of life might be better.
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621 I agree, most people in that situation do not even have a passport. Many are struggling just to buy their next tank of gas, so to buy an overseas flight may be unreachable. For a small percentage it may be a option worth considering. I love the way you present this type information from all aspects, not just the sugar coated version.
@wrassell1 what about length of stay allowed in another country?
@@tiffanytremiti6996 They are all different but most offer some sort of 1 year visa. I stay in Thailand on a 1 year retirement visa and I renew that every year with no problems.
Lots of countries require some minimum income or savings available, not to mention the language barrier for most, especially if they are older. Not saying it can't be done but it can prove very challenging. Adaptability is key for both emigrating and the nomad lifestyle.
I almost did it, iwas seriously looking for a van. I didnt only watched zBob welsh but everyone living on wheels, i saw many (healthy) people whom where very tired and because i am not healty that would mean that i would be constantly exhausted and in pain so i changed my plans, i emigrated from Holland to Hungary. I have lityle house in a small village and i love it. I have a nice plot of land with fruittrees and some chicken and goats. I am home.
I was in my van, a small safari, but was given a camping trailer in a RV Park. RENT went up last year but was still affordable. But the electric for my little space heater went through the roof. If the rent goes up this coming year 2025, I will have to move back into my old van.😢 WHAT else can I do?😢 I'm not getting any younger at 78, diabetic, partially disabled from a stroke, and trying to eat from a food bank. This is My reality.
I’ve been trucking for almost 20 years and 1 thing I’ve learned is the more prepared you are are the easier the hard things are to handle.
For those who have no choice, they do have to handle whatever comes their way as best they can. 😔
I have friends who hardly ever camped and think they can be a nomad! Hahaha...I think they have been so romanticized by some of the videos and really need to look at the ones where people have gotten stuck a hundred miles out in sand, snow, flat tires, break downs and they have to spend days in a hotel or renting another vehicle while theirs is being fixed, towing costs can break the bank. It's a harsh reality when you are out by yourself and no one is around to help you. I'm glad that woman realized it wasn't for her before she got rid of everything.
I was glad too and so happy she decided to come to the meetup before heading out on the road. She would have been miserable! As you noted, so many people have such an unrealistic idea of what van life can really be like sometimes.
I think it's a great idea. Thanks for all the advice.
I’m 78 and have been van living for about 8 years. The two week trial seems wise but really isn’t because the fun of van life is using your imagination and intelligence to find solutions to every problem. The van life and equipment and setup I have now is vastly different than what I started out with but is really functional and answers every problem this lady worries about.
I can say right now the Nomad life is not exactly what I want. Unfortunately, I won't have a choice in the matter when the time comes. I will Retire in just a few yrs. and will have nothing but my Retirement. Therefore knowing what I'm looking at I have prepared for it. I have everything that's needed to live out of my vehicle. Will I be happy? Yes! I refuse not to be! Sure, I'll have bad days and days that seem to never end, but that's life.
A Big Shout-Out to all the Nomads who want the real Nomad life known. It's not all Fairy Dust and Rainbows, but what is?
Thank you to All of You!
In most cases, I believe people don't have a choice. My husband and I often stop at a rest area in south Seattle off the I-5. This time, there were hundreds of cars parked everywhere! From the looks of the vehicles, new cars to old, people were definitely living in them. It was scary! Before covid it was a regular rest stop, not a community of car dwellers! Wake up America! This is appalling! We need to change this before we're ALL living on the streets!
This is sadly becoming the norm. Things have deteriorated significantly in such a short time.
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621 Your advice always rings true. Thank you!
I know that rest stop,& it was a homeless encampment long before covid, it just get cleaned up occasionally & then returns to a homeless camp. There is one in So Cal off I-5 near Camp Pendleton , north San Diego County, that has been a homeless camp for probably 30 years. Highway rest stops are maybe OK for using restroom & walking your dog, but that's it.
Also all the people coming from almost every country in the world is a risk for everyone, not just people in the RV community. Also As we get older stress from life gets harder with health concerns etc. I get it if you’re in good health and a back up plan, but if not too many negatives.
@@thobbs4526 We never saw it like that before when there were just a few cars. Looking back on it, people may have been living in them also.
People need to understand the difference between living in your vehicle by choice , camping around the U.S. or living in your vehicle as your survival. Most all you tubers make nomadic life everyone’s dreams. I think you doing these kind of videos will help newbie’s transition into nomadic life a lot safer and knowledgeable of things to expect . Thank you for bringing awareness to the newbie’s.
❤Thank goodness your the mom I never had ! Learned so much from you ! I was thrown into car life not by my choice ! I failed miserably to say the least the 1 st few weeks ! You name it , it happened! It’s been a long 8 months of me being in my car ! A lot of crying 😢 ! I’m saving up now on a new vehicle and along the way I have been buying the basic things to keep me going ! Giving up wasn’t an option for me so listening to your videos some times more than once has given me the confidence to be able to make the BEST of a crapy situation ! Life is NEVER EASY ! Forward movement is better than giving up ! You can do it if you try ! Take it from someone that has no one and started out with NOTHING ! ❤❤
❤❤l❤
Great advice! I tried “Kia soul life” in 2019; drove from Minnesota to Georgia, then to Michigan, did quite a bit of sight seeing over about a week. But didn’t do everything you suggested on this video. I found it exciting and for the most part I enjoyed it. Nothing’s ever all roses. One night I stopped to sleep, but immediately left a not safe part of town in Indiana. A little over a year later I moved out of my condo, traded in my Kia for a new 2020 Sprinter hightop got a diesel heater installed, a friend helped me build a bed. I lived in it for the most part in Minnesota with only a 5 gallon bucket, 3M Thinsulate insulation on the walls, two Luci lights, and Walmart plastic drawers, for 9 months, while eating lots of packaged salads, and food that didn’t have to be cooked. I saved a lot of money, even with a vehicle payment. I gave up the life because I was uncomfortable about people’s attitudes and behaviors around politics and race. What spooked me was one morning I woke up in Utah to see a car with four flags that made me feel extremely vulnerable, but nothing ever happened. I had such a persistent uneasy feeling and concern for my safety as a 76 year old woman of color that I sold the van and moved into a different condo. I wanted to live the life and travel but I couldn’t shake the feeling. I worried about traveling and unknowingly parking in a small town where people like me wouldn’t be welcomed. My mind just got the best of me.
Trusting your instincts is always best. I’m happy to hear you have and are now living in a safer place. Many blessings 🙏🏽
This is so sad. I love you and hate that our world is still so racist.
I'm very sorry you went thru these uneasy thoughts to where you couldn't live with it. I can tell you one thing, I'm not a person if color but if I would have been camped near you, I would definitely have asked you to join me for a meal or a glass of tea and we could have had a nice visit and kept in contact. People need peop🎉le sometimes. Look up and remember the good times you had out there. Love from Central Oklahoma.
Thank you for your kind and sensitive responses. While I realize that people are harmed for other reasons than their race. People are harmed because of their political views, gender identity, religious affiliations, as a result of road rage and more. They may be grocery shopping, at their places of worship, recreating, even innocent children at school, or individuals in their homes when harmed. Somehow I couldn’t get past the fear brought on by the oversized (for a vehicle) threatening flags displayed at each corner of the vehicle that I saw when I woke up that morning; coupled with the hateful statements that are almost commonplace these days. I appreciate your words, they give me hope during what I consider troubling times.
You sound a bit paranoid
Van life was our plan B if everything went to hell, but after listening to this video I believe we will just make plan A still work for now. Have A Bless Day Everyone ❤✌️
It is always good to have backup plans whatever they may be as long as they are well thought out.
In new Zealand we are pretty lucky for places to park. And we have a motorhome club with super cheap fees for stay overs
I've tried both and I found living in the city and its outskirts is way easier, especially if it's a place you are already familar with. In the city, you dont have to have a cooler, you can grocery shop every day or get ice from convenience stores. In the summer, you can hang out at the library all day if the heat is bad. A couple times in the summer I couldnt sleep it was so hot, so I got up early in the morning and went to my storage unit and slept on the cement floor. Unless the weather is extreme, half the time I forget I'm without a place, cuz I'm so busy with life. My past housing situations have been horrible, so this has seemed luxury to me in comparison. You'd be surprised how many boat launches or road side parks there are with porta potties that you can sleep at night. Once you start looking, you'll see them. As long as you dont draw attention to yourself, and go places during the day, people will just think your passing through. I stayed in one parking lot, with a porta potty, for a whole year and only the regulars probably knew I slept there at night. I kept the toilet clean and bought it toilet paper when it ran out, so if anyone ever said anything to me, I'd mention how I contributed to making it a better place.
If I am in an area you are in this summer I would really like to interview you and hear your perspective in van life in the city. You can reach me at:
Gloriouslifeonwheels@gmail.com
Yes & a City Gym to w/o & Shower aLso, makes Nomad Life Much easier@ Summers, The Other Option 4 Heat escape is High ELevation Which can be DifficuLt Over 60 + Over 7000', i' Think HospitaLs are my *Secret Spot 4 a 1 - 2 Day Stay but..... Don't Take my idea without ✅ing instinct@ Certain Spots, & ALso a OLd Fashion ice Chest can HoLd some Diet Soda Or Yogurt / Treat makes it Better...even if You Got to Buy ice Every 3/4 Days, & a Pot to boiL 6 Or 12 eggs @ a Time is idea, bye i😮Wonder if This comments erased
Please enlighten as to difficulty with high elevation over 60+, thank you
Educate You @ ELevations The Fact iS if Your Respitory System isn't Near Full Capacity iT Does = Can Affect a Person's Breathing & Heart, & Another; Thing Remote Area Are Just PLain Harder To Get Services.
Thank you for this checklist. I was going to purchase an RV until I followed a family on TH-cam and the father showed his daily checklist of duties. I realized that was not for me! Reality checks like this are needed.
A long term RV park is my friend! ❤ I can travel when I want, have AC and heater, can “plug in,” have showers - I prefer paying for long term fees of a RV park. It still allows me to travel only when I want, save money, and enjoy van life. 😊❤
Vehicle - Ford Transit, high roof, extended cab, professionally converted to a mini home on wheels. It has bathroom and shower. I do realize many don’t have the same setup, though.
That is a great way to have the best of both worlds A homebase with amenities and a safe place to park and the freedom to travel.
Love your honesty Carol.
Thank you for caring about so many!
Always!😊
Right on Gloria, you are super!
10/10 for a timely video & reality check for people who could be making a challenging mistake!
Test the waters before you leap!!
Test run is exact what I did! And everything that could have went wrong practically did! And I still wanted to do it! Sold the tiny camper I tried it in and got a new to me motorhome! Selling everything that’s left at my place this week 😁
Great to hear! Sounds like this life was meant for you and you wisely tested it first confirming that. You also made the necessary adjustment to the right rig for you. If you are going to be anywhere near where I will be this summer I would love to interview you and hear more about your "trial period". If interested you can reach me at: Gloriouslifeonwheels@gmail.com
Good for you! Love that you went for it, and learned what you needed, found your "yes" and are opening the door wide and running through it with eyes open. My test will be with a minivan, with the basics when they're ready and on from there. All the best...
0😊@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621
Wishing you so well, Brenda! I hope it's a wonderful adventure for you!
I am very excited for you and hope you will let Carol interview you after you've been on the road a bit so we can find out how you're doing. Sounds like you have a great attitude and I think you will do very well. Good luck on your new life.
"The GLOW simulator" I love it, Carol you are such a wealth of knowledge, thank you for all the work you do to keep others safe.
Thank you so much😊
I am 77 and so appreciate your well rounded advise for senior women. I look forward to watching each and every video. Thank you for your thought-provoking content. I am on the verge of leaving my sticks & bricks. You are helping me make one of the biggest decisions of my life. Stay safe and well!
Judy
Hope you will be safe and happy ❤
Sage advice! I took a couple of trips in my van before I set out full time, and that helped me realize that the setup I had was not practical. I did these trips months in advance of my “launch date,” so I had time to reconfigure things. I also learned a lot in those trips…don’t always count on GPS to work (buy an atlas), have a backup location in case the one you originally decided on doesn’t work out, etc. The one thing I didn’t have the opportunity to do was to stay somewhere hot. It wasn’t long into my full time journey that I experienced sweltering heat well before I thought I would have to & wound up having to escape to higher elevations!
Great stuff, Carol!☮️
I really like the "Trial" described in this video, but I also think it should not be the first trip for someone new, do it the third or forth time. Start with a 2 night stay at a state campground with a restroom. You don't have to use the shower or toilet, like at night, but it is an option or a place to empty your piss jar etc. With running water you can stay clean but see how carrying water goes and how much you use at your van. You will see there are a lot of things to consider, and this way start with sleeping arrangement and food, and learn what more is necessary. Your power bank may work if always driving 5 hours, but not if parked for 3 days (saving gas money). Bugs! Noisy neighbors or lack of any (lonely?). Before quitting your lease you certainly need to know what to expect, and this video is great advice (do know your expenses and have a cash reserve for vehicle repairs).
Great talk..yes a 3 day trial is enough of a lesson..those still working can test this theory and make it a long weékend
I plan to rent a uhaul van for a week and camp at Quartzite with my emergency earthquake supplies before trading in my Kia Soul on a Dodge Ram. While I have camped many times over the years and was a Marine, I also wasn't in my 60's, lol. Great advice!
I no longer drive, but, I am constantly looking at those vans and wondering how I could get something like that to work for me if I had someone park it in Quartzsite blm land. LOL! I am almost sure I could make it work after having spent two months in a tent camping in Laposa South.
You go girl! I've been wanting to make that trip myself, maybe one day I will. You'll be my inspiration.
For those who think Bob Wells is not doing a good job because he does not do a reality check that Carol did, u have not watched enough of his videos. bob is not advocating for u to live in a van for d heck of it, but his videos are to enlighten u what van dwelling s all about and how to survive living in one, if your other option is being homeless. He teaches u d ropes, share how others do it, explains how to live on a budget. Again, he doesn’t convince u to get rid of your apartment or home and do van life because it s better. If you will b homeless because of circumstances, then he teaches you how to live in a vehicle which s definitely better than living in a tent. Just making this comment since one viewer here stated that Bob s not doing enough transparency to d nomad community😅
Bob does an excellent job sharing valuable information that is helpful to nomads and folks considering that life. I have learned a great deal from listening to his videos. In fact, it was because of one of Bob's videos that I learned about DIY rvs and bought a Promaster and had it built out.
Yes, Bob is giving us an alternative to being homeless, which in this day in time is a must. You never know what life is going to throw at you in America these days. We are just waiting for the other shoe to drop. You have enough money now but as the conversation continues, you hear about the cutting of social security and continued rising taxes, and don't forget about inflation while money is being continually siphoned off to the latest war effort. Yes I'll be listening to Bob JUST IN CASE!!!
I agree that wells has done a tremendous service to the nomad community.
I agree.
@@polly8844 yep i got penalized 70% of my SS because of a small pension check and was not told until the DAY i filed for SS i had my forty units too but i am a living witness to SS cuts so yes thanks Bob
Parking a car is never easy when you do not have your own parking spot. Van life is definately not going to be any easier. Her advice is spot on.
I lived in a minivan for two years. It isn't cheaper to live in a van than an apartment. Vehicles age and will need to be repaired and eventually replaced. If you didn't need to replace the vehicle you would save a ton of money. If you don't mind gambling and buying old vehicles, you could have a good run of vehicles and save money. Drive them until they're near death and get another one.
The one great thing about living in a vehicle is that YOU own it. The second great thing is that you can move to someplace else really cheaply.
After a lease ended and before I moved to a different state, I lived in a compact car for a couple of months. With the knowledge learned from living in the minivan it was very easy. I put everything owned into storage. I got a cheap gym membership for exercising and showering. A heavy duty sleeping bag got me through some below freezing nights. When it was time to move a trailer was rented and loaded with my things and I drove 1600 miles to the new place. No hotels were used because I knew how to live in the car.
Anybody could live in a car with ease if they just kept their stuff in storage. If the windows are blocked so no light can get out, nobody will know you're there.
I have seen people literally save a ton of money. Enough to buy a piece of land. It all depends on how you do van life. Traveling thousands of miles per year and eating out regularly can indeed be more expensive than living in a sticks and bricks.
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621 A new short wheelbase low roof cargo van from RAM costs $51,000 plus taxes and fees. If somebody doesn't save their money for their next van, of course they can spend that money on land, but replacing a van costs a ton of money. That is only about two years of rent and internet bills.
Vehicles break and deteriorate. They all need to be replaced at some point. That is why living in a van isn't really cheap in most of the country. The freedom is worth it for many people.
@@MrMoneyHelper that sounds like a great plan. It would not work for me because I live somewhere that's very hot. You would die if you tried to sleep in you car.
@@tennesseeterri Hey! I'm in Tennessee too. Just wondering if you are closer to memphis, nashville, Gatlinburg or Chattanooga. I'm closer to Nashville, 71, widowed, with an older Winnebago campervan.
@@yvetteandjorgenlarsen9753 Gatlinburg
This is fabulous advice. I am a weekend carlife warrior. I have done this for years. That is basically my setup, a cooler, a warmer plate for food, toilet of my design, water, and my power station. I have 2 huge comforters I setup in my backseat to sleep with a mountain of pillows and I sleep like a dream. Windowcovers are a must. Your list was excellent to jump in the car and go.OH and the USB fans are a MUST for hot nights
👏🏽
THANK YOU. I think it is a wonderful idea. I will be reading the 6 Hard Truths. One of my barely adult grandkids decided it would be a good idea to be a nomad in a van. I gave them every cautionary warning as to why it would be a bad idea.They said they weren't afraid. I said there were many things of which to have a healthy fear. So far, the van has not come to be.
It really is something that needs to be well thought out and even perhaps tried on a short trip if possible first. It can be a lot harder than most realize.
I have always known I was not Nomad material. I do love to camp in my Van, but even just taking trips, the hassles are real. Stopping and sleeping for a night anywhere is a hassle. I mostly do State Parks, but they book out so much in advance. I can’t even imagine daily life of this. I have done the math. Living this way would save me about $500 a month. I truly feel for those who are forced into the Nomad life due to finances. These Click Bate You Tubers ( which is not you) are making tons of money selling lies to people. Thanks for the honesty and genuine care of others. Some of us have a true Nomadic soul, I would consider myself as one. For me, that means keeping only what fits in a small U-Haul and then moving to new areas every few years. A far easier way to explore new places while having a home base.
We did the nomad thing for 2 years in our class C, boondocking, moving around to blm and state parks in AZ and NM. Then Covid hit, and it was hard to even find a place to park. Since 2021 we have been permanent at Rv park in Quartzsite. Same Rv, just stationary and it is a relief to do so. Not everyone is cut out for the constant travel and uncertainty of nomad life. We are stationary, but still able to move on if we don’t like a place. Rv parks in Quartzsite are very reasonably priced for long term set up. Many folks around us stay thru winter months and then leave for summer to visit family, but keep their spot here as they pay annually. That is an option, a seasonal pass or annual, with conveniences like showers, laundry right outside your door, and full hookups. Living in an RV at Rv park here is a lot cheaper than renting an apartment.
My personal opinion is that people need to plan where they're going to stop not one hour before but at least a week before I mean that's what it's all about is planning and I think that a lot of the people that are having a hard time are it's all due to planning they didn't plan how they're going to meal they didn't plan how they're going to sleep they didn't plan how they're going to take care of themselves personally they didn't plan their finances it's all comes down to planning and if you're not the type of person that like to go camping then that you're not going to like being in a car and traveling around and the other thing that's got to be more than just driving here and there it's got to be enjoying life and doing things and and keeping yourself busy and being occupied it's it's should not be a struggle. I mean you've got the plan for cold weather you got to plan for hot weather you got to plan your water and your cooking fuel and your gas mileage and your finances and your maintenance. And you got to be smart stay ahead of the weather keep a daily if not three times a day check on the weather what's going to be happening in the areas that you're going to.
I got into a discussion with a woman that had watched a handful of van life videos and was just like the first woman you shared with us, she’d not even slept in her van. So I challenged her to try that. Well, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Not even in her driveway lol. We really have to push ourselves before making hasty decisions. Turns out she’d been watching a very popular TH-cam channel, and was shocked to learn that that creator has never hidden the fact she has a home base. She loves her camper van, and has wonderful videos, but some how she’d missed out on the fact that the creation question goes home after her get togethers, lots of TH-camrs do, most don’t hide it, and I myself have come across a TH-cam channel, the way the algorithm recommends the videos is so nonsensical to me anyway, so she didn’t start at the beginning. Our precious LOLA, (RIP) hosted great get togethers, she was a real MVP, to the nomad community, but she had a home base and enjoyed getting out and about in her van. Your channel is such an important resource!
There are many many TH-camrs who have a homebase. The difficulties that nomads faced during Covid was a big motivating factor. Even though I have traveled over 100k miles in my van over the past 5 years, I have a homebase and will always have one as I have a special needs daughter. Most nomads will at some point need to come of the road as they can no longer drive or experience other physical limitations. For this reason I believe having an exit plan that involves land is the best option for so many.
Great video. I commuted 3 hours daily for 20 years from one side of the metroplex to the other. Driving is a big stressful and exhausting chunk of daily life, but at least I knew where I was going to, and where I would come back home to every night. Yes, after work I would stop at a couple of different gyms to work out depending on which route I took home allowing for traffic snarls. I'd swim laps at the gym, and also rode trails at several different parks with ride mountain bike trails. I always kept my bike on my SUV rack (during season). I'd shower/shampoo/dry hair at the gym, then go home and have a lite dinner before bed. But the commuting all the time was exhausting! And I knew where I was going every day! I can't imagine being a constant traveler having no place to call home, constant daily stress of driving without a certain destination, just trying to find a place to exist for every few hours. Maybe you catch a rhythm when you get the hang of it?
I don't even want to live vanlife. I just want to start taking solo road trips and car camping and I've watched a lot of vanlife videos. I did a test run, and it went well, but I always had a option if I didn't like it.
I've seen to many videos say how easy vanlife is and to just do it. But listening to various people who actually do it, you quickly find out more of the truth about it. My main thing is, what do I do once I get to a new town, and where do I sleep at night. For me, it's not too bad. Or, my test run wasn't to bad. But every night as a lifestyle? I'm not sure I could do it.
I agree I think knowing you have a home to come back to makes a big difference, I retire in 6 weeks and plan to travel to see the country but it will be by choice I will keep my home base, I have a small trailer and I also car camp I like to travel both ways but car camping only in cool conditions, I have a car camping trip planned in a couple weeks to NY near Canadian border but will cancel if the heat wave is still here, car camping allows me to travel farther in a weeks vacation time, trailer always takes longer to travel the same distance so I typically use my trailer at the local state parks and have access to their showers and bathrooms.
Thanks!
Bathroom:
It helps to be fit. Especially using the bathroom I. The middle of the night. I have a gallon Gatorade cooler for #1, a half gallon suction container for #2. If I weren’t fit or when I have some sort of back strain, it’s hard to get in the position.
Cooler:
Bought a yeti and it sits in the front seat. I made a cardboard jig to level the seat, cut a piece of wood to fit all the way beyond the seat exactly to the door topped with a fitted rubber mat…made room for cooler to be level. It holds ice for three days. Inside cooler I have a perforated container so when ice melts it freely flows out the spigot.
Food:
I have four jobs so don’t have to budget. But for food, carrots and blueberries hold well out of the cooler. Avocado and bananas relatively well for less time. Hummus cottage cheese in cooler…staples to satisfy hunger that are healthy. I could go on and on about food.
Coffee:
I have an MSR windburner.
Sleep:
I used to have to do the “dance” to park. But a friend has allowed me to park on the curb outside their house for a few years now. I get there after dark and leave at 5 am. Never get out while there. Minimize visibility.
Bed:
It is vital that when you sleep that you are comfortable. I went through about 5 iterations of bedding. Settled on 4 inch foam with three inch Thera foam topper. I hand sewed removable covers to keep the foam protected.Invest in not too bulky but effective blankets.
Gym:
LA fitness for working out and showering. Clean honey bucket every morning. Run to stay fit on treadmill.
Work:
I teach at four community colleges, three online, one in-person.
House sit:
I house sit about 3-5 months a year.
My circumstances now are ideal to live like this, but for the first 3 years it was awful finding parking. I only had one job and so had no choice because I could not afford rent and a vehicle. I chose the vehicle (Hyundai Santa Fe sport). But it and I evolved to where I am now. House sitting gives me a breather (I get paid for that) and can relax spread out, spring clean my SUV.
I don’t want to do this when I am older, so my goal is to save as much money as I can and when I retire then I will be able to afford rent.
This is not for everyone. It is hard and if I didn’t have a curb safe place to sleep without feeling like I am doing something wrong, I don’t know that my psyche could handle it.
Good luck to everyone out there!
It sounds like you have figured out the ins and outs of this lifestyle and now are running smoothly. What a blessing your friend has provided a safe place for you to park. That is definitely one of the most challenging aspect of this kind of living. You are wise to be planning your exit plan. I speak to so many people who have no idea what they will do when and if they can no longer drive. I wohld love to interview you for a video on how to successfully live as a nomad in a city setting.. If you are interested you van reach me at:
Gloriouslifeonwheels@gmail.com
You can do it anonymously if that is a concern.
You’ve given me an idea. I’ve house & pet sat for 50 years now & have a home base that lost all its amenities while I was trying to get back on my feet after a bout with cancer, so I housesit every chance I get, but my place has plenty of overnight & day parking for now. I’ll check with the folks who run the food pantry.
I ended up in an rv, not by choice. My mom bought it about a year before she passed away and a couple of months later, covid hit so everything in price was going up so I had to stay with it because of rent rates. I'm in a trailer park, I tell you, it's not easy.
Emergencies? Ha, I'm having an electrical problem where I have to flip a poped circuit breaker every 5-10 minutes going on 3wks now in the Phoenix, AZ hot azz summer, up to 115 so far. I'm handicap with a really bad hip so getting up that often every day is painful. I pray for the sun to go down so I can relax for a couple of hours just to do it all again tomorrow.
finding a place to stay seems to be the hardest thing to figure out.
Depending on where a oersin stays it can be an extremely difficult task.
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621 yup, really thought i was just gonna drive a few hours everyday and park overnight. I hope ppl are paying attn and not misbehaving with their slides, trash, noise, etc bc it's gonna ruin a good thing, that means no free overnights anywhere. I have a bumper sticker on my car that says "JUST BEHAVE". It's not hard.
@@RetiredFreeBirdnobody listens to your bumper sticker LOL
@@glennbeadshaw727 well when you're raised right it comes natural to do the right thing
@@RetiredFreeBird from what I hear, it's already too late and that is why many Walmarts no longer allow you to park overnight (it all depends on the manager). People did ruin a good thing by leaving trash, making noise, cooking & partying - using it like a paid campground instead of just a free place to sleep overnight.
I guess before you leave see how much gasoline you will need to and from your destination. Multiply the number of miles five hours of driving will take you by at least five dollars. I put my destination on my GPS to get the miles then multiply by five or six. This is because I was shocked by gas prices as I traveled west. Here in Louisiana our gas prices are way lower than Arizona and California. My traveling is definitely restricted to gasoline prices. Great advice. I’m so glad you helped that lady before she gave up her apartment! 😆
Yeah all my " destinations" gas prices really put me off.. a few years ago, I was planning on becoming a " nomad", but unfortunately, probably will NEVER be able to afford it now.. the only place I can think of, where I ( may) be able to save ( a little) is Quartzite.. if I'm able to bring a bunch of food from Louisiana.. idk it's not as appealing to me as it was a few years ago.. I'm only 63, just lost my Mom, but I'm getting old I guess.. also don't want to lose the rental I have that's affordable 😊
Yes whoever it’s thinking of going into the nomad life do a test period especially I’m the cold winter time it can get very freezing cold in the van not everything it’s glamorous like they show on media
This was excellent information. My trial runs have been work related.. I stay anywhere from four days to a month. I also travel anywhere from an hour away from my home to work on someone else’s home to 4 hrs away. My job is decluttering, organization and I help people pack to move.
My big trip will be coming up in September, where I will head to Minnesota I live in Virginia. I will be there a month to six weeks packing up a house. The lady has lived there 45 years. Smaller jobs have helped me prepare for the big trip.
I do find it very important to me that I have a tiny house on my sister’s farmland . It is a blessing to come home and rest. I love traveling as well.🙏🏻😊
Great advice, Carol. I drove 3400 miles in the shoulder season to pick up my rig and bring it back here to build it out (1700 miles each way--no build in either vehicle). It took me 11 nights and 12 days, and I drove 400-600 miles every day. It was a new camping spot every night except when I stayed for two nights at Honey's Park in Arco, Idaho after picking up my rig in Twin Falls. I slept in the driver's seat in the rental and the passenger seat in my Suboverland. I knew this wasn't going to be how I lived but that's how it was when I took that trip. I did have a fridge and a couple power stations with me, plus everything else I could think of that I would need.
My biggest downfall was not having good window coverings. That meant I couldn't comfortably overnight in store parking lots--not that I want to really do that, if possible. I had some rather sheer (but colorful) sarongs that I put in the windows but they blocked almost nothing at night when I had a light inside the cabin area. I had to utilize public lands, campgrounds (paid and unpaid), and even a night in a motel. Thankfully, it was after the camping season, so I didn't have a lot of people around me. [That did mean that I was cold at night sometimes, and I wasn't really prepared for that.]
The lack of proper window coverings is a serious hindrance to being nomadic. I didn't have any on that trip because it's hard to make them to fit two totally different vehicles. I have made them by now, of course. That was a whole other story, and not a pretty one. But at least it's done. Lol.
Because I was in such a hurry and was driving so much each day (and I'm a late starter), I found myself trying to locate camp at night several times. I absolutely hated that. I even knew approximately where I wanted to go (and I had 3 choices for each night because it was a well-planned trip), but it didn't really help. If at all possible, one should find camp before it gets dark--especially if you don't have perfect vision and you're somewhere unfamiliar.
I had to rely on the kindness of a local in Iowa to find my way one night (my first night of the trip, actually). I knew I had passed up my destination, so I pulled into the nearest gas station. It was pitch black out and I was surrounded by forests on the back roads. I went in and asked the young clerk for help figuring out my exact location. Her friend was there chatting with her (small town/rural behavior--lol) and so she offered to escort me where I needed to go. I happily followed her lead. (Yes, I could vibe that they were good kids and not psychotic...) She took me right into the campground of the state park I was seeking. Thank goodness! [The signage was hard to spot from the road, so it was no wonder I didn't see it at night.] But even then, I ended up parking in a site with electrical hookups instead of the primitive spots because it was so dark that I couldn't really see much. The next day, the ranger had to come along and request the extra money it costs for an upgraded site. Lol.
On the way there in my rental, I didn't have anywhere to even pee in a jar. Thankfully, I had my pop-up shower tent with me to utilize. My Suburban had enough floor space for me to use my Reliance toilet in there (it came with me on the trip to Idaho but I couldn't use it in that small rental).
That one trip taught me many things. It gave me a good idea of what I need and don't need. I knew I wanted to do everything from inside my rig in case I can't get out of my truck for whatever reason (bad weather, etc.). I want to be able to sleep, have food available, go to the bathroom, and change my clothes in there. After much thought and designing, I was able to come up with a build that suits me and checks all the boxes. I still have some ironing out to do, but that's because I'm not a minimalist. Lol.
I've literally been living in our unfinished garage for a decade or longer. I go into the house to "work" and take a shower once a week. I long ago had to learn how to live without a toilet or running water. I went through the gamut of alternative loos. I think I've found the right system for me in my situation when I'm on the road. I'm interested in the Trellino (sp?), when I can afford it.
I added up my costs for the trip, including food. I've also calculated all my expected monthly expenses, in general. Unfortunately, the cost of my fuel back when I took that trip in 2020 and the cost now is substantially different. 😔
Such wise advise.
Wanted to bail from Cali and move to fl. A good friend said “DONT sell in CA until you go to fl for a month and see if it’s for you.
Everyone wants to jump in headfirst.
Florida is very hot.
@@iquesnell I road tripped from Houston to Tampa during the beginning of Covid lockdowns early June 2020. I didn't realize how HOT Florida gets without SHADE. I was in a beautiful beach area but there was no shade trees or awnings, buildings, anything to block the sun. It was brutal. And when I first got to the beach I hopped out of my van and stepped on a broken drug pipe in the sand and cut my foot. Luckily the beach lifeguard gave my first aid. Florida ocean and beach are definitely beautiful, but too damn hot in Summer.
This is such good advice. Im 57. I thought I wanted to work on the road traveling, etc. So I took a 3 week trip from Cincinnati to Quartzsite this past RTR/WTR. I spent thousands getting ready to live in my suv, solar panels, battery bank, refrigerator, etc.
I enjoyed it very much and I think that after my grandbabies get a little older I can be like a snowbird.
But I said all of that to say that what I thought it would be like was different than what it was. I wasn’t ready to give up the luxuries just yet.
So take her advice seriously.
😂 lol. Too funny.. bout the lady who changed her mind && went home, NO. 30 Day notice for her... Thank you Carol for sharing ur video of knowledge/thoughts.. makes sense.. to try 1st. God bless all nomads for the strength endure.. always running in.. much love ❤😊
💜❤💜❤💜❤
Best video ever, some of these people who live in vans and go on U tube only speak about their good days, which figuratively speaking is what we all like to hear. I am like that to; I don't like to hear "bad news" I am glad that you are also revealing the dark side of van living and creating awareness.
The only bad thing about doing a test run with spartan outfitting is, it could discourage a person because it’s too miserable not being properly set up. Having a nice setup makes things easier. Great tip about the driving aspect. The way I see it, the biggest challenge is where to stop overnight, and it’s getting worse from what I’ve heard.
Overnight parking is getting more difficult every year!
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621 I see it as a dealbreaker. I think as more people take to the road, cops are on the lookout for “lowlifes” that sleep in their vehicles. I say lowlifes because I believe that’s how van lifers are perceived by people in general, and especially by local governments and LE.
Great comment; it can help to plan and be set up right, even if all isn't easy or as one imagined. I bought a used minivan and will spend on maintenance, leveled floor, comfortable bed (most essential to me), power station, fridge, fans, window covers, rain guards and basic stove. Building a list of all needs over time but will try with these basics and see what is revealed first with some excursions before I commit more time/money.
Yes! Two week trial run in a rented van!!! One week not long enough! Test your stamina for chaos! Test your ability to weather weather! Test your comfort level with uncertainty! And BE. TRUTHFUL with yourself!
I certainly hope anyone considering this lifestyle will.do their homework so they can really.know what they are getting into before hitting the road.
Omg thank you for talking to people about it I watched videos were the nomads don’t do this so thank you for not pushing van life on people between you and Bob you both explain to everyone before they want to do that I hate to see people throw there stuff away they work hard on to this like you said you either have in you or you don’t great video
You are breath of fresh air.
Thanks, I appreciate your uplifting message.
Well, better get the coffee cooking.
Onward and upward.
Regards,
Carl
I've traveled across the U.S. and Canada a couple of times, but only stayed at Walmarts, truck stops or places like a MacDonald's. Usually there were bathroom facilities, but I had my own little bucket system as well. And I had made several days worth of food to bring with me, so I didn't need to cook. I personally loved the whole experience although it wasn't always easy....I do plan on getting a vehicle soon to do a snowbird situation with my two pups and have gotten my little one burner stove. I will plan to stay in places for days at a time, so that it's not just constant gas usage. Am hoping to do winters as far south in the U.S. as possible and then make my way back up to Canada for the summers. (The exchange rate is going to take a bite out of my funds!) We shall see how it goes!! Even just having the 2 pups is going to be super challenging. (They bark...☹😄) Wish me luck!
When we sold our business to retire, we downsized to a much smaller house. I wanted to do the nomad life but my husband wanted a home. We couldn't afford to do both. I believe now my husband was the wise one. You are offering sound wisdom here Carol. I know some folks may not have a choice and make the best out of their circumstances. Maybe someday cities and towns will offer a safe, free zone for Nomads to stay overnight without getting that knock on the door.
Safe free overnight parking is essential and something I have been working on for several years.
Great video! Its not for everyone for sure. I'm 59, will be 60 this December. I've loved camping since I was a kid. I love being outside and I'm pretty much an introvert I socialize when I'm ready socialize when I'm ready LOL. I went to Fl, Quartzsite, and some other amazing places in southwest AZ & southeastern CA. from Nov 23 until May 2024 & I loved it more than I thought I would! I have an 04 Matrix & 2 tents. One I can stand up in. The other is a small 1 person that the deresrt wind won't blow apart. I can pack everything onto the driver's side & sleep in the car. Front passenger seat folds too. Pack light! And enjoy life. Only my doctors keep me coming back to Virginia. That's gonna change this fall.
Sounds you found a way to really enjoy your love of camping😊 I have also loved camping since I was a kid. Even the food taste better when camping LOL
Bravo Carol! This video adds balance to all the vanlife videos that hype up this lifestyle without showing how hard it really can be. Having said that my wife and I love our 2017 Roadtrek campervan, just got back from a trip on the north shore. Even though our Roadtrek has everything we need to be comfortable, its greatly limited in space compared to our house. Sometimes I sleep in our driveway just to make sure everything is good and well be comfortable when traveling. Good luck and take care!
I'm conflicted. I understand your purpose but I learned things gradually by trial and error or looking it up on TH-cam...😂 I also had an emotional start so dealing with the reasons I needed to be in a vehicle was my first major challenge. It also kept me going because I had no other viable choice. To try to learn it all at once in a trial run may be overload. Everything you mention is valuable but maybe smaller chunks would be better. I wonder if all of it on one trip will discourage almost everyone. Of course everything you mention is good to know. I dealt with cold first and with this heat dome I'm now dealing with hot weather and bugs. And finally to maybe counteract the negative have them practice the positives too. When I first started I never missed a sunrise or sunset and took joy and solace in that. Now I often sleep through the sunrise...lol. Also from the start I took joy in living outside. Hearing birdsong, hiking trails or just walking in a park. I've started using my America the Beautiful pass and going to National Parks. I look for the brown signs designating wildlife refuges or historical sites. And I take the slow roads to my destination rather than highways. I stop at beaches and waterfalls and forests even if it's only for an hour. As any lifestyle there are positives and negatives. Conquering the obstacles develops pride in being competent. My daughter recently was very upset with me for nomading. In short she doesn't think I have the resources and skills. Her critique made me start to learn the mechanics of my vehicle. It was a valid point. Yesterday I was able to check my fluids and refill those that were low. Next oil change I will try to do myself. I am rebuilding my decimated repair cushion and am proud that I had it to begin with. In short I feel I'm getting more competent and feel how important that is. I wish everyone the best of luck and hope those who really want to or need to can find nomadic life joyful along with its' downsides. And thank you for trying to educate new comers. Its very important we support and help each other. Bless you for seeing the need.
I totally agree with you you are right on all counts. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and are open to learning new things. I believe that is one of the huge things that many miss out on. learning new things does give you competence and confidence, two of the main ingredients needed for this lifestyle. Keep up the good work.
Ps, I just got my America the Beautiful pass on saturday, and went to the Castillo de San Marcos fort in St Augustine, Florida.
@@tennesseeterri yay!
@@tennesseeterri thanks!
@maureenhanley991 Thanks - I really admired your post. It sounds as though you can look at the big picture, such as knowing you needed to take care of the emotional situation which precipitated your move into a nomadic life (if I understood you correctly.) Then you're evaluating your own skills and are open to learning new ones.
It seems to me those approaches are good for both nomads and stay-at-homers! Keeping flexible and honest with yourself.
So many vanlifers (well, and domestic-dwellers!) get fixated on the kit - but it's the attitude and spirit which counts.
applies to those who buy an RV. Can't tell you the women from FB groups who buy an RV, sell everything then find they hate pulling a trailer or the RV life.
excellent guidance and coaching. physically, i no longer have the bones for van life. bbbuuuttt - the sparse lifestyle inspires me to let go of things i no longer “need” or think i “want” in order to simplify my life.
thank you!
I think this is such a great video. So many channels that you watch romanticize van life especially the ones that I watch with older women. Sure it’s easy to crawl around in the back of your car in your yoga pants and get a great nights sleep when you’re in your 20s, but when you’re pushing 70 it’s a whole different situation. It’s not so easy to maneuver in the backseat of my car, I think this is great advice. I have Camped my whole life but I’ve gone back to my little trailer to do it. People need to make this decision not based on fantasy, but based in reality. Valuable video.
You make some excellent points. It is indeed quite different having to deal with the realities of being a nomad in your 20s vs in your 70s any beyond.
Life is a hassle wherever you live but what I enjoy about vanlife is I’ve got all day with no deadlines or pressure. Keeping things simple is the secret. It continuously surprises me how little I need to be content.
I think when we free ourselves from all the obligations and busy work that binds us it is surprising how content we can be and with so little.
But how could you not have any deadlines and pressure? Don't you have to constantly think of things like where to sleep, to get water, go to bathroom, take a shower and many and many other things?
@@nightskylights4501 yeah but I’ve got all day to work it out.
@@nightskylights4501 Some folks stay the entire fall and winter season in Quartzsite at a single campsite on BLM land from September to March. Most others do have a way to use the bathroom in their vehicles. Some stay at campsites with showers, some do sponge bathes in between trips to their gym. Parking is an issue primarily for those traveling continuously. There are certainly challenges that is why I try b to make folks aware of them as with planning therr are ways around these challenges.
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621 I know a full time RVer who pays just $180 for up to 6 months to boondock in Arizona.
I have to say this was the MOST intelligent and logical thought process for people to think about before cutting all the dock ropes and setting adrift.
One day 11/12 yeas ago i decided to pack my ford windstar with camping gear, and take my son who is facinated with civil war and revolutionary war sights, fir a drive about. We started from Maine, traveled down the entire coast with a brief pull into Gettysburg. It was about November 26 and we spent thanksgiving eating at a homeless shelters food offering just for the company.
We bought some turkey oieces at store and i fried them in a cast iron pot at a closed camp sight next to a river that was not locked up.
Had a lovely day enjoying the river. Found a feral abandoned kitten in So Carolina next to camp LaJune and she became a camping partner.
I knew jack about living in a car. And didnt have a lot of common sense about to much STUFF in a crowded car.
We reclined the front seats and slept with no privacy shades as i didnt know about that. One thing i did do was to always stop the security guards at wallmarts and ask if it was OK to sleep there. Explaining ALWAYS we were NOT homeless, just travelers sightseeing on a Very tight budget. About $800. A month.
We spent a lot if time in parking lots waiting for check to show uo so we could get more gas and move on. Cambles poo top soup and a propane stove wedged between front seat was our cooking. Hiking my butt from back if parking lot to wallmart super store at 2/6am. Sucked.
I soon learned to wear ling summer dresses, almost gowns, no undies, to be able to squat and pee in the front seat if a car in a bucket of any kind. Slacks were not an option. Not without peeing all over them trying to hit the bucket.
We came across many really nice people. Most thought we were homeless despite me saying we were just visitors and did have a home in Maine.
One thing not addressed here especially for older women, is UTIs. One naturally stops drinking fluids to stop the constant peeing. If you go to bed hungry or just soup you end up peeing even more.
I developed some serious UTIs on this trip one which i had to get medical help for. Sucked the strength energy and life right out if me. Lucky we were not alone an i was able to find a er. But women need to address the peeing issue before anything else.
How hard is it going to be to strip to pee. Will u have urine all iver the place and have to stop to disinfect the car.
So that brings up lymph fluid retention from sitting and sleeping in not straight lay down positions.
When we stopoed inwould constantly prop one leg on the roof of my car and stand there to help drain leg fluids buikding up in my feet.
A serious issue that folks should consider, if driving a lot ir sitting at home.
Next trip im buying the Velcro shut foot and leg massage machine to use daily to help push the lymph and blood up and out
My sin and I lost so much weight that we stopped at thrift shops and just traded old clothes for smaller clothes.
Staying at state and federal campgrounds along the coast afforded me stretch out on my
I found it at a georgia thrift shop foam mattress. It was a thousand dollars new designed to stop any oressure points from becoming bed sores. I had it flying on roof of the car on top of the turtle storage. We were with a friend, who had two packed with stuff vehicles totally break down to the point of if unrepairable. Had to throw a lot if my stuff out to side of road so his stuff could be in there. And him.
Axel snapped on small car in a church parking lot, and his van dropped its universal axel at a store. Next to another dumpster. I had a huge tarp like a boil griwing iver the windshield on the roof as we had run out of space. Made it to Texas to see the Alamo. Made a brief jaunt into mexico until we were told the CAR, based on maje and year, had to have a visa!!! The CAR. Needed a $200. Visa to continue into Mexico!!. So we turned around and went back.
The wouldnt refund our $20. Human visa money either.
So. Medical issues. Water verses peeing issues. Showering issues. Went into bathrooms at gas stations and did a water bath. Left bathrooms a lot cleaner then when i went in.
Mom decided to try and die of gangareen after they cut off her leg. We were at my sisters house resting in GA. Had to abandon my camping gear at her house which i never returned for. Mold, rats, spiders wrecked everything.
Might as well have dumped ut into a dumpster.
I have lived at home in a rv, for 4 years. Want to gi to Oregon to see daughter. This has been training to figure out what we need and do not need. 99% of canned foods, unless meat, wont be coming. Bought a solar refrigerator that can recharge off car. Or solar.
Frying meat is a challenge on the road. But no need to chop, blend, saute. Deviled eggs and beef jerkey on road. Electrolytes in water. And road pro 12 V cookers to roast a small roast while on a long trip.
Got to buy another camper. Hopefully a class C.
Which brungs me to next issue. Do you know how to do your own vehicle repairs?
Can u get under a jacked up car and coat hanger a falling muffler and tape a hole in the container? Can u change ur own oil? If car won't start do u have the kniwledge to check negative ground on battery to be sure you have good connection? Do you know how to change a tire? Dogs or cats and you in a hot car broke down on side of the road waiting hours for AAA to show up? Know where u are all the time to tell people in Brazil or India where u are on a map.
Carry a fan with replacable batteries. And a soray bottle with clean or distilled water to soak yourself and pets and sit in front of fan to get cool.
Im rambling. Great info for everyone.
I have never seen anyone else address the swelling of the feet. Happened to me on a 6000 mile road trip last year..scared me big time..had to buy other shoes. Got better ad weather got cooler and I decided to limit my driving to 200 miles a day and took lots of hikes. Thanks for your insights.
such an insightful reply! i am so appreciative of the details even more excellent info i was thinking about doing this but renting out my sticks and bricks i had started a TH-cam channel in January to make a connection and move forward to maybe part time van life in my 70s then i fell watering my garden freak accident slipped broke my wrist had surgery three days ago suppose i was on the road with this trauma ??? thank you for your comment gabrial
Great tales of your adventure on the road. You sound so interesting you should write a book about your life!
Thank you so much for your honesty. I've been dreaming about this lifestyle for decades, but now that I'm turning the dream into a plan and watching 'real' videos instead of aspirational ones, it's clear that for me at this time, part time is best. I'll keep a cheap room in a sharehouse and between the two, I believe that's going to get me closest to the life I want within the limited budget I have. Thank you again for your realness!
I never thought of all these situations from van life - yourubers make it look so carefree and nice. They don't show or tell of the REAL van life.
I bought a van but before I took off I read "10 Years A Nomad" and while he wasn't in a van everything else applied. That book let me know full time van life was not for me. Short trips and small adventures really add fun and wonder to my life, but it also feels good to return to my home base to sleep in my own bed.
complete and informative. Your approach can work for everything, even running our government. Double thumb up.
Great budgeting advice, Carol! I do agree that you need to 'try it out before you take it out'. Also, try mobile living and driving in all seasons in the areas you plan to go. Your rig might be fine in the winter but unbearable in the summer, you don't know. You also need to be aware that condensation builds when you live inside your vehicle and prepare a mitigation strategy. Lastly I would suggest trying this out with the pet you may be intending to bring along on this adventure. (Remember that leaving a pet or a child in a closed vehicle in the sun can be deadly.)
Wise advice. The traveling life has been so over hyped its nice to hear a realistic point of view.
Great information; been living out of vehicles for over 15 years and meet so many people that see the instagram life, commit to a $50-$120k van/RV and call it quits after a couple months. This life isn't for everyone.
Very thoughtful video, thanks for posting. Certain neighborhoods are not good places to stay overnight.
I love living in my town and country, I've been living in vans year round in northern Michigan for a few years now. A whole heck of a lot depends on how well you're able to set up your vehicle. A comfortable bed and a decent heating system are critical. A 20 lb tank and my homemade vented flower pot heater keep me comfy .I have access to sticks and bricks but I still stay in my van in the driveway when I'm there.🎉
I absolutely agree that a comfortable bed is essential!!
Thanks. Great advice! I'm already a nomad - been travelling around Europe and the Caribbean, but am planning to head back to Canada and pick up my car and live out of it inbetween housesits and that way I might get an idea of whether or not it's the life for me or just a place to live while I drive from one housesit to another.
Sounds like a good olan.
Lots of issues to think about. Sorry to say I think that their vehicle would require more maintenance of all kinds. Also what if your vehicle gets totaled by falling trees, heavy rain, hail, etc. Sickness on top of this would become a nightmare. Hopefully more affordable housing is created .🧡💚💙💜
Carol, thank you so much for this! I think many of us senior solo women romanticize van life so this reality check could be a life saver, honestly.. I bought a 25 yr old Roadtrek last year & couldn’t wait to sell my house & hit the road! I decided to do a trial run in it last year & honestly after 3 weeks, I couldn’t wait to get home & kept my home & now use the Roadtrek for wonderful weekend or week long trips which I love, but now I know the reality of van life was not for me at 70 years old..luckily, I work remote & so I could go try it…I also was shocked at how much money I ended up spending.. It was summer, I needed A/C during day & ended up paying for campsites half the time until I got from FL to higher altitudes..It was a real eye opener!
I am so happy you tried van life out first!! You are blessed to have a homebase and be able to travel knowing you can always go home to recharge.
Great advise. It's always good to be aware of realities of the big choices we have to make. Some don't have a choice and so education is the best course before prceeding. Knowledge is the power needed to be as successful as you can be. Van nomad life is better than living on the street any day.
Great suggestions. I’ve been rving for 2 weeks at a time since a child. Over the last 5 years my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. We’d always wanted to travel long term, so I left my teaching job and we hit the road. We went for 4months at a time. I had to do everything. You are so right it’s so different being long term on the road. We stayed in different places with different atmospheres. There was only 1 Walmart that really made me feel unsafe. We were in an rv and not a van. But traveling and moving constantly is exhausting. Presently my husband is in a nursing home, but I do plan to get back out there eventually. I plan to sell my house and travel for at least 5 years before settling back down. Thx for sharing some great advise.
With advance planning there are ways to mnimize the wear and tear on your body when doing rv life. One is to stay for at least two weeks or even up to a month in one location. The advantages to this in addition to being able to rest is being able to really get to learn about and see things of interest in an area and perhaps make some connections with locals in the area. Also, some campgrounds may offer a discount for stays of a month or longer and lastly the monthly gas bill will be less.
I'm so glad that the lady tried it out first. Ohh my. All great advice, you did a good thing. I would also suggest placing everything that one uses on a daily basis, in a space, to give them a visual. Adding extra necessities, such as a bucket, T.P., fans, blankets, etc. This is what I did. It helped me plan better. Don't forget the first aid kit. Right ? Thumbs up and love from S. California.
This is the best advice i've heard. Van life is fun. But it's not for everyone for a lot of reasons.
It is not for everyone..It pays to find out before getting involved of it is a good match.
Your Sage advice is getting better and better
I wouldn't last a day and a half doing van life !!!!!!!
Plus I have NO sense of direction!
I get scared and start crying ! 😢
And I am to overly , very trusting and friendly.
I give huge kudos to all who are van lifers .
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Be safe and be blessed.
😇✝️🙏
It is a good thing to know yourself and your strengths and weaknesses!!
If you have a workplace, you can use those reusable freeze packs for the cooler (or coolers).
Just refreeze them in the work freezer, like 2 or so at a time. Bring them in a lunch cooler. Nobody will care. Mark your surname on them, too. Anyway, that's what I'd do. Plus charge up rechargeables at work or at Laundromat.
I'd pre dry wet clothes washed by hand, too.
Just throw them in dryer with other wet stuff to soften or at least to complete drying. Dry things thrown in with wet things will cut down on dry time ☺🧺🌞
Good pointers. Thanks😊
You are so right. Try it first, it can be hard work too. Thank you , you really hit on everything. Most of the things u mentioned, most people wouldn’t even think about. I have been thinking about doing the Nomad live for some time, haven’t managed to put it together yet. But after listening to you, I need to do just what u are saying. I have this idea it would be so fun, but there is so much more to it, not just fun. Thank you again.😊
There is a lot of fun and many good times, especially when camping with friends. But it can also be grueling. I applaud you for doing your homework.
Do a part 2 of this same topic!
Greetings from Brazil. Thank you for your advices. We, my wife and I, are waiting for my retirement to go nomad. We already done trips weeks long and went far, far from home as you said. Our goal is to try it for, at least, a year before say "we are into nomad life!". Until that, we are grabbing other people's experience. Thanks for sharing.
You are wise to do your research and studying before embarking on this lifestyle full-time. You learn so much about what you need and don't jeed everytime you go on a road trip. Good luck witth your plans and keep me posted. I'd love to learn what nomad living look like whre you are.
Very good advice! I'm working on getting another van. I travel with my husband in a wheel chair and with his portable lift. Barb T.
The voice of experience.
All great points, especially testing things out as you described. Would also add another possible test that can be done at home. Life in your kitchen area of your home using the smallest area you can make. Use painters tape to mark the floor and try to live within that space. At first use your bathroom when needed, but slowly try stay within that space and use the methods you would use if you lived in your vehicle. Be creative and give yourself more flexibility at first and patently learn what you can in the safety of your home.
Next stage, live out of your vehicle for a day. Get up on the morning and get into your vehicle and spend time, and don't return home until it's time to sleep. After this can spend a whole day, 24 hrs+ in your vehicle. You will learn a lot within just a few miles from home. All the while knowing you can stop the test, return home and use what you learned for the next test.
You are a gem. I love how you care about people, and you are often using your experience to help them.
So many people have done the same for me thankfully😊
before leaving to do vanlife, come up with a menu you plan to live on in vanlife, then cook those meals WITH the same stove and utensils that you will use on the road. Even cook them outside in the backyard or a park to get used to doing these things outside.
That is a fabulous tip!
Some great suggestions, thanks. But I don't believe in the 5 hours/day thing for everyone. I've done the nomad life in a camper van at 2-3 hours (100-150 miles) from campground to campground, no problemo, but I keep my old van in REALLY good shape and looking cherry, so I'm always welcome. Managers don't like trashy looking rigs. Also, I'm not heading for hotter places, but colder ones, so MY test period would cover proper insulation, bedding, heating, evening- and sleepwear. Thanks so much for everything, Lady GLOW, you truly are a queen of the road.
Thank you 🥰. I was telling folks to drive 5 hours 3 days in a row so they could see what it felt like if that was what they had to do at some point so they could understand how being weary on top of them having to find a safe parking space and cook dinner felt like. Basically experience some of the more challenging aspects and see if they could handle it before jumping into this lifestyle
Absolutely wonderful advice! Truly. Even if you plan on being part time before you go to the expense of buying a van or camper, you will find out, one way or the other!
Great info everyone who is considering should hear. Too many people try to make it so romantic and I believe setting many up for great hardship or worse.
I would never ever attempt to sleep in a neighborhood. People watch out windows and have camera's they do not like strangers in vehicles. Im one of those people. LOL it would freak me out to see a person in a van or car parking by my house all night. And Im planning to be a nomad soon so kind of ironic huh. LOL Good advise you gave thank you.
If you are doing it right, they will never actually see you. Your car will pull up and park.
The head lights will go off that's it, they will see nothing else. You will already have done all your nightly rituals and routines and may already be wearing your pajamas by the time you park your car. Ideally You will be gone in the morning before they are up and out.
This is the best video ever. In making a decision on what kind of lifestyle you want to live it's always good to have the pros and the cons laid out before you so you can make proper choices. You're definitely an angel sent by God for many people let me tell you thank you for your honesty and for the command you have. You definitely sound like a professor teaching in this video. Thank you so much
Thank you for such a kind comment❤
@@gloriouslifeonwheels3621 ❤️
Thank You for some good insights on this important life style. I have wanted to be a Nomad for maybe 3 or 4 years. But some family responsibilities have kept me from being able to. And when my son gave me an older cargo trailer, i was overly excited to hurry and make an almost no build build. I got out my graft paper, sharp pencil and eraser and started drawing my plan. But because of my age and finding out that i couldnt get some, For Sure help, i stood back and had to agree that I had to step back and re- evaluate my decision.
I believe now, that i only can take short trips to close places, maybe a few meet-ups. I could live with that.
I think of Wendys channel from Canada. A senior with a happy, fulfilling life. Camping, fishing,and being in nature as she is pleased to be.
Thank you for caring about people in general. Love to you.
This is an EXCELLENT idea!!!
Excellent advice. I would add one more thing, the first time out stay close to home, people tend to way over pack and this way you can cull out items that you didn’t use.
Excellent point!
I change my mind two years ago, because cant see to drive at night and what if i am asleep and i have to move what would i do? that is my biggest fear is finding some place to sleep every night. Thank you for your videos i will watch from the comfort of my living room,
The comfort of your living room sounds good to me.😊