Voyeurism & Van Dwelling and Car Living 23 Feb 2007 12:49 am
The temperature has risen and I long for the van
The nights here are not so dangerously cold but I made some commitments that will tie me to couch surfing for another week or so. It’s a good thing over all but I do miss my van.
I like sleeping in my bed with my pillows and linens. I like reading with my LED flashlight. I like being in the small space where I feel all cozied and cocooned. I like the changing vista and the quiet. Sure there can be traffic noises but unlike an apartment I don’t have plumbing noises or people walking above me.
A couple things I miss about living in a home
The bathroom: Showers on your agenda, running water and a toilet. In a van you can use kitty litter bucket toilets and a big bowl for washing in. Living life like it’s 1850 really isn’t all so bad.
The oven: In a van it is rather difficult to make a frozen pizza or a properly made baked potato–the kind with crispy skin. A toaster oven could work and would allow for cheese toast but I’m not hooked to shore power enough to warrant carrying one. Though this wouldn’t work well for potatoes and pizza but fresh cheese toast on tap may make me not mind that so much. The refrigerator is nice too but I really don’t miss it when I van dwell. I’m quite happy with foods that are shelf stable.
Standing up: my van is not a high-top so being in a home allows for that pleasing upright stance so fitting of a descendent of homo erectus. But then in a van everything you have is so near that you don’t have far to walk. Mostly you can just lean or stretch to grab what you need.
on 24 Feb 2007 at 10:38 am 1.Kate said …
many state and municipal parks with picnic shelters have electrical outlets and water spigots-some are connected even in the winter- perfect for cooking with small appliances. sometimes the right grade extension cord is necessary to use the outlets comfortably due to their positioning. if you can afford to pay for camping in a state park (often under $20.00 a night) you can usually get a hot shower as well. rest areas on interstates sometimes have public access electrical outlets. toast and coffee or tea on a cool morning is a beautiful thing when you are homeless. vending areas in hospitals often contain microwaves and nobody hanging around worrying about if you are buying anything (also ICU waiting rooms in hospitals often have cable tv if you need a news fix). just a few of my resources from the road.
on 22 Aug 2007 at 2:10 pm 2.lee said …
I am 6′ tall. I found that by moving my shoes up to my knees, I was able to stand up just fine. Chef boy-are-dee!!!! it is the SAME thing(isn’t it???)as pizza. Just no crispy crust. Just throw some canadian bacon and some green peepers; olives; onions in a can of CBAD lasagne and thou shalt dine! Oh yeah…i eat out of an orange frisbee. Not only is it a cool and indestructable plate…but it is STILL a frisbee! Hence…saving you the room you would otherwise waste by having both a dinner plate AND a frisbee!