#vincentvango

[vincentvangoblog-blog]

Wishlist v1.0

Wishlist

Velcro to fix car

Mattress pad

Security system (cameras?)

Fold up chairs

Rugs

Redone sitting area

Fairy lights

Tapestry for walls

Reupholstered seats

Window cover for side window

CD player

Radio

Books

Expand cell service and wifi

Egg cooker

Tiny fridge

Salt

Ziploc bags

Yoga mat

Safety box

Command hooks

[vincentvangoblog-blog]

What I Do in the Van v1.0

So obviously I don’t have any wifi in the van. But I found out that my laptop charge lasts the whole night, and can also keep my phone charged the whole night! In addition, if I load an EE lecture video in wifi, the video will play in my van (but I can’t move the timer bar - mistake I learned last night).

In the future, I have plans to work on crafts (pockets on clothes, rug for van), read, write (journal or blog), do homework, do work work, etc. I’m hoping to get back to not doing homework on the weekends, so hopefully I can get a lot done ahead of time (like final reports). 

Also, if I get a mat of some sort, I can maybe do some exercises in the van. I know I can exercise outside the van, but until all the mosquitoes are dead, that’s probably not happening. Also, I might as well exercise at the gym so I can shower. I don’t want to stank up my van too much!

(Took my first shower at work yesterday. Despite the semi-see through curtains, me forgetting a towel, and the wide radius water spray (leading to seemingly low pressure), it was pretty good! And my hair looks good today.

Aside from that, I pretty much just chill there, play some Catan, then go to bed. I’m hoping to go to bed at a more consistent time and waking up at a consistent time. I think in the end I will reach for in bed by 11, alarm set for 7:30.

[vincentvangoblog-blog]

Update! 3 nights in the van

Sorry it’s been a while! Obviously a lot has happened. So I fully moved into my van on Friday (Sept 30), and its Thursday today! So I slept in it Monday, Tuesday, and last night :) So far it’s pretty comfy and I enjoy it a lot. Right now I wish I had a better mattress pad, which is on my van wish list (posting later). 

Last night I heard a noise around like midnight, where I thought someone tried to open the back door. Freaked me out! I turned off the fan and peeked out the windows but I didn’t see anything. I should really get a security system!

Speaking of a fan, the solar power works! I went to Star Auto Electric Friday, and they got me the new battery (a cool $330!!), and hooked it up for me ^.^ The lights and fan and outlet all work.

Last night I had a dream that my van was bigger than it was. There was a whole huge basement and crackers from 2006 that I had to clean out. Bugs, too of course. And a piano without any legs. My Son Munecas teammate Andrea visited my van and made my bed. It was weird. Also the dream wasn’t last night, it was like from 8-9am when I didn’t get up and go to work haha.

Ok, I’m looking back at my first post, and I’ll try to update sequentially. Mechanic - it came back great! He said it was in good condition, and the previous owner took good care of it (s/o to Chris).  The only thing was that the transmission was a little leaky - so if I was going to be doing a lot of driving, I should get that topped off frequently, or fixed (about a $300 fix). 

I haven’t figured out or tried to figure out the hand pump sink, but I have like five water bottles just sitting in the sink. I haven’t really had to use them besides drinking, but sometimes I’m afraid to drink because then I’ll have to go to the bathroom in the night! I’ll probably eventually get a compost toilet.

Obviously I moved out of the house. I’m still waiting on the landlord to see what the expenses are for the month of August. It’ll be nice to start saving money from this van, because right now I’m at -$8,698.50.

My stuff is all moved into my van, but there is probably more things that I can reorganize, re-purpose, or throw out. I also need to move my step stool indoors, because the bed platform is a leeeeeeetle too tall for me. I also need to figure out a way to cover my bike (right now it’s locked to an old truck) and protect it from the elements (rain!). I should also grease the chain haha.

Oh, for parking, I was able to park in front of Star Auto Electric. Both cars for $22.50 a month! Not bad! S/O to Scott for bargaining for me! (previously was $45/mo).

Last on the previous list, was plates and registration. I called the Illinois Secretary of State again, and they are going to send me the two forms. I have to pay like $250 for title registration, plates, and tax. I have the numbers written down somewhere..... -_- I can’t find them :!!!! Going to have to call again! They sent the form to Ridgeway, which I feel bad about, but I’m not sure what else to do. 

Also my parking lot is soooo close to work haha. Like half the distance from before, maybe even less (<= 0.75 miles/1200 meters). 

Gonna make a separate post for what I do in the van, wishlist, and pics.

[vincentvangoblog-blog]

Welcome~

This isn’t my first foray into the blogging universe, but this is the first time that I’ve had a concrete topic to talk about (aside from Club Penguin or Runescape).

This blog is going to be about the van I just purchased. It was a 2006 Dodge 2500 Sprinter Van. 118″ wheelbase and 9′ tall (I think?). I bought it for $8,300 from a guy named Chris in North Carolina. Him and his dad were selling it, and Chris used to live and travel in it with his old music partner. They would tour the country to play gigs.

I’ll add pictures later, but there is a bed area, cabinets over the bed, a tiny closet/place to store the solar panel battery, two benches with ratchet cushions, a sink attached to a hand pump, and storage under the bed area (accessible from the back). The van has a little under 300,000 miles (!!!). It drove well to Georgia, however. 

Right now it’s sitting in my driveway. I’m planning on moving out soon, to a lot in between two coworkers’ houses. They also mentioned I could live with them for free, haha. I’m going to have to pay October rent, though, since I broke my lease. :/

One problem with the title is that there were previously two owners, but only one person signed (Chris). So he has to send a form to the other owner, get it signed and notarized, then mail it to me. Then I have to send forms and money to Illinois Secretary of State to get the title in my name.

The day before purchasing (9/19), I was really doubting whether or not I should buy it. It would be much easier if I didn’t buy it, and continue on living in my house. But I was rereading the blog from the Google employee that lives in a truck, and this post made me want to go for it. I guess in the world of vehicle dwellers, the uncertainty is normal haha. I had been thinking about living in a vehicle ever since reading an article about a year ago (a quick search showed late October, 2015). Once I moved to Jersey, I seriously considered getting a vehicle, because I disliked living with the family I was staying with so much.

After talking to my coworkers about my truck dreams, one of them suggested a sprinter van (thanks James!) So I did a craigslist search, found Vincent, and made a plan to meet with the owner. The day before the meeting, he told me there was already a buyer I convinced him to let me see it, drove up on that Friday, then offered an additional $500. And I got it!!! Just goes to show that being persistent can sometimes pay off. :)

My goals are to live in it long enough for it to pay for itself. Already I’ve spent $50 on gas (diesel tanks are huge!), 6 hours (and gas) of driving back and forth to the van and dropping off the owner in Athens, and $400 in insurance ($800/yr). Right now, my projected 2016 savings are about $900, since I won’t have to pay November or December rent, which is $380 + utilities. (That was another thing that made me not want to get it - rent is so cheap here. It would make more sense if I lived somewhere expensive, like California.)

Regardless, I’m happy with my decision and I can’t wait to live full-time in it!! I’m hoping to get the solar panels (aka the fan) to work, but I know it’s livable without the solar panels working.

To do list:

Get it checked by a mechanic - I’m doing this Monday

Figure out the solar system - I think it’s a battery problem, but I’ve asked for advice on reddit and will figure that out

Figure out the hand pump sink

Move out of the house

Move my stuff in to the van

Register the car in Illinois and get plates