1. Saving money then and now. It's paid for itself every year, even with maintenance. In general, I'd rather be considerably poorer than a stressed, servile servant to the 1%. My motto is: it's easier to not spend a dollar that it is to make it.
2. Early water-cooled VW Vanagon / Type 2 (T3) Westfalia. It's currently having a no out-of-pocket warranty engine swap. Also, it will need some bodywork and a paint job at some point, but it's alright otherwise. Doing over again with a larger budget, I would get a GMC Savannah or an early 90's Westfalia just before the move to the Eurovan, and one that has a GoWesty 2.3L motor and EMS. In general, I maybe biased, but a compact van has been more stealthy, convenient and practical than monstrous RV's I see all about.
3a. Shower: Gym and I also have lots of Dr Bronners.
3b. Toilet: Gyms or whatever is open nearby. For rare real emergencies, also carry biobags and empty bottles that can be disposed-of in trash. I think the improper disposal of biowaste is one of the greatest sources of community conflict because people with under-treated mental illnesses or lacking personal hygiene are rarely/never proactively assigned social workers to potty train them / make biowaste disposal bags available to prevent gross situations. (perhaps it's viewed like drug needle exchange programs "any help enables")
3c. Laundry: Coin-op laundry. I haven't been very far from civilization in a while, so haven't had to use a bucket and clothesline in a long time.
4a. Silicon Valley.
4b: Legal: There were prohibitions in the past and still exist in many areas, but not in the locations I'm usually at. The Ninth Circuit ruled regarding California, and the majority of cities don't want to risk big lawsuits by harassing people because there are many pro-bono lawyers helping vehicle dwellers/homeless maintain their rights and dignity. Instead, they're pushing mostly poor people as a group, in subtle ways, further to the margins and further into desperation by passing ordinances based on vehicle height, parking time-of-day and requiring parking permits.
4c: Climate:
Summer: It gets hot inside for a couple of months, so it's good to find shaded or garage parking.
Winter: It's relatively mild weather here, but I have a -40 sleeping bag if it gets too cold. I suggest anyone with electronics they'd like to keep working sleep with them to prevent condensation corrosion and Li-ion low capacity issues.
4d: Social: No one wants an old, fugly, ADD on the spectrum. Trust me. Invisibility is best.
4e: Deliveries: It's a pain when a vendor wants to deliver to a physical address (think food, large mail items or prescriptions). There are workarounds.
1. Saving money then and now. It's paid for itself every year, even with maintenance. In general, I'd rather be considerably poorer than a stressed, servile servant to the 1%. My motto is: it's easier to not spend a dollar that it is to make it.
2. Early water-cooled VW Vanagon / Type 2 (T3) Westfalia. It's currently having a no out-of-pocket warranty engine swap. Also, it will need some bodywork and a paint job at some point, but it's alright otherwise. Doing over again with a larger budget, I would get a GMC Savannah or an early 90's Westfalia just before the move to the Eurovan, and one that has a GoWesty 2.3L motor and EMS. In general, I maybe biased, but a compact van has been more stealthy, convenient and practical than monstrous RV's I see all about.
3a. Shower: Gym and I also have lots of Dr Bronners.
3b. Toilet: Gyms or whatever is open nearby. For rare real emergencies, also carry biobags and empty bottles that can be disposed-of in trash. I think the improper disposal of biowaste is one of the greatest sources of community conflict because people with under-treated mental illnesses or lacking personal hygiene are rarely/never proactively assigned social workers to potty train them / make biowaste disposal bags available to prevent gross situations. (perhaps it's viewed like drug needle exchange programs "any help enables")
3c. Laundry: Coin-op laundry. I haven't been very far from civilization in a while, so haven't had to use a bucket and clothesline in a long time.
4a. Silicon Valley.
4b: Legal: There were prohibitions in the past and still exist in many areas, but not in the locations I'm usually at. The Ninth Circuit ruled regarding California, and the majority of cities don't want to risk big lawsuits by harassing people because there are many pro-bono lawyers helping vehicle dwellers/homeless maintain their rights and dignity. Instead, they're pushing mostly poor people as a group, in subtle ways, further to the margins and further into desperation by passing ordinances based on vehicle height, parking time-of-day and requiring parking permits.
4c: Climate:
Summer: It gets hot inside for a couple of months, so it's good to find shaded or garage parking.
Winter: It's relatively mild weather here, but I have a -40 sleeping bag if it gets too cold. I suggest anyone with electronics they'd like to keep working sleep with them to prevent condensation corrosion and Li-ion low capacity issues.
4d: Social: No one wants an old, fugly, ADD on the spectrum. Trust me. Invisibility is best.
4e: Deliveries: It's a pain when a vendor wants to deliver to a physical address (think food, large mail items or prescriptions). There are workarounds.