Coming Out

Last year when I lived in my van I could not tell anybody.  It is a lifestyle that is not acceptable in suburban Ohio, and definitely not with my family.

When I first got the idea to move into a van in February 2012 I shared the idea with my parents.  They were NOT into it.  They thought it was the most ridiculous idea they had ever heard of and couldn't understand why I would even consider it.  When I DID move into my van in September of 2012, I didn't tell them.  I just said I was staying with a friend.

Suddenly it is about one year later.  I tell them about the job in Wyoming.  They think it is great.  I tell them about sharing the RV site, they think it is great.  I tell them that maybe instead of invading my friend's RV, I could just throw a bed in the back of my van.  They think it is great.  Strange how doing the same thing in a different setting is suddenly acceptable.

I guess I can kind of see it from my mom's perspective... 

Not me.

Living in the van in Ohio.  Even though I parked in my former apartment parking lot, right outside my former bedroom window, every single night, I'm sure my mom pictured me sleeping in dark alleys and digging in trash cans for food.

Also not me.

Living in my van in Wyoming.  My mom now imagines the hundreds of camping trips we've went on as a family.  Growing up, camping was our annual summer vacation, and how we spent most fall weekends.  I suppose, to her, camping is familiar and safe. (The grizzly bears don't seem to phase her)

The good news is, now that they're accepting of my living choice, my dad can now help me remodel.  I'm really excited to build a bed in the back, instead of just having a mattress laying on the floor.  Getting it off the floor will give me a lot more extra storage space underneath.  I also hope to build a simple sink.  Basically just a circle drilled in a board and a bowl placed in it.  A hole drilled in the bottom of the bowl and drained to a large water jug.  This will be a big help with washing my hands, putting in my contacts,  brushing my teeth, etc.

I'm really looking forward to my week spent at my parents house, because I'm really excited to remodel my van!