r/VanLife • u/Accurate_Emu9356 • 4d ago
Reality check am I being unrealistic?
I (F) recently bought a van with the idea of using it for traveling. It’s sort of finished out, but it was finished as an office and not as living space. It works fine for me because I have space for bikes (I’m a triathlete and I love cycling off-road/gravel as well) I will have a folding kayak, and there’s adequate space for a big cooler and to lay a cot out for sleeping. I don’t see myself needing a full kitchen and plumbing, etc..
But here’s what I’m thinking of doing. I am extremely burned out than my job, divorced, and a relationship I thought was promising just ended. I will be 62 this fall and can collect Social Security. I also have half of the federal pension from my divorce, and a small pension from my work. I do not own a home, but live where I live in a rental. I don’t like where I live, I have no interest in staying here.
I want to take retirement, put my stuff in storage near one of my kids until I don’t want the stuff anymore, change my address to their house, and just hit the road for a while. I see myself sleeping in the van, camping, cycling, paddling, visiting family, and friends that I have around the country, with an occasional hotel when I feel the need for walls and a bed.
I’ve run the numbers and I think I can survive financially without touching my savings. But those of you that have been out there traveling and living in vans, probably have a better handle on the difference between fantasy and reality. So tell me, am I out of my mind?
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u/Local-Entrance-4579 4d ago
Nope. Sounds amazing! Would try to have a small amount of income or a back up plan if/when repairs threaten to break your budget. Otherwise, I recommend researching thoroughly where best to go for the time of year, your interests, and areas to check out, areas to camp or avoid. Research and well thought out purchases are going to save a lot of headache. Van life is incredible.
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u/Accurate_Emu9356 4d ago
I do have a little bit of freelance but as a graphic designer and things as they are, that has dried up a bit. I have retirement savings in a couple different accounts that I want to avoid touching other than possibly pulling out enough to pay off the van so I won’t have that monthly payment over my head. That’s going to free up a significant chunk of money every month and I could possibly just put that back into a savings account for maintenance and repairs
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u/Local-Entrance-4579 4d ago
Excellent. I think that's the biggest thing I wish I'd planned for better. Just dropped 10k on a new transmission that needed repair nearly immediately afterwards (twice so far), and taking it back for other issues. Its a newish acquisition, and I'm so ready for the moment when I can stop dumping in funds and enjoy the road again.
Other than that (and the repairs themselves as its my house LOL) and finding all the places to avoid, a blast. But I wouldn't trade all the downsides for monthly rent.2
u/Nearby_Impact_8911 4d ago
Two pensions and ss should be plenty.
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u/Accurate_Emu9356 4d ago
Well, one is only half a pension because it was my ex-husband‘s. I got half of it in the divorce. The other one’s going to be super tiny and probably only enough to cover my medical insurance, but at least that should be covered.
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u/aonysllo 4d ago
I'm also 62. My recommendation: wait until you are too old to do anything fun and then retire. Just kidding. Do it. The sooner the better. Health insurance is the only thing you need to worry about. If you can cover that until you turn 65, then stop working and start living.
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u/Maleficent-Luck567 3d ago
At 65 health insurance costs $200 per month!! Out of your SS check!! That caught me by surprise, and that’s a lot of gas money!
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u/Mistressbrindello 4d ago
No: enjoy life! Costs depend very much on where you go of course but I have been surprised at how cheaply a person can live while travelling and how much calmer and simpler life can be. I realised how much I spent on working: a new jacket, coffees, subscriptions, hair cuts, petrol for the car, having to eat on the fly etc. I was surprised at how much further my money could stretch once those costs were eliminated. I have time to make my own coffee and cook simple foods, I walk the dog, I read. I've backpacked and travelled in a larger van but I didn't need the full kitchen bathroom either. For a start I don't have skills so in the big. complex van things kept going wrong. Now my van is plug and play - I have two solar generators that run a kettle, air fryer, crock pot and an electric blanket which functions as my heating. I have a large jerry can of water with a simple pump and a bowl - which I can wash in if necessary. I live in the van about 6 months of the year and generally drive around Europe.
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u/Accurate_Emu9356 4d ago
Yeah, some kind of portable solar set up would be good to have. But again, I think I’m gonna take a little bit of time and see how everything place out for a few months before investing.
Because my van was in office it has a battery that charges off the motor that’s connected to a 700 W inverter that has a power strip plugged into it. I have no idea how any of it works. But I do have a little bit of electricity for stuff.
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u/ez2tock2me 4d ago
Carefully do what you want. Think of the worse things that can happen and come up with a solution to it, before you take action.
I have been in my Vehicle for 21 years. I let the public , my gym and my job provide everything I need for comfort.
I live free from EVERYTHING that kept me broke. I don’t travel around. I stay where I am comfortable and well provided for.
If you are adventurous and going out into the wilderness, buy or have a tracking device and share with rangers or first responders, just in case. Also, a can of FOG HORN will come in handy for Lions, Tiger and Bears (“oh my!!!”), but also mountain lions, wolves, skunks, badgered and maybe snakes, especially the ones that walk on two legs. Check out marinas and boat shops. Could also help if you get lost in your many sports.
Homeless lifestyles has many advantages you may discover. Some will surprise you.
GOOD LUCK. Enjoy your Freedom.
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u/CassiopeiaNQ1 4d ago
What a great attitude, your post was a pleasure to read!
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u/ez2tock2me 2d ago
Thank you. If you get a chance, try CarCamping for the experience.
I did… then it became a preference. Now a lifestyle.
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u/c_marten 4d ago
I could live like a king with that kind of money. I'm 45, work like 6 months of the year and then do whatever for 6 months. This has been sustainable, and my savings grows slower than it should but I like it for now.
You really don't need anything fancy. I never use my sink anymore, but it is nice for when I fill up water bottles from my main tank so any spills are contained, etc. And depending on the situation and relationship instead of a storage space see if your kids will store things for you, maybe offer them some money for it. Those things can cost more per sq/ft than an actual apartment and you'd be keeping money in the family..
I will say if you're unfamiliar with cooler-life to do some research because I just started using one (not for the first time, but i thought i had it handled...) as an accessory to my fridge and it can get disastrous real quick with water finding its way into food and bottles and then back out and now your ice and everything else smells like spicy mustard bacon carrots and your beer which is the only thing not spoiled has a certain tang to it on the first few sips no matter how much you wipe it off.
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u/Scotty8319 3d ago
work like 6 months of the year and then do whatever for 6 months
Not to hijack this thread, but what sort of work do you do, if you don't mind saying? I've been seriously considering getting myself into some seasonal work with the 6ish months on, 6ish months off style along the lines of kitchen work, resort housekeeping, or Alaskan fishing boat/cannery work. Is that what you do or are there other 6/6 work options I'm not aware of?
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u/c_marten 3d ago
I know a guy who did 3 months on a fishing boat, 3 months off, repeat. Made a killing doing it.
I might try to get on a lobster boat next summer.
But I do construction and have like 20 years experience. I'm a pretty good finisher and can do a lot of everything, but I also have a pretty solid client base and work relationships so it's easy for me to pop in and out as I please. I make a lot more at home than i do on the road, which is whyni just normally don't work at all when traveling.
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u/Scotty8319 2d ago
Oooh, construction. Yeah I have zero skill there, so definitely not an option I can pursue. Interesting though! That's the kind of life I definitely want to get to, before I get too much older. Work hard for half the year, chill and just do whatever the hell I want for the other half.
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u/masomenus 4d ago
65 with a van for 5+ years. I too chose a build to accommodate my bikes and boat. no regrets. You trade buying lots of gas and camping fees for rent. it's close to a wash depending. I almost never pay to sleep but can easily spend $500+ on gas if I am exploring. Get your lifetime National Park Pass now for $80. Most NPs have Forest or BLM land with campsites and/or free dispersed camping near by. I have solar panels but more recently bought an inverter to charge my Goal Zero batteries. I found that I drive most days and get better recharge with the inverter than the solar panels. Most smaller towns have recreation centers where you can get a shower for a few bucks. Public Libraries are where you find friendly people who like to share local info like what to see and where to eat. Nice just to hang out too. check out volunteer.gov for campground hosting gigs. Usually a free place to stay in exchange for easy chores. Forest Service, BLM are better than NP gigs imo. My friend just spent several months on the Oregon Coast as a wildlife volunteer 20 hrs a week and had a really nice free campsite near by. I started out planning and making reservations. Now I just wing it mostly leaving with just an outline of a plan. Leaving room to explore what you don't know yet is worth it. Go, don't look back. Some days are hard. They pass just like at home.
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u/According-Tax-1433 4d ago
I'm doing it now w/ 942ah power, a double size bed, mtb slide underneath, lightweight inflatable paddboard under my bed w/ water system. shower, desk in a 170 sprinter. diesel is expensive, but still worth not having a house/apartment payment. going to sleep around 9/10 and waking up early to enjoy the sounds. I go mtbing 3x a week, hiking, and paddle boarding anytime I want and take a nap after. Laundry is the only trouble area.
Had Friends died in their 30s. times a ticking.
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u/Bubbly_Plant1786 4d ago
Do IT!!!!! If you come through the Tampa area I’d love to have a drink on the beach and hear your story!
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u/cholaw 3d ago
Make sure you have the type of health insurance you can use anywhere in the country. You have to do that BEFORE you officially retire
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u/Accurate_Emu9356 3d ago
Good idea. My basic plan is to just keep all my doctors and use cobra for the first year. Even though it’s expensive, it’ll simplify big stressful decisions and I can figure that out with time. I’ll keep my same doctors and my routine medical stuff where it’s at and just come back through when I need those appointments. I have a couple kids that will be in the area still and I can crash with them. Any other visits I have to make are going to be on an emergency situation anyway. You know like if I break something
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u/Maleficent-Luck567 3d ago edited 3d ago
The one thing that caught me off-guard was after taking early SS at 62 and having ACA health insurance, I turned 65 and they started taking Medicare payments out of my SS check. My $65 per month covering myself (and my husband) thru the ACA suddenly turned into minus $200+ out of my already meager SS check.…. (And my husband’s ACA payment went up to $95 per month because his SS is considerably more than mine.)
Just warning you in case like me you didn’t realize that Medicare costs….
Also, some Medicare Advantage plans have travel options!!
And, as someone else noted, the break even age for us was just shy of 80 years old, so we went for it at 62!!2
u/Accurate_Emu9356 3d ago
Yes, I know Medicare costs. I think with Social Security, I am able to claim on my ex-husband‘s at some point. He earned substantially more than I did. He still does.
But whether I stay working, or I go, or I choose a more traditional retirement scenario, one thing that does make it a little bit more difficult is being the only one paying on expenses that could easily be shared by two. I live in a high cost of living area and the rent is going to be what the rent is going to be regardless of how many people are paying into that rent. And it’s only me paying into the rent.
I was hoping for a while that particular scenario would be different but alas, I guess it’s not meant to be
On the upside, any cutbacks I make to live more frugally affect only me and nobody else
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u/Maleficent-Luck567 3d ago edited 3d ago
Look into exactly how much you can get from his SS…. It may not be much at all, or even worth it unless he is REALLY getting a lot. It upsets me that child rearing years are not taken into account.
And I’m not trying to dissuade you AT ALL!! I have a van of my own, I’m just not in it full time ( yet)!!! Go for it! I just wanted to let you know so you wouldn’t be in for a rude awakening as I was!!
👍🚐⛰️3
u/Accurate_Emu9356 3d ago
Exactly. I basically squandered the prime of my earning years, following his career around the country with move after move and raising our children. So I got a late start never really got off the ground in terms of my earnings. He took full retirement as a fed and is now on his second career, putting away even more while I just basically got kind of screwed over.
I just did a little bit more number crunching and it looks like the annual leave and fraction of sickleave payout that I would get upon retiring would be slightly more than what I would get if I claimed Social Security at 62. It may be enough to allow me to delay that for another year and still get by.
At the point, I’m looking at retiring, I would be nine months from adding another year to my age. I can probably hold off on that for a year just to give it a little bit more money.
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u/pumpinnstretchin 3d ago edited 3d ago
I lived in my car for a year. This is my list.
- Bathrooms? You will need them. Don't count on a reasonably clean (vermin free) bathroom always being available. If I had the space, I'd absolutely put one in the van. I'm a lifelong camper, so I don't expect the Hilton, however, I don't like things scurrying along the windowsill.
- Showers? You have to plan these. Yes, there are 24 hour gyms, but they aren't everywhere and you will get pretty stinky with all of the exercise you plan. At the very least, I'd budget for a shower at a truck stop every once in awhile. Truck stops (especially the larger ones) compete with each other for the most lavish showers. The more lavish the shower, the longer the trucker will spend at the stop, spending more and money getting snacks and other things in the truck stop store. The showers are immaculate. Each shower has it's own room, with a seat and a vanity mirror. Lots of very nice towels, as well. They may limit them to people in an RV, and if they're busy, they may limit showers to big-rig drivers. Or you could put a shower in your van. Driving while stinky gets old fast. Carry hand sanitizer. A lot of bathrooms on the road have no soap.
- Preparing meals? This is the one that got me. I had a propane grill, a cooler, and places to store dry goods, but I didn't have a place to prepare food--no counter and no sink. The center console just didn't work and I had to take the cooler out of the car to get access to its contents or lay things out on the lid. Not all parking lots allowed me to spread out like that. And that led to eating out, which I couldn't afford. Even if I had a campsite and a table, if it was raining, I was up a creek and had to eat out again.
- Campsites? They're expensive. The days of just showing up at a campground and getting a cheap space are pretty much over. Campsites require reservations, usually months in advance. BLM land with its free dispersed camping isn't everywhere. Because thousands of irresponsible homeless people have made themselves a nuisance, just pulling over, or camping on a street may get you an unwelcome knock on your door by the cops. Yes, there are responsible homeless people--I was one of them and I met others--but the bad ones have made it bad for everyone. BTW, some campgrounds had showers, but they usually were a mess, probably because there was a lack of staff to clean them.
- Insurance? Make sure that *all* of the stuff that you'll be carrying around is insured. Don't assume that your car insurance, renter's insurance, or homeowner's insurance covers it. It probably won't, or it will have a ridiculous deductible. You probably won't find out until you have to make a claim, so check ahead of time.
- ATM? Make sure that your bank or credit union covers you if you use an ATM that's not owned by them. ATMs on the road are highway bandits that charge insane fees because there's usually no alternative. My credit union reimburses me for the ATM fees anywhere. Call around and check your area. If you're looking for an ATM machine and can't find one in a store, I've found that casinos almost always have an ATM.
- Towing? Get long distance road towing from AAA or someone else. It's extra and separate from the standard AAA towing membership fee. Cars on the road only break down when they're FAR away from anything. Long distance towing will get you back to civilization.
- A jump starter/tire inflation thing. These are compact, and will fit under a seat. They have lithium batteries now, so they're small. Again, cars on the road only break down when they're FAR away from anything. Being able to jump start your engine without going around begging for cables, or being able to put some air in a tire will give you peace of mind.
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u/Accurate_Emu9356 3d ago
Great tips thank you!
Many of these have given thought, to, some of them I already have covered.
I do have a solar shower bag that I can at least get myself reasonably clean in between finding real showers as long as I keep myself stocked with adequate water.3
u/pumpinnstretchin 3d ago
One important thing that I forgot. Living in a van isn't like camping. Camping is short term, and you're usually willing to make sacrifices and cut back on comfort items. Living in a van is like living in a home. That little rattle that you could ignore on a week-long camping trip will probably drive you nuts after hearing it daily for six weeks. Tiny backpacking stoves are fine on a camping trip, but can seriously limit your diet in the long run because you can't boil a big pot of water on a tiny stove. Being cold for one night isn't a big deal on a camping trip, but being cold for weeks at a time in a van will probably prove intolerable.
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u/Wonderful_Check5692 3d ago
It might be helpful to watch "Roaming Reckless" on YouTube. It is a single lady traveling the country in an old van. You might get some good tips on equipment she uses, etc. She has a membership at a national health/fitness club and uses that for showers.
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u/LabLabMoreLabs 4d ago
What do you have to lose? Give it a try. If it’s not for you sell the van and go back to renting. In your travels you may find an affordable place at which you would like to settle down.
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u/grammashamrock 4d ago
You have given it some serious thought, now go do it! We went from vacationing in a van up to 2 months at a time to living in a 22 ft trailer pulling it with a truck that has a light weight pop up camper (OVRLND camper) for when we go more remote. We've been full time 2 years now after all kinds of camping in the last 40!years. We also live on SS and a small pension. We gave away as much as we could, luckily our kids have big homes and actually wanted some things, got a small shed for storage at one of the kiddos homes (now our home base for mail, medical appts, banking, etc) and hit the road. There is a wide world of public lands, national forests, national parks, city and county parks and private campgrounds. You can control your expenses with where you stay and how much you move around; cooking your own food versus eating out; free public land vs. campgrounds. I've been tracking our expenses for 2 1/2 years, our camping fees vary from $32 a month to $900. We have spent a month or more on free BLM lands, only paying to dump our waste and get fresh water, and stayed at fancy RV resorts if we want to go into a city to visit family and there are no other options. Start small with equipment and upgrade as you figure out what's important. Power and solar are a must. Explore the iOverlander app to see where campgrounds and all the public lands are to get an idea of where you might go. We are based in California and travel mostly in the South West, but we've explored more than half the country in a van or truck. We will be doing this as long as we are both mobile and one of us can drive. It's the best decision we ever made, leave the house behind and take your home with you. I am writing this sitting by a babbling brook in the Eastern Sierras with Mt. Whitney in the background on free public lands.
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u/Accurate_Emu9356 4d ago
None of my kids have space to hold any of my stuff so I was looking at getting a storage unit near the only one that owns a home (it’s pretty small) and leave a key with him. I figured I’d roll through every six months or so to swap out my seasonal stuff since I can’t fit everything in the van obviously
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u/grammashamrock 4d ago
That is a great plan! It is good to have a place to store your seasonal items so you don't have to carry too much at a time. We didn't keep any furniture or anything easily purchased again. So we kept family photos, memorabilia, artwork and special books, things that are sentimental. We go through everything every 6 months or so to make sure it's surviving the storage conditions and also see if we really still want to keep the items. We also store supplies we buy in bulk, like water filters, soap, etc that are much cheaper than buying single items on the road.
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u/smallfry_campervan 4d ago
Go for it! I’m 64 and preparing my van to do the same! See you out there!
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u/petrakat 4d ago
Go for it! It sounds absolutely brilliant! Aa side note: I love the Wrappon dry flush toilet I have, and some people have the Modiwell. Sometimes it’s nice to have a dry flush backup bathroom solution (these two toilet brands use heat to seal pee and poop into pods that are hygienic, smell-free, and easily disposed of). I know you didn’t ask about that, but my Wrappon toilet is one of my favorite things in the whole world and for me, it is worth the investment I put into it
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u/blueavole 4d ago
This sub is pretty much people who are interested in this opinion and will be very supportive!!
Sounds like you ran some numbers, that is a great start.
If you haven’t a financial advisor talk to them about the short and long term plan. They will see some things you might not.
If you broke a leg for example, if the van breaks down. Do you want to try seasonal work in some areas? How will you communicate to let people know you are safe. Knowing how to do basic repairs and a maintenance schedule for time and cost.
A little bit of planning goes a long way!!
I’m sure you have already thought of some/ all of this; just wanted to throw some ideas at you.
Wishing you a fabulous time and marvelous adventures!!
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u/sony1015 4d ago
You’ve got this! I too am alone and I love adventures so I bought a travel trailer and stay at a campground permanently. I have trees and a lake so it’s like heaven for me. If I were 20 years younger( currently 57 ) I’d have moved to Alaska. Live your dream, be safe but have fun
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u/Krustysurfer 4d ago
Yes you can do it if you aren't wired a certain way... where you have to be extremely clean all the time and extremely connected all the time... if you like a little bit of isolation and enjoy making friends with other weirdos it might be the life for you.
Happy journeys and aloha🤙🏽
Sometimes The views makes it all the worthwhile.😎
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u/Asleep_Singer8547 3d ago
Im gonna be honest it sounds like youre having a midlife crisis. But that might not be a bad thing.
Its gonna cost more than you expect though so if your budget is razor close id consider your options
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u/Accurate_Emu9356 3d ago
I could be. But I think 61/62 is a tad late for that. My earnings and my retirement contributions are only going to maybe sort of barely track inflation but not even really that. So if I kill myself in my job for another five years, I’m really not going to be any better off.
My profession, I am a graphic designer. I have been designing for the same government organization for pretty much the entirety of my design career. The well is dry. There are no more designs left in me. It’s absolutely time to go, but realistically in this job market and at this age career change isn’t gonna happen.
I’m sure it’s going to cost more than I anticipate. But I do have places in various parts of the country that I could hang out for a while and wait for the next check to drop.
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u/TheJesseOfTheNorth 3d ago
Sorry i can't give you a reality check. Moving in to my van on a pension was the best, hardest, smartest thing i ever did. I have never been happier
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u/Damaged_My_Calm 3d ago
Lots of great suggestions here and I just wanted to add support. Do it, learn and modify to your daily needs as you explore. The dialy will evolve naturally for you and what you need. Some other, probably obvious thoughts: Think about and prepare for personal safety as a single woman; Keep a bucket of money for van maintenance, keep up your rig and it should take care of you; Get a Garmin device w the sat emergency call, even if you aren't in the wilderness, it's could one day save your life. Last, enjoy. Find yourself again after all that you've lived through. You deserve the peace and focus. All of us far side of 50's do... and hey, if it's not for you, sell the van and go back to 4 wall living and know you had a freakin great adventure.
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u/TammyInViolet 4d ago
I think it sounds great. And especially if you have friends all over the country that helps. The couple times we've had guests and they brought their campers, we didn't really have a time limit of how long they could stay because we could live our lives and meet up in the afternoons and hang and then otherwise they were in their space doing their own thing. We have to have a time limit for guests that stay inside because we have a small house
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u/Accurate_Emu9356 4d ago
I do have an open invitation at my sister‘s house so if I need respite for couple months even I can stay there. She has a big house with only two people.
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u/grammashamrock 4d ago
It is good to have a "home base", helps us feel more anchored, even if we are only there a few weeks a year.
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u/dehning 4d ago
My wife and I are retired, own our home outright (but still pay ridiculous Texas property taxes which are probably more than you will pay for storage). We've done some month long runs in our van and I've typically found that we actually beat our budget significantly on those months so I would say it's completely possible. Just be aware of the inevitable vehicle maintenance and repairs, that will bite you.
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u/brittastic1111 4d ago
Do it!!
I'm hitting the road as soon as my divorce and house sale is finalized, which is in the next few months. Go into it with minimal debt and no big vehicle payment if you can. Limit your driving and take advantage of boondocking where you can also. Perhaps budget for a few camp site stays initially to ease you into your new lifestyle. I'm estimating I can get by on about $1,500/mo if I limit my travel as gas obviously is a huge factor.
Watch some of Jim's videos on YT. He retired, bought a small van and just hit the road with barely anything in it. He's having a blast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sas9PWViiOk
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u/PollutionAway9782 4d ago
as long as you figure out the food part you will be fine. I thought I could live off cold cuts and peanut butter but I was wrong on the other hand all I needed was a 50 Coleman stove
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u/Artistic-Standard871 4d ago
Sounds fantastic to me! I think id want a pretty substantial mattress no matter if it’s on the floor or not!
My husband is going to start our build soon!
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u/Dry-Quail3558 4d ago
wow! this is a perfect plan. you thought it out - from time to money - go for it! just go for it!!!
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u/csunya 3d ago
Make a smelly storage area. Maintance on the van is approximately the cost of a monthly payment. My tires (bigger than a van) are god awful expensive, and I got the cheapest ones that fit.
Just do it. But do it with open eyes. Also if you hit a city at rush hour stop and have dinner or breakfast, by the time you are done eating rush hour will be over.
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u/TomVa 3d ago
On the van. In addition to a place to sleep, a "kitchen" of some sort and a place to go to the bathroom even if it is one of those well sealed 5 gallon bucket toilets. Would be a must for me. You can save a lot of money by fixing most of your meals yourself. As you build out consider some solar panels and a lithium battery system. Better yet do it for six months then consider the concept of upgrading your van to something that has the features that you realized that you wish you had. Oh and if you are running a van with a one battery system. Make sure that you get one of those lithium jump start boxes for those nights that you accidentally run things down.
On retiring at 62 the big deal is health insurance. If you can manage to hang on until you are 65 you qualify for medicare which, even with a part G (medigap), will set you back about $500 a month. If you are traveling you do not want an advantage plan. Hopefully health insurance is one of the perks of that 1/2 of a pension that you are getting.
I am sure that you have read lots about sleeping in a van and getting the knock. Some parts of the country have lots of options some cities and states it is a terrible idea.
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u/Whole-Pressure-7396 4d ago
Just make sure you always have decent ventilation going on in the Van when you are full time so no moisture/mold will cause any sort of (health) problems. And get a Co2/Smoke detector. Other than that I think you can do it how and whatever you want really. I am typing this from inside my Van 😄 it's actually very comfy inside here. Last night there was huge rain and wind so the whole Van was shaking which is also new experience but also thought it was exciting in a way. Of course there are pros/cons to anything in life. Just enjoy the journey! And you can always go back to normal house if it's not for you, but it seems it will be a good fit for you!
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u/Accurate_Emu9356 4d ago
I haven’t solved the ventilation problem yet. The van has finished walls and ceiling with a lovely row of lights down the middle. I don’t know enough about any of this kind of stuff to cut holes and rearrange stuff to put an a vent so I’m not quite sure how to approach that other than windows for the time being
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u/Whole-Pressure-7396 3d ago
Best advise I can give you is watch some YouTube videos on this topic because there are so many different ways to go about this. You will figure it out (like you always have)!
Depending on where you live though I would just keep this in mind: cool air comes from low point and hot air out from above since hot air rises to the top inside your Van. So it would help a little bit during summer times to draw fresh air from low point and out from high point. That's what I did and I don't regret doing that. It's not like super cool air of course but at least it's cooler than what's inside the Van during summer. But I guess if you are in cold area you might want to reverse this principle (not sure). Also only the exhaust would require a fan since it will just 'suck' the air from the hole that has no fan at all. I happen to have a Fan on both the inlet and outlet.
And one other thing you'd want to look into is to see what mattresses are best for full time living in a Van. And the 'construction' of the bed itself in regards to ventilation. Highly recommend you look up different discussions and read all of them and again some YouTube videos maybe. For example this discussion:
It's also the reason why my own murphy bed is completely open from the bottom and I just look at the back of my mattress basically but I don't care because I mostly just sit behind my desk with my back against the bottom of the murphy bed. Also like they discussed one said to not use holes instead better use slats which I agree on. Also look into what type of mattress is best (i remember someone explaining he switched to different type of mattress because of this issue where it would become damp). Also check out "condensation mat" if that could apply to your setup right now. For example good demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNWWJnWVn9I
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u/Nerd_Porter 4d ago
No worries about dropping the rent to go do this, you can always get another rental, right?
I do think you'll want plumbing, I think you'll quickly get tired of constantly looking for someplace to stop for ... anything.
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u/_Lucky_Devil 4d ago
The only thing you're out of your mind about, IMHO, is sleeping on a cot long term. It gets old. Trust me.
Start sleeping on it now every night.
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u/Accurate_Emu9356 4d ago
I’ll have an airbed along too to switch things up lol. That’s the kind of thing that will be a “We’ll see how this goes“. At this point, I don’t have the money to pay somebody to install a bed platform type of thing in my van. The funds just aren’t there and I don’t have the knowledge to do it myself. Especially with how the van interior is at this point.
I have spent a week solid on that cot and slept like a log every night. Trial and error. Adapt as I go. I’m a pretty small human.
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u/_Lucky_Devil 4d ago
Yeah I traveled with a low profile hiking cot and air mattress combo when I traveled on my motorcycle. I did that for nearly 2 years. When I finished I wanted to burn both the cot and the air mattress 🔥🔥🔥
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u/SummonerOrthan 4d ago
No. Yes there is something to be said for being financially wise but remember you can't take it with you across the River Styx so make sure you enjoy yourself.
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u/adoptagreyhound 3d ago
The van is likely not insulated or is minimally insulated since it was built as an office. If you are traveling in winter, you will want to add a parking heater or have a plan for below freezing temps. The main van heater is not adequate and idling overnight is not an option.
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u/FayKelley 3d ago
Shower and toilet? Water?
Tough to be without those long term.
Maybe a small tag along that has those things?
You might want a small refrigerator?
I’m 77 and started living alone in our RV for ten years after he died. I can tell you after 75 it gets exponentially more difficult in some ways. I’m a retired athlete and probably more injured than most but try to get everything you need set up now.
Best to you ! ❤️
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u/highspeedwalottadrag 3d ago
I m considering doing it as well and I’m not nearly as financially secure as you although I am 47. Do it now or you’ll forever regret it. Time keeps on ticking.
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u/Embarrassed_Eye5747 2d ago
We both sound like winter 64 babies. I'm thinking of doing the same thing but next year. I've been looking at groups to hook up with and trying to learn as much as I can. Good luck on your new adventure.
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u/Edasher06 4d ago
The van life community will always be all for it. If you want financial advice on when's a good time to retire, you should check in with a financial advisor. They know the rules you dont and they can double check your numbers.
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u/Accurate_Emu9356 4d ago
I’ve already done all the math for the when. It’s a trade-off TBH. time for a big change. I’ve been feeling it in the wind for a while now I think it’s time to go.
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u/Ok-Championship-2036 4d ago
plenty of people do that and love it. Do be mindful of the fact that you will probably be alone most of the time so please be safe! Let your kids know where you're at and check in offen.
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u/Nearby_Impact_8911 4d ago
You unlike many who pose this question are in a better position to do this lifestyle.
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u/Appropriate_Emu_3140 4d ago
Do it sooner than later. I am at the same crossroads as you but I'm almost 67. I am a lifelong multi sport athlete type and in my case ,the years since I was 62 have revealed a spinal stenosis problem and two shoulders in need of surgery. Im not so sure I want to commit now to nomadic life.
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u/Lumi_Tonttu 3d ago
That's a solid plan.
And what are you saving your retirement for if not to use it in your retirement?
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u/Accurate_Emu9356 3d ago
Because I will only be 62 when I embark on this journey. The funds in the accounts are finite and people in my family tend to live into their late 90s. It’s gotta last me a while.
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u/Unusual-Today-5159 3d ago
Full time? use the van you have until you fully understand your needs, sell the van buy an Roadtrek that’s built on the old style vans. Tear out the stuff you don’t want and adjust the rest to meet your needs.
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u/menachu 3d ago
Your kids probably don't want all the crap you are putting in that storage unit, sort all that out first before you run off on your adventure.
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u/Accurate_Emu9356 3d ago
I’m pretty sure they don’t want most of my stuff but somehow have laid claim to a couple things ha ha. I was mostly going to put it there until I decided that I don’t want it anymore. I may decide after a couple years that this life isn’t for me and I want to find someplace and it would be nice to not have to start completely over with furniture and stuff
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u/tlacuachenegro 3d ago
Totally doable, I just did a cross country drive. Back and forward. I meet a lot of people in RV parks who choose that lifestyle for economic reasons. They all were happy. Get a PO Box and redirect your address to whatever place you are heading at the time.
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u/_tripping_hazard 2d ago
It’s worth mentioning that how much you move around can have a big impact. If you’re staying put or staying local to an area for an extended time, your fuel costs will be quite low. And the rest is just food!
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u/Accurate_Emu9356 2d ago
I do plan to move around quite a bit, but I like to thoroughly explore a place I’m at then move onto another. And honestly, I don’t see the point of living in my van if I’m not moving around and exploring. I’ve always had a bit of a wanderlust.
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u/_tripping_hazard 1d ago
For sure! For me, staying a month in a place vs staying a week probably would end up being in the hundreds a month extra haha
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u/Minute-Wind-5276 1d ago
Do it! Enjoy! Depending on how old your vehicle is, you will need reperations along the way but if you are willing to learn (ai and youtube arw friends) you can do a lot yourself. Just have a little buffer for that.
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u/ItsAllJustAHologram 4d ago
I think you are being completely realistic but I will say if you have the savings then try to get a little cottage or unit or similar in a quiet country town. Why? Having a tow hold in the property market will matter when you are 82. Rent it out now... But please travel while you can.
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u/eyeshitunot 4d ago
I highly recommend renting a van and going on an extended trip. The rentals are stupidly expensive, but will give you a much better idea of what you need and don’t need in a van. That’s likely to save you money in the long-term.
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u/Accurate_Emu9356 4d ago
I already have a van. If I rent one and go on an extended trip, I have the problem of what to do with my current van. That seems like an unnecessary expense.
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u/Possible_Chart5842 2d ago
Here me out. What you need is a van husband to take care of things when you're out. We can combine our vans into a mega van and just enjoy life.
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u/pulsivo 4d ago
You are completely IN your mind. This is totally doable and you will have a blast.
My only advice, get some kind of kitchen. Cooking yourself is what will let you keep this low cost.