6 months in the van...Got some new pics!

[Kusanagi]

Hard to believe it's been six months since I started my new way of life, heh.

Basically, I completely lost my place to live a few months ago and followed through on an idea I had in January of this year - to convert a van into a home.

You might have seen the original thread where I posted it. Life has been interesting since then, to say the least.

At any rate, one of my best friends who is going to photography school finds the subject fascinating. He was one of the few who gave me encouragement, even though he didn't quite have any idea on how exactly I was going to be able to pull it off.

He wanted to do a photoshoot with me for his class. He said that there were quite a few people that take pictures of homeless people, and this was a twist on a theme. Can't blame him for it, I'm houseless, not homeless.

I've come to really love my van and the simplicity it adds to my life.

The album will be updated as he sends me more pics and as more get taken (He wanted to convey a sense of loneliness in these pics, and I told him to get the other side of the coin we would have to go down to the beach where I spend alot of my time :)

Van Life/ (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v312/kusanagisan/van%20life%201/)

After living like this for half a year, I consider myself close to an expert on such things. :P Anyone have any questions about it?

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Ah, so glad to hear from you! I was wondering how you were faring in your van. :)

[Kusanagi]

Job hunt and lack of wifi have been keeping me pinned down usually. But I do plan on getting a wireless antenna with the next UI check.

[MaggieTheCat]

I know a couple who makes jewelry and travels all over the US (usually between Wisconsin and Texas, which is how I got to know them so well -- they spend the summer/fall in Wisconsin and the winter/spring in Texas so I'd see them in both locations!) doing art shows to sell their work. They live out of their van, too (well, I think they have an RV or something.) It sounds interesting, I'm not sure if I'd want to do it long-term but I can see taking a month or two to travel around the country or something.

How do you get your mail? Do you have a mailbox set up somewhere? Also, are you working, or how do you get income?

[poofy_puff]

Hah! You really do look like that guy in your avatar! Grooovy!

[Kusanagi]

I know a couple who makes jewelry and travels all over the US (usually between Wisconsin and Texas, which is how I got to know them so well -- they spend the summer/fall in Wisconsin and the winter/spring in Texas so I'd see them in both locations!) doing art shows to sell their work. They live out of their van, too (well, I think they have an RV or something.) It sounds interesting, I'm not sure if I'd want to do it long-term but I can see taking a month or two to travel around the country or something.

How do you get your mail? Do you have a mailbox set up somewhere? Also, are you working, or how do you get income?

I stay around San Diego for the most part. My folks live there and I have my mail sent to them.

I do online consulting and some freelance work, enough to get by, while I look for a new job.

[tropicsgoddess]

Awesome!! Great job on the van, Kus! :D

[Evil Queen]

Kus, dude! You should do a blog about it! I'll bet that would be cool. And at the end of a year, publish it into a book. :)

[Nurian]

Kus, dude! You should do a blog about it! I'll bet that would be cool. And at the end of a year, publish it into a book. :)

You can call it "In a Van: Down by the River" :D

Good to hear from you, Kus. Stay optimistic!

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Kus, the blog idea sounds brilliant, if you could manage it. That sounds like something that might pan out very well, maybe net you some money in the long run.

[Aethian]

*pounces and snugs* MISSED YOU!

I third the blog idea...you have pictures to add.

[Kusanagi]

Glad you like em!

I just got myself an air conditioner to add to the interior...this is gonna be fun! Especially since I have a shore power connection for now and it's supposed to be 104 in the shade this week coming up.

[Food Lady]

Kus, I'm glad you posted. I think of you every so often, hoping you're ok. Proud of you; we all are. :)

[AccountingDrone]

Nice update, glad it is working out well!

There is actually a minimize movement going on nowdays, and in a van as you have pointed out you are not homeless [other than in the eyes of the law]

[Kusanagi]

Ya'll make me feel warm and fuzzy. I'll get a blog up ASAP regarding this!

Meanwhile, after spending two days with a sawsall, some more wood, and alot of blood (sharp metal edges are sharp) I have finally installed a 7500BTU Air conditioner inside of the van. It takes up alot of my wardrobe space so we need to do some MORE downsizing, but I couldn't be happier with it since it's 104 outside right now. Yippee!

[Food Lady]

Is there anything you can't do?

[MergedLoki]

Kus, dude! You should do a blog about it! I'll bet that would be cool. And at the end of a year, publish it into a book. :)

Actually IF you were so inclined you could probably do that fairly easily. (as in the subject is intersting enough).

I read a few years ago excerpts from a book someone 'houseless' wrote. (it was more a 'how to guide' but very interesting).

[Misanthropical]

I don't know if it's been mentioned or if you tried it already, since I didn't read or remember your original thread, but have you tried to get any form of government assistance?

[Kusanagi]

I have food stamp assistance and am currently recieving UI from my former employer.

The air conditioner isn't perfect, it's an older model but for $35 installed I'm not complaining! It cools down very well, and the fact that it vents through a custom built shroud in the side of the van keeps it with the stealth aspect quite nicely. It DOES look more like a campervan, but only if you know what to look for with the vents in the side being very similar to those used on ACTUAL camping vehicles. The hardest part about the window AC's is that they drip water out the bottom and back, and inside a van, this is a problem. I ended up drilling a hole in the bottom of the pan and lined it up with a drilled hole in the bottom of the van and inserted some drain tubing to the wheel well. On a hot day, I end up dripping some water under the van but that's common with all window units and is easier than emptying out a catch pan for a room portable.

Having a bit of engine trouble with the coolant system so we aren't driving it too much, which isn't an issue with shore power.

Another reason I'm happy for this van is the fact that we're in the middle of fire season with alot of santa annas coming this way over the next few weeks. If I need to evacuate, I'm better prepared than nearly anybody.

I wonder if you could even call it evacuating when you just move the van from one spot to another?

All that being said, I'm quite happy with the design but if I had to do it over again (and if I ever am rich enough to spend 100k for an RV, I'll just buy a school bus and do it myself, steampunk style for alot less money and alot more functionality) I would change some of the layout for sure. Too much weight is on the drivers side so the thing's a bit ungainly when making right turns. (refridgerator, two 70lb batteries, an 80 lb air conditioner, and me when driving)

The next projects in the future now that this is solved is a small bookshelf with built in reading lights above the bed, skinning it all with luan and polyurethane, steamcleaning the carpet, adding grey water storage UNDER the van (this is gonna be a bitch) and possibly adding a vent to the roof. Not sure what order this is all gonna be done in, as I never got around to wiring the van for 12 volts.

I still have room to do that, except 12 volt appliances are so much more expensive than their 120v counterparts

[Evil Queen]

Sounds awesome! You're stationed in CA right? Are you going to try traveling the state now that it's cooling off or no? Because that would be cool.

[Kusanagi]

Sounds awesome! You're stationed in CA right? Are you going to try traveling the state now that it's cooling off or no? Because that would be cool.

Actually, I have this idea to use this to pay down debts, then save up and take 6 months to backpack around the world in 2011 before it ends. :D

[Evil Queen]

Ah, before the Zombie Apocalypse hits, eh?

[Food Lady]

then save up and take 6 months to backpack around the world in 2011 before it ends. :DNow, we all know the world ends in 2012. :p

[Evil Queen]

That's just what the zombies WANT you to think! :lol:

[Kusanagi]

Dead serious, trying to get my friend to come with me. I tell him we have a year and a half to save and plan, and we'll both do it while we're young and can afford to be stupid. If we don't do this now, we never will.

He's Spanish, and has always wanted to travel in the other european countries. I would love to as well. He knows enough italian and french to get by.

Tentative plan - Three months in Europe, seeing Italy, Germany, France, Spain, and heading down to Cairo and egypt to see the pyramids/valley of the kings.

Then flying from Cairo to Japan to see something we both want to, with week long trips to Seoul and Singapore. We would actually rent a furnished apartment in Tokyo for roughly $35 US per night.

Then spending a week at his dad's timeshare in Hawaii on the way back to California.

[Evil Queen]

WOW! World travel! At least you're planning well enough in advance to get a passport.

[Misanthropical]

I have food stamp assistance and am currently recieving UI from my former employer.

The air conditioner isn't perfect, it's an older model but for $35 installed I'm not complaining! It cools down very well, and the fact that it vents through a custom built shroud in the side of the van keeps it with the stealth aspect quite nicely. It DOES look more like a campervan, but only if you know what to look for with the vents in the side being very similar to those used on ACTUAL camping vehicles. The hardest part about the window AC's is that they drip water out the bottom and back, and inside a van, this is a problem. I ended up drilling a hole in the bottom of the pan and lined it up with a drilled hole in the bottom of the van and inserted some drain tubing to the wheel well. On a hot day, I end up dripping some water under the van but that's common with all window units and is easier than emptying out a catch pan for a room portable.

Having a bit of engine trouble with the coolant system so we aren't driving it too much, which isn't an issue with shore power.

Another reason I'm happy for this van is the fact that we're in the middle of fire season with alot of santa annas coming this way over the next few weeks. If I need to evacuate, I'm better prepared than nearly anybody.

I wonder if you could even call it evacuating when you just move the van from one spot to another?

All that being said, I'm quite happy with the design but if I had to do it over again (and if I ever am rich enough to spend 100k for an RV, I'll just buy a school bus and do it myself, steampunk style for alot less money and alot more functionality) I would change some of the layout for sure. Too much weight is on the drivers side so the thing's a bit ungainly when making right turns. (refridgerator, two 70lb batteries, an 80 lb air conditioner, and me when driving)

The next projects in the future now that this is solved is a small bookshelf with built in reading lights above the bed, skinning it all with luan and polyurethane, steamcleaning the carpet, adding grey water storage UNDER the van (this is gonna be a bitch) and possibly adding a vent to the roof. Not sure what order this is all gonna be done in, as I never got around to wiring the van for 12 volts.

I still have room to do that, except 12 volt appliances are so much more expensive than their 120v counterparts

Actually, I was wondering if you applied for government assisted housing.

[Kusanagi]

The list here is so long to get HUD, that I would be waiting a long time.