Greetings!
I think you’re in a van now, so why did you give up Class C’s?
Over the years, I’ve bought, sold, and given away many rigs. Vans, RV’s, Buses, and even a couple of camper boats. Almost always cheap, and my conversions were usually cheap as well. My choices were often based on their prices, because I didn’t want a ton of money wrapped up in them needlessly.
For many years, I have volunteered helping the homeless. In almost every town, I would meet people who just needed a hand up, and not looking for hand outs. I take a special interest in these people, and often I can offer them the hand up they need. I can often help them secure an income, get off the streets, and work their way back to a normal life. Sometimes this includes gifting them a rig, either one I buy for them, and possibly convert, or giving them my own, and me switching rigs. If there’s any chance of difficulties with a new rig, I often give them my own to be sure they have a 100% reliable rig.
Sometimes, I will take them on the road with me. Such was the case of a lovely lady and her daughters who had just lost her husband. She was terrified to stay in a shelter, but I only had a van at that moment. I spent the afternoon adding beds to make everybody fit. It worked, but it was way too cramped to be comfortable, so I upgraded to a bunkhouse style Class C RV, and gave my van to an elderly couple. The RV made all the difference in the world space wise. I taught her how to make money both online & offline, and gave them the motorhome once they were stable enough to fly on their own, and I had had secured a new van for myself.
Even by myself, I have really enjoyed the larger rigs, but my choices usually depended upon what was readily available, and passenger vans were almost always available & cheap.
But you’re in a van now, aren’t you? I guess, with how you do it living on the street in neighborhoods where you get to know and help citizens, you no longer have a need to be stealthy, right?
Stealth is more of a myth than reality. It was started by the promoters to convince their victims to convert cargo vans rather than buy a factory camper or convert better suited vehicles. Cargo vans would cost considerably more to convert than a window van, so the promoters would make more money. For example, they made a fortune promoting expensive roof vents, and sometimes windows too. With a window van, neither are needed or desirable.
The myth has been perpetuated by all the people who made the mistake of cargo vans, and quickly discovers how miserable living in a windowless box is, and now wants to sell them. So they advertise and promote them as being stealthy.
The truth is that any unknown vehicle is suspicious, and cargo vans or anyone trying to hide, are even more suspicious. With more obvious campers, people just figure you’re visiting friends or relatives.
Except when traveling between places, I’m usually in an area for weeks or months. What’s worked the best for me is getting to know the neighbors, and being a good neighbor. By being a good neighbor, it seems like most people are willing to overlook the fact that I’m technically homeless, even if it is by my own choosing.
If I happen upon a neighborhood where I don’t feel welcome or accepted, there’s endless other neighborhoods to choose from. In a new neighborhood, I’ll typically arrive early to mid afternoon, and sit with my side doors open. Many people passing by will say HI, and some of them, especially those with dogs, will stop to chat. The dogs always seem to want to check me and my rig out, and I keep doggie treats special for them. If their dogs approve of me, they usually will too. Within a day or two, many of them will notice me picking up trash around the neighborhood and disposing of it. I’m pretty sure that helps my image.
Can’t remember if I’ve read where you shared it but do you live on Social Security and supplement it? Or do you work on the road? Both? I do think I’ve read where you’re online a lot and I asked a question about that. That leads me to believe that you generate a lot of income on the road.
I’ve been eligible for Social Security for over 10 years now, but I’ve never signed up for it, and probably never will. I make really good money working for myself since I retired from the construction industry, and am able to bank the majority of it. I enjoy what I do, and can’t imagine what I’d do to fill my time if I ever quit. As long as I can drive, and my health allows, I’m not ready to settle down. If the need arises, I plan to purchase a larger RV and park it permanently in a park.
I’ve more than replaced my normal income with hands free money making websites as a retirement plan, but still doing remote computer repairs & tuneups too. Unrelated to my income, I have been doing some caregiving for friends for the last several years. For nearly all of them, I have converted their owner run businesses to absentee owner businesses because they are no longer able to run them like they once were.
Between all of that, and my volunteer work, my life has been full, busy, happy, & rewarding. This winter I’m hoping to get some ice fishing in, and maybe some ice sailing as well.
Cheers!
“Everything should be made as simple as possible." ~ Einstein
but I’m happy that you’re happy with your life.