@JustKip @Castlepaloma I’m not upset or scolding anyone, no personal skin in the game, but just so y’all know and don’t get yourself in trouble with the wrong crowd: gypsy is considered a racial slur. In Europe they call themselves the Romani people and the Irish-American group that lives this way call themselves Travellers. It seems like a fine, romantic word to most of us North American white guys who haven’t seen the ugly side of their treatment in Europe, but if you’re ever talking to someone who is a wanderer for real, from any ethnic group in particular or if you’re talking to especially woke young liberals I wouldn’t use that word to self identify these days. Ive made the same mistake, just thought I’d explain it kindly before someone does so angrily at ya. Just a tip, take it or leave it ?

@Wurlitzer
I get it, the jews were called the Gypsies of Europe. I only use the word Gypsy when I am with group or individual that is safe. After traveling a 100 coutries and most of the middle East, I merit the name Gypsy. Best learning experience of my entire life.

Most people are slaves to this social and economic crisis right now. Your cause shall grow in leaps and bounds. Even I would rather live in a car then spend most of my life not liking my work and be in debt for life including your children.

@JustKip
I lived in vans for a short time due to financial reasons. I am thinking healthier long term basic places , to afford trips away also. My totally self substainable tiny homes cost $35,000, less in Colombia . Making short visit or visiting one different country a year would be wonderful and affordable.

@JustKip
Think so too, it could expand to other alternatives.

@JustKip
Will keep in touch, thank you.

I've seen plenty of mini van conversions and they seem to work really well for people on long haul trips like Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, although you would want a 4x4 option or at least all wheel drive for that kind of trip. Some people carry large tents you can stand up in and add them to the side of their vans to increase living space or they pull a small trailer like a tear drop which are a great way to get a conversation going at a new camp. It is nice to be able to unhook your home for sightseeing trips and shopping etc.

@Surfpirate thanks for the reply.....currently i'm using a hatch tent attachment for local camp trips but wanted something that didn't require the same kind of camp site setup for a cross country trip.... and that i could stand up in

@JustKip thanks for the reply. it's 6 cylinders. i had a home made tear drop in the past and loved it. i bought it from a civil war re-enactor for $800, put about $100 into it and camped in it many times. now i'm looking for something more self contained that i can standup in.....thinking aliner or rpod......

@JustKip We found that the US was the most discriminatory of places when it came to driving an older motorhome with some of them being quite rude about having us stay or at best letting us stay only one night in the visitor spot, usually in a shitty location that was often near the dump station. The beach in the picture was called The Pirate Beach and when I got stuck in the soft sand it was the pirates who lived next door who came over and help pull me out with their 4x4. They wouldn't even take my in thanks but gladly accepted the bottle of tequila I offered them, good people although they do have a habit of robbing people when the fishing gets slow.

@JustKip I've seen all manner of rigs, from converted Chrysler mini vans to high end diesel pushers with multiple slides and a brand new Jeep toad (they got hijacked for their toad - why not just walk around a really poor neighbourhood wearing a Rolex?) a 40' 1950's GMC delivery truck with the fuselage of an airplane mounted in it at Palenque, converted school buses and Greyhound buses, even a converted tour bus from some Rock Band that I was familiar with but can't remember the name of now and of course Mercedes delivery vans converted to high end mini motorhomes.

@JustKip great idea. I need to get an online job. I've always aspired to be a travel writer.

@JustKip lately, just a personal blog, weekly email newsletter, and I just started a recipe blog. Once I'm back on my feet, a travel blog might be created.

@JustKip no. Strictly for my own entertainment. I used to write a daily column for an online publication for about five years. The publication is no longer online.