The need for change
/Van life 1.0
What is to follow is the real life accounts of a man keeping himself on the edges of society, challenging the norms of all whom he meets. The challenges that he faces daily are in a way describing the challenges faced by the whole world and the majority of its inhabitants. Alternative ways of doing things are the only way that there will be a true change for the better.
Life is expensive and there is no reason that you cant mitigate most of this if you really want or have to. Many different circumstances that came up in my life have lead me to this conclusion. This is not a cry for help nor is it intended to be a shock and awe type message but rather an immersion into the limits of culture as it relates to the idea of a home, the notion of privacy, security, mass consumerism, and many others. This will be a 2 year minimum experiment, and lifestyle change to study an alternative way of living that can be adopted by many who are willing and adventurous. Planning is the key to any great study and with that we begin.
Stage 1 - Planning Phase
To make this leap, and to stay true to my scouting motto “alway be prepared” and the fact that mom will eventually find out, I took a few weeks to plan this out and countless times before thinking about it and other variances of this lifestyle and stepping away from the norm. I looked at shipping container homes, small micro apartments and living with roommates to name a few. This lead me to the conclusion that I desired certain things in life and was willing to sacrifice normality for them.
Scenarios examined further
Couch Surfing - My very first attempts at counter culture living. Many months and nights have been spent by me sleeping at someone else place for short periods of time on their couch. Many great stories from these experiences and many relationships gained and lost as result. First off you are in their space not yours. Over time this leads to resentment and guilt by both parties. Money can be paid for utilities and such but it never seems quite fair to either party hence the lost or degraded relationship. The rule of thumb is don't over stay your welcome. Once you start having the talks about when your going to be moving on you have already done damage that is very hard to repair and will be on your permanent record of sorts with the couch lender. It is incredibly cheap and minimalist and offers what ever amenities that are available, remember though that less is more in this configuration, use less water, food and time on the couch, and you will have more time in this mode. Tread lightly!
Renting with Roommates - This has been my choice for the past decade and has served me well and is not a bad option for most. It is cost effective, allows for greater mobility than owning and is socially acceptable for almost everyone. Space will vary, house or apartment floor plan, as well as quality non-shady roommates and amenities. I have been able to move all over the country for relatively cheap and take only what I can cram into the car. This means selling and repurchasing items that are too big to ship and would otherwise hinder the move. Mattress, bed and any dressers are easy amazon.com repurchases and can arrive at your new destination shortly after you have arrived. The cost has varied as has the quality of roommate and this has lead me to seek new alternatives.
Micro Apartment - This would be near to the price of the shipping container if purchased and about the size of the 20’ unit. It could also be rented but would be limited in its availability and locations offered. The price would also be dependent on roommates but this option is not recommended for that choice due to a lack in common areas. Great option to start from in this life switch from big to small but lacks mobility unless you consider the fact that renting it would leave you open to move with little to no penalty other than finding a new micro apartment.
Dome Home - This was my dream home ever since I picked up popular mechanics magazine back in middle school. I saw an ad in the back and was hooked with the idea of it all. This would run just about the same as a shipping container and would be super durable. It has the drawback of not being mobile and land needed to build on. The size is super variable and depends on your budget. Cheaper than a tradition house to build and maintain. Standard home features and pro cons.
Shipping container - Price was a concern with the shipping container approach. This would have ran me around $30,000 just to outfit the container in a standard home setup with shipping to a destination and other setup fees and inspection fees. This doesn't account for the land cost that would have to be leased or purchased. A fair estimate of living in a container home anywhere close to a city or suburb of one would likely cost upwards of $100,000. While this isn't very hight to own a home it is rather cost preventative to the average adventure and those who would find this attractive. Mobility is also an issue. Yes you can put it down and take it with out or have it on a truck base for super mobility it is rather low on the mobility side of the options due to the cost of the mobility and the permits that would be required to do so, but is still considered mobile. Size is a great feature with this option. With a 20’ or 40’ length option it is 2-3 times more space than other options and for the cost would put it close to a regular size home in the $250,000 - $350,000 range in a different configuration. This would be my stationary option as it allows for a great range of configurations and extra containers can be added anytime to increase and change the floor plan.
Car / Van Dwelling - My latest adventure. This has a number of positives and of course negatives. It is super cheap and not possible realistically cost wise for any other option that I have looked into. With a bit of luck and patience you can set your very own van up with most of the amenities as typical homes would have with remaining super mobile and having great privacy for most things. A van can be as nice as a luxury apartment or as basic as a 4 walls and a roof with a bed in the back. The security is a concern but can be reasonably remedied with some simple upgrades. The van dwelling will be discussed in 3 parts, setup, living, and reflections on the whole experience in later entries.