Now I’m on the home stretch of my van living adventure. I’m starting to separate my things: Those that I need to live with, or want to live with in my van. Those that won’t be necessary, and will be extra baggage in my van, but I can’t bear to part with (to go into a storage). And those that I am just getting rid of – either selling on Craigslist, or giving away or calling someone to haul away.
The biggest pile is the stuff I’m getting rid of, and not only because this pile includes all my furniture! It also includes something I have valued for so very long – my books! Or most of my books anyway – there are some books that I am keeping. These are the books that contain information about my spiritual path, and the books on hypnotherapy (something I practice when I have clients). Oh… my cook books too! Some of them anyway.. until I go through them and get the recipes I have used over the years. I’m feeling anxious about getting rid of some of the books – The protestant ethics and spirit of capitalism! But really, when was the last time I actually read that? I think it’s been over two years… and I can surely find it in a library – like most of my books! So that’s that!
To go in the storage? I’ve collected many things that I’m just not willing to get rid of. Crystal goblets from Prague, a St. Francis cross from Krakow, a Kashmir carpet that I got in Thailand, a mask from venice, hand made wall plaques that I received on my 13th birthday. I don’t know what I’m going to do with these things, but at this point I can’t bare to get rid of them! There are also things like, my kitchen aid mixer. I should just sell it, but since I’m getting a storage place anyway… I just want to make sure that not too many things will go there using that reasoning. I will also put things there that I may need access to occasionally – some clothing, extra towels things like that. I expect that as I get deeper into this adventure, these things will slowly decrease. I’m hoping to eventually be completely contained in my van.
To keep. I’m getting rid of so many clothes just by asking the question: Will I wear this now? Because really anything can be replaced! I don’t need all that I have by a long stretch. Other than that – one set of sheets. A blanket or two… some books and my electronics. Also maybe one or two of my dishes and silverware.
What next? Lately, I’ve been really concerned about where I will park to sleep! I even thought about renting a parking space just to make sure I’d have some place that I wouldn’t be kicked out from. But in the end I decided – no. I’m just going to park and sleep and see what happens! I’m both excited and scared about all this!
I am supposed to get the van as soon as Tuesday (hopefully) or as late as the first (and I hope like hell it’s not later than that)!
I’ll post more later.
You are getting closer to your adventure, isn’t it exciting? It reminds me of when I had to get rid of most of my stuff when I moved oversees.
I have a couple tips for you: The park is the number one spot the cops go to disturb the homeless. Since you will be living in your van (and thus can’t really hide yourself) your chances of spending a quiet night there are very very slim. Try national forest, Walmart and Kmart parking lots, residential neighborhoods (you really have to make sure nobody knows you are in your vehicle ), 24 hour fitness places, truck stops, etc. Also, make sure you rotate at least every couple nights and don’t just hang out at your spot during the day (unless you are parked on national forest grounds). This site is pretty useful: http://www.walmartatlas.com/no-park-walmarts/
Also, there are plenty of links online that RV enthusiast share regarding where to park overnight.
Best to you!
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Thanks for the info! I actually found out from the Berkeley police department that Berkeley isn’t harassing people who sleep in their cars. Even if someone calls the police and says someone is sleeping in their car, their response is that it is not currently illegal to sleep in your car in the city of Berkeley. However, it’s illegal to live in a “house car.” That’s what their site said.
I emailed them and asked about the house car thing. I wanted to know what they considered a house car. They said that they aren’t pushing that law right now due to the lawsuit in 2014. They didn’t elaborate, but I think they mean the LA lawsuit that the 9th circuit court said was “unconstitutional.”
Even so… I still plan to stay out of sight. The urban area is pretty compact here, and houses are often divided into apartments, and no one really knows who lives in what apartment and what cars any of them drive. So, I think I’ve got a few places I can park and not be disturbed. I’m a little concerned about finding flat spaces so that I don’t have to sleep on an incline. And I want to be careful that I’m not in an area where someone is likely to break in.
Lis
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That is great! Unfortunately, urban camping as well as sleeping in one´s vehicle are both illegal in my city and are enforced by law enforcement. We had a little tent settlement by the highway a few years ago that was radically eradicated. In addition, the funding for the homeless shelter was cut. Rough times!
Good luck!
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Which city do you live in? If it was illegal here, I think I’d feel more comfortable in a mini van rather than my really obvious conversion van.
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Something else I thought of regarding parking in the park. Just because sleeping in the car and homelessness are not illegal, doesn’t mean overnight parking is allowed.
Again, best to you! Keep us updated!
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Yeah, I’m going to be aware of all the signs everywhere regarding parking. It’s interesting how this has made me aware of different things than I was before. For example, now I notice the slopes of the streets, and I pay more attention to parking restriction signs. Also, in the mornings, I see other cars and vans around that could be people sleeping – some of them certainly are! I’ve lived in the same area for a long time, and now everything looks different to me because of this.
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