7 ms·

If the question bothers you, you are just not in the state of mind for this experience, that's all. If you choose to travel in a van, you decided upfront that

If the question bothers you, you are just not in the state of mind for this experience, that's all. If you choose to travel in a van, you decided upfront that this type of life was worth the expected inconveniences, and even some unexpected ones. I lived in Mali for 2 years, didn't have hot water, sometime no running water at all. Electricity shut down regularly. I got Malaria. When the war arrived, I lost all my money, and my company. I had a great time there. E.G: I remember warmly about the generosity of a Malian family sharing with me their (disgusting) fish and rice diner in a dirty court, on the floor, all hands in the same big wooden bowl. On the other hand, a friend of mine recently had lunch with me, returning from hollidays in Cuba. She was horrified by the experience, seing only the totalitarian state and the poverty. She didn't have hot water, so she decided not to shower for the whole trip. She couldn't find a way to enjoy anything there. E.G: she felt so sad about the omelette a local made for her, thinking it was depressing he had so little, and yet felt obligated to share the few precious eggs he had. It's all about what experience you wish to have, what are the things you really value. There is no right answer for that of course, and yours is no better than mine. All that to say: the toilets are not really an issue. Just a constraint. EDIT: reading again my post, it felt a bit pretentious. I added more nuances in the following one.

josefresco 8y ago
I travel for 8 weeks every, single, year. I've shit in plenty of buckets, gone for many days without showering, I've tent camped, DIY trailer camped - shit gets old ... fast. The ability for you to enjoy your trip, your family and small moments is severely hampered when even the easiest things (going to the bathroom) become a chore. Sounds like you're young & single and looking for adventure. I have kids, have to work to support them and the novelty of crapping in a bucket, or in figuring how to wash my dishes with no running water isn't fun, or adventurous. We now have a modest travel trailer with full bathroom and kitchen. We can cook meals, poop in peace and always choose "full hookup" campgrounds. Dry camping is fun ... for like 3 days and then everyone gets smelly, grumpy and wants some comfort.
- sametmax 8y ago
  What you are saying is that the experience you want now differs. I wouldn't go back to live in Mali myself. I've done it. Enjoyed it. Now I like my life malaria and war free. My answer is not some romantic vision of the bohemian life style. Simply an explanation that the question of the toilets doesn't make sense: you don't look for vans if it's important to you. Like you said, you rather choose a trailer. You would not go on the specific type of trip that requires a van anyway. I edited my previous post from "you are not the type of person" to "you are not in the state of mind". After all, it doesn't define you as a person but rather, reflect your current expectations of life.
  - josefresco 8y ago
    We're talking about people living in a van ... not on vacation, not on a road trip. >you don't look for vans if it's important to you Everybody shits, everyday! How is going to the bathroom "not important"? What is okay "on vacation" is not always okay when you're just trying to live and work and enjoy yourself. Lastly, I didn't "choose a trailer" I worked my way up to one (financially), suffering along the way with all the inconveniences that come with no bathroom, kitchen or running water.
    - sametmax 8y ago
      > Everybody shits, everyday! How is going to the bathroom "not important"? You also eat every day. Some people eat outside, some cook, some skip meals. Some people don't have fridge. Some have fancy knives. A constraint is a constraint for everybody, but making that constraint an entry in your pros / cons list for doing something is not universal. > Lastly, I didn't "choose a trailer" I worked my way up to one (financially), suffering along the way with all the inconveniences that come with no bathroom, kitchen or running water. I have no idea what to make of that, but, ok, I guess ?
      - josefresco 8y ago
        > You also eat every day. You know what else is a giant pain with no running water or electricity (beyond a battery)? Cooking! > I have no idea what to make of that, but, ok, I guess ? My point was that I always wanted a trailer I wasn't romanced by the thought of van living, my priorities didn't change - I just simply dealt with it. Live on the road is much better now, I just want people considering tiny homes, or vans to understand ALL that's involved.
cdubzzz 8y ago
Haha @ your edit. I spent 3.5 years living in Burkina Faso and thought about making a similar response but decided there was no way it would come off as anything other than pretentious (: Pretty similar experience, but without the money issue as I was a Peace Corps volunteer. I was in the north and we took in some Mali PCVs when things got too crazy there. Sadly, PC is also out of Burkina now ): Some really wonderful communities in the Sahel and it sucks watching things slowly get worse and worse.
- bobochan 8y ago
  Preach. I have been to Burkina Faso, it is a beautiful country. I have come to terms with the fact that, at least at my age, I will probably never go back to Bangui, Central African Republic again. I always imagined I would walk by the Peace Corps office and the central market one last time.

josefresco 8y ago

I travel for 8 weeks every, single, year. I've shit in plenty of buckets, gone for many days without showering, I've tent camped, DIY trailer camped - shit gets old ... fast. The ability for you to enjoy your trip, your family and small moments is severely hampered when even the easiest things (going to the bathroom) become a chore. Sounds like you're young & single and looking for adventure. I have kids, have to work to support them and the novelty of crapping in a bucket, or in figuring how to wash my dishes with no running water isn't fun, or adventurous. We now have a modest travel trailer with full bathroom and kitchen. We can cook meals, poop in peace and always choose "full hookup" campgrounds. Dry camping is fun ... for like 3 days and then everyone gets smelly, grumpy and wants some comfort.

sametmax 8y ago
What you are saying is that the experience you want now differs. I wouldn't go back to live in Mali myself. I've done it. Enjoyed it. Now I like my life malaria and war free. My answer is not some romantic vision of the bohemian life style. Simply an explanation that the question of the toilets doesn't make sense: you don't look for vans if it's important to you. Like you said, you rather choose a trailer. You would not go on the specific type of trip that requires a van anyway. I edited my previous post from "you are not the type of person" to "you are not in the state of mind". After all, it doesn't define you as a person but rather, reflect your current expectations of life.
- josefresco 8y ago
  We're talking about people living in a van ... not on vacation, not on a road trip. >you don't look for vans if it's important to you Everybody shits, everyday! How is going to the bathroom "not important"? What is okay "on vacation" is not always okay when you're just trying to live and work and enjoy yourself. Lastly, I didn't "choose a trailer" I worked my way up to one (financially), suffering along the way with all the inconveniences that come with no bathroom, kitchen or running water.
  - sametmax 8y ago
    > Everybody shits, everyday! How is going to the bathroom "not important"? You also eat every day. Some people eat outside, some cook, some skip meals. Some people don't have fridge. Some have fancy knives. A constraint is a constraint for everybody, but making that constraint an entry in your pros / cons list for doing something is not universal. > Lastly, I didn't "choose a trailer" I worked my way up to one (financially), suffering along the way with all the inconveniences that come with no bathroom, kitchen or running water. I have no idea what to make of that, but, ok, I guess ?
    - josefresco 8y ago
      > You also eat every day. You know what else is a giant pain with no running water or electricity (beyond a battery)? Cooking! > I have no idea what to make of that, but, ok, I guess ? My point was that I always wanted a trailer I wasn't romanced by the thought of van living, my priorities didn't change - I just simply dealt with it. Live on the road is much better now, I just want people considering tiny homes, or vans to understand ALL that's involved.

cdubzzz 8y ago

Haha @ your edit. I spent 3.5 years living in Burkina Faso and thought about making a similar response but decided there was no way it would come off as anything other than pretentious (: Pretty similar experience, but without the money issue as I was a Peace Corps volunteer. I was in the north and we took in some Mali PCVs when things got too crazy there. Sadly, PC is also out of Burkina now ): Some really wonderful communities in the Sahel and it sucks watching things slowly get worse and worse.

bobochan 8y ago
Preach. I have been to Burkina Faso, it is a beautiful country. I have come to terms with the fact that, at least at my age, I will probably never go back to Bangui, Central African Republic again. I always imagined I would walk by the Peace Corps office and the central market one last time.