Wikipedia

Van-dwelling

Van-dwellingorvanlifeis an unconventional lifestyle of living in a car,vanor othermotor vehicle.A person who lives in such a manner, either on a full or part-time basis, is known as avanlifer,van dweller,car dwellerorvehicle dweller.People who live this way by choice are typically seeking a moreself-sufficientlifestyle characterized by freedom and mobility. They may perceive it as being a less regulated form of housing, or one that offers a lower cost advantage over standard housing, especially in regions susceptible to housing shortages.[1]Other vehicle dwellers may be one step away fromliving on the streetor in ashelter.

Table by the camper
970 VW Camper

In the late 2010s, an idealized version was popularized through social media with thehashtag#vanlife[2][3]which gained significant momentum during theCOVID-19pandemic.[4]

Etymology

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Van-dwelling is a compound word that denotes the fact thatmotor vehicleliving takes place typically, but not exclusively, in avan.Many different types of motor vehicles have been used for vandwelling, either permanently or only on a temporary basis.[citation needed]

A person who engages in van dwelling is known as a van dweller,[5]car dweller[6]or vehicle dweller.[7][8][9]Sometimes, a car dweller is known as a car sleeper. If the residence is temporary, it may be referred to ascar camping.[10]Cars (including SUVs and cargo vans but typically not pickup trucks) with the seats folded flat/down and amattressplaced inside is referred to as "Giường xe" in China, literally translates to "bed car".[11]

History

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The history of vandwelling goes back to horse-drawn vehicles, such as Romavardowagons in Europe and coveredConestogawagons in the United States. One of the first uses of the term "vandwellers" was in theUnited Kingdom Showman and Van Dwellers' Protection Association,[12]a guild for travelling show performers formed in 1889. Shortly afterwards in 1901, Albert Bigalow Paine wroteThe Van Dwellers,[13]about people living on the verge of poverty having to live a nomadic life in horse-drawn moving vans. After the introduction of motorised vehicles, the modern form of vandwelling began.[14]

Mobile wheeled homes became popular in the US following theGreat Depressionin the mid-1930s as house trailers first entered mass production. This expanded availability beyond the domain of hobbyists and small-batch builders. ANew York Timesarticle in 1936 described "hundreds of thousands of families [who] have packed their possessions into traveling houses, said goodbye to their friends, and taken to the open road."[15][16]Through 1960, approximately 1.5–2 million Americans acquired house trailers. In the 1960s this trend ended with the development of mobile homes, less expensive but less mobile alternatives to the earlier traveling houses.[15]

A 1967VW Kombibus decorated with hand-painting of the hippie style

TheHippie trailwas an overland journey popular among hippies and adventurers from the mid-1950s to the late 1970s, spanning from Western Europe to West andSouth Asia,with travelers seeking to explore these regions cheaply while interacting with locals. It largely ended due to the Iranian Revolution and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the late 1970s.[17][18]

Its spirit of adventure and low-cost travel influenced the modern vanlife movement, which embraces similar ideals of freedom and alternative tourism. Today, many adventurers attempt to re-live these journeys along the ancient Silk Road and the old hippie trail.[19]

Legality

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United States

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In the US, individuals who lack a permanent address and stable living situation, including vandwellers, are technically considered"homeless".[20]Of the 60,000 homeless people inLos Angeles,approximately 25% were living in a vehicle.[21]

Many municipalities have laws prohibiting overnight parking and/or sleeping in vehicles. In Los Angeles, living in a vehicle is prohibited on most streets.[21]The city has municipal codes regarding times and places where someone is authorized to live in a vehicle.[22]Non-profit organizations in a number of California cities sponsor "safe parking" intitiatives, which offer limited facilities and some security in designatedSafe Parking lots.[21]Some vandwellers have parked inWalmartandCracker Barrelparking lots. In theWestern United States,theBureau of Land Managementallows vandwellers and other campers to remain in many areas of their vast administration for up to 14 days at a time.[23]

Europe

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Van-dwellers should research local regulations and use resources like the detailed Vanlifezone map[24]to check for Natura 2000 zones and avoid these protected areas. The map is regularly updated to provide more global resources and inspiration for better and more sustainable vanlife andoverlandingexperiences.[25]

Asia

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Lifestyle

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See also:Simple living,Low technology,andDegrowth

The vandwelling lifestyle can allow for significant autonomy and a lowercost of livingthan having a mortgage or lease as in a more traditional living arrangement. Assuming they have the means, vandwellers are free to travel as much or little as they would like. Some vandwellers choose to remain in one general area, and work full-time or attend school while living in their vehicles. Others travel full-time while working remotely via the Internet or finding seasonal or short-term employment opportunities in various locations.[26]

Since vandwelling consists of living in a vehicle with a footprint no larger than a parking space, there is usually little to no space for bathing or doing laundry. Some vandwellers in the US usegymmemberships to access showers.[23]

#vanlife on social media

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Converted Ram Promaster 3500 with four 100 watt solar panels.

Various depictions of the van dwelling lifestyle are presented on YouTube and Instagram, using the hashtag #vanlife — ranging from starkly realistic appraisals to heavily idealistic depictions.

The hashtag #vanlife was first used and popularized by a photoblogger named Foster Huntington in 2011.[27]Many depictions illustrate idyllic natural scenery, sometimes framed by the open back doors of the van, or with the van prominently visible in the landscape. Others depictions feature spotless, stylized interior views of the living space. The people pictured in the images might be young, attractive and outdoorsymillennials.[23]The depictions are often set in natural areas, particularly in the Western US[28]as well as coastal or mountainous regions ofEurope,New Zealand,orAustralia.

Other notable contributors to the #vanlife movement include the Vanlife Diaries and Vanlifezone blogs and Instagram accounts. In 2019, the founders of Vanlife Diaries published a book calledvanlife diaries: finding freedom on the open roadwhich pulled content from its blog and Instagram.[29]Vanlifezone released its first digital magazine in 2020 and has since regularly shared adventure stories from the road. The platform is designed to encourage visitors to 'get out there!' while promoting sustainability and offering insights and reports from vanlifers around the globe for a more informed vanlife experience.[30]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some social media users promoted the #vanlife lifestyle as a way to stay safe and avoid illness.[31][32]The movement attracted many newcomers to the lifestyle including younger and more diverse people than the initial promoters of the lifestyle.[33]

A less idealized, more stark depiction was presented in the 2021 filmNomadland.[34]

Vehicle modifications

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Van conversions consist of a wide range of possibilities. A conversion can be as simple as a few personal items thrown in the back, such as asleeping bagor folding bed along with a few pieces of clothing, while using only the engine battery for power.[5]It escalates all the way up to vans that function like micro-apartments on wheels with complex power setups, a kitchenette, and even simple plumbing. Vehicles like the VolkswagenWestfalia,a regular passenger van, or a cargo van, can be modified for day-to-day living by a professional conversion company. Upscale van conversion can provide most of the amenities of a conventional home including heating, air conditioning, a house battery system, a two-burner stove, a permanent bed, and other conveniences that make the vehicle fit for full-time living.[23]School bus modifications ( "skoolies") are also common among vandwellers.[35]

Communication

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Since many vandwellers lack a permanent address, they sometimes usemail forwardingservices, instead of a simplepost office box,in order to receive packages and other mail. This is beneficial because the forwarder can then send packages to an address which the vandweller can access. Vandwellers often pay their bills and conduct business online through the use of publicWi-Fi,[36]which they can access at libraries or in eateries such asStarbucks.[23]

Employment

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Vandwellers will usually work seasonal jobs, ranging from national parks to warehouse jobs. Some vandwellers work only part of the year then use the money earned to travel.

Vandwellers have been known to bedigital nomadswho work remotely from workplace or have a job that does not require working at location.[37]Alternatively, some vandwellers have permanent employment atSilicon Valleytech companies and choose to live in a van to both save on high rents and take advantage of generous company perks that include free food, on-site showers, and laundry service.[5]

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ActorChris Farley's characterMatt Foleywould often describe himself "living in a van down by the river" inSaturday Night Livesketches.

Notable vandwellers

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See also

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References

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  1. ^Blevins, Jason (2021-05-17)."Vanlife is booming in Colorado as housing costs climb and work-anywhere appeal grows".The Colorado Sun.Retrieved2023-11-16.
  2. ^Bowles, Nellie (2020-07-03)."The #Vanlife Business Is Booming".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2021-09-22.
  3. ^Pietsch, Bryan (2021-04-02)."How Veterans of #Vanlife Feel About All the Newbies".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2021-09-22.
  4. ^Bomey, Nathan."#VanLife takes off during COVID-19 as Americans convert vans for a life on the road".USA TODAY.Retrieved2021-09-19.
  5. ^abcKotecki, Peter and Bendix, Aria (October 27, 2018)"50 Disappointing Photos Show What Converted Van Living is Really Like",Business Insider.Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  6. ^Car Dwellers Could Get The 'Boot' Under Proposed Parking Law, Joshua McNichols, KUOW News,[1]
  7. ^Palo Alto Deals With Vehicle Dwellers, Wall Street Journal, Deborah Gage, 7-12-2012,[2]
  8. ^Who are the vehicle dwellers?, Vickie Boone, Palo Alto Weekly
  9. ^City of Palo Alto on a collision course with homeless vehicle dwellers, Chad Brunswick, Palo Alto Free Press, 8-5-2013,[3]
  10. ^"What is Car Camping?".mtnscoop.Retrieved2023-09-27.
  11. ^"Cái gì là giường xe - Thái Bình Dương ô tô bách khoa".baike.pcauto.cn.Retrieved2023-09-27.
  12. ^"Introduction to the History of the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain and the Regional Divisions".University of Sheffield.Archived fromthe originalon 17 July 2011.Retrieved3 October2018.
  13. ^Paine, Albert Bigelow (1901).The Van Dwellers(Ebook). New York: J. F. Taylor & Company.Retrieved3 October2018– via ManyBooks.
  14. ^White, Dan."A brief history of #vanlife and RVing".The San Francisco Chronicle.Retrieved2024-06-23.
  15. ^abBruder, Jessica(2017).Nomadland: surviving America in the twenty-first century(First ed.). New York, N.Y.ISBN9780393249316.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  16. ^Miller, Clyde R. (20 December 1936)."Trailer Life Seen Good for Nation, Aiding Instead of Displacing Homes Creating Social Problem".The New York Times.
  17. ^"The Hippie Trail: See how Lonely Planet was born".cnn.Retrieved2022-05-14.
  18. ^Maclean, Rory (2007-08-13)."Legacy of the hippie trail".the Guardian.Retrieved2022-05-14.
  19. ^"Squeaking and creaking to China".Vanlifezone.2022-02-01.Retrieved2024-09-16.
  20. ^"What Is the Official Definition of Homelessness".National Health Care for the Homeless Council.Retrieved1 November2018.
  21. ^abcSimon, Dan (December 23, 2019)"Living In Her Car, She Was Afraid and Harassed. Then She Found an Unexpected Refuge",CNN.Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  22. ^"Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) 85.02 – Vehicle Dwelling".City of Los Angeles.Retrieved3 October2018.
  23. ^abcdeAndrews, Jeff (2019-04-03)."The business of van life".Curbed.Archivedfrom the original on 2024-04-20.Retrieved2024-11-27.How the RV industry is falling short, and how van lifers are filling the gap
  24. ^"Vanlifezone /map".Vanlifezone.Retrieved2024-09-16.[unreliable source?]
  25. ^"All New - Discover Our Map".Vanlifezone.Retrieved2024-09-16.[unreliable source?]
  26. ^Trujillo, Stevie (September 13, 2021)"What I Learned From Living Five Years In a Van",The Guardian.Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  27. ^Heyden, Dylan."Foster Huntington's New Book Is a Collection of Van Lifers' Stories that Continue to Inspire Him".The Inertia.Retrieved1 November2018.
  28. ^"#Vanlife, the Bohemian Social-Media Movement".The New Yorker.Retrieved1 November2018.
  29. ^Morton, Dustow and Melrose, Kathleen, Jonny and Jared (2018).Vanlife Diaries: Finding Freedom on the Open Road.Ten Speed Press.ISBN9780399581144.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ^"Vanlifezone - Get out there!".Vanlifezone.Retrieved2024-09-16.
  31. ^Houlis, AnnaMarie (2020-04-17)."How to Survive a Pandemic from a 30-Year-Old Van in the Australian Bush".Gear Patrol.Retrieved2022-08-11.
  32. ^"Wheels and Whiskey: Adapting the Journey".Vanlifezone.2021-08-01.Retrieved2024-09-16.
  33. ^Pietsch, Bryan (2021-04-02)."How Veterans of #Vanlife Feel About All the Newbies".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2022-08-11.
  34. ^James, Caryn (September 14, 2020)"Nomadland Review: 'Overflowing With Humanity and Tenderness'",bbc.Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  35. ^Liles, Maryn (October 2, 2019)"You'd Never Believe This Beautiful Home Is a Renovated School Bus (And Their Skoolie Just Hit the Market for $80K!)",Parade.Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  36. ^Rodriguez, Salvador (June 20, 2021)"As Offices Shut Down for Covid, Workers Bought Vans and Hit The Road — And Some Don't Want to Return",cnbc.Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  37. ^Withrow, Brandon (February 18, 2022)"What Vanlife Is Really Like",news.yahoo.Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  38. ^Hochschild, Arlie Russell (November 17, 2017)."In 'Nomadland,' the Golden Years Are the Wander Years".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedOctober 17,2021.
  39. ^Lowther, Alex (Summer 2011)."Less and Less Alone: Alex Honnold".Alpinist.Archived fromthe originalon October 5, 2020.RetrievedOctober 13,2021.
  40. ^Whitcomb, Dan (September 22, 2021)"Timeline - 'Van life' Road Trip Ends in Death of Gabby Petito",reuters.Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  41. ^Semley, John (January 27, 2020)"This Albertan YouTuber Is the Bob Ross of Stealth Camping",Vice.Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  42. ^Bergstein, Rachelle (September 23, 2017)"America's Forgotten Men and Women Are Becoming 'Vandwellers'",New York Post.Retrieved September 24, 2021.

Further reading

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