Thread: Could you actually live long-term in a van?

Originally Posted by The ho har's

Mick, you have not seen our finished caravan. I could possibly live in ours permanently. We designed it to our requirements and suits me very well. My thought is if you design your caravan to your requirements then defiantly you could live in it permanently. Without the need to sell your property.

It was definitely the best looking caravan at Corowa - we all wished we could have "moved in"

Hi,

Ever since this thread started I have been wondering whether to post this, and I am doing so because I believe it could be quite relevant to those considering a life of the nomad/adventurer without a base.

It is certainly not meant as an example against the idea but it is just a story that I thought I should post about those aspects of life that we all need to be aware of particularly with advancing years.

It is a sad story and I truly hope that it eventually had a happier outcome for the couple than that which seemed to be presenting in the time that we knew about it.

On a recent holiday to FNQ by air + rental car, we ran across this situation. A couple who were living the retirement dream in a car+caravan were being faced with some of the health problems that can come with advancing years.

The trouble was that the guy had virtually reached “the end of his road” as far as dementia and other health deterioration goes.

There was evidently no prepared alternative/backup plan for rest of her life, and the female partner was not comfortable even driving the rig as necessary. There was no mention of family support but I hope it was available for them.

The female partner also did not seem to have a grasp of how to assist her partner to manage his deteriorating conditions.

With the increasing number of nomad adventurers who have abandoned a fixed home I imagine that some homecare packages for the elderly are now being made available to people living in caravan parks.

At the time my wife was faced with an emergency health issue and was soon transferred on to Cairns Base Hospital where she had the best of care and made good progress towards apparently full recovery.

We eventually had family assistance to get back home as flying was now out of the question for us due to my wife's condition. The issues of those weeks in August-September certainly reminded me that we are so very fortunate to have a supportive family. In my 75th year I am so very aware that the unexpected can very well occur unexpectedly.

I do not know of the outcome for the aged couple in this story and I have often wondered what happened for them.

If any reader can glean any advice from all of this it will have been worthwhile posting.

Originally Posted by The ho har's

Mick, you have not seen our finished caravan. I could possibly live in ours permanently. We designed it to our requirements and suits me very well. My thought is if you design your caravan to your requirements then defiantly you could live in it permanently. Without the need to sell your property.

Agreed. Mine still needs a bit of work but I could (and probably will) head off on a working holiday at some point in the not too distant future, keeping the house though as I could just rent it and cover the Mortgage without too many issues. My next door neighbor has done just this herself and is spending 3 years on the road in her van now. Hopefully I’ll catch up with her somewhere around this great country.

Originally Posted by 87County

Hi,

Ever since this thread started I have been wondering whether to post this, and I am doing so because I believe it could be quite relevant to those considering a life of the nomad/adventurer without a base.

It is certainly not meant as an example against the idea but it is just a story that I thought I should post about those aspects of life that we all need to be aware of particularly with advancing years.

It is a sad story and I truly hope that it eventually had a happier outcome for the couple than that which seemed to be presenting in the time that we knew about it

This is a story which I can relate to, and thus, hopefully through some half decent planing, and the stars aligning, we won’t be put in this type of situation.

I was supposed to start my journey at 45,, young enough and fit enough (theoretically) to tackle it all. This came from advice from a couple of old men at “Ayres Rock” as it was known back then, when I was just 16 years old. The plan was hatched 🐣.

Two divorces have taken theyre toll,, but all’s good now. The brides been taught how to tow the van, and is comfortable doing so,,, I’m 55 now, and itchy feet as a description doesn’t even come close,, so much so,, I’m getting quite grumpy 😡 for the delays.

Originally Posted by The ho har's

Mick, you have not seen our finished caravan. I could possibly live in ours permanently. We designed it to our requirements and suits me very well. My thought is if you design your caravan to your requirements then defiantly you could live in it permanently. Without the need to sell your property.

Defying all nay-sayers?

Originally Posted by 87County

Hi,

Ever since this thread started I have been wondering whether to post this, and I am doing so because I believe it could be quite relevant to those considering a life of the nomad/adventurer without a base.

It is certainly not meant as an example against the idea but it is just a story that I thought I should post about those aspects of life that we all need to be aware of particularly with advancing years.

It is a sad story and I truly hope that it eventually had a happier outcome for the couple than that which seemed to be presenting in the time that we knew about it.

On a recent holiday to FNQ by air + rental car, we ran across this situation. A couple who were living the retirement dream in a car+caravan were being faced with some of the health problems that can come with advancing years.

The trouble was that the guy had virtually reached “the end of his road” as far as dementia and other health deterioration goes.

There was evidently no prepared alternative/backup plan for rest of her life, and the female partner was not comfortable even driving the rig as necessary. There was no mention of family support but I hope it was available for them.

The female partner also did not seem to have a grasp of how to assist her partner to manage his deteriorating conditions.

With the increasing number of nomad adventurers who have abandoned a fixed home I imagine that some homecare packages for the elderly are now being made available to people living in caravan parks.

At the time my wife was faced with an emergency health issue and was soon transferred on to Cairns Base Hospital where she had the best of care and made good progress towards apparently full recovery.

We eventually had family assistance to get back home as flying was now out of the question for us due to my wife's condition. The issues of those weeks in August-September certainly reminded me that we are so very fortunate to have a supportive family. In my 75th year I am so very aware that the unexpected can very well occur unexpectedly.

I do not know of the outcome for the aged couple in this story and I have often wondered what happened for them.

If any reader can glean any advice from all of this it will have been worthwhile posting.

Thanks for sharing. ...all the more reason not to wait until retirement / old age to hit the road.

I’d rather finish my days in FNQ unable to drive any further than in a nursing home too early.

Best wishes all with your escaoe plans.

We're going to leave a note in the van and tug, telling the finder to contact our daughter to come and pick up her inheritance!

Originally Posted by 87County

Hi,

Ever since this thread started I have been wondering whether to post this, .

Lifes funny,,

that couple had no idea how you got there,, just as you have no idea--

Maybe they were having a Thelma & Louise moment...

Maybe elebentyseven years later the guy just got sick,,

Australia as I know it wouldnt have abandoned the wife,,

sure having heaps of dough and a Masters degree in project planning might help in our old age--

but damn,, how boring would that be??