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living in a caravan to mitigate sensitivities, stop being around people?

raspberrypie

curious - there's this movement where 'nomads' in the us live in their vehicles, some of them all year, and follow the sun. they congregate in the southwest in the winter, like birds, for the temperature climate.  they're in cars, vans, motorhomes, fifth wheels, sometimes motorcycles, trailers, etc... i'm trying to get started in this, and altho it is a scarey and paralyzing prospect for this aspie, people who do it often do it for solitude, seclusion, safety, health, mental health.... but getting started is pretty scarey. i look at it as living in a tin can on wheels.  and you can be one the move, constant change... not things this aspie is especially looking forward to....

do people in the uk do this? esp people with sensitivities and other issues? 

happy december....... 

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  • in reply to Roswell

    I have 2 friends trying to do this at the moment - one has built a 'metal tent' from an executive Toyota Hiace - it's quite small and low so he can get into car parks with height barriers but that makes it little more than a bed on wheels.   He fitted a diesel heater and he can cook with the door open.   He uses it to get away for the weekend - he and his wife say it's camping without the wind flattening your tent.   (he's undiagnosed aspie)

    The second is building a converted horse-box on a Renault chassis - it will have a rudimentary shower and toilet but it's a massive amount of work to get it built - I don't know if he'll ever finish it - I hope he does for his own satisfaction and wellbeing.   (He's a very diagnosed aspie but has motivational problems so progress has long stops when he can't function.)

  • in reply to raspberrypie

    That's a good plan with the elevation! What's your living situation like right now? What's the issue specifically you're having?

  • in reply to Roswell

    in the summer, you need to go up in elevation... so big mountains. think rockies or sierras, or actually various other ones.... for every 1000 feet in elevation, temp goes down 5 deg F... so at 7000 feet, you go down 35 deg F..... 7000 feet elev is reasonably common..... i would never go to humid areas.................unpleasant. many find being up in the mountains really nice and gorgeous.

  • in reply to Roswell

    UK is very cold and wet - much more the further North you go - we don't have many 'nice' days to be comfortable in a van.

    US has a bit of everything - but really only 2 seasons - Summer and Winter - the Northern states are Mosquitoes or 6 feet of snow   Smiley

    Southern States tend to be hot and humid or hotter and more humid  Smiley

    That's why total insulation is the most important detail.

  • in reply to Plastic

    That's a clever idea making the van look like it's used by drain-clearance workers. Thieves usually target attractive vehicles.

  • in reply to raspberrypie

    The climate is pretty consistent throughout the UK. We're like the equivalent of one American state, whereas you guys have lots of different climates. I still have seen Americans claim that it's hot anywhere there in a van in the summer, though. Not sure what to believe on that.

  • in reply to Roswell

    Yes - you're right - I was under the  impression that they were UK based.

    It is much easier in the US - I think Walmart pledged to allow van-lifers to spend a night in their car parks if they need to.

    Some of the bigger issues are getting fresh water and safely dumping of waste water and toilet waste.

    A big solar panel setup on the van roof obviously identifies someone living in a van so a conformal panel is less efficient but less obtrusive.

    Having the ability to have outside space makes the van more versatile.

    Some people put fake livery on their van to put off potential thieves - things like a couple of filthy hi-vis on the front seat backs and maybe labelling the van as drain-clearance specialists or as a charity church vehicle.  Smiley

    The big problem is noise / light emanating from the vehicle in the dark of night - it's good to just be invisible to everyone.  Smiley

  • in reply to Roswell

    in the usa, one guy put it best: i follow 70 degrees farenheit! you go up in altitude to escape heat, go down in altitude and south west to chase warm in winter. just think gorgeous scenery. that's the idea.............. but also some insulation, solar, etc... but basically, you chase the temperature you like. a lot of folk do that. not sure that would work in uk....

  • in reply to Plastic

    It turns out raspberrypie is actually in the US so he probably won't have that much problem finding somewhere to park. I've read an issue than can occur in the US is it's very hot in the summer in a van. That means you're basically forced to spend your day outside in summer time. Even some nights will be very hot so air conditioning or a fan is quite important. 

  • in reply to Roswell

    same thing here. many use gyms for showers, etc - even parking over night. as an aspie, i currently don't have any interest in being around noisy gyms....

  • in reply to Roswell

    Supermarkets have time limits on their car parks - it's not easy finding a secure parking place for a van - the smaller the vehicle, the easier it is - but obviously more cramped inside.