I need to figure out a budget. I should be saving practically every cent, but I don't seem to be. Food and gas are my main expenses. Plus $300 a month for loans. I'm trying to keep food down to between $7 and $10 averaged a day. I know this is a lot, but until I get settled in and feel more comfortable cooking in here, it is hard to do any better. If I figure out refrigeration some day, that would help a lot too. I'm currently shopping daily, which doesn't mess with my gas at all because there are 3 grocery stores across the street from my parking place.
As for driving, I've been trying to limit myself to 10 miles a day. Work is 2.6 round trip, and the gym is 2.6 round trip. If I visited them both together, that would cut out 2.6 (they're next door to each other). The gym is open until 11pm though, and I don't like to waste my after work daylight hours there. I drive a lot more on weekends.
I get restless, and find it hard just being in my van in the same spot everyday. Most vandwellers move around the country at their leisure. That is what I look forward to doing. It is lots of gas between towns, but it would be a lot easier to entertain yourself in a new town for a while. Plus, it would be worth the gas costs if you're traveling the country. For now though, I have a nice full-time job, a place to sleep, and a place to shower, I'm going to stick with it.
I applied to a job in Aspen, CO starting in November. I had an interview with them, but have not heard back. This location won't be very good for vandwelling, but if this is what gets me out of Ohio and starting to travel, I'm okay with that. Once I'm out of Ohio for a while, it'll be easier to stay out. If I get the Aspen job, I'll return to my van and a warmer location in the spring.
9/20/11
9/6/11
Going Great
Vandwelling has been going pretty good. I've spent three nights in the van now. Labor Day weekend I drove to visit my parents and spent 3 nights at their house.
First two nights (last Wednesday and Thursday) my van was a mess. I just threw all the left overs out of my apartment into it. Over the weekend I was able to organize, and now it is a lot cleaner. I also got rid of three seats, so only one back seat remains.
I'm pretty sure my parents have no idea. I can't believe they wouldn't though, after telling them all about it, and them freaking out about it back in February.
All I did for stealth is velcro a green fleece throw in front of the back window, and using safety pins, pinned two other throws along the drivers side windows, using safety pins on the seat belts. I have two large buckets on top of each other behind the back passenger side seat, and it blocks the view of me through the windows on that side. All my back windows are tinted pretty well already, unless light is coming through the other side, you have to put your nose up to the window to see. So it is mostly all for my comfort. It actually might attract attention, because if the blankets are touching the window and have a pattern in them, you can see it easily from the outside.
I bought some type of black fabric that doesn't seem to let light through. I need to find the time and location to cut that to size and velcro it. I can't decide exactly how I want it though. I want to make sure it does not let any light through, because I want to be able to turn on my book light or laptop while inside the van at night.
First two nights (last Wednesday and Thursday) my van was a mess. I just threw all the left overs out of my apartment into it. Over the weekend I was able to organize, and now it is a lot cleaner. I also got rid of three seats, so only one back seat remains.
I'm pretty sure my parents have no idea. I can't believe they wouldn't though, after telling them all about it, and them freaking out about it back in February.
All I did for stealth is velcro a green fleece throw in front of the back window, and using safety pins, pinned two other throws along the drivers side windows, using safety pins on the seat belts. I have two large buckets on top of each other behind the back passenger side seat, and it blocks the view of me through the windows on that side. All my back windows are tinted pretty well already, unless light is coming through the other side, you have to put your nose up to the window to see. So it is mostly all for my comfort. It actually might attract attention, because if the blankets are touching the window and have a pattern in them, you can see it easily from the outside.
I bought some type of black fabric that doesn't seem to let light through. I need to find the time and location to cut that to size and velcro it. I can't decide exactly how I want it though. I want to make sure it does not let any light through, because I want to be able to turn on my book light or laptop while inside the van at night.
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