Well, the trip was long, and gas is expensive. Driving 5 hours straight north would be nice if it wasn't a straight trip with stops only for gas, and bathroom breaks. We finally got to our destination, and found ourselves a great little spot right near the edge of the grounds overlooking the North Saskatchewan River. Sadly, that river starts near the mountains and meanders through a lot of agricultural land, so it begins to look like a giant mud slide only a short distance from where it starts. I used to swim in this river when I was a kid living in Edmonton, it was cheaper than going to the pool, and you could skinny dip with the girls.
The new girlfriend, who was iffy on the van for the weekend, ended up loving it, and can't wait until we get out again. She's not one for living in the van, but loves the excursions. We used my parent's generator to charge up the house battery, and I discovered a fatal flaw in the wiring of the van as well. I had been lead to believe that everything had been moved off the starter battery, and over to the house battery. As it turns out, the cigarette lighter in the front, had never been. Now I know why the starter battery died this past winter. I drained it a few times, and that's a bad thing for them. We ended up using the modified ports in the living area for watching a couple movies, it was great, now I just need to get a couple more house batteries, and some solar panels.
Things I did learn from this trip.
Always, always, always have a volt meter in your vehicle. My wiring doesn't show positive or negative, so I had to run around trying to borrow one off someone to rehook up the wires. I did make the error of touching the wrong wires to the wrong posts and killed my stereo. Very sad. The fuse blew, which we found a replacement for, but no sound any longer. Folks, make sure you have a meter to measure Ohms and DC at a bare minimum.
Better curtains will be a blessing, especially when your girlfriend will wake up to the sun rising at 5am, and can't get back to sleep. This means I am going to be investing in blackout curtains, and making sure that I can get the van nice and dark. This will also add privacy for when you have snooping family, and you both like to sleep nude.
If you have a pet, do not forget the tie down and rope. Nothing is more annoying that having to hold the leash everywhere you go. Thankfully, a cousin had a long chain, and we hooked it up to the bumper of the van.
Tools. Always have tools. At the very least, make up a small kit that will allow you access to do work on a few things. On our way home, the tread blew off one of the back tires, while not popping the tire. I had to change the tire. I pulled out the jack, and crowbar, jacked up the van, removed the tire, and them uncovered the spare. Uh oh... Those bolts are NOT the same size that are holding this thing in place. I had nothing to get those bolts off with me. Thankfully, I am a resourceful (read: MacGyver) type of person. I wondered across the highway to this old abandoned farm, which made flashes of The Hills Have Eyes run through my head, and searched the out buildings. What did I find? Nothing that would make life easier. But I did however find an old gardening tool for weeding, and a door hinge. I used those to tap the bolts loose. It took forever, but my girlfriend now calls me a hero. :)
When the temperature outside hits the 30's (90's for you Imperial system folk), time to get a fan. I've been wanting to get an Automatic Roof Vent for some time. After the sweltering heat this past weekend, I think it's time I save up for it. Asap.
If you have some idiotic kid fill your propane, make sure he knows how to do it. Not only did this kid fill my tank 100% of it's capacity (which then vented down to 80%), he somehow managed to cause the vent cap in the intake to jostle a bit, and create a small escape for the propane. If this happens folks, all is not lost. Use something long, and preferably not metal to give that intake valve a push a couple times until it reseats itself where it should be. I used a chopstick, and stopped leaking propane right away.
If possible, plan for a long trip to take a day or two, just so that you are not exhausted getting to your destination. After only a few hours sleep, I had to drive for 5 hours staright, and fell asleep, and missed out on most of the fun.
When your speedometer breaks, an smartphone can become your best friend. Mine has been broken since I bought the van, but I usually meander, and never drive too fast because I honestly have no where to be in a hurry. I downloaded a free "Speedometer" app, and it is very accurate. I was able to determine my speed at all times as it was running.
Well, there you have it, a few things to keep in mind when getting out on the open road.
Showing posts with label van. Show all posts
Showing posts with label van. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Taking the van out for the weekend - Finally!
So, I get to take the van out this weekend. My grandparents are having their 50th wedding anniversary, and it's a four hour drive north with my girlfriend. It should be interesting to say the least. My family gets to see the van, and I get to see what the gf thinks of it. Something tells me that she wouldn't be on board for living in it, but with her possibly moving in with me, our combined incomes will make life a whole lot easier on both of us, and I can really get to work on my upgrades to the van. That way it's easier to use for hunting and such as well.
This weekend will be my first long distance trip, as the last couple trips have only been about an hours drive away. I'll be four hours one way this weekend, here's hoping that DD is happy to make the trip!
I think that by the fall, I should at the very least have the reflectix installed, and the furnace fixed. Purchasing and wiring a couple new house batteries will be next after that. I want to make this trip as comfortable for her as possible so that she can see that travelling in a van for vacations would be great rather than flying, and hotels. Especially on the way to Alaska.
However, we're planning a trip in January for her birthday to Dominican Republic, and the van couldn't drive there! lol
This weekend will be my first long distance trip, as the last couple trips have only been about an hours drive away. I'll be four hours one way this weekend, here's hoping that DD is happy to make the trip!
I think that by the fall, I should at the very least have the reflectix installed, and the furnace fixed. Purchasing and wiring a couple new house batteries will be next after that. I want to make this trip as comfortable for her as possible so that she can see that travelling in a van for vacations would be great rather than flying, and hotels. Especially on the way to Alaska.
However, we're planning a trip in January for her birthday to Dominican Republic, and the van couldn't drive there! lol
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Turning your friends onto the idea of Vandwelling
What the? Three posts in ONE day??? haha, I have plenty to say today I suppose.
So I was chatting with a friend of mine about this May Long weekend, how it's supposed to rain all weekend, AND the area he's going camping at has a fireban. Well, that's where a van comes in great use. If the weather is crappy, and you can't have a fire, you're going to be cold, miserable, and hungry in a tent. In a van, you can cook your meal, turn on the furnace to stay warm, and sit back watching a movie under the covers with your partner. Why do that when you can do it at home you ask? Because it's NOT at home, you get up, look out your window and see wilderness. That's why.
This friend has partied with me before in my van with some other friends when we went out to the bar for karaoke. We all partied, and pre-drank in the van listening to music and socializing and saving money on booze. Afterwards, I went to bed parked outside the bar, got up in the morning, and headed off. My friends, while making the customary "down by the river" joke, love the van. Some may never actually want to live in one, but they are also stuck on the stick-built mentality.
This friend has expressed a passing interest in what I had been doing (living in the van) last summer, and while he says he'd love to do something like that, he can't because he is living with someone right now. That's totally fine. I tell him that doesn't stop him from getting a campervan, outfitting it, and using it for camping. It also becomes that emergency shelter for things such as doing something that puts him in the doghouse, or if there's a fire and now has no where to live, or worst case scenario; the dreaded break up.
Even if you don't plan on living in a van, it can be a wonderful backup plan for the "just in case" scenarios. The "I want to camp all weekend away from people and campgrounds, but still have power" scenarios, and even the, "I want to actually go to a bar, drink my face off, and not drive or cab home 9because the cab driver always takes the long way home)" scenarios.
Just because this blog is written about living in a van, doesn't mean that anyone stumbling across it can't simply do a similar setup just to have weekends away. The freedom is still there, you just plan a bit differently. I never have to pack, or think about buying food for the trip. I have it all there, but a weekend warrior will have to think of what to bring for the weather, and what to buy for food.
The van can also serve (for the more paranoid) as a "bug out" van. You know, the war is coming, and you "bug out" of town, away from people, and hopefully hostility along the way. There are a myriad of reasons to just have one of these babies parked out back. You may not use it daily, or even weekly, but it's there. It's your safety net.
So what are you waiting for fellow readers?
So I was chatting with a friend of mine about this May Long weekend, how it's supposed to rain all weekend, AND the area he's going camping at has a fireban. Well, that's where a van comes in great use. If the weather is crappy, and you can't have a fire, you're going to be cold, miserable, and hungry in a tent. In a van, you can cook your meal, turn on the furnace to stay warm, and sit back watching a movie under the covers with your partner. Why do that when you can do it at home you ask? Because it's NOT at home, you get up, look out your window and see wilderness. That's why.
This friend has partied with me before in my van with some other friends when we went out to the bar for karaoke. We all partied, and pre-drank in the van listening to music and socializing and saving money on booze. Afterwards, I went to bed parked outside the bar, got up in the morning, and headed off. My friends, while making the customary "down by the river" joke, love the van. Some may never actually want to live in one, but they are also stuck on the stick-built mentality.
This friend has expressed a passing interest in what I had been doing (living in the van) last summer, and while he says he'd love to do something like that, he can't because he is living with someone right now. That's totally fine. I tell him that doesn't stop him from getting a campervan, outfitting it, and using it for camping. It also becomes that emergency shelter for things such as doing something that puts him in the doghouse, or if there's a fire and now has no where to live, or worst case scenario; the dreaded break up.
Even if you don't plan on living in a van, it can be a wonderful backup plan for the "just in case" scenarios. The "I want to camp all weekend away from people and campgrounds, but still have power" scenarios, and even the, "I want to actually go to a bar, drink my face off, and not drive or cab home 9because the cab driver always takes the long way home)" scenarios.
Just because this blog is written about living in a van, doesn't mean that anyone stumbling across it can't simply do a similar setup just to have weekends away. The freedom is still there, you just plan a bit differently. I never have to pack, or think about buying food for the trip. I have it all there, but a weekend warrior will have to think of what to bring for the weather, and what to buy for food.
The van can also serve (for the more paranoid) as a "bug out" van. You know, the war is coming, and you "bug out" of town, away from people, and hopefully hostility along the way. There are a myriad of reasons to just have one of these babies parked out back. You may not use it daily, or even weekly, but it's there. It's your safety net.
So what are you waiting for fellow readers?
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Spring is in the air
The long and arduous winter is coming to a close. Snow is starting to melt, the birds are beginning to sing, and the temperature is staying above freezing for the most part. This winter has been particularily taxing. It was an extremely cold winter, and my batteries actually froze and bulged. Now I need to purchase new ones for the van, and begin my upgrading soon as well to insulate, and self-contain the old girl. On the list for this year:
- New isolator. It turns out the current one is no good, one battery drained, froze, and drained the other which then froze.
- New batteries
- Insulation
- Furnace Repair
- Tune up
- New Upholstery (I really don't care for the 70's look)
- Better curtains for blocking out the light
- Build a permanent drawer system to house both clothing and food
- Look ito increasing the size of the "closet" to hold more than 4 or 5 shirts
- Solar Panels
- Battery Bank
- Paint the interior so I stop looking at all that brown
- Insulate the underside of the floor (Thinking so sort of spray foam)
- Build a cage onto the back door to house propane and water
- Fix the cupboard that has detached itself from the ceiling in one corner
- I'd love to get a completely new roof. One that isn't made out of fiberglass that can break because it is so flimsy. That way I can get the solar panels up on it and not worry that they'll come crashing through the roof. Been trying to think of something that could be done. Being able to support the weight of a human would be great. Any ideas on what would be good material to use? I basically want to use the current roof as a mold, and build something stronger, yet professional looking.
- It would be nice to paint the van outside as well. Make it look a bit more modern. I apologise for the long delay in posting the next blog post, but I did warn you it would happen! The blog postings should start getting more frequent now that it's getting warmer.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Just a small update
Hey there readers, I'm still alive. I haven't posted in a bit as I currently don't live in the van. It's winter time now, and although I can get the furnace started, I can't keep the pilot lit right now, so I need to get it repaired.
It's currently -30C/-22F outside, and then there's a windchill to boot. Without a functional furnance, life in there will be no fun, and very dangerous. I am currently holed up renting a room, and the van is parked outside, blocked in by the snow plows, and a foot of snow on the roof. Great insulation I'm sure... and this renting a room when I have a perfectly good home outside is costly...
Once I get that silly furnance running, I'll certainly post to let you know how it's going!
Stay tuned!!
~Arathi
It's currently -30C/-22F outside, and then there's a windchill to boot. Without a functional furnance, life in there will be no fun, and very dangerous. I am currently holed up renting a room, and the van is parked outside, blocked in by the snow plows, and a foot of snow on the roof. Great insulation I'm sure... and this renting a room when I have a perfectly good home outside is costly...
Once I get that silly furnance running, I'll certainly post to let you know how it's going!
Stay tuned!!
~Arathi
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Ahhh Warmth!
So the other day, I finally got the furnace running, and I can happily say it kicks out a LOT of heat. The van warms up in about 5-10 minutes from really cold, to cooking hot. Comfort is important when living in a van, and it will be interesting to see what the winter brings.
Canadian winter's a renowned for how cold they are, but here in Calgary, Alberta, our winters are usually a bit milder thanks to our proximity to the Rocky mountains. Southern Alberta, and more specifically the Calgary area is the only place in the world that gets Chinooks. These Chinooks can bring a -30C/-22F day to +10C/50F in a matter of a couple hours, and then hold that temperature for a week or more.
The plan for the van's heating is to install a digital thermometer, and set it to keep the van at about 10C/50F while I am away at work, and jump to 21C/70F about 15 minutes before I'm scheduled to come home. This way I save money on propane, and don't freeze my water tank either. I know that I'll be spending far more money on propane over the winter than during the summer, and next year I'll make sure to save up "winter money".
I've read many blogs where other vandwellers head south for the winter, but as a vandweller with a stable career, I do not have that luxury. I have yet to read of anyone else attempting to winter in Canada.
This will be interesting.
Canadian winter's a renowned for how cold they are, but here in Calgary, Alberta, our winters are usually a bit milder thanks to our proximity to the Rocky mountains. Southern Alberta, and more specifically the Calgary area is the only place in the world that gets Chinooks. These Chinooks can bring a -30C/-22F day to +10C/50F in a matter of a couple hours, and then hold that temperature for a week or more.
The plan for the van's heating is to install a digital thermometer, and set it to keep the van at about 10C/50F while I am away at work, and jump to 21C/70F about 15 minutes before I'm scheduled to come home. This way I save money on propane, and don't freeze my water tank either. I know that I'll be spending far more money on propane over the winter than during the summer, and next year I'll make sure to save up "winter money".
I've read many blogs where other vandwellers head south for the winter, but as a vandweller with a stable career, I do not have that luxury. I have yet to read of anyone else attempting to winter in Canada.
This will be interesting.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The Grand Tour
Well, I finally got ahold of a camera. I have no idea what I did with mine, and presume it is in storage somewhere. I took some pictures of the inside of my home, and here you are, a little tour. :)
On a side note, I tried to start my furnace yesterday, and I think it needs to be serviced as it wouldn't start. I can only hope that it's not too expensive!
On to the Tour!
This is the inside of my home from the front seat
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0792.jpg
Still looking back:
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0774.jpg
My counter, with laptop
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0775.jpg
My bed. It pulls out into a double, and is quite comfy with two people on it
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0777.jpg
My closet which only hold six shirts well, and more if I cram. The drawers, I bought at Walmart. The top three are for clothes, and the bottom three are for food. The bucket behind with the mesh bag is my laundry basket.
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0776.jpg
The front of the van from the back. As you can see, I use the top bunk for storage.
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0778.jpg
I bought this magnetic rack from a home supply shop
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0780.jpg
Range and furnace. You can see the blue water tank peeking out as well.
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0779.jpg
Storage under the bed
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0783.jpg
Pots and pans cupboards
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0784.jpg
A sink, with hand pump. I have a cover here as well, and that's where my laptop sits.
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0786.jpg
A little modification I made so that I don't have to connect my phone and inverter into the front cigarette lighter. My phone is my alarm clock so having it up front is annoying
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0785.jpg
One of my trickle charger solar panels wired into the deep cycle battery
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0788.jpg
Hope you liked my home! I know it's not a conversion, and it certainly isn't stealth, but I have never had an issue, and I've slept all over the city.
On a side note, I tried to start my furnace yesterday, and I think it needs to be serviced as it wouldn't start. I can only hope that it's not too expensive!
On to the Tour!
This is the inside of my home from the front seat
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0792.jpg
Still looking back:
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0774.jpg
My counter, with laptop
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0775.jpg
My bed. It pulls out into a double, and is quite comfy with two people on it
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0777.jpg
My closet which only hold six shirts well, and more if I cram. The drawers, I bought at Walmart. The top three are for clothes, and the bottom three are for food. The bucket behind with the mesh bag is my laundry basket.
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0776.jpg
The front of the van from the back. As you can see, I use the top bunk for storage.
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0778.jpg
I bought this magnetic rack from a home supply shop
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0780.jpg
Range and furnace. You can see the blue water tank peeking out as well.
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0779.jpg
Storage under the bed
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0783.jpg
Pots and pans cupboards
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0784.jpg
A sink, with hand pump. I have a cover here as well, and that's where my laptop sits.
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0786.jpg
A little modification I made so that I don't have to connect my phone and inverter into the front cigarette lighter. My phone is my alarm clock so having it up front is annoying
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0785.jpg
One of my trickle charger solar panels wired into the deep cycle battery
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/Arathi_Garden/Vandweller/GEDC0788.jpg
Hope you liked my home! I know it's not a conversion, and it certainly isn't stealth, but I have never had an issue, and I've slept all over the city.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Insulating the van for the coming winter
This morning was the second very cool morning in a row. In fact, today was freezing. I had to turn on the range to get some warmth at about 530am. Today, I'll be turning the furnace on for tonight. It only got to about 6C over night but it was cold enough that I don't want to wake up to that again.
There are not many "vanliving in a Canadian Winter" sites out there. I'm assuming that's because most people are either snowbirds because they're retired, and can travel to warmer climates for six months every year, or they're just not crazy enough to try it. I don't even know if I'm crazy enough to try it, but what the heck.
So I've been doing some research, and one thing that comes to mind is that my van, being built in 1978 is going to have crummy insulation, made in 1978. The space between the metal and the wood panelling is not exactly large, and conpressing fiberglass isn't good, so I need an alternative. I found Reflectix. This is a type of insulation that is basically bubblewrap with aluminum foil. Here's the description in case you're reading this years down the road, and the link I provided no longer works:
---------------------
Reflectix Small Project Rolls address specific needs not possible with traditional insulations such as recreational vehicles, camping, household, plumbing and ductwork. Two outer layers of aluminum foil reflect 97% of radiant heat. Each layer of foil is bonded to a tough layer of polyethylene for strength. Two inner layers of insulating bubbles resist conductive heat flow, while a center layer of polyethylene give Reflectix high reliability and strength.
Reflects 97 percent of radiant energy.
Nontoxic/noncarcinogenic.
Does not require protective gear to install.
---------------------
Sounds perfect for summer and winter, help keep things cool in the summer by reflecting heat out, and warm by keeing heat in. We shall see how it works when I pick the Reflectix up and install it.
Does anyone have other material that they use?
There are not many "vanliving in a Canadian Winter" sites out there. I'm assuming that's because most people are either snowbirds because they're retired, and can travel to warmer climates for six months every year, or they're just not crazy enough to try it. I don't even know if I'm crazy enough to try it, but what the heck.
So I've been doing some research, and one thing that comes to mind is that my van, being built in 1978 is going to have crummy insulation, made in 1978. The space between the metal and the wood panelling is not exactly large, and conpressing fiberglass isn't good, so I need an alternative. I found Reflectix. This is a type of insulation that is basically bubblewrap with aluminum foil. Here's the description in case you're reading this years down the road, and the link I provided no longer works:
---------------------
Reflectix Small Project Rolls address specific needs not possible with traditional insulations such as recreational vehicles, camping, household, plumbing and ductwork. Two outer layers of aluminum foil reflect 97% of radiant heat. Each layer of foil is bonded to a tough layer of polyethylene for strength. Two inner layers of insulating bubbles resist conductive heat flow, while a center layer of polyethylene give Reflectix high reliability and strength.
Reflects 97 percent of radiant energy.
Nontoxic/noncarcinogenic.
Does not require protective gear to install.
---------------------
Sounds perfect for summer and winter, help keep things cool in the summer by reflecting heat out, and warm by keeing heat in. We shall see how it works when I pick the Reflectix up and install it.
Does anyone have other material that they use?
Monday, August 23, 2010
Cool Morning Signals The Coming Fall
I woke up this morning to a chill in the van that made me not want to get out of my comfy bed. The days are getting shorter, and it's no longer as bright out at 6am as it was a month ago. I suspect that I'll be getting the furnace running sooner than I had planned if I get a week of cool mornings, but the smoke cover from the fires in British Columbia have kept the days cool, and it's supposed to warm up over the next few.
I only have a 20 gallon propane tank which with only the fridge running off it takes about a month to empty, but the furnace will certainly comsume more, and be a waste during the time I'm not in the van. So, I've come up with a plan...
The van has a standard themostat on the wall, and I can replace it with an electronic one that I can set times for. Replacing it will allow me to set it to keep at 10C (or lower) when I'm not there, and start up the furnace on my way home so it's nice and warm when I get home, or when waking up.
To solve the water tank issue, I can also install a small aquarium heater into the tank and wire it into the inverter for the battery. I haven't set up the battery bank yet, but it's on the "To Do" list.
For now, I have a really warm blanket and a really high metabolism to keep me warm!
I only have a 20 gallon propane tank which with only the fridge running off it takes about a month to empty, but the furnace will certainly comsume more, and be a waste during the time I'm not in the van. So, I've come up with a plan...
The van has a standard themostat on the wall, and I can replace it with an electronic one that I can set times for. Replacing it will allow me to set it to keep at 10C (or lower) when I'm not there, and start up the furnace on my way home so it's nice and warm when I get home, or when waking up.
To solve the water tank issue, I can also install a small aquarium heater into the tank and wire it into the inverter for the battery. I haven't set up the battery bank yet, but it's on the "To Do" list.
For now, I have a really warm blanket and a really high metabolism to keep me warm!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Passing the Time
I work a full time job five days a week, and at the end of the day, I am often visiting friends. During my down time when I am sitting at home, and it's not quite bedtime yet, I like to pass the time.
I personally play games. I play on my laptop "regular" video games when I can't pick up WiFi, and I play a couple browser based games as well. Check them out. I play OGame, a space game where you run a planet, build defenses, and ships, and go to war with other players. I also play NationStates, a political game where I run my own country they way I want to. I'm classified as a "Father knows Best State", and I am a benevolent Dictator. You can find me in a region called Gatesville, I am Arathi Basin there, the Gatesville Enlistment Advocate and member of the Imperial Council on our forums. My job is simple, recruit new nations to Gatesville in order to become the most powerful player created region in the game, and defeat the World Assembly.
It's important to be able to entertain yourself when living in a van. I watch movies as well, but I don't have TV. Nor did I watch TV prior to moving into my van, but some people do. A suggestion for other van-dwellers, or anyone with a laptop for that matter. If you are looking for a way to watch TV, but don't have a TV, or internet connection to stream. There are adapters that you can buy at any Best Buy or Future Shop that allow you to grab TV from airwaves. Check this one out: Hauppauge Win TV HVR USB Stick
I watch a lot of movies as well, and it's great to sit back, watch a movie and have a beer. For someone like me, I have a lot of DVD's from when I was in a stick built. Obviously, holding onto a couple hundred DVD's in a small space is silly. What I do is rip to AVI, it's my backup copy which legally can be made. I use Xillisoft DVD Ripper which works awesome, and is worth every penny. I store the DVD's on an external hard drive that gets its power directly from the laptop via two USB connections. I still own the DVD's, and they are packed up in storage. Everytime I buy a new DVD, I rip it, and store my original copy. I don't share them, I believe in supporting the movie industry. If I buy a movie, and it sucks, I don't rip it, and I get rid of the DVD. I usually will trade it at a pawn shop or movie store for something else.
I borrow TV Boxsets as well, watching Dexter and True Blood currently. Love both those shows!
What do you do to pass the time?
I personally play games. I play on my laptop "regular" video games when I can't pick up WiFi, and I play a couple browser based games as well. Check them out. I play OGame, a space game where you run a planet, build defenses, and ships, and go to war with other players. I also play NationStates, a political game where I run my own country they way I want to. I'm classified as a "Father knows Best State", and I am a benevolent Dictator. You can find me in a region called Gatesville, I am Arathi Basin there, the Gatesville Enlistment Advocate and member of the Imperial Council on our forums. My job is simple, recruit new nations to Gatesville in order to become the most powerful player created region in the game, and defeat the World Assembly.
It's important to be able to entertain yourself when living in a van. I watch movies as well, but I don't have TV. Nor did I watch TV prior to moving into my van, but some people do. A suggestion for other van-dwellers, or anyone with a laptop for that matter. If you are looking for a way to watch TV, but don't have a TV, or internet connection to stream. There are adapters that you can buy at any Best Buy or Future Shop that allow you to grab TV from airwaves. Check this one out: Hauppauge Win TV HVR USB Stick
I watch a lot of movies as well, and it's great to sit back, watch a movie and have a beer. For someone like me, I have a lot of DVD's from when I was in a stick built. Obviously, holding onto a couple hundred DVD's in a small space is silly. What I do is rip to AVI, it's my backup copy which legally can be made. I use Xillisoft DVD Ripper which works awesome, and is worth every penny. I store the DVD's on an external hard drive that gets its power directly from the laptop via two USB connections. I still own the DVD's, and they are packed up in storage. Everytime I buy a new DVD, I rip it, and store my original copy. I don't share them, I believe in supporting the movie industry. If I buy a movie, and it sucks, I don't rip it, and I get rid of the DVD. I usually will trade it at a pawn shop or movie store for something else.
I borrow TV Boxsets as well, watching Dexter and True Blood currently. Love both those shows!
What do you do to pass the time?
Monday, August 16, 2010
The cool mornings
As summer begins to fade away, the sun starts coming up later, going down sooner, and that brings with it cooler weather here in Canada. Last night, I could actually see my breath a little. It made snuggling up all the better though. It wasn't a huge amount of breath, just enough that at first you think you're seeing things, and have to concentrate on the breath.
I like my bed. It is a very comfortable bed for even two people which in the last couple weeks has been shared with a wonderful girl who somehow actually likes the fact that I have this van. Many people, although they think it's neat, would not want to sleep over I'm sure.
But I digress...
I have to start looking into the heating options I have for the coming winter. I don't know if I will choose to be in the van over the winter or rent a room, some days I want both. Paying the bills is easy, and although not being paid as fast as I had originally predicted, they are getting paid. I'm no longer overdrawn on the credit cards, and I'll be hammering the debt down. Another reason I'm thinking about the winter. Renting a room will cost more than living in the van, and I want to get everything paid off.
Winters have been getting milder and milder every year, and it may help keep me in the van well into December when the snow finally stays. January and February have always been the harsh months here, and thankfully, we get Chinooks. Warm winds for those who do not know, warm winds that can raise the temperature outside by a significant amount for a week.
I've been looking into a few different options, and one is to hurry my butt up and get the solar panels, and electrical system complete so I can plug in. I may be looking at redoing the insulation as well as there are a few places where I don't think it's too well done. This thing is old after-all!
Well, that's the little quip for today. Just my thoughts
~Arathi
I like my bed. It is a very comfortable bed for even two people which in the last couple weeks has been shared with a wonderful girl who somehow actually likes the fact that I have this van. Many people, although they think it's neat, would not want to sleep over I'm sure.
But I digress...
I have to start looking into the heating options I have for the coming winter. I don't know if I will choose to be in the van over the winter or rent a room, some days I want both. Paying the bills is easy, and although not being paid as fast as I had originally predicted, they are getting paid. I'm no longer overdrawn on the credit cards, and I'll be hammering the debt down. Another reason I'm thinking about the winter. Renting a room will cost more than living in the van, and I want to get everything paid off.
Winters have been getting milder and milder every year, and it may help keep me in the van well into December when the snow finally stays. January and February have always been the harsh months here, and thankfully, we get Chinooks. Warm winds for those who do not know, warm winds that can raise the temperature outside by a significant amount for a week.
I've been looking into a few different options, and one is to hurry my butt up and get the solar panels, and electrical system complete so I can plug in. I may be looking at redoing the insulation as well as there are a few places where I don't think it's too well done. This thing is old after-all!
Well, that's the little quip for today. Just my thoughts
~Arathi
Friday, August 13, 2010
Vandwelling - Not just for the down and trodden
Hey there, my name is Arathi. I live in a campervan by choice, not because the economy put me there, although several factors this year have brought me to where I am now.
First, I really enjoy living in my van. I don't have some crummy van that I converted into a living area. I have an actual campervan. A 1978 Chevy Vandura to be exact. I have a sink, stove, furnace, and fridge built in from the manufacturer. I have a futon bed, water tank with a hand pump, and plent of storage. I can stand up in my van, and walk around. Which is great as I have the habit of pacing while on the phone.
I decided to start this blog for a couple reasons. My biggest reason was that nearly all the stories I find out there are about people who live in a van because they had no other choice. The proble with society is that we are all brainwashed into thinking that we have no worth unless we have a stick-built home. Now, in today's economy, buying a house is almost impossible unless you are married, and bringing in a combined income of $100,000 or more. I'm single, and bring in half that.
My van cost me $500, everything works. To insure it, I needed to replace the muffler, and the brakes. A month later I changed out the alternator as the original was putting out 11 volts rather than the 13 it should, so it wasn't charging my batteries. Otherwise, everything has been fantastic.
What I love the most about my little home on wheels is that I can go anywhere and visit anyone. On a whim, I decided to head out to a lake I had never been to before, and didn't even have to pack. In fact, the choice was made while sitting at a red light. I never have to pack to go camping, I can stay out late and not have to think about the 30 minute drive home. I can go to a bar, and drink till I can't see, and go to sleep, not that I do that, but it's an option.
Now, for my reasons...
In February 2010, the love of my life suddenly, and unexpectedly left me. To this day I don't know why, and we, I believed, were happy only two days prior, considering we were talking about starting a family. I gave up on everything in my life, and nearly lost my job as well. It's been 7 months since that fateful day, and I have been in my van for the past 2 months. I live a simple life without too much waste as I cannot afford to take up space in my van with "stuff".
I have a laptop that I use for all my entertainment purposes. It cost me $400 at Wal-Mart, and was a fantastic find. I bought and installed a new stereo for the van that has an auxillary port on it, and a USB port. The USB charges my iPhone, and the auxillary port connects my laptop sound to the van stereo system to provide me with surround sound while watching movies, playing video games, or listening to music!
I don't use the laptop for music anymore than to sync my iPhone. It's a 16GB 3G iPhone, and holds all of my music. It connects to my stereo via the USB plug and plays my music that way. Less draw on power.
I currently have two trickle charge solar panels connected to my deep-cycle battery. I have two batteries, one for starting, and one for the van. I plan on adding at least 4 more batteries, and some large solar panels. This will give me more freedom to run electric items longer. Basically, my laptop is the only real draw of power I have, and on hot days a small fan. Propane runs the fridge, and I don't cook often as I make enough food for the week, and package it and store it in the fridge.
When cooking, you really need to make sure that you don't cook more than you need for a few days to a week max, otherwise you are wasting, and that's stupid.
One thing I thought when I moved into my van was that everything I read others having concerns about were going to be a problem for me. So many talked about "steath", and honestly... I have a huge van that is quite obviously a camper. I have been living in it for a couple months, and have parked just about everywhere. I have never been bothered by anyone. When it gets dark, it's late, and I'm going to bed as I have a job. I've parked on the street, in parking lots, alleys... I can see attracting attention if you never move, or are obvious about being in the van, otherwise, people don't care.
I move my van daily, as I need to drive to the train station, and park to go to work. Afterwork, I sit back, watch a movie and wait for rush hour to go away, then I move on. I visit friends, and utilize their showers and laundry. I live in a van, and I am always clean. On hot days where I'm sweating, and can't have my door open, I wipe down occasionally with a damp hand towel, then have a shower later.
I have storage under the bed, and above the cabin, as well as a small closet to hang my work wear. I bought a couple plastic dressers from Wal-Mart and use the top one for clothes, and the bottom one for dry or canned food goods. I use a small hand broom to sweep the carpeted floor, and I have a small basket that I use for dirty clothes with a mesh bag inside to carry the clothes in.
Above my stove, I bought a magnetic strip to put my silverware on rather than use the drawer, so I could store other stuff in it.
The only thing that my van doesn't have it a bathroom. That's a little crummy, but I can buy a porta-potty if I choose. I don't because I do my business at work, and if I need to pee, I can use a jug, I'm a guy after all.
Another reason for moving into the van is to save money. I have a debt load thanks to my ex, and I want it GONE. This helps. I live off about $1000 a month personal, and the rest goes into bills. It helps pay down the debt quickly, but you need to make sacrafices as well. I quit smoking, as it was costing me $300 a month that I could be putting towards other things. This is a good idea for anyone, not just a vandweller. Smoking is bad, no matter how good it seems.
I surf the net when I find open WiFi, which there is getting to be less and less of these days, and the ones that are open like to restrict you from doing so much. I play Ogame, and some WiFi block it for gaming. It's a website, not streaming. I click a button, and wait. One day I might get a Rogers Rocket stick. It's a USB connection to the internet anywhere, anytime. It would be useful, but I get most my surfing in during the day, and I don't surf much. I work in IT, and would rather be visiting my friends in my off time. If I do need to get online, I have my iPhone, it keeps me connected to Facebook, and email. The two main things I would use the computer for anyways which really cuts down the pc usage.
One thing I was concerned about was peoples perception of me when I chose this lifestyle, but I made sure from the get go to note that I am doing it primarily to save money, and I actually wanted to do it. Everyone seems to understand, and some think it's really cool. I still get the "down by the river" gag but I laugh, because that would be great. I met someone through a friend, and she actually prefers to crash with me in the van than in the friends house. Her and I are just friends, and no sex is involved, so I know it has nothing to do with that. She digs it apparently, and says it's really comfortable.
Anyways, more to come later.
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