I have looked into the 'van life' craze. It's not really a craze; it's what some people have to do to survive these days. It makes a lot of sense. By living in a van, you cut a lot of unnecessary stuff. The inherent constraints force a minimalist take on life. I lived in a camper myself for a few months, it's not that bad with a little mental discipline... What do you really need? Considering the available surface area, current solar cells on top of a van could deliver about 400 watts of continuous power... which could be stored in batteries, 2 state-of-the-art solar arrays can produce about 400 watts of continuous power during sunny or a little less during partially sunny days, which is not anything to sneeze at. Think of 2 incandescent bulbs burning brightly - that's a lot of energy. Store that energy with a couple of high-capacity batteries that could deliver enough energy to provide for lighting, some cooking, and computers. Add a propane stove for cooking most of the time. A powerful roof fan. A bed. What else does one need? They have portable showers and cassette toilets. Internet options are available. Many people are already working online and living in a van. If one doesnt do online stuff there are plenty of other opportunities for earning a living/making money for expenses. Van Life is a cheap way to live.
Minimalist living is cheap, with the ability to travel if the current local environment gets rough. "Van Life" is becoming hugely popular out of necessity. Is it a viable alternative for some members of the forum? Who's interested?
This veteran of van life seems to have a good take:
Minimalist living is cheap, with the ability to travel if the current local environment gets rough. "Van Life" is becoming hugely popular out of necessity. Is it a viable alternative for some members of the forum? Who's interested?
This veteran of van life seems to have a good take:
