Where diet is is concerned, I quickly learned to make it my first priority. At the 6th month point of this wonderful adventure, I was hospitalized for two weeks due to low hemoglobin and iron deficiency anemia. Note that I continue to not cook in my vehicle, but rather hit the hip to consume at least one well-balanced restaurant meal along with healthy snacking daily.
On the subject of 12 Volt accessories, I do not labor my vehicle’s electrical system beyond use for cellphone and tablet charging and occasional use of a 300 Watt inverter for my laptop. This policy is resultant to a recent scare concerning use of a Road Pro 12V coffee maker. It produced three wonderful pots; 4th attempt, the pot shorted out requiring me to replace both my vehicle’s 12V accessory sockets and some relatively simple vehicle rewiring and fuse replacement. Now for a few tips:
Overnight parking: So far, I limit mine to large Walmarts, major hospital emergency room areas and truck stops. Change parking spaces daily, do not exceed three consecutive nights stay at any location and disappear during daylight hours.
Hygeine and dress: We vehicular vagabond nomads are fortunate that such a large segment of “normal” society has adopted slovenly, unkempt manners of appearance. It is very easy for us to fly comfortably beneath the radar by avoiding any appearance commonly associated with being “homeless.” It ain’t rocket science. Top down, neatly-maintained hair and beard; clean, unwrinkled clothing that fits well and cleaned/shined footwear. Perhaps even more importantly, DON’T STINK!
Finally, no matter what care and precautions you exercise, you will eventually attract attention from law enforcement. You may or may not feel you have erred but your prime objective here is maintaining a non-confrontational posture. I have experienced four such situations over the eight months I’ve been on the road. On all four occasions, after receiving satisfactory responses to questioning and my documentation checked out, the engagements ended on a good note. Although no offers of life-long friendship or dinner invitations were extended, I was treated courteously and sent on my merry way.
May only good health and outrageous good fortune accompany you in your new adventure.