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People have different lifestyle preferences and there’s no reason to put someone down because they’ve made different trade-offs than you would.

by dskang 9y ago

Noos 9y ago
Those trade offs are unsustainable. They are something the very young do without thought of what life will be in that situation five or ten years down the road. or even in the moment. His entire "what happens if the van breaks" section boils down to fix it yourself or call AAA. The fact that maybe it might take multiple days to fix the van, requiring you to live in a hotel or motel never seemed to warrant a notice. The expenses of what can go wrong can be very serious. I've never seen these lifestylers put serious thought into what goes wrong. They rely on youthful immortality to carry them through. again editing for language and adding content.
- pavel_lishin 9y ago
  > They rely on youthful immortality to carry them through. To be fair, having your small, mobile house suddenly become less mobile is typically not a disaster - unless it happens in the middle of a desert, or in the middle of winter. Someone living in a van in Hawaii or California is likely not going to be in serious danger if their engine suddenly seizes up, or if an axle breaks. Plus, if the alleged savings from not paying rent are actually put away into some sort of savings account, staying in a hotel or motel for a week or two while the van is repaired isn't likely to be a tremendous setback. It honestly doesn't seem any more risky than living in an apartment - which can flood, catch fire, or otherwise become un-inhabitable as easily as a van, and are more difficult to repair and harder to move your stuff out of. I think your point about sudden illness or injury is a much more serious problem facing a would-be van-dweller.
- prawn 9y ago
  A week in a motel is less than what someone so inclined would save on renting a house. If the van is broken, it's immobilised, like a house... If something breaks in your house or with your car, you likewise fix it yourself or call in an expert. How much have you looked into this subculture? There are people of all ages and they indeed put serious thought into contingencies. There are retirees, there are young travellers, college kids, remote workers who like travelling around. There are people with nothing in their bank account who can't afford to live another way. There are others with money to burn, but just wanting a lifestyle change. Some are solo, some as couples or with a family, others with pets. It's not for everyone, but then not everything is. What honestly frustrates you about it? Do you wish that you could overlook the fears and take a risk yourself?
  - mikestew 9y ago
    What honestly frustrates you about it? I was wondering the same thing as I got ready to reply, then I realized it’s probably a case of extreme Worrywartitis, and a reply would be wasted. Some folks can throw some tools and a tent on the motorcycle and head off to Alaska for a month. Others will have to pack until they can’t see over the handlebars, because what if? I’m more of the former. If it breaks, I’ll fix it. If I need parts, I’ll put the tent up and wait for FedEx. If I am in a situation that I can’t get myself out of, I’ll fire up the satellite communicator. But in general, if things go wrong I’ll figure it out somehow. Always have. Might not at some point in the future. Hopefully it’s a dramatic end. Takes all kinds to make a world, the nonchalant and the less so. Problem is, the latter often can’t leave the former alone about it.
    - prawn 9y ago
      I guess then, can that author delve deeper and wonder what sparks that worrying, especially on behalf of other people? Is it a case of "I'm too scared to do it, so I want to talk others out of it so I'm not the only one left safe at home and missing out?"
- 3131s 9y ago
  I think you are not familiar with the circumstances that the majority of the people on earth survive through. Living in a van in the US, assuming a moderate income, sounds far preferable to what many others endure. What I think you are assuming is that this lifestyle goes hand-in-hand with poverty, in which case the people living it would probably be worse off if forced to sacrifice an even greater portion of their income on living expenses. Why would an older person, assuming equal income, be worse off in a van in the case of a medical emergency? Just call an ambulance like anyone else would. And by the way, old people practically pioneered the art of van living -- it's called an RV! > I've never seen these lifestylers put serious thought into what goes wrong. Then you're not looking, because even as an outsider with a casual interest in this lifestyle I've come across many thoughtful resources online as well as candid accounts from people actually living in vans.

People have different lifestyle preferences and there’s no reason to put someone down because they’ve made different trade-offs than you would.

by dskang 9y ago

People have different lifestyle preferences and there’s no reason to put someone down because they’ve made different trade-offs than you would.

Noos 9y ago

Those trade offs are unsustainable. They are something the very young do without thought of what life will be in that situation five or ten years down the road. or even in the moment. His entire "what happens if the van breaks" section boils down to fix it yourself or call AAA. The fact that maybe it might take multiple days to fix the van, requiring you to live in a hotel or motel never seemed to warrant a notice. The expenses of what can go wrong can be very serious. I've never seen these lifestylers put serious thought into what goes wrong. They rely on youthful immortality to carry them through. again editing for language and adding content.

pavel_lishin 9y ago
> They rely on youthful immortality to carry them through. To be fair, having your small, mobile house suddenly become less mobile is typically not a disaster - unless it happens in the middle of a desert, or in the middle of winter. Someone living in a van in Hawaii or California is likely not going to be in serious danger if their engine suddenly seizes up, or if an axle breaks. Plus, if the alleged savings from not paying rent are actually put away into some sort of savings account, staying in a hotel or motel for a week or two while the van is repaired isn't likely to be a tremendous setback. It honestly doesn't seem any more risky than living in an apartment - which can flood, catch fire, or otherwise become un-inhabitable as easily as a van, and are more difficult to repair and harder to move your stuff out of. I think your point about sudden illness or injury is a much more serious problem facing a would-be van-dweller.
prawn 9y ago
A week in a motel is less than what someone so inclined would save on renting a house. If the van is broken, it's immobilised, like a house... If something breaks in your house or with your car, you likewise fix it yourself or call in an expert. How much have you looked into this subculture? There are people of all ages and they indeed put serious thought into contingencies. There are retirees, there are young travellers, college kids, remote workers who like travelling around. There are people with nothing in their bank account who can't afford to live another way. There are others with money to burn, but just wanting a lifestyle change. Some are solo, some as couples or with a family, others with pets. It's not for everyone, but then not everything is. What honestly frustrates you about it? Do you wish that you could overlook the fears and take a risk yourself?
- mikestew 9y ago
  What honestly frustrates you about it? I was wondering the same thing as I got ready to reply, then I realized it’s probably a case of extreme Worrywartitis, and a reply would be wasted. Some folks can throw some tools and a tent on the motorcycle and head off to Alaska for a month. Others will have to pack until they can’t see over the handlebars, because what if? I’m more of the former. If it breaks, I’ll fix it. If I need parts, I’ll put the tent up and wait for FedEx. If I am in a situation that I can’t get myself out of, I’ll fire up the satellite communicator. But in general, if things go wrong I’ll figure it out somehow. Always have. Might not at some point in the future. Hopefully it’s a dramatic end. Takes all kinds to make a world, the nonchalant and the less so. Problem is, the latter often can’t leave the former alone about it.
  - prawn 9y ago
    I guess then, can that author delve deeper and wonder what sparks that worrying, especially on behalf of other people? Is it a case of "I'm too scared to do it, so I want to talk others out of it so I'm not the only one left safe at home and missing out?"
3131s 9y ago
I think you are not familiar with the circumstances that the majority of the people on earth survive through. Living in a van in the US, assuming a moderate income, sounds far preferable to what many others endure. What I think you are assuming is that this lifestyle goes hand-in-hand with poverty, in which case the people living it would probably be worse off if forced to sacrifice an even greater portion of their income on living expenses. Why would an older person, assuming equal income, be worse off in a van in the case of a medical emergency? Just call an ambulance like anyone else would. And by the way, old people practically pioneered the art of van living -- it's called an RV! > I've never seen these lifestylers put serious thought into what goes wrong. Then you're not looking, because even as an outsider with a casual interest in this lifestyle I've come across many thoughtful resources online as well as candid accounts from people actually living in vans.