[Closed] Wanderlust - thinking of hitting the road full time.

Live in the van around Glasgow whilst I save money in my current job

There will be some issues around not having a fixed address and other things around that to start with. After that plan seems like fun.

i've a similar hankering.... bored by everyday life.

also in the process of converting my van (pop-top went on this week) with the view to dropping out for 8-12 months next year and just forgetting about the daily routine.

do it.

Mike, I am used to finding parking for my current van so shouldn't be a problem, the van will be something like a high top sprinter or transit nothing massive but big enough to stand in, have a fixed double bed over a garage space. Scotland has relaxed rules on wild camping so as long as I leave it as I find it I can camp pretty much anywhere, a layby near Loch Lomond might be my weekend spot. I would use a relative or the SO's address for post/bank etc, though with most things being online now it's not too difficult.

alpin - What van are you converting? 😀 I loved working on Vangelina, so looking forward to a bigger one to work on! Looking up solar power, bus conversions and other fun things daily!

This is the story of a lake and the three fish that were in it - one of them intelligent; another half-intelligent; and the third, stupid.

Some fisherman came to the edge of the lake with their nets. The three fish saw them. The intelligent fish decided at once to leave, to make the long, difficult trip to the ocean. He thought, "I won't consult with these two on this. They will only weaken my resolve, because they love this place so. They call it home. Their ignorance will keep them here." The wise fish saw the men and their nets and said, "I'm leaving.". So the intelligent fish made its whole length a moving footprint and, like a deer the dogs chase, suffered greatly on its way, but finally made it to the edgeless safety of the sea.

The half-intelligent fish thought, "My guide has gone. I ought to have gone with him, but I didn't, and now I've lost my chance to escape. I wish I'd gone with him. He mourns the absence of his guide for a while, and then thinks, "What can I do to save myself from these men and their nets? Perhaps if I pretend to be already dead! I'll belly up on the surface and float like weeds float, just giving myself totally to the water. To die before I die." So he did that. He bobbed up and down, helpless, within arm's reach of the fishermen. "Look at this! The best and biggest fish is dead." One of the men lifted him by the tail, spat on him, and threw him up on the ground. He rolled over and over and slid secretly near the water, and then, back in.

Meanwhile, the third fish, the dumb one, was agitatedly jumping about, trying to escape with his agility and cleverness. The net, of course, finally closed around him, and as he lay in the terrible frying-pan bed, he thought, "If I get out of this, I'll never live again in the limits of the lake. Next time, the ocean! I'll make the infinite my home.".

😀

No advice other than stove for winter. Admire your pluck to do what it is that you want. I've rarely been happier than being a free agent with few possessions . Wish I'd done more of it before settling down but did spend a few yrs in a tent. It sorted me right out. It's a mighty thing to risk regretting.

Thanks for that Three-fish, you got me there. Time to get a bigger van then!

Malvern - the van will have heating for sure, looking at other options too, like electric blanket etc as Glasgow over winter will be nippy to say the least.

Forgot to say, before you get too fixed on van + uk, think about getting down to proper basics? ie consider selling the van also. The two of you could go a long way for a long or short time volunteering all over the World with nothing more than a 60l rucksack of clothes, toiletries, camera, phone etc. All you'd need is the travel fare. Some hosts offer local transport too (I was accepted by a host in Canada and they offered to fly me out from Vancouver via light aircraft)

Have been fortunate to have met some very inspiring friends who are still travelling the World four years on, with no sign of slowing down, none of whom are materialistic - thing that unites them is all are really into learning languages/new skills/making new friends/learning about new locations etc. Some eventually settled into the van thing but I would think twice before taking that as the first option as it can (ironically) tie you up/down. There are quite a few sustainable building projects out West (US/Canada) where you can learn a lot of skills that would serve an independent/pioneering soul.

Anyhow, do have a look at helpx site: [url] https://www.helpx.net [/url] - if only just to be sure that living in a van /n the UK is the best option for a free spirit. If by any chance it potentially rocks your boat hard enough then get planning/applying well ahead of time, you can soon fill up the travel diary a year or more ahead.

“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”?
~ St. Augustine

Malvern - thanks, looking that up now, the van is just the start of the plan for now, I need to stop spending so much on rent and bills or I will never save enough to go, we both want to travel Europe first so the van will be used for that after I have saved by living in it and had the challenge of back to basics. She has a flat and a mortgage and family in Glasgow so more ties than me, so initial plan is a few months in Europe then back and maybe then sell the van and head elsewhere on a plane. Right now the van is to be my home and a way to travel with bikes too, so it is the way I wish to go for the first year, then who knows, the world is calling!

Sazter - that makes sense - and sounds awesome! Be sure to link your blog for us vicarious wanderers - and all the best 🙂

I noticed you were selling the van Saz, should make a nice machine for someone.

Don't know if I can help much except to say: I'm jealous 🙂 - but also to note that my converted Trafic will be finished in the next week or 2 (SWB, 4 berth with pop-top, RnR bed, passengers captain seat, water, electrics, cooker, fridge, etc).

It's looking pretty good I have to say, and if you want a tour of it just shout- get me via GK is probably best, or I can trundle it up to my office (just round the corner from yours if you remember)-

anyroads, a' the best!

Gaz

So I read the three fish, three times. But still miss it's relevance - can you throw me a bone - what did you mean - am I Johnny Utah to your Bodhizafa - I seek enlightenment 🙂 ?

Three Fish

A Tale from India

Three fish lived in a pond. One was named Plan Ahead, another was Think Fast, and the third was named Wait and See. One day they heard a fisherman say that he was going to cast his net in their pond the next day.

Plan Ahead said, "I'm swimming down the river tonight!

Think Fast said, "I'm sure I'll come up with a plan.

Wait and See lazily said, "I just can't think about it now!"

When the fisherman cast his nets, Plan Ahead was long gone. But Think Fast and Wait and See were caught!

Think Fast quickly rolled his belly up and pretended to be dead. "Oh, this fish is no good!" said the fisherman, and threw him safely back into the water. But, Wait and See ended up in the fish market.

That is why they say, "In times of danger, when the net is cast, plan ahead or plan to think fast!"

Popular intepretations seem to suggest a different purpose to the fable?

Not wishing to wee on the Three Fishes fire.

I know a bloke who bought a camper, said bye to the rest of us wage slaves and went on a round the world trip because he was a free spirit.

Reversed the camper into a ditch in northern France in the first week away, had to be dragged out by tractor to find he'd trashed the rear axle and couldn't afford the repairs.

At least he tried, he was a bit of a smug **** so we laughed. It's not always the most intelligent fish that makes the first move.

Oh and OP, bloody well go for it. If you get the chance before there are any ties just do it 🙂

Gaz - yes, I want to see the van! Let me know when it's done!

Allan - I will be making sure I have enough money to cover repairs, at least in the beginning, thats the point of living in the van to save my rent money being wasted... I guess I am the fish that plays dead, the next few months are my playing dead phase, and when I leave next year is when I get back in the water?

And yes, I am going for it. 😀

Popular intepretations seem to suggest a different purpose to the fable?

I've not really thought about popular interpretations. To me, Rumi's parable is about how, depending on our degree of self-awareness, we live with the idea of 'home', and/or, to take it a step further, even our relationship with our own ideas, beliefs and habits. The version I have is a modern(ish) variation - somewhat condensed, and I think Rumi used wisdom rather than intelligence - but the concept behind it is essentially the same.

A related mantra, which could be particularly relevant on internet forums, might be: never argue with a fool, they'll only drag you down to their level and beat you with experience every time.

Oh, and I meant to say, sazter: good luck on the journey.

Most people seem to think its a nuts but good idea for me, so this is helping my commitment. Work having a very good shower in the basement is also useful as whatever I come up with for van showering is likely to be fine in sunny places but pretty evil in Glasgow in winter!

Thanks Three-fish!

And yes, I will try and keep the blog updated internet dependant when I go!

Plan just now - look for van, sell current van, upgrade and convert new one. Nov - lease ends so lovely winter in the van, Feb - April next year is go time as Feb is when OH contract ends, she is maternity cover just now.

Hmmmm...

*thinks deeply on Three Fish's story*...

I think I'll stop by the chip shop on the way home tonight

I have two friends who do this. In general it looks pretty grim- one has a nice big Renault Trafic, the other a Fiat Doblo. They live in them in the Aviemore area all summer. They did do a winter in them I think but the following winter had to rent a house as it was so unpleasant.

There seems to be quite a strain on their vans as they're used in such an unusal way- they seem to break down a lot. And when it breaks down you have no house while it's being repaired. It's not warm, or cosy. They seem to miss out on things because of the vans too because of their breakdowns.

Based on what I've seen of their adventures I'd not do it unless you have a proper coachbuilt camper with an overcab bed and so on.

Munrobiker good to get some perspective, I know it is risky but I will be making sure any vehicle I get is as sound as possible and I won't be in Scotland for much of it. I can also stay at my sisters and my OH's flat when I need to. 🙂 I need to try it. I need to learn from my own mistakes, not anyone elses.

“Man surprised me most about humanity. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money.
Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

- Dalai Lama

I have a friend who has been away well over a year now. He is renting houses out in the UK so is living well within budget (Nepal, India, Iraq, Cambodia etc that is pretty easy) although that might change when he gets to Australia.

He has a blog [url= http://www.danskeates.com/ ]http://www.danskeates.com/[/url]

I think if you are able then doing something like this would be wonderful. Settling down again may be hard.

, a layby near Loch Lomond might be my weekend spot

Good luck with that!

Nice blog jp, bookmarked that one, thanks!

Was it someone on here that lived in a tent on a farmers field for a year? thats basics!

STATO - that is basics, I'm not that hardy!

Nice blog jp , cheers!!

Definitely go for it! Just don't use the stove inside the van, and make sure you take a good book with you. Like a [i]really[/i] good book, and not just old copies of Men's Health and MBR. 😉

Here's how i'm hearing this......

Sazter: I'll just walk the earth.
STW: What'cha mean walk the earth?
Sazter: You know, walk the earth, meet people... get into adventures. Like Caine from "Kung Fu."

Best of luck with that in Glesga. 🙂

My brother's mate sold his house bought a van and travelled to Spain for the winter.
They are now living in a caravan site in Kent for free as long as they clean the toilets.
Him,his wife and their 18 year old son.
How his wife hasn't killed him I don't know.

Interesting enough. I hesitate to conflate wisdom with intelligence - perhaps that is why I found the version unclear. The necessary ambiguity - at least provides, a sage, a perch - I suppose.

Yes, knowledge is intelligent, he even understands a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom though - leaves tomato out of her fruit salad..

I just can't tell if your 2nd mantra is directed at me - But as were playing wiki quotes 🙂 :

Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.

Saxon - Yes I will be taking books, a bookshelf of sorts is on the build list, though don't know how much use MENS health will be to me, you never know! 😉

Perchy - Glasgow is just short term, and full of interesting wildlife! 😉

Zippy - I don't own a house so nothing to lose, the OH rents out a room so that covers her mortgage near enough, so there is a roof to return to, and to use sometimes whilst I am here.

Funny that we are not ready to move in together (3 months) but happily talking about jacking in life as we know it and hitting the road next year! Weirdos!

I just can't tell if your 2nd mantra is directed at me -

It isn't, no. Pardon me, I should have made that clear.

Van? Surely all you need is a bike and 4 panniers?

Maybe I am just high maintenance! The euro trip is for a few months initially so I think a vehicle will allow us to see more, and I love a bit of vanlife and having somewhere to sleep, with a tent as an option.

First a technical point on fish

If your a Salmon then heading to the Ocean is your thing, you won't wait for fishermen to know when to leave

If your any other fresh water fish then the ocean means certain death due to the salinity

I've twice bunked off from life and I'm very glad I did

The first time 9 of us bought this converted it to a "camper" and drove to kenya

[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3776/11684195895_972ca8f639_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3776/11684195895_972ca8f639_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/iNuynn ]Africa (1 of 1)-11[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/john_clinch/ ]John Clinch[/url], on Flickr

I had just left University and came back to teacher training

After 4 years my girl friend and I (now wife) gave up work and bought a round the world tickets

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8162/7467517940_dc9db4d108_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8162/7467517940_dc9db4d108_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/cnSYVj ]North America-4[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/john_clinch/ ]John Clinch[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6426910475_4e150eb7bd_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6426910475_4e150eb7bd_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/aMVAzi ]Just cruising[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/john_clinch/ ]John Clinch[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7275/7467525024_ccbf09ef04_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7275/7467525024_ccbf09ef04_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/cnT22s ]Chukung Ri Gokyo Valley[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/john_clinch/ ]John Clinch[/url], on Flickr

In the long term the only down side is that we are probably behind in the housing market as we bought a house later in life. I think it hasn't affected our careers at all. The house thing matter not at all to me. If some one said would you swap £40,000 of the mortgage for not have done the to trips I'd say no thanks. Those trips are part of who I am and I still enjoy them and use what I learnt every day

The trick is getting it right for you. I'm glad i didn't travel for years and years. I assumed that we would travel every few years forever. But getting a job after the second trip took a while and I decided that I wouldn't go through that at all. But I'm glad I traveled. I hope you get the balance right for you. Have fun!!!

Thanks John, I have no chance of getting on the housing market anytime soon so not letting that bother me. I am probably too old at 35 to be giving up everything but the seed has been planted so even if it is a short trip something has to happen. Your photos are brilliant, I am looking forward to taking some of my own adventures outside of Scotland!

If your any other fresh water fish then the ocean means certain death due to the salinity

Who was the most interesting person you met on your travels?

Excellent question. Lots of contenders

The guy writing a book on the politics of mass extinction. Basically he reckoned we would all become extinct as plastic waste acts like estrogen and eventually all males will be sterile. So he seemed quite left wing and liberal. But he was also American. His hint for life was "buy large caliber ammunition form a Nazi gun store. That way the bad guys will know that you are armed and waiting for them"

Sazter, there is a blog I follow from a guy who did very a very similar thing. Vandogtraveller is the name. He has an eBook that documents the whole process of his van conversion. I didn't expect to get much from it but it is a goldmine of conversion info.

Oh and good luck with following your dreams. Can life get any better than parking up beside a beach and when you open the doors in the morning that is the first thing you see.

Good for you, go for it!

I'd love to be able to do something like that, it sounds bloody ace. If you find yourselves in Heptonstall, stop by for a beer

Mac - I have been on his site a lot, think I will get the book too, I need more info for my solar panel installation! There is an instagram feed called van.life who are a couple from Scotland who did the same thing, it's really good to scroll back to when they got the van and see the conversion then the journey, they took 4 months away, they're back in the UK now and making their way north.

Nick - I plan on zig zagging our way south as I have family in Redcar, Barrow and Gosport so we may well find ourselves passing by and will take you up on that!

Update - Mac- I bought the book, nice to think I am helping him on his travels whilst he helps me with my conversion! 🙂

I lived in a campervan for 4 months, albeit in Australia. It was amazing, but in the UK I think it could be a different story, but people do do it. We didn't have many cold days but when it was cold it was quite hard, everything gets damp from condensation and there is no way of drying it out, especially if it rains.

Also if you aren't driving for a few hours every day the domestic batteries go flat very quickly, we had a small solar panel but it did nothing, in Aus the bigger vans have huge solar panels they put up around their vans but I'm not sure how well they would work here. You do get fridges that run off gas though and of course heating.

Australia is well set up for travelling too apart from the climate, there are free open long drop loos everywhere and showers easily found, there are so many travellers. Very few people run into trouble with thefts, but I'd be worried about thefts of anything lying around the van or in the van in the UK and loos and showers would take more effort to find as I don't think the UK is as used to people travelling around.

I met some guys snowboarding at glencoe once who live in vans in a car park in glencoe all winter though so some people do do it!

I guess I'm saying I'm not sure how great it would be just living in a van in the UK. You'll have a ball once you are on the road though! Great way to live, and it is amazing how little 'stuff' you need to have a great life, just a few changes of clothes, bikes/boards and your van.

My first piece of advice would be, you can't escape your problems by travelling. There will still be a giant void there even if you do drop out for a bit.

My second piece of advice is don't do it in the UK, the UK in general....is a grey, dreary, cold shithole full of sub-clinically depressed arseholes like myself. Go abroad, see the world.

Sazter, have you considered house and pet-sitting your way around the world, or at the very least, the UK?

Just had a retired American guy that I made contact with through a house-sitting website watching my dugs while I was on holiday - that's what he was doing.

S'pose you are less in control of your own destiny than if you have your own van but it strikes me as being a great way to see the world and embed yourself for a a wee while in different, random places, living far more comfortably than in a van in Glasgow in the winter, while providing a service that people are generally very grateful for.

Bigjim - I plan on having 2 big leisure batteries with split relay charging AND solar so it should be ok, I have one just now in my small van and I never come close to running it down, the big van will be similar to the small one I have in simplicity, LED lights, a heater, USB charging sockets, a fridge of some sort and 240v sockets to charge the laptop and anything else that cannot use 12v only. I am also considering using an electric blanket for the time I will be in the UK over winter but having lived in drafty flats with no heating I am quite resourceful at keeping warm so merino socks, lots of layers, my selkbag and then a duvet should keep me toasty, if not I will resort to my sisters couch! The downsides and cold of this stage will be offset by the adventure to follow, I am happy to sacrifice short term comfort for long term adventure, at least in theory, now, I am. Ask if I am still so happy in January!

Tom - I don't think I have any problems to run from, I am currently the happiest I have been in all my life. I am a little bored in work, but that gives me time for research which makes the desire to travel stronger, but I am in no way unhappy. I am in a wonderful, though new, relationship with someone I feel a great connection with, we share dreams and views on many things and have already had some small local adventures. We are taking a trip soon right up to the north of Scotland in my small van and I can't wait!

Stef- I like the thought of being more in control at least for this trip and the freedom to decide at a crossroads if we want to go left or right on a whim, but I might look that up for future ideas, I hope this is not a one off venture. I do have family and friends who I am sure I can rely on for a warm bed/sofa/floor should I need it, but I like the challenge and the slight insanity of the idea of vanning in Scotland in winter. If I survive it will be a good story later on!

I have a facebook friend who spent all last summer in a van in a ski resort. He said the hard bit was stopping the water freezing for breakfast. -17 in the van but he did the whole winter

I've known quite a few travellers and van dwellers of various breeds and fancied it myself since the mid 80s when the hippies and new age travellers used to pass the end of our drive as their convoys rumbled and rattled up and down the A30..

I'm not very mechanically minded so I never got around to it, because unless you're minted, the MOST important part of life on the road is a thorough knowledge of mechanical repair specific to your van..
Good insulation and a wood burner should be your second and third priorities

If you go down the battery route for power golf cart battery's are supposed to be the dogs dodahs. Two banks of good solar panels on the roof wired into a control panel will give you juice aplenty.

Add plenty of insulation too the van. In the UK it's the damp that will get you.

Good look

Yeah.. Your woodburner will keep the damp away

If you are going travelling with your SO who owns a flat, why can't you also move in with her instead of having the discomfort of living in a van for months? Where is the significant cost saving ?

Would love to do this, but marriage, a mortgage etc is all now stopping me.

I'd 3rd the damp issue. UK levels of cold are easyish to get round its all your clothes being damp all you beding gettign damp and all smelling with no way to dry it out. I struggle with this in a small flat in the uk over the winter let alone a van. A wood burner would be an essential for me to help minmise this problem.

Sorry, was on holiday in the sun so missed all these...

ampthill - I will be unlikely to be in the van at -17, but will consider my options for keeping water insulated, as much to keep it cool in summer as not freeze in winter.

yunki - I know a little bit and am happy to learn so hopefully that will get me by, along with getting a solid base van and a good dose of luck. Insulation is high on my list, my last van (now for sale) was toasty enough. Wood burner - depends on space.

pk13 - good call, thanks, will look those up, def looking to add 2 solar panels to the roof on this build.

holdsteady - only been together a few months now, by the time we go will be a year so much more reasonable for living together, and she rents out a room, so would be unfair on the flatmate for me to move in just now really. Living in the van gives me chance to iron out any problems before we hit the road. I will be staying at the OH place and at my sisters if I need to on the coldest weeks.

Teetosugars - Yes, thats why I want to do this now, as I can.

TheBrick - yes, if not wood burner there will be a heater and will need to work out a drying solution for sure. All part of the process!

Keep 'em coming, there more ideas I have before I get started on the big van the better, thanks!