Millennials, Zillenials = we're financially f'ked .. things won't improve until we get boomers out of office, and have term limits on courts and congress
I am retired and living exclusively on social security. I converted a 12 x 6 enclosed cargo trailer in 2019 and bought a 2002 Chevy Avalanche to pull it a year later. I pay no rent or electricity. I scrounge water and dumping trash is fairly easy. Cooking, bathroom and showers I deal with in multiple ways. Last memorial day made it 5 years I permanently moved in the trailer. I use solar and generators. I do not live free. Gasoline is my biggest bill. It substitutes all the expenses of an apartment or a mortgage. However it is a fraction of the cost of living in bricks and sticks. This is the way of the future. Cities suck so it is the wilds and small towns for me. With approximately $1500 a month coming in I save $300 regularly. You do not need 75% of the junk and space you are impoverishing yourself for. No debt and freedom what is not to love?
I totally agree that living smaller is the future. We don't need all the space we create for business and living. It is in the design, not in the size. Whether it's on wheels or on a foundation, small spaces are the way to go. We only need a fraction of what we have. If we got rid of everything we have not used in the past two years we'd all be better off, and so would others who could buy all this stuff for cheap. I believe that heating and cooling also will be built into our clothing. Already we have clothing that will heat you with in-sewn batteries (vests, gloves, hats, pants, shoes) and clothes that can cool you with nothing more than water and perhaps a cooling chest or freezer. Why heat/cool an entire house when you aren't even there? There are a variety of personal space capsules that are designed for outdoor sports and recreation, and these "pods" can just as easily be adapted to home living.
After my WIFE PASSED AWAY , I went nuts and ended up in a nursing home ! It took me 3 months too get myself togeather , and get out of thier ! I bought my 22 foot R V and sold the house and moved into my new home on 6 wheels ! That was 6 and a half years ago , and 63 thousand miles later ! 😊 R V LIFE !
I live in a large studio aprtmnt (Nearly a 1bdrm apt.) It has a bedroom.And I pay $1305. In a area called tukwila outside Seattle... Yall tripping with these videos on RUclips these days..
@@nickm5419 Can you carry in NYC? Especially in a camper? I almost accepted an offer and moved to New England and then investigated the "protection" laws. I would have to get rid of half my stash!! No WAY!! Turned it down. I love to practice for a hobby and have fun items to do that with. Trying to be discrete so YT does not cut off my comment. LOL Talk about being stealthy.
I'm from NYC and I remember a man who lived on a rooftop somewhere for over 10 years rain or shine. I hung out with him, he did a campfire, was the coolest thing, he was like Batman lol No rent, noone bothered him. Noone cared lol God Bless him. 😅
My wife and I lived in a 4runner totally self contained enough water and storage for a weeks at a time in the Mexico Sonora Desert. We rarely went without even a 45 gallon water tank/shower! Tables slid on top of a custom fit mattress and a solar powered cooler that helped ice last for a week! We had solar lighting that rolled out and lit up the entire campground area, and we had a solar charger for the car battery in case it went dead from our inverter.
For roughly 15 years I lived in a '77 Dodge Sportsman van that I partially converted, like adding a small sink and fridge, a double burner coleman stove and a composting toilet for emergencies. I also added a folding table by the rear bench seat that folded down into about a double sized bed. I kept a coulpe of lawn chairs and a habachi along with a roll up awning on the entrance side so I could pull up anywhere like a park or beach to chill and cook. It was just the ticket for me, being single and only having to worry about myself and my doggo. I eventually installed some small cabinets and other integated storage spots for clothes, dry goods, tools, etc. I put a 1/2" pad and office carpet in and some old shag carpet on the walls and ceiling with some 10R foam insulation behind it for noise reduction and a bit of insulation from the Florida sun. I had 12V fans at first and a bit later found a small ŕooftop AC/heater unit and put it in which made things much more bearable. I also put a small genny on the back with a half lenth luggage rack as a base and an insulated box around it. But, yeah, I was basically a beach bum for all those years, but I did hold down a job with my uncle's comstruction firm. The only real bills I had were gasoline and food. It allowed me to save up enough money to move to Ohio and buy a small house and 20 acres in the middle of nowhere outright with enough left over for some gardening and shop equipment and a hefty down payment on a '95 F-150. It ended up working out very well for me.
the fact you can rent a parking spot on the street with both water and power is the amazing part, I was wondering the whole time how he gets his utilities and he finally answered it at 7:48
When rent prices are outrageous, tactics like this are absolutely the move. You do you man, very awesome video! Your home and wheels looks cozy and comfortable!
@@NYC_VanLife 💦👖 Awesome video! I live in a van, down by the river & I like Levi Jeans Does that make me a Mermaid 🧜♀️If I have River Jeans 🧬 Water Genes? I skipped a little bit, like a rock 🪨 on water 💦
free in many parts of Queens - some parts where you don't even have to move for street cleaning. Get to know the home owners in the area, too, and you'll have a neighborhood watch of some sorts. Maybe even some 'adopted' grandparents to have holidays with.
i live in a van down by the river... keep the inspiration coming. I'm almost convinced that how other ppl/family will view my future decision to do something like this & minimalize my lifestyle (for a plethora of reasons), will not affect me. Im almost convinced their opinions won't matter. Middle aged, thoroughly self sufficient & have always had a "do unto other's as you'd have them do unto u" mindset & I'm still giving energy & merit to what others might think about me...smh...I get on my own nerves. After having more than I've needed most of my life & understanding the upkeep of said "stuff" is a task in itself, I'm over it. I want peace & I think, this is the way. Thank u for sharing, love ur content...its greatly appreciated...I'm learning
I remember checking out an ad for a roommate in NYC. The guy was renting out a space in his boat that was moored off the west side highway. You had to run across the highway, walk through an area with an aggressive looking German shepherd, crawl over a barrier and jump three feet over the water onto the boat. It had a great view of downtown waterfront and was cheap with fresh air and occasional parties.
One night the jump was 3' 6" due to a rough storm . He hit his head and sadly expired . When I took over his boat I just slid a 4 foot 2 x 10 into the water hung on a hook . I used that instead of jumping until I was hit over the head with it one night trying to retrieve it . That guy has the boat now .
I Live in a van down by the river - NOW- I think Caleb is killing it. He obviously has found a safe place to call his home. The person who rents him the space actually is lucky. By having a pretty much full time occupant he doesn't have to deal with conflicts with people parking their who are not renting the space. He also seems to have a great renter in Caleb, someone who is consciences.
Live in a van down by the river. I live in Queens New York and we have a lot of van lifers here in my neighborhood. There are so many places to park and be stealth.
I would never laugh at him, if I were younger, I'd love to live in a cute little camper van like this. I'd never be able to get my fat ass up on that bed at my age though.
Not to shit on him but the point of money is to upgrade your lifestyle, especially before you get too old to enjoy it. And having most of your money at mid six figures in the bank would be really stupid.
You can enjoy your money and spend some as you go! But this one guys comment his mindset is why America is totally broke and becoming homeless. Living out of your means the New home and 2 New cars (Keeping up with the Joneses) is why you are broke, strapped in debt and have Way More Assets than cash! This is why this mindset the borrower will be a slave to the lender for life!!!! I choose to live off grid because I wanted to. Not cause I had to. I was tired of my house and so much I wanted to keep things simpler! Not trying to hoot my horn. But I'm debt free, excellent credit, a 830 credit score, enough food, water, propane, metals, money and more to last a several years! I'm very disciplined my dad was basically a drill sergeant that would make Trump look weak! I work for myself that's the real American dream for me! This mindset (With No Spending Control Is Dangerous) this guy doesn't see a recession, depression and massive finical collapse coming. Like most like him about 87% are in debt! He's been watching to much TV!!! If financially people like him get to close to the edge with bills they can loose everything. And end up homeless trying live outside their means. Like my dad said "Money Doesn't Come With Instructions!!!!"
It is truly terrible that people in America work as much as we do and still have to adjust to living in a space the size of a jail cell in order to save money and enjoy small pleasures. I am happy that he is happy but this is unfortunate overall.
Canada , places in Europe , although I did not see any of this in Switzerland ,perhaps when I was in Switzerland ,I did not look in the right places or wrong places .
He chose this lifestyle and he isn't complaining either. He is happy. Many European cities are equally expensive and Japan is insane. People have apartments the size of coffins a few feet wide and a few feet high. They even call them coffin apartments and if an MRI gave you claustrophobia, you would never survive one night in the vampire suites of Tokyo. I get so sick of the whining.
Smart guy Van Life is the new trend now days. Go where you want and take your house with you. Just use your utilities more that's part of having your own.
This is great for those who choose this sort of housing and lifestyle, but I can't help but feel sad that we have to resort to this sort of living quarters now instead of having the dream of owning a house and yard for your own family.
I owned a house a long time ago. Brand new, custom-designed. I was miserable (loved the house itself, but not the being a homeowner part). I don't want lots of space, don't want to own things (especially things that are hard to sell when I want to up and leave quickly). Don't want a yard (no kids, no dogs, allergic to grass). All that upkeep sounds tiring. Just because someone is living this way, doesn't mean they are "resorting" to it. My dream is to live in a tiny but well-designed apartment... preferably in Norway, but that's a pipe dream. For now, I'm in a small-ish apartment in the heart of Seattle. Love it!
Why would you feel bad. I am a homeowner and constantly having to put money into this place and wait for my insurance and property tax to go up. A lot of people envy this lifestyle.
It’s something I’m contemplating heavily. I currently live in a 4600 sq ft home and I love it so much, but my brain really longs for a super simple life with never ending freedom and travel. If I can find a fully remote position, I just might make the move. Selling my house would give me the ability to purchase a “mobile” home and enjoy that real nomad lifestyle.
The problem with living in an RV/Van/Camper is they are very expensive to purchase and keep running AND if you don't make good money, have money saved or have something of value to sell it's almost impossible. Even if you bought one cheap you still have to get it "up and running" and that can get expensive as well. And one more thing....gas prices are continually going up so even people that already have one are going to be running into trouble. I have been looking into this for years now and I'm NOT trying to discourage anyone from doing this but just some things to think about.
I started off by just getting a van, no build just a mattress on the floor 1500$ down payment and then 500$ a month plus insurance, I would save 500$ a month from my check for build outs. Started with flooring and insulation the first month then the next month I did a bed platform and a temporary cabinet. I went on like this for about six months until I was happy with the functionality.
@@NYC_VanLife Yep, I forgot to mention insurance. Still too expensive for anyone on a "fixed income" with no savings and no place to stay without paying "rent & utilities" in order to purchase with insurance and fix up. I am so happy that it did work out for you though. God bless you and your adventures.
@@living4truth ya in nyc theres not anything that cheap and at my restaurant job I had at the time I was making 500$ for 3 days- 2k a month roughly- easily doable for a able body in nyc- min wage now is 15$ an hour so even if you’re working 3 day at 8hours - any job- this is attainable
@@NYC_VanLife I don't live in nyc and I don't make anywhere close to that monthly and I have to pay Rent, utilities, Insurance, doctor and medical bills, credit card debt etc. etc. etc. and there is barely any money left to buy food each month so for me it's not attainable.
My 02 Pleasure Way had 80 miles and it was less than $20k. The maintenance is typical and the few times I've needed expensive repairs, I make sure to save up. My full coverage insurance includes rental and housing costs if I'm ever displaced and after 5 years it's UP to $73 a month. RVs are also eligible for loans. 5 years and I can't wait to build a custom van!
I stayed in my T@B in my Son's driveway for 9 months between September to May over winter and I was pretty warm but the high winds in winter really drove dust into it. It made a perfect room while I helped them out with childcare.
On the exterior, that is the nicest looking camper/RV I've seen. If any were on my street, that's what I would hope to see. I enjoyed the vid, and am happy he found what works for him.
I drove long haul (semi truck) for awhile after I retired from my regular career, to fulfill a boyhood desire to do this (my dad did also) and I met so many smart young ambitious and rugged guys who committed to a few years of straight driving, living in their trucks on the road and going home to their parents for occasional home time. Their plans were to save enough money to one day come off the road and open/run their own business, whatever that may be, rather than working for someone else. I'm sure many of them achieved this. One guy I stayed in touch with, built his dream house, overlooking the Columbia River Gorge (Oregon/Washington) when he got married and started a family, while running a freight brokerage and providing a great life for his family- I really wish I had thought of that when I was their age... Nothing like total financial freedom!
I live in a van down by the river. Loved this video. I lived in nyc in 69th between Columbus and CPW doorman building in a fabulous “big” 1brm and paid 1800 a month for 8yrs(99-2007). I became close to the family that rented to me and now they get 3600 a month. This was not a thing then-but I would’ve been so down for it!
Live in a van down by the river. Love your content. Glad to see others are finding a way to make it in this economy where inflation is rampant and real wages are not keeping up with costs.
Nice setup. My first apartment was on st. Marks & 2nd and was about the size of your van and I paid $2k/month….15 years ago. My rent now in financial district is just embarrassing & borderline criminal.
If that doesn't describe rent today in Manhattan..."embarrassing & borderline criminal" I don't know what does. It's always been very expensive, but today it's beyond exorbitant.
The algorithm recommendation gods sent me here & now I’m definitely subscribed with the notification bell. Hopefully soon I will be living “down by the river” but being a nomad traveling all over in a stealth van is what I’d prefer
I live in the van down by the river. I need to say that videos like this give me the motivation to save and plan for the future. Love seeing how people live differently and what they're doing to get by.
I “Live in a van down by the river” NYC is amazing for all the reasons you mentioned plus the fact that you can find innovative ways to live “there” - there usually means being close to a subway or metro north - but you really are there!
Love the camper and would like to know where one can purchase a similar one. I'd like to remind people to not disclose too much information where they can be found etc. In NYC pretty much everything is illegal and the powers that be are happy to enforce. That being said love the set up and hope it works out for him!
What is the peace of mind? Security? Safety? If so there are lots of solutions to that. Anyway tbh you are not safe in your apartment or house. Plus people are trying to take away from you everything you have -- constantly. Both government and bad guys want what you have.
I lived in sticks and bricks most of my life, then a van for four and half years, then rented again for a couple years. After that I realized it's better for me to go back to a van. Throwing away all this money on rent every month unnecessarily...yeah I'm done with that. It's van chapter two now for almost a year so far. Honestly I feel safer this way too...
I live in the UK and will NEVER be able to afford to buy a house, rent is disgustingly high. I have honestly given doing this serious thought. A monthly gym membership would give me 24hr access to showers. Well done to this guy. I am still thinking about doing this. A parking spot here is between £150 - £300 a month, a fraction of a £1200 rent plus bills.
Levi's. Kidding. I watched the whole video. Great video. The one thing that made me curious is that how do you get water/elec hook up on the side of the street? I thought there was some NYC restriction on that? Or am I mistaken.
I live in a van down by the river. I moved into my van over a year ago. Had to sell most of my property, gave loads away too. Quite refreshing to discard all the physical trappings I'd accumulated over years of materialistic living. Van is mostly self built, with some help from friends. It's pretty basic, but it's warm and dry and is truly my happy place. 😊 Houseless, but not homeless.
Levi’s jeans. How much is your parking spot costing? Your van looks very spacious because it’s very well designed. The bed above the cab is def the way to go, and it leaves you with lots of seating for friends. Very cool and smart way to live, especially as it’s just you and you’re not into cooking. Having a gym nearby for exercise and showers blends in nicely with your van being your home base. I t would be interesting to know what, if anything, the neighbors in the brownstones have said. How are you hooked up to water and electric there? Are their metered stations on the street? 😊❤️
I live in a van down by the river. Actually I wish I did... I lived in Crown Heights for 59 years, (right next door to Park Slope), before leaving NYC for good. What he's doing is fantastic, and I wish I could have done the same. Kudos!
Thats cool! But im curious how did you find this spot? via a parking app? Like i dont understand how you come from Kansas and get in contact with someone(not a parking lot, but an actual person) in NYC to rent most likely their parking space. Also, pls explain the electricity and power hookups at this parking spot. Pls explain. Thnx!
@@NYC_VanLife I see, thanks for answering... And did the parking spot come with a designated electricity power and water outlet? If not, where were you extending the cords to....outside to a building/cafe/etc? Ty!
oh my gosh, your van/camper is adorable! I'm thinking it's from Japan? at least those are the type used in Japan. Very cool. If I was starting over or didn't have my house I would consider living in this way or in a tiny house or house boat. I love having land though...digging in the dirt is good for the soil, I guess that's what community gardens are for!
That's a perfect van in NYC. It's not stealth that's for sure, but if you got a good and safe spot that what you need. However, I would try to use all the stuff on the van or it's going to stop working. Like the stove or shower, etc. Best of luck and it's awesome
Live in a van down by the river! That is just SO awesome! I take it he uses public transportation everywhere and just leaves his van parked. I would love a situation like that...especially if I was saving a whole lot of money!
This camper is awesome! I live in an RPod travel trailer now too and was thinking how some apts in NYC are about the same size. lol. You have way more storage space than I do though! No fair!
Close the borders, break up monopolies, decrease regulations, put sanctions on China, legalize all firearms in nyc and other places they are banned. These are all things that are constitutionally required, yet they are being ignored. Why does nyc and democrat states seemingly just get to wipe their butt with the constitution?
When I did the RV life I just parked it in friends back yards and then eventually inside a warehouse worked out great for me because I never wanted to travel just wanted to live cheaper. Glad I was able to fix up the top floor of that warehouse and give up the Rv finally.
Does he use the electric hookup for things like heating and cooling? NYC can get rather cold and quite hot, does he have devices for that? This seems rather practical if he is depending on the gym to shower and restaurants for food. A big benefit I can imagine is a drastically reduced risk of bed bugs, roaches, rats, whereas an apartment building can spread that to the cleanest person. Has he ever had rats try to nest in his engine area?
This is cool, but our country is fucked when this is what average hard working people have to resort to in order to be able to afford to call someplace "home."
Ok I'm at the start of your video but I was wondering when I saw the title, how do you handle black and gray tanks. So you pretty much use Planet Fitness for shower and cassette emptying. Cool beans. Where did you purchase your Japanese camper?
Soon all of New York will be filled with these home vans the way it’s going now with extremely high rent costs. The crazy thing is most of the apartment buildings in the 5 boroughs are 50 years old and older so those buildings should definitely be paid off, but owners are aloud to charge what ever they want. The rich get rich and the poor stay poor. It’s sickening. Not to mention there are not many good paying jobs for everyone in NYC. Levi jeans
I don't think you understand that making a large vehicle bulletproof isn't a cheap endeavor. And the guy living in the van obviously isn't loaded with $
he can make great money and get great Job experience for a few years and then buy a house with all that money he saved and find somewhere new perfect just for him... It's not a bad Idea really if your main focus is to save money
I live in a van down by the river (couldn't we have just said Chris Farley instead? lol) Would have liked to have seen how he is connected into shore power/water in this parking spot. I lived for 10 years and Manhattan and one of my friends still lives in Park Slope, yet I'm having a difficult time understanding how/where this guy is parked. Is this someone's driveway?
Would have liked hearing this young man say if he has a job in NYC, and if he doesn't, why is he camping out in Brooklyn? I left NYC in 1998 and moved to Europe. During the ten years I lived there, I was a slave of my rent. The wages in Europe are generally much lower than in the US but one can find much much cheaper housing here, especially if you're OK living in a small apt.
I thought that it looked like the campers i'd seen watching the Japanese RVers videos. Its a more compact size overall. It has some different features that are unique but also much more sensical,like the kitchen in the back by the door and window. A lot of features in a small camper.
![[DRAGON BALL LEGENDS REVEALS ＆ STUFF] LEGENDS FESTIVAL 2024 Special Edition Part 1](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/mV5bGIswTtQ/mqdefault.jpg)
This used to be called homeless, and now its just practical.
He's houseless not homeless
@@NinaDiscoWhy do you assume people don’t work hard for these nicer campers?
Millennials, Zillenials = we're financially f'ked .. things won't improve until we get boomers out of office, and have term limits on courts and congress
I get what you're saying, but living in an RV doesn't count as being homeless
We should not have to live like this.
I am retired and living exclusively on social security. I converted a 12 x 6 enclosed cargo trailer in 2019 and bought a 2002 Chevy Avalanche to pull it a year later. I pay no rent or electricity. I scrounge water and dumping trash is fairly easy. Cooking, bathroom and showers I deal with in multiple ways. Last memorial day made it 5 years I permanently moved in the trailer. I use solar and generators. I do not live free. Gasoline is my biggest bill. It substitutes all the expenses of an apartment or a mortgage. However it is a fraction of the cost of living in bricks and sticks. This is the way of the future. Cities suck so it is the wilds and small towns for me. With approximately $1500 a month coming in I save $300 regularly. You do not need 75% of the junk and space you are impoverishing yourself for. No debt and freedom what is not to love?
This is the way!
You should make a video of your setup!
@@jasonsmith1649 Thank you. It is the best solution for me. It isn't just the money.
I totally agree that living smaller is the future. We don't need all the space we create for business and living. It is in the design, not in the size. Whether it's on wheels or on a foundation, small spaces are the way to go. We only need a fraction of what we have. If we got rid of everything we have not used in the past two years we'd all be better off, and so would others who could buy all this stuff for cheap. I believe that heating and cooling also will be built into our clothing. Already we have clothing that will heat you with in-sewn batteries (vests, gloves, hats, pants, shoes) and clothes that can cool you with nothing more than water and perhaps a cooling chest or freezer. Why heat/cool an entire house when you aren't even there? There are a variety of personal space capsules that are designed for outdoor sports and recreation, and these "pods" can just as easily be adapted to home living.
Love all of this
After my WIFE PASSED AWAY , I went nuts and ended up in a nursing home ! It took me 3 months too get myself togeather , and get out of thier ! I bought my 22 foot R V and sold the house and moved into my new home on 6 wheels ! That was 6 and a half years ago , and 63 thousand miles later ! 😊 R V LIFE !
That’s wonderful to hear. I’m glad you’re doing well brother. Keep it up. Proud of you.
What happens when your vehicle has to go in the shop?
I’m glad you got out of the nursing home!
@@mattr.1887 just be happy for him
Homeless period !!
Live in a van down by the river. That camper is actually pretty amazing. And not having to pay $3,200 a month for a studio is a win.
You could afford 10 vans by the river if you just knew where to live.
I live in a large studio aprtmnt
(Nearly a 1bdrm apt.) It has a
bedroom.And I pay $1305.
In a area called tukwila
outside Seattle...
Yall tripping with these
videos on RUclips these
days..
@@I-canMakeTheGlobeShiftYou pay well over $1000 to rent a less than 1 bedroom apartment. Are you saying this is a positive thing?
@@clarsand10
Apparently so 😅🤦♂️
They’re the ones “trippin’”
@@I-canMakeTheGlobeShifttukwila is a shithole where criminals outnumber the regular civilians
Need to make sure. Door has double locks. Safety is number one
You mean pack some heat, locks are easily broken
@@tru3sk1llabsolutely, pack a Revolver with BIG rounds, they'll definitely find out!
Yes always have protection !
@@nickm5419 Can you carry in NYC? Especially in a camper? I almost accepted an offer and moved to New England and then investigated the "protection" laws. I would have to get rid of half my stash!! No WAY!! Turned it down. I love to practice for a hobby and have fun items to do that with. Trying to be discrete so YT does not cut off my comment. LOL Talk about being stealthy.
i can go right throough the wall of this in less than a minute
I'm from NYC and I remember a man who lived on a rooftop somewhere for over 10 years rain or shine. I hung out with him, he did a campfire, was the coolest thing, he was like Batman lol No rent, noone bothered him. Noone cared lol God Bless him. 😅
When I lived in Bushwick someone had this small shed he lived in on a roof. I love cool living like that
If you don't mind me asking, what kind of shelter did he have? A shed? Tent?
@@tony0786 it was like a home depot level shed. It’s still there
Pssst….Batman was a secret billionaire….pass it on
he built a fire on the roof? Did he eventually get kicked out?
I DO live in a van down by the river. Sometimes. Or by the ocean. Or mountain. Or lake. Or desert…
My wife and I lived in a 4runner totally self contained enough water and storage for a weeks at a time in the Mexico Sonora Desert. We rarely went without even a 45 gallon water tank/shower! Tables slid on top of a custom fit mattress and a solar powered cooler that helped ice last for a week! We had solar lighting that rolled out and lit up the entire campground area, and we had a solar charger for the car battery in case it went dead from our inverter.
😂
Same.
This.
For roughly 15 years I lived in a '77 Dodge Sportsman van that I partially converted, like adding a small sink and fridge, a double burner coleman stove and a composting toilet for emergencies. I also added a folding table by the rear bench seat that folded down into about a double sized bed. I kept a coulpe of lawn chairs and a habachi along with a roll up awning on the entrance side so I could pull up anywhere like a park or beach to chill and cook. It was just the ticket for me, being single and only having to worry about myself and my doggo. I eventually installed some small cabinets and other integated storage spots for clothes, dry goods, tools, etc. I put a 1/2" pad and office carpet in and some old shag carpet on the walls and ceiling with some 10R foam insulation behind it for noise reduction and a bit of insulation from the Florida sun. I had 12V fans at first and a bit later found a small ŕooftop AC/heater unit and put it in which made things much more bearable. I also put a small genny on the back with a half lenth luggage rack as a base and an insulated box around it. But, yeah, I was basically a beach bum for all those years, but I did hold down a job with my uncle's comstruction firm. The only real bills I had were gasoline and food. It allowed me to save up enough money to move to Ohio and buy a small house and 20 acres in the middle of nowhere outright with enough left over for some gardening and shop equipment and a hefty down payment on a '95 F-150. It ended up working out very well for me.
Love this story
Proud of you! I lost my beloved son in July 2017. You have to do what's best for you!🙏
Love how the video looks and sounds like filmed in the 1990s, nostalgia
Peace of mind is actually priceless. So good job on creating you peace in the city that never sleeps.
This is the life I strive for. There is a difference between houseless and homeless. Here's to living your best life! 🎉
Live in a van down by the river. Great to see this. He found a perfect parking spot! Smart young man ! All the best to him
the fact you can rent a parking spot on the street with both water and power is the amazing part, I was wondering the whole time how he gets his utilities and he finally answered it at 7:48
When rent prices are outrageous, tactics like this are absolutely the move. You do you man, very awesome video! Your home and wheels looks cozy and comfortable!
Live in a van down by the river. What a smart, happy young man! Living his best life.
Great guy
@@NYC_VanLife 💦👖 Awesome video! I live in a van, down by the river & I like Levi Jeans
Does that make me a Mermaid 🧜♀️If I have River Jeans 🧬 Water Genes?
I skipped a little bit, like a rock 🪨 on water 💦
@@eveadame1059cringe
I miss Chris Farley
Milf
free in many parts of Queens - some parts where you don't even have to move for street cleaning. Get to know the home owners in the area, too, and you'll have a neighborhood watch of some sorts. Maybe even some 'adopted' grandparents to have holidays with.
That’s a really freaking cool idea. Having random holiday meals with random families would actually be so much fun!!
i live in a van down by the river...
keep the inspiration coming. I'm almost convinced that how other ppl/family will view my future decision to do something like this & minimalize my lifestyle (for a plethora of reasons), will not affect me. Im almost convinced their opinions won't matter.
Middle aged, thoroughly self sufficient & have always had a "do unto other's as you'd have them do unto u" mindset & I'm still giving energy & merit to what others might think about me...smh...I get on my own nerves. After having more than I've needed most of my life & understanding the upkeep of said "stuff" is a task in itself, I'm over it. I want peace & I think, this is the way.
Thank u for sharing, love ur content...its greatly appreciated...I'm learning
"I get on my own nerves" What a great line.
That movie was a preface to what is happening now.
I remember checking out an ad for a roommate in NYC. The guy was renting out a space in his boat that was moored off the west side highway. You had to run across the highway, walk through an area with an aggressive looking German shepherd, crawl over a barrier and jump three feet over the water onto the boat. It had a great view of downtown waterfront and was cheap with fresh air and occasional parties.
One night the jump was 3' 6" due to a rough storm . He hit his head and sadly expired . When I took over his boat I just slid a 4 foot 2 x 10 into the water hung on a hook . I used that instead of jumping until I was hit over the head with it one night trying to retrieve it . That guy has the boat now .
Sounds like an exciting way to live, I’m kind of jealous
lmfao @@MichaelDuignan-p2c
@@MichaelDuignan-p2coh no. I hope you have somewhere to live again now
That sounds like an obstacle course!😳
I Live in a van down by the river - NOW- I think Caleb is killing it. He obviously has found a safe place to call his home. The person who rents him the space actually is lucky. By having a pretty much full time occupant he doesn't have to deal with conflicts with people parking their who are not renting the space. He also seems to have a great renter in Caleb, someone who is consciences.
Live in a van down by the river. I live in Queens New York and we have a lot of van lifers here in my neighborhood. There are so many places to park and be stealth.
Astoria?
@@NYC_VanLife Yes 😀 there are a lot of them in Astoria, I love it
@@Bigcat624 ya I’ve parked by Astoria park. Not bad but too far from things
I live in a van don by the river.
Dude probably has 500k in the bank, for those of you laughing at him.
I would never laugh at him, if I were younger, I'd love to live in a cute little camper van like this. I'd never be able to get my fat ass up on that bed at my age though.
@@trilbynhiss Get one with a bed in the back instead.
Not to shit on him but the point of money is to upgrade your lifestyle, especially before you get too old to enjoy it. And having most of your money at mid six figures in the bank would be really stupid.
@@davidzakharias4170 better than crapto
You can enjoy your money and spend some as you go! But this one guys comment his mindset is why America is totally broke and becoming homeless. Living out of your means the New home and 2 New cars (Keeping up with the Joneses) is why you are broke, strapped in debt and have Way More Assets than cash! This is why this mindset the borrower will be a slave to the lender for life!!!! I choose to live off grid because I wanted to. Not cause I had to. I was tired of my house and so much I wanted to keep things simpler! Not trying to hoot my horn. But I'm debt free, excellent credit, a 830 credit score, enough food, water, propane, metals, money and more to last a several years! I'm very disciplined my dad was basically a drill sergeant that would make Trump look weak! I work for myself that's the real American dream for me! This mindset (With No Spending Control Is Dangerous) this guy doesn't see a recession, depression and massive finical collapse coming. Like most like him about 87% are in debt! He's been watching to much TV!!! If financially people like him get to close to the edge with bills they can loose everything. And end up homeless trying live outside their means. Like my dad said "Money Doesn't Come With Instructions!!!!"
It’s nice to see people like yourself finding a way to make life work in these times. It’s hard out here.❤
Hey when NYC implodes, this guy could just literally drive his whole house away to safety.
Was just thinking the same thing!! 👍
I'd rather vote republican and enjoy my house in the free state of florida...
Lol I'd rather be dead than live in Florida or NYC
Easy pickings….those with firearms will just take his camper.
He will never make it out alive😂
It is truly terrible that people in America work as much as we do and still have to adjust to living in a space the size of a jail cell in order to save money and enjoy small pleasures. I am happy that he is happy but this is unfortunate overall.
Exactly. The system is broken.
@@Denverdude7this is all by design 15 minute cities New world order, agenda 30.
A Brandon world
Canada , places in Europe , although I did not see any of this in Switzerland ,perhaps when I was in Switzerland ,I did not look in the right places or wrong places .
He chose this lifestyle and he isn't complaining either. He is happy. Many European cities are equally expensive and Japan is insane. People have apartments the size of coffins a few feet wide and a few feet high. They even call them coffin apartments and if an MRI gave you claustrophobia, you would never survive one night in the vampire suites of Tokyo. I get so sick of the whining.
Smart guy Van Life is the new trend now days. Go where you want and take your house with you. Just use your utilities more that's part of having your own.
"I LIVE IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!!", Chris Farley was a visionary
Hope your smokin dubees🎉
@@georgedavis2481 why?
This is great for those who choose this sort of housing and lifestyle, but I can't help but feel sad that we have to resort to this sort of living quarters now instead of having the dream of owning a house and yard for your own family.
Who’s Dream? It’s not everyone’s “dream” of owning a house with a yard and 30yr mortgage.✌🏼
Don't feel bad. He has choices, NYC has tens of thousands of people on the street with no choices.
I owned a house a long time ago. Brand new, custom-designed. I was miserable (loved the house itself, but not the being a homeowner part). I don't want lots of space, don't want to own things (especially things that are hard to sell when I want to up and leave quickly). Don't want a yard (no kids, no dogs, allergic to grass). All that upkeep sounds tiring. Just because someone is living this way, doesn't mean they are "resorting" to it. My dream is to live in a tiny but well-designed apartment... preferably in Norway, but that's a pipe dream. For now, I'm in a small-ish apartment in the heart of Seattle. Love it!
Why would you feel bad. I am a homeowner and constantly having to put money into this place and wait for my insurance and property tax to go up. A lot of people envy this lifestyle.
He owned a house in Kansas but he wanted to be in New York.
“I live in a van down by the river.” Thanks for this video. I appreciate what you guys do.
Thanks for watching!
4:58. He’s actually engaging with his audience. Breaking the 4th wall. Something most RUclips’s don’t do much anymore.
Yeah! For good reason. There are some horror stories here on RUclips. People get robbed all the time.
That’s exactly where I am too!
What are you talking about? Plenty of tubers do that
Great video. Nice to see people living a alternative lifestyle.
It’s something I’m contemplating heavily. I currently live in a 4600 sq ft home and I love it so much, but my brain really longs for a super simple life with never ending freedom and travel. If I can find a fully remote position, I just might make the move. Selling my house would give me the ability to purchase a “mobile” home and enjoy that real nomad lifestyle.
I presume you are from America?
Rent a mobile first
Our house is 1200 or so square feet, three bedrooms, bonus room, and sunroom. I can't imagine what we would do with a 4600 square foot house.
Rent one and live that way for a year in all kinds of weather. I would do anything to have my house back!!
@@kirchfam 1200 sq ft is perfect for most families. No one really needs anything bigger. Most Europeans live in homes that size or smaller.
The problem with living in an RV/Van/Camper is they are very expensive to purchase and keep running AND if you don't make good money, have money saved or have something of value to sell it's almost impossible. Even if you bought one cheap you still have to get it "up and running" and that can get expensive as well. And one more thing....gas prices are continually going up so even people that already have one are going to be running into trouble. I have been looking into this for years now and I'm NOT trying to discourage anyone from doing this but just some things to think about.
I started off by just getting a van, no build just a mattress on the floor 1500$ down payment and then 500$ a month plus insurance, I would save 500$ a month from my check for build outs. Started with flooring and insulation the first month then the next month I did a bed platform and a temporary cabinet. I went on like this for about six months until I was happy with the functionality.
@@NYC_VanLife Yep, I forgot to mention insurance. Still too expensive for anyone on a "fixed income" with no savings and no place to stay without paying "rent & utilities" in order to purchase with insurance and fix up. I am so happy that it did work out for you though. God bless you and your adventures.
@@living4truth ya in nyc theres not anything that cheap and at my restaurant job I had at the time I was making 500$ for 3 days- 2k a month roughly- easily doable for a able body in nyc- min wage now is 15$ an hour so even if you’re working 3 day at 8hours - any job- this is attainable
@@NYC_VanLife I don't live in nyc and I don't make anywhere close to that monthly and I have to pay Rent, utilities, Insurance, doctor and medical bills, credit card debt etc. etc. etc. and there is barely any money left to buy food each month so for me it's not attainable.
My 02 Pleasure Way had 80 miles and it was less than $20k. The maintenance is typical and the few times I've needed expensive repairs, I make sure to save up. My full coverage insurance includes rental and housing costs if I'm ever displaced and after 5 years it's UP to $73 a month. RVs are also eligible for loans. 5 years and I can't wait to build a custom van!
I stayed in my T@B in my Son's driveway for 9 months between September to May over winter and I was pretty warm but the high winds in winter really drove dust into it. It made a perfect room while I helped them out with childcare.
On the exterior, that is the nicest looking camper/RV I've seen. If any were on my street, that's what I would hope to see.
I enjoyed the vid, and am happy he found what works for him.
I drove long haul (semi truck) for awhile after I retired from my regular career, to fulfill a boyhood desire to do this (my dad did also) and I met so many smart young ambitious and rugged guys who committed to a few years of straight driving, living in their trucks on the road and going home to their parents for occasional home time.
Their plans were to save enough money to one day come off the road and open/run their own business, whatever that may be, rather than working for someone else. I'm sure many of them achieved this.
One guy I stayed in touch with, built his dream house, overlooking the Columbia River Gorge (Oregon/Washington) when he got married and started a family, while running a freight brokerage and providing a great life for his family- I really wish I had thought of that when I was their age... Nothing like total financial freedom!
I don’t live a van by the river but I watched it so. Cali here. Thanks for the community post!
I live on a van down by the river. Very inspiring video. It’s good to see someone working with what they’ve got and succeeding.
I live in a van down by the river. Loved this video. I lived in nyc in 69th between Columbus and CPW doorman building in a fabulous “big” 1brm and paid 1800 a month for 8yrs(99-2007). I became close to the family that rented to me and now they get 3600 a month. This was not a thing then-but I would’ve been so down for it!
Live in a van down by the river. Love your content. Glad to see others are finding a way to make it in this economy where inflation is rampant and real wages are not keeping up with costs.
Nice setup. My first apartment was on st. Marks & 2nd and was about the size of your van and I paid $2k/month….15 years ago. My rent now in financial district is just embarrassing & borderline criminal.
If that doesn't describe rent today in Manhattan..."embarrassing & borderline criminal" I don't know what does. It's always been very expensive, but today it's beyond exorbitant.
We the people are paying for our national debt, we always have! They spend and we pay for it. Total BS!
So you mean GOWANUS
The algorithm recommendation gods sent me here & now I’m definitely subscribed with the notification bell. Hopefully soon I will be living “down by the river” but being a nomad traveling all over in a stealth van is what I’d prefer
Your lighting is really bad, I needed to stop watching
I live in a van down by the river. Awesome direction at the end there👌. Thanks for sharing Caleb's story.
Glad you enjoyed it
I live in the van down by the river.
I need to say that videos like this give me the motivation to save and plan for the future. Love seeing how people live differently and what they're doing to get by.
I “Live in a van down by the river” NYC is amazing for all the reasons you mentioned plus the fact that you can find innovative ways to live “there” - there usually means being close to a subway or metro north - but you really are there!
Love the camper and would like to know where one can purchase a similar one. I'd like to remind people to not disclose too much information where they can be found etc. In NYC pretty much everything is illegal and the powers that be are happy to enforce. That being said love the set up and hope it works out for him!
I have a friend who does this in California. Ppl get caught when they are reckless
Peace of mind is worth the added cost. 😊
What is the peace of mind? Security? Safety? If so there are lots of solutions to that. Anyway tbh you are not safe in your apartment or house. Plus people are trying to take away from you everything you have -- constantly. Both government and bad guys want what you have.
I lived in sticks and bricks most of my life, then a van for four and half years, then rented again for a couple years.
After that I realized it's better for me to go back to a van. Throwing away all this money on rent every month unnecessarily...yeah I'm done with that. It's van chapter two now for almost a year so far.
Honestly I feel safer this way too...
"I live down by the river."
I wish I did w/ just my dog. One could dream
@@izifaddag8221 I can't live in a van with my kids. This is a solo lifestyle and does not apply to families.
I live in the UK and will NEVER be able to afford to buy a house, rent is disgustingly high. I have honestly given doing this serious thought. A monthly gym membership would give me 24hr access to showers. Well done to this guy. I am still thinking about doing this. A parking spot here is between £150 - £300 a month, a fraction of a £1200 rent plus bills.
I’m in the US, but same situation. This world is fucked beyond belief.
Levi's. Kidding. I watched the whole video. Great video. The one thing that made me curious is that how do you get water/elec hook up on the side of the street? I thought there was some NYC restriction on that? Or am I mistaken.
I live in a van down by the river. I moved into my van over a year ago. Had to sell most of my property, gave loads away too. Quite refreshing to discard all the physical trappings I'd accumulated over years of materialistic living. Van is mostly self built, with some help from friends. It's pretty basic, but it's warm and dry and is truly my happy place. 😊 Houseless, but not homeless.
Levi’s jeans. How much is your parking spot costing? Your van looks very spacious because it’s very well designed. The bed above the cab is def the way to go, and it leaves you with lots of seating for friends. Very cool and smart way to live, especially as it’s just you and you’re not into cooking. Having a gym nearby for exercise and showers blends in nicely with your van being your home base. I t would be interesting to know what, if anything, the neighbors in the brownstones have said. How are you hooked up to water and electric there? Are their metered stations on the street? 😊❤️
Cute camper!
Hahaha…you had me at rotating the TV to your head angle on the pillow……lol
So cool that you have electricity & water hook up. I live in a van IN the river.
Cool! A water bed?
I live in a van down by the river. Actually I wish I did... I lived in Crown Heights for 59 years, (right next door to Park Slope), before leaving NYC for good. What he's doing is fantastic, and I wish I could have done the same. Kudos!
You know in many ways I as a home owner find myself wanting :). Kudos to you brother, enjoying life and all it has to offer. God Bless!
I am assuming the quality of life in this neighborhood of NYC is so great that having a parking spot/camper residence is an equitable trade-off?
Lsvi Jeams Thank you for showing your van life in NYC. Good to know about van life.
Great work
I live in a van down by the river. Love this. NYC van life, interesting concept...
🚐 Caleb is a good guy
I live in a van down by the river~
I live in a van down by the river. This guy's a genius!!! Love it!
Thats cool! But im curious how did you find this spot? via a parking app? Like i dont understand how you come from Kansas and get in contact with someone(not a parking lot, but an actual person) in NYC to rent most likely their parking space. Also, pls explain the electricity and power hookups at this parking spot. Pls explain. Thnx!
Extension cords- and you just look on craigslist for parking spots. It’s pretty easy.
@@NYC_VanLife I see, thanks for answering... And did the parking spot come with a designated electricity power and water outlet? If not, where were you extending the cords to....outside to a building/cafe/etc? Ty!
oh my gosh, your van/camper is adorable! I'm thinking it's from Japan? at least those are the type used in Japan. Very cool. If I was starting over or didn't have my house I would consider living in this way or in a tiny house or house boat. I love having land though...digging in the dirt is good for the soil, I guess that's what community gardens are for!
With the risk of your whole life being in a parking spot. Better be in a decent area
I live in a van down by the river and wear levi's jeans.
Did I do it right? :p
As someone from the Kansas City area, I hope everything goes well for you. It sounds like you made a good choice.
I’d be so nervous that someone would try to break in 😅
Samsies
Would keep a rifle at my bedside
That's a perfect van in NYC. It's not stealth that's for sure, but if you got a good and safe spot that what you need.
However, I would try to use all the stuff on the van or it's going to stop working. Like the stove or shower, etc.
Best of luck and it's awesome
Form an escape plan. Nothing lasts forever.
Did he say how much the parking spot cost? And how does electric and water come with a parking spot in Park Slope?
That’s a very nice camper and you made a great decision as a single person to live comfortably and less expensive than the high cost of renting today.
I don’t live in a van down by the river, but I do live in my camper in a suburban driveway :-)
Can you show your water and electricity hookups in your parking spot, I don't understand
He doesn't he's parked on the street dry camping
@@123glass7you need to watch the video again!
Live in a van down by the river! That is just SO awesome! I take it he uses public transportation everywhere and just leaves his van parked. I would love a situation like that...especially if I was saving a whole lot of money!
It’s really great
I think 🤔 this is so smart!! And if you change your mind you can move on down the road with no issues!! Best wishes!!
This camper is awesome! I live in an RPod travel trailer now too and was thinking how some apts in NYC are about the same size. lol. You have way more storage space than I do though! No fair!
For any MMORPG players, you'll get this reference: this guy is real-life min-maxing.
Western society is on a downstream
@@keelo-byte Since we are turning into India, Nigeria... it doesn't make sense to move there 😂
Close the borders, break up monopolies, decrease regulations, put sanctions on China, legalize all firearms in nyc and other places they are banned. These are all things that are constitutionally required, yet they are being ignored. Why does nyc and democrat states seemingly just get to wipe their butt with the constitution?
The music in the background is too loud. Maybe try cutting it out all together.
I agree. It would be a lot better if there was no music at all.
Use your mute button and stop complaining and expecting someone to care what you want.
When I did the RV life I just parked it in friends back yards and then eventually inside a warehouse worked out great for me because I never wanted to travel just wanted to live cheaper. Glad I was able to fix up the top floor of that warehouse and give up the Rv finally.
Does he use the electric hookup for things like heating and cooling? NYC can get rather cold and quite hot, does he have devices for that? This seems rather practical if he is depending on the gym to shower and restaurants for food.
A big benefit I can imagine is a drastically reduced risk of bed bugs, roaches, rats, whereas an apartment building can spread that to the cleanest person. Has he ever had rats try to nest in his engine area?
That camper is soooo cute!!❤
I feel like my van would immediately be robbed of all its contents after one night in nyc
They’d probably drive off with the whole ass van if it were me
This is cool, but our country is fucked when this is what average hard working people have to resort to in order to be able to afford to call someplace "home."
He didn’t say he had to
Ok I'm at the start of your video but I was wondering when I saw the title, how do you handle black and gray tanks. So you pretty much use Planet Fitness for shower and cassette emptying. Cool beans. Where did you purchase your Japanese camper?
@@goodmeasure777 Craig’s list-
You're making me think about a lot of things sir. You inspire me!
The worst part is still waking up in NYC.
Same people actually convinced themselves it’s cool to live in nyc
Soon all of New York will be filled with these home vans the way it’s going now with extremely high rent costs. The crazy thing is most of the apartment buildings in the 5 boroughs are 50 years old and older so those buildings should definitely be paid off, but owners are aloud to charge what ever they want. The rich get rich and the poor stay poor. It’s sickening. Not to mention there are not many good paying jobs for everyone in NYC. Levi jeans
bro is gonna get robbed
This is a slick setup. Really seems like a cool guy all around. Thanks for the tour!
Great ideas 💡
Watched the entire thing. Not.going.to write what you asked. You are not the king and i dont live in a van!
😂😂
Good video.
I'd make it bulletproof somehow with kevlar walls an bars on the windows
Plus worry about van theft while sleeping
I don't think you understand that making a large vehicle bulletproof isn't a cheap endeavor. And the guy living in the van obviously isn't loaded with $
Great Job Simple Living at low cost and low stress you found a way awesome !
how do you get electric and water included at a parking spot?
@@shadesofdownXL shop around
The fake miserable laugh at 0:15.. homie looks tired and miserable 😂
Just like you
U ok boomer??
@@bronxriverchinobrown2856 u mad bro??
@@iii___iiiobviously I struck a nerve, u responded to me 😂
@@bronxriverchinobrown2856 who cares
How about avoid NYC entirely
he can make great money and get great Job experience for a few years and then buy a house with all that money he saved and find somewhere new perfect just for him... It's not a bad Idea really if your main focus is to save money
You gonna get robbed now
I live in a van down by the river (couldn't we have just said Chris Farley instead? lol) Would have liked to have seen how he is connected into shore power/water in this parking spot. I lived for 10 years and Manhattan and one of my friends still lives in Park Slope, yet I'm having a difficult time understanding how/where this guy is parked. Is this someone's driveway?
Would have liked hearing this young man say if he has a job in NYC, and if he doesn't, why is he camping out in Brooklyn? I left NYC in 1998 and moved to Europe. During the ten years I lived there, I was a slave of my rent. The wages in Europe are generally much lower than in the US but one can find much much cheaper housing here, especially if you're OK living in a small apt.
He didn’t want t9 disclose those details but he’s employed
I thought that it looked like the campers i'd seen watching the Japanese RVers videos. Its a more compact size overall. It has some different features that are unique but also much more sensical,like the kitchen in the back by the door and window. A lot of features in a small camper.