jagnweiner said:Jake-
A forum member who goes by "Boundiful" was doing what you describe in the San Diego area last year. I haven't heard much from him lately, but if you search his posts, you can get some idea of what he went through. It doesn't seem real appealing, but I understand your reasoning.
WOW! I read all his posts. A good percentage of them detail a lot about his attitude toward the situation. I have to say, the fact that he made it, what, 6 months (as far as his posts start/end) in a bounder is awesome... on top of being unemployed. I think he had different motivations from me. He was a 54 year old guy who could not pay for his housing, didn't want to live in rv, but had no where else to go. I can stay where I'm at pretty much as long as I'd like (paying 200 a month in rent, not bad), but I WANT to move in to an RV. That would be ideal. Over an appartment. Reason:
I am paying rent in my cousin's house, and am used to living with family. I've lived on my own in the past, and lasted a year alone before I realized I might lose my job (poor work ethic back then, dealing with major depression), and could end up homeless. I quit before I was fired and moved back with my mom. That lasted about a year and a half before things went sour at home, and I decided I was going to try living in my honda civic hatchback so that I could have a roof over my head while I worked my minimum wage job in Oakland, CA.
I have to say, the week that I lived on my own in my car was liberating. I felt free. I could wake up anywhere, and sleep anywhere (i did talk to police about info on homeless shelters for showers, and maybe a bed here and there, and where I could sleep peacefully in my car out of the way of people who it would bother). I didn't FEEL homeless, even though I was. I felt... unhinged. I was outside more (because sitting in your car for your day off is no fun), got more sunshine, and got to smell the fresh air, and window shop, and just enjoy myself. I had never really experienced anything like it, even when I lived in my own apartment. And the best part was that I wasn't relying on anyone else to take care of me.
A week later my cousin here in SoCal called me up and told me she didn't want me living in my car and wanted me to come live with her. I was wary to accept because I had a job in Oakland already, and I was scared I'd end up in the same situation I was in with my mother (fighting, clean this, clean that [i'm not too messy, but you know how it is, when you live with your parents you appreciate nothing]). I was also scared I'd feel like I'd let her take care of me and forgo taking care of myself like I usually do with people who help me out.
Well, having lived here for awhile, I do take care of myself, but I completely lost the feeling of freedom the first day I moved in, and have not regained it since. I'm not motivated to go out and live my own life. I don't make friends, I don't take care of myself, and the most I have really done for myself in the past 8 months living with her is get a job and think about how I'm going to get on my own feet again. I guess that was the point, though, when she invited me down here.
I'm ready to live on my own again, and have, for the last 5 months or so, been promising my cousin (for my own sake, she wouldn't ask me to leave) that if I am not out of here in a few months, it's because I'm becoming complacent, and I may move back in to my civic just to kick myself in the butt and figure out things from there. She hates hearing that.
About two months ago I modified my plan. I could probably get the same feeling of freedom and security I had in my civic, and get a full sized bed, a shower, stove, and bathroom, if I could make it work in an RV. So that's where I am right now. I'm just trying to put control of my life back in to my own hands, and not have the worry that if things go south with work, I'll be on the streets. On top of... it's going to be fun!
Now, I'm considering finding a job in San Diego. I read that "San Diego is one of more and more cities that prohibit parking any kind of recreational vehicle in the street overnight, usually defined as 2 am to 4 am. Currently, however, it is the stated policy of the San Diego police department NOT to enforce this law, and many RVs park curbside at night." (http://www.homeofourfathers.com/lisbeth/camping.htm)
I've decided I want a 20' at most. I want to be able to walk away from my rv and not worry about tickets. When I get a higher paying job, I'll upgrade my size and pay for parking for sure.
The only thing better than an RV for a permanent residence for me would be a re purposed warehouse that I decorate however I want, make as many rooms as I want, ride my electric scooter in, do cartwheels from one side to the other, have swing in... there's so much... but for now, an RV. (Ya, I'm a big dreamer xP)