“The van was modified by its owner and later (when the vehicle became decrepit) abandoned or perhaps donated it to a homeless person who painted the vehicle black (matte) to be less conspicuous /visible in an urban area like Los Angeles and its suburban neighborhoods. “ – this is how I explained this van to my wife, who knows nothing about the operation and maintenance of vans but knows a thing or two about homelessness and van life from the marginalized people she encounters as a passionate social worker. She insists that the van in the picture (parked in our neighborhood) has nothing to do with homelessness or van life, but for “stealth work”.
“An owner won’t convert his van only to give it away when it is clearly not decrepit. And if you were homeless, with a van in working condition, the last thing you would do is paint it black” – this is the opening salvo of her argument.
Based simply on observable characteristics (in light of not knowing its actual history nor the intentions of whoever used it now) what would you say this van is?
