Car Living

Car living is not for everyone. This is a unique and sometimes challenging lifestyle that most people only do on a temporary basis. The majority of people who live in a car do it only until they can get back into a house or until they can upgrade to a van or RV.

Car living is not homelessness (necessarily). In many cases, people who are living in their car are in fact homeless and plan to move back into a house as soon as possible. For these people, living in a car is a disgrace only one step removed from sleeping on the street.

Many other people who live in a car, whether part-time or full-time, have chosen to do it for a reason. They may have decided to live in a car for financial reasons, to be able to travel, or just for the freedom and flexibility that it provides. Still others have chosen to live in a vehicle to keep living costs low while they are in college or starting a business.

There is also a growing tribe of full-time nomads who have embraced vehicle dwelling. Some of these nomads live in cars, while many more live in vans, campers, or RVs. These nomads may live in one area or may migrate with the seasons. There are a number of websites, blogs, and social media groups where these nomads gather online.

The ideas presented in this book are based on my own experience with living out of a car over the years. These experiences include car dwelling that was voluntary and involuntary, short-term and long-term, urban and boondocking.

My early experiences with car dwelling were desperate and miserable, not because I was opposed to the idea, but because I had much to learn. Even as recently as 2000 when I was unexpectedly thrust into van dwelling we did not have Wi-Fi readily accessible and there were nowhere near as many resources available on the Internet.

My hope with this book is to make your experience easier and, dare I say it, positive.