The cost of not paying rent might actually be quite high. Today, I had to do RV chores: draining tanks, refilling water, cleaning house, and I even repaired a drawer. In addition to all of the little things that are different and more time consuming than living in a foundation house, these things consumed a good portion of my day.
The first step was to unplug the RV from my friends' house. No problem, just unplug the extension cord and coil it up. Then, I had to prep the interior for travel. When you're driving a house down the road, you can't just leave your laptop out on the kitchen table. One turn and it would be on the floor.
After some cleanup, I drove to my sewer drain and watering hole location. Only 3 miles across town - no problem, but I probably burned a gallon of gas off in doing so.
Upon arrival, I have to open multiple compartments -- getting supplies, access to the water closet, etc. I also have to jack up the front of the RV, so the tanks drain properly. Don't want any cat turds rolling into the front of the tank and preventing a full drain.
Gloves, hoses, sewer hose, tank sprayer: Check. Now to put it all together in a way that won't make a mess. Connect the sewer line, level it out, connect the "black water hose" to the tank sprayer and the spigot and run it into the RV to the toilet. Ready to clean the tanks.
Drain the tanks, black water then gray; Crank up the H2O. Whoops, the hose is kinked under the RV. Fix the kink, start again on cleaning the tanks.
Once drained and rinsed, run out the rest of the water along the entire length of the sewer hose. Disconnect it from the RV drain and make sure not to get any poo water on you. Shrink up the hose, so it will fit in the compartment, drain any remaining water on the ground. Yeah, the ground.
Remove the black water hose, coil it up, disconnect it from the spigot.
Connect the fresh water hose to the spigot, fill up the drinking water jug (5 gallon, portable), then fill up the RV water tank for toilet flushing and dish washing.
Clean up everything, put it all away, close and lock all compartments.
Is this all worth it? Well, that's a sticky question. I now have more time than money, so right now: Yes. It is time consuming, though. The thing is, I'm not paying rent, but I'm working harder for my day-to-day existence. Regrettably, I'm not sure if I the utility that I am getting out of the money saved is nearing the value I would get from the convenience of being in a stable location. Sure, I don't have a landlord, but if I stay where I am for much longer, I'm pretty sure the town Police are going to start acting like my landlord. Time will tell, but this part of the plan certainly comes with some time consuming additional activities and some additional worries. Still, I'm having fun, which counts for a lot.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Rent Dodging Progress
I have now been rent free for two weeks. Sounds great and it is. However, there's work involved and there are drawbacks. Luckily, the RV is a fully self-contained house, so I have all that a house has on a smaller scale, but that means everything -- water, electricity, and a stable interior temperature. I currently enjoy the uncertainties and the ability to drive away as soon as I'm ready.
The work involved is primarily centered around keeping the system working optimally. It comes in the form of tiny actions here and there that determine how frequently the beast has to be moved. Hand washing, dishes, toilet flushing, and any other water activity have to be done efficiently and with as little water as possible to prevent one or the other waste tank from filling quickly. Full tanks are a trigger for having to dump them, which means moving the RV.
Not having a beefy 30 Amp electrical connection, I also have to pay attention to how many devices I use at once and how much electricity they use. Now that I'm on a 12 Amp extension cord, I can't exceed 12 Amps while plugged in to my friends' house. Not only would it be rude to blow their breaker, but I don't want to overtax the cord, melt it, or cause a fire.
Since it is now warmer, I am also not running the furnace. Since I am no longer hooked up to a 120 gallon propane tank, I am at the mercy of the built in 15 gallon tank. 15 gallons is more than enough for the entire summer of cooking and baking, but it will go somewhat quickly as the refrigerator will be on propane as soon as I no longer have a wired electrical line at houses of friends.
Luckily I'm in a college town, so everyone is really accepting of this -- having friends who are not only willing, but who think it is awesome to have me park at their houses is a major benefit to my situation. I'm sure some of the neighbors aren't crazy about it, but it is only temporary.
The work involved in rent dodging might not be totally worth the modest rent that I am trying to dodge due to the work involved, but so far, it is allowing me a freedom that I find unmatched. The little things I'm learning along the way and the potential to head out to state land for months at a time is quite liberating. How the rest of the summer goes will be the real test of the feasibility of this strange little lifestyle.
The work involved is primarily centered around keeping the system working optimally. It comes in the form of tiny actions here and there that determine how frequently the beast has to be moved. Hand washing, dishes, toilet flushing, and any other water activity have to be done efficiently and with as little water as possible to prevent one or the other waste tank from filling quickly. Full tanks are a trigger for having to dump them, which means moving the RV.
Not having a beefy 30 Amp electrical connection, I also have to pay attention to how many devices I use at once and how much electricity they use. Now that I'm on a 12 Amp extension cord, I can't exceed 12 Amps while plugged in to my friends' house. Not only would it be rude to blow their breaker, but I don't want to overtax the cord, melt it, or cause a fire.
Since it is now warmer, I am also not running the furnace. Since I am no longer hooked up to a 120 gallon propane tank, I am at the mercy of the built in 15 gallon tank. 15 gallons is more than enough for the entire summer of cooking and baking, but it will go somewhat quickly as the refrigerator will be on propane as soon as I no longer have a wired electrical line at houses of friends.
Luckily I'm in a college town, so everyone is really accepting of this -- having friends who are not only willing, but who think it is awesome to have me park at their houses is a major benefit to my situation. I'm sure some of the neighbors aren't crazy about it, but it is only temporary.
The work involved in rent dodging might not be totally worth the modest rent that I am trying to dodge due to the work involved, but so far, it is allowing me a freedom that I find unmatched. The little things I'm learning along the way and the potential to head out to state land for months at a time is quite liberating. How the rest of the summer goes will be the real test of the feasibility of this strange little lifestyle.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
It's a movement
I was recently alerted to two pretty high-profile "van-dwellers" in the news and in pop culture. The first is a guy doing exactly what I am doing, but in a slightly more extreme way. He was a graduate student who chose to live in a Ford Econoline during his Master's degree at Duke University to avoid debt. The second is the writer of the book that led to the movie, "Warm Bodies." It was a pretty high profile movie, and even after the cash influx, the author still chooses to live in his remodeled RV.
The first article was published in the New York Times -- not exactly a no-name-blog on the interwebs. That's a pretty high profile source and article for a simple grad student who chose to live in a van for a couple years. The likely reason for the publication is the book that the van-dweller wrote about living in his van to avoid debt.
Interestingly, it appears that this may be the pinnacle of a phenomenon. Relating these fellows to myself, we have a whole spectrum of van-dwelling, debt and rent dodgers. At the extreme end, the grad student living in the Ford Econoline did his experiment without utilities and in a vehicle that he couldn't even stand up in. In the middle, the author of the Warm Bodies book, in a small, older RV that has been remodeled. At the luxury end, there's me: The guy living in a small Class-A Winnebago in a high-plains town, year around.
What is this cultural moment that is bringing these individuals to light? Why is it now New York Times-grade news to live in a van year around to avoid debt? It appears that we have a social, economic, and political mix that is leading young people to deny and combat debt in unique and extreme ways. It was only the early 1990's when Chris Farley was warning against the dangers of "living in a van, down by the river," yet here we are, 20 years later, and it is written in mainstream news in such a way that highlights it as the pinnacle of responsibility.
It is articles, such as these, that make me wonder if I should be focusing my studies on this phenomenon, rather than the plain ole' changing West:
New York Times: Ken Ilgunas Lives in a Van While a Graduate Student at Duke University
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/
The Daily: Isaac Marion channels his religious past into ‘Warm Bodies,’ a novel about zombies — and love
http://www.thedaily.com/page/2011/08/14/081411-arts-isaac-marion-1-4/
Too bad Ken Ilgunas beat me to the book, too...
The first article was published in the New York Times -- not exactly a no-name-blog on the interwebs. That's a pretty high profile source and article for a simple grad student who chose to live in a van for a couple years. The likely reason for the publication is the book that the van-dweller wrote about living in his van to avoid debt.
Interestingly, it appears that this may be the pinnacle of a phenomenon. Relating these fellows to myself, we have a whole spectrum of van-dwelling, debt and rent dodgers. At the extreme end, the grad student living in the Ford Econoline did his experiment without utilities and in a vehicle that he couldn't even stand up in. In the middle, the author of the Warm Bodies book, in a small, older RV that has been remodeled. At the luxury end, there's me: The guy living in a small Class-A Winnebago in a high-plains town, year around.
What is this cultural moment that is bringing these individuals to light? Why is it now New York Times-grade news to live in a van year around to avoid debt? It appears that we have a social, economic, and political mix that is leading young people to deny and combat debt in unique and extreme ways. It was only the early 1990's when Chris Farley was warning against the dangers of "living in a van, down by the river," yet here we are, 20 years later, and it is written in mainstream news in such a way that highlights it as the pinnacle of responsibility.
It is articles, such as these, that make me wonder if I should be focusing my studies on this phenomenon, rather than the plain ole' changing West:
New York Times: Ken Ilgunas Lives in a Van While a Graduate Student at Duke University
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/
The Daily: Isaac Marion channels his religious past into ‘Warm Bodies,’ a novel about zombies — and love
http://www.thedaily.com/page/2011/08/14/081411-arts-isaac-marion-1-4/
Too bad Ken Ilgunas beat me to the book, too...
Monday, May 6, 2013
The day I drove my house to school
Not too many people can say, "I drove my house to school." I can. Because I just did it. To get the 'bago away from the rough around the storage unit, I drove it to the big, empty, free parking lot used for sporting events. I did it because I needed a place to park.
While this won't be my location for long, it will make for a good day parking spot. Luckily my fridge runs on electricity OR propane, so my fridge works away while I'm not plugged in. It seems like a decent system for now.
This whole scene is made all the nuttier by the fact that my cats like to sit in the windshield. Let's pile this up into one sentence: I drove my house to school today because I'm no longer paying rent, so I parked in the athletic events lot with my toilet-trained cats sitting on the dash.
Even though I'm questioning my own sanity, there is value in what I'm doing. I'm trying to find a way of living that doesn't require chains. Sure, I'm chained to vehicle registrations, auto parts, and gas, but I am doing some 'life science' to see what is more costly and more beneficial. So far, I'm finding the logistics intensive, but I'm also trying something that very few have. I'm also trying to do it all well, so I don't just look like a run of the mill nutcase. There is merit in trying to pave a new path if it opens new doors.
The insanity continues...
While this won't be my location for long, it will make for a good day parking spot. Luckily my fridge runs on electricity OR propane, so my fridge works away while I'm not plugged in. It seems like a decent system for now.
This whole scene is made all the nuttier by the fact that my cats like to sit in the windshield. Let's pile this up into one sentence: I drove my house to school today because I'm no longer paying rent, so I parked in the athletic events lot with my toilet-trained cats sitting on the dash.
Even though I'm questioning my own sanity, there is value in what I'm doing. I'm trying to find a way of living that doesn't require chains. Sure, I'm chained to vehicle registrations, auto parts, and gas, but I am doing some 'life science' to see what is more costly and more beneficial. So far, I'm finding the logistics intensive, but I'm also trying something that very few have. I'm also trying to do it all well, so I don't just look like a run of the mill nutcase. There is merit in trying to pave a new path if it opens new doors.
The insanity continues...
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Panic sets in.
I am out of my RV space as of tomorrow. I have the RV all packed up, some gas in the tank, and have it free from its shackles. But it's not that easy. What's next is terrifying and logistically intensive. For the first time, I think I may have pushed the limits a little too far.
I suppose part of my worry about this situation stems from the fact that I am also in finals right now. I am also maxed out on energy and number of minutes in a day.
I have places I can take the RV to park it -- friends houses or even public land, but there's still snow on the ground here. Nights are still getting down in the low 30's. Without electricity, other than what my generator can provide (using gasoline), I'm basically in a really large, heavy tent.
While I think I would be fine with this in the Summer, I still have obligations at school, so the uncertainty this introduces into my daily routines is really difficult to work with.
I have no problem living minimally for a while, but this is becoming a major lesson in truly appreciating the infrastructure that makes our lives easier and better. Also, the idea of having a true 'home base.' I set out on this experiment wondering how this would all work out and how important the home base really is, but right now I'm really feeling it.
Since I'm a little overwhelmed right now, part of me wants to sell the 'bago and just become a normal person, paying rent and living in a house. My time in the RV has actually been great -- little different than living in a tiny house. But unhook all the utilities, including water, sewer, and electricity, and suddenly, the wold looks much different.
Hopefully my misgivings pass once finals are over. This is just the wrong time to be continuing to invent a wheel that first-world humans abandoned quite some time ago -- perhaps the foundation house with a landlord really is the way to go? I guess time will tell. I intend to stick it out for at least another year.
I suppose part of my worry about this situation stems from the fact that I am also in finals right now. I am also maxed out on energy and number of minutes in a day.
I have places I can take the RV to park it -- friends houses or even public land, but there's still snow on the ground here. Nights are still getting down in the low 30's. Without electricity, other than what my generator can provide (using gasoline), I'm basically in a really large, heavy tent.
While I think I would be fine with this in the Summer, I still have obligations at school, so the uncertainty this introduces into my daily routines is really difficult to work with.
I have no problem living minimally for a while, but this is becoming a major lesson in truly appreciating the infrastructure that makes our lives easier and better. Also, the idea of having a true 'home base.' I set out on this experiment wondering how this would all work out and how important the home base really is, but right now I'm really feeling it.
Since I'm a little overwhelmed right now, part of me wants to sell the 'bago and just become a normal person, paying rent and living in a house. My time in the RV has actually been great -- little different than living in a tiny house. But unhook all the utilities, including water, sewer, and electricity, and suddenly, the wold looks much different.
Hopefully my misgivings pass once finals are over. This is just the wrong time to be continuing to invent a wheel that first-world humans abandoned quite some time ago -- perhaps the foundation house with a landlord really is the way to go? I guess time will tell. I intend to stick it out for at least another year.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Leaving Spacedock
After almost nine months parked in the great, white, frozen north, I am pulling my utilities to roam. While I won't be touring national parks or living the grand life on the road, I won't be paying rent.
The plan is more of an experiment to see what it will entail to spend the summer free of a landlord. The benefit will likely be modest amounts of money saved and different views every 14-21 days or so, but it will certainly come with some pitfalls. First, I won't have a a constant source of electricity. That's a big problem. Second, I water will come from a tank, not a spigot. Last, I'll be paying for gas from location to location.
What's worse, living slightly closer to native or chained to a landlord? I don't know? I can guess, but the goal here is to find out. We'll see how long it lasts.
I'm hoping that my biggest problems this summer will be, "Where'd I park my house, again?" I'll be updating my findings as regularly as possible.
The plan is more of an experiment to see what it will entail to spend the summer free of a landlord. The benefit will likely be modest amounts of money saved and different views every 14-21 days or so, but it will certainly come with some pitfalls. First, I won't have a a constant source of electricity. That's a big problem. Second, I water will come from a tank, not a spigot. Last, I'll be paying for gas from location to location.
What's worse, living slightly closer to native or chained to a landlord? I don't know? I can guess, but the goal here is to find out. We'll see how long it lasts.
I'm hoping that my biggest problems this summer will be, "Where'd I park my house, again?" I'll be updating my findings as regularly as possible.
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