Maybe, Maybe not?

   Thanks to everyone that sent compliments on my Jeep. I agree, everyone should own a Jeep. Mine is nowhere as nice as some of what was described to me and that I have seen but its mine and I’m not planning to get rid of it anytime soon! Also, I will try to get some photos of the contents of my GHB, Get Home Bag, and do a post on the “what and why” of these bags. So just hold your horses and it all will be revealed.

   I’m working on another addition to the daily posts. It will be at the beginning, in this area, for some of the emails I am receiving about different topics we all might be interested in. Please continue sending these in to me as you find things that look interesting and I’ll make room for them and probably setup a link as well when appropriate.

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VW Version of a house

Alright, you will either love todays subject or you’ll hate it! As this is still all my show, no guest articles submitted yet, I’m going to go for it because I like the topic. I wanted to discuss something that has been a curiosity of mine since I was a young man. Ready? Living in your car… I know, I know – “Prepper’s taken one to many tumbles and finally really hurt himself”… No seriously, hear me out, you never know I might convince both of us to try this out?

 

   Let me give you some background on where I’m coming from. As a boy my paternal Grandmother lived with us from time to time, at least in a manner of speaking. She actually lived in a motor home in our driveway, just steps from the back door. At the time this seemed unusual but looking back from the vantage point where I now sit, more people should have been so lucky.

 

   Grandma was a free spirit, to say the least. I loved my Grandmother and still miss her very much to this day. She was the type of person that was going to have an impact on you whether you wanted her to or not. Well, she made her impression on me for sure! She seemed to be the most free person I had ever met, now I do realize she was retired or at least not working in the conventional sense from about the time I was born. She could pickup and take off at the drop of a hat or stay put for months, her choice not yours! Sounds like heaven to me…

VW Custom Home

 

   I spent time with her in her motor home and it was just that, a home. She had about anything you could want close at hand. Prior to her having the motorhome I recall she had a 1970′s cargo van, don’t remember the make but it was the style with minimal windows and seats that folded down into a bed in the back. This was like some sort of strange phenomenon to a youngster. A bed in a car? Well, I was hooked I had decided at that young age I wanted to have this kind of setup when I grew up!

 

   I guess it never really went away? Other family members seem to have this sense of wanderlust that runs deep as well, must be in the blood! I know freedom is, I believe that anyone reading this has to got to have a strong desire for freedom or they wouldn’t put so much effort into being prepared. Prepping at its most base definition is really being prepared in advance to be able to hold onto our freedom. Freedom to make our own choices and live our own destiny without the government or anyone else telling us what we have to do or accept…

 

   Back to the original subject,  its actually has a name – Vandwelling… Do a google search and you’ll see what I’m talking about. I found a particularly interesting website that is the perfect example of what I am referring to, www.cheaprvliving.com It seems that there are many folks out there living the lifestyle I was always so intriqued by.

 

  

Daytime setup

They have a dozen or more examples of people that live full time in there automobiles. Everything from a Ford Festiva to larger box vans. Incredible! These aren’t your typical snowbird retirees in a high dollar motor house, these folks are all ages and from a variety of backgrounds. They are choosing this as a lifestyle and enjoying a truly freedom centered life.

 

   As you have already picked up on, I believe that we should be looking at alternative housing arrangements. At least alternatives to the McMansions with 50 year mortgages in the exurbs of most any large city. With my firm belief that “DEBT=SLAVERY”! Our largest expense that has to be paid each month is our housing. I already know someone will email me and explain that health insurance is their highest bill but come on, I know that everyone here knows what I’m getting at. If we play by the rules that society in its infinite wisdom has setup for us we will all live in traditional housing and pay property taxes like good little drones! All I can say is that these folks aren’t and I’m not sure I want to if they don’t have to! That just wouldn’t be fair?

 

   I really am trying to make this a serious post but I don’t think there are many folks here or anywhere else that would resort to such extremes to get rid of there monthly housing expense. You will also notice that many of the pictures you’ll see of these rolling homes is that they are quite cramped and rather cluttered. I mention this not so much because I’m a died in the wool “neat nick”, Mrs. Prepper will assure you that I’m not, but just as an observation. However, I have to also point out that these are happy people. Often they are out seeing the world and engaging in activities that us “workers” could only dream of. I don’t read their stories and hear a bunch of complaints about not enough room for the 54″ TV or latest consumer kitchen gadget?

Cockpit

 

   Would I actually pursue this as a lifestyle, truthfully, probably not. I am however more interested than ever and that means I will be continuing to study this subject. Sadly, this also means that all of you will be getting to hear my findings from time to time as I discover something particularly interesting. There are apparently lots of folks that have put their individual stamp on what this lifestyle might look like and I’m going to be watching for them with a much more trained eye from now on.

   I have had a dream since I was a junior in High School about getting one of those cargo vans, similar to Grandmas van, converting it myself and then going on an extended road trip. I mentioned this to Mrs. Prepper today and she was encouraging in her response, she usually is, sounds like she would be willing to even take the trip with me… I do believe I have another project to add to the growing list!

 

   Whether this project is ever realized or not, it sure is fun to dream. I’ve waited 21 years since first cooking this scheme up in my head, I’m 38 now, so I can probably wait a little longer. I know I’m not old but I do appear to be getting to an age were I can see things more realistically. I’ve been admitting to myself lately that its all probably not going to happen? I’d wager that you folks a year or two ahead of me have already come to grips with these feelings and let me assure you youngsters that what the old man told you about life going by faster each year is 100% accurate.

 

   My point in this post wasn’t to look at shattered dreams but hopefully to help encourage you to dream. Dream up unique ways of achieving the lifestyle that you’re after. Only you know whats most important to you and your family. Other people have taken to the road or water to fulfill their need for freedom. Maybe, that cabin or farm house isn’t as wild of an idea as you thought. If they could live in a car to free themselves of a mortgage or rent payments. I think I might be able to make do in a mobile home? Its all up to you to decide, I only caution you not to sell out or give up, find a way! Get the wheels turning that take you closer to the freedom I know you crave!

 

   This is all just friendly food for thought, take it or leave it! Either way I’ll be back tomorrow with something different to make your head hurt and have you wondering if I have all my marbles? Until then -

 

Prepper