Nice summary! I really agree with one of your points. About, being lonely, leads to understanding yourself. Having profound depression most of my life. I used to be scared of being left to my own company. I did everything I could to not be alone. To never do things alone. A few years ago a health scare made me radically change my lifestyle and choose to distance myself from the circle of friends I had seemingly built to keep myself, from being by myself. I spent a lot of time alone recovering and rehabilitating myself. Hiking and biking was the activity I chose to be that rehabilitation. I’ve spent many hours and many miles by myself, riding trails and hiking terrain. I have spent months on the road, visiting beautiful places to explore. And I have witnessed jaw dropping beauty that I had only previously seen in pictures. The most beautiful thing I have finally accomplished, was being ok, with being alone. I love my company, I love letting my curiosity run free, unfettered. Something that frightened and even terrified me, for maybe 45 years. I have finally made peace with. Sometimes, a littlest loneliness might just teach us something about ourselves. It might humble us. Im just getting ready to head out west for an indeterminate amount of time On one of my trips. Perhaps we will cross paths and maybe share a campfire, or casual conversation while pumping gas. Whatever. I hope you learn some key lessons in your travels that you carry with you for all of your years. Feel fortunate that they came early in your life and not on the back end. ✌🏼enjoy your channel.
I taught my son a saying. Do you know what the shy guy gets? Absolutely nothing. Say hello to everyone. Help when and where you can. Always keep your head up don’t stare at ground. Google the friendliest state in USA and go there. If we are lonely it’s on us as an individual to make changes. If you think lonely sucks at a young age. It’s worse at 60.
The loneliness you are experiencing will be one of life's most important lessons. When you get to your loneliest point is when you will begin to really appreciate and love yourself. Later in life, as you grow, there is nothing like the peaceful feeling of being alone. Hang in there and always know you have friends and family who care and love you. Enjoy your journey while you can. ☮
I think the pandemic has exacerbated loneliness. We became so used to isolating ourselves from others due to fear of disease. That being said, I'm sure traveling alone can also be uniquely isolating. In small doses, being on one's own can be good, but we humans do need those social connections. I hope you are able to find a way to fulfill that need that all of us have. 🤞
Great video. Get a small to medium size dog. Dogs are often cooler than people and better companions. Whatever you do, keep making videos and living life on your own terms. Cheers.
I completely agree with you on the loneliness aspect of van/road life! I am glad I am not ALONE in that regard. I think the whole caravan aspect of van life is a facade at least on social media. I likely assume those are just content-creator gatherings rather than actual friendships. They break off and disperse along their separate ways like you might expect. I do think van life is just that, inherently LONELY. I might dial it back and just stay in 1-2 cities year-round in a state or area where I can have community
Thank you. A very thoughtful piece for me to watch from the peaceful, calm, quiet bed in my van on Vancouver Island. I’m an older woman tired of feeling as though I’ve failed my life by not being sociable because of my neurodivergence. My appreciation for nature and being able to just sit and appreciate where I am has grown through the years. I am very happy to hear your perspective.
I can relate to following the cold weather and in turn, not meeting many travelers. I spent last winter living in a van in Tasmania and the colder parts of South Australia. All other young nomads were up north enjoying the tropics, and I can only recall meeting 2 young travelers who were passing through. I did however, stop in an area for work, and I met some of the best people I know. I became part of a small community and everyone welcomed me. I had more success befriending locals opposed to other travelers. I can't wait to return one day and see all my friends in that town.
Tribe is the key word. Van life is lonely and relationships are fleeting. Forming a tribe can be difficult and is hard work to maintain. Since you are in colder weather you are leaving out about 80% of the nomadic community. But it’s not impossible. Lots of vanlifers are introverts who don’t really want to be in a tribe. You may want to spend more time in warmer states to meet people where there are a lot of vanifers then see if that tribe is willing to move to colder weather at least for a time.
I spent my summer camping out of my car driving a loop around the us, and this video totally resonated with me. I met basically nobody except for the friends I already had. Nobody approaches a hatchback filled with crap. The only l talk I got was about my far from home plates which honestly just made me homesick. My experience made me appreciate my friendships soooo much more, and now I try to be a better friend and a nicer, more outgoing person since coming home. On the introspective part, there is a lot of time to think. However the connection to mother nature that you get with this kind of lifestyle is priceless. I grew so much as a person in just those two months, it was worth the nomadity, and I’m already looking forward to getting back out there to explore some more.
😂You took the words right out of my mouth! I was just saying that to a friend of mine, who is just starting out in van life due to hurricane damage just like myself. If you’re staying in one place for a fairly long time, you might want to try just spending the day in a local county park.. you will meet locals who live in the area see a different local campground in these parks. But I believe that most of the traveling packs are don’t last long and most of the time are older people who don’t want to be alone for safety reasons they’re scared. I don’t worry if it’s been two years and you haven’t went crazy yet I doubt you’re going to. I had the same worries.😂❤ if you ever come to Florida, give a shout out and we’ll come and meet you😊 Glad I found your channel 😁👍🏻🌴🚐💕🙋🏼♀️
I appreciate your openness in sharing your wise observations regarding some of life's difficult questions. May I wild guess here? Your pattern reveals the term "a fixer - can manipulate almost any outcome of a situation”, which means you have the ability to recognize patterns with keen observations of critical and meaningful subjects. Question; would it be lonely to encounter thought-provoking seekers whose concepts complemented your natural talents? As has been quoted before in the world; “When I am alone, people think I am lonely, however, being around all the wrong people can be the loneliest feeling in the world.” You are not alone.
I so love your videos. So thanks. I just wish you would have made the split between lonely and alone. I have been more lonely amongst people then in the time being alone. I don't think it specially has to do with living in a van.
Noone has to be lonely. It's about choices. We can always go where people are and be friendly. We must make effort to engage with people, and either not move around constantly or make friends online to text and/or call. It's not that difficult, but it takes effort. We need to seek out what we need.
I loved the honesty of this video. Don't stop trying to make new friends, it's worth it.😊 And if I ever see you, I'd love to have a chat and talk about life. Take care brother!
friends are over rated .. i dont really have many that i actually hang out with on a regular basis tbh .. partly because i am a bit of a loner ...love the channel..i like your honesty
Your life is bolt of lightning. Enjoy the blast and let it fade away. If you're loud enough, a few seconds later people may hear the thunder. Then you are truly gone.
Check out some fall events on the east coast. Skoolie Swarm is doing one in Upstate NY. Smaller groups, but you'll make friends from all over, giving you the opportunity to have higher chances of community on the road.
Been living in a van full time for 2 years as well. I agree with most everything said but I view all these things as positive, I also make my life about spending time with friends as much as possible even if that takes traveling a few hundred miles. There’s so many good people out there that can boost your spirits you just have to find them.
❤ This mom from Vancouver Island is sending you a hug. I love your videos and your ponderings. Enjoy what you are doing until you don't enjoy it and do something else. You are brilliant and creative and a nice person. May you find your tribe with lots of alone time when you need it.
Thanks! Thanks for a real world view into van life which has been skewed by influencers into a holy grail of living... there has to be a catch right?!? I like you honest comments on your experiences doing this. It made me subscribe to your channel from the first video. Hope you can continue on your journey on a personal level as well as on YT :)
Just got recommended this video. Love it! i’ve learned to embrace the loneliness. Just gotta find things to do in between. Go to concerts, attend conventions, meet up with friends
Haha I have the opposite going on ! Where I seek to be by myself as I live in a built-up environment. And yes I agree that solitude does assist with knowing oneself at our very human essence. This self- wisdom is surely of great benefit in enriching our human experience. But hey yeah its only natural to seek the company of others - a human trait too.
i moved from my busy family home into my one room apartment two years ago. i only have little social contacts (i see my friends one every few weeks, i dont know anyone at uni). and i have to say im absolutely THRIVING. i might just be an extreme introvert. i do enjoy parties and meeting people, but only in small doses. ngl i find it kind of weird that people assume you have to be sad when youre alone. my mental health has improved vastly over the last two years and im way more indulged in my creative projects i think either way, if you want to enjoy your alone time more or if you want to meet more people, both are active choices you have to make and work towards. at the end you have agency over your own life and should take it.
Sorry to always digress to my younger years when I traveled. But I use to have the same feelings. Probably put on more miles as a result. Had to keep moving. Having a goal in mind also helped. But I only traveled part of the year, working for a time and traveling the rest. Certainly nothing wrong with you they are normal feelings.
I feel that kind of way too. I don't know a whole ton about life, and I feel like I just know people, they arnt my friends, but theres that thrill of adventure just waiting out there for me that keeps my mind racing. I hope you rediscover that thrill that keeps you company. Have a good one.
Theres nothing wrong with you. I live in an apartment and I'm just as lonely. I've learned to never expect community or friendship or even interaction from other humans. Everyone kinda sucks these days, no one wants to talk or connect. Maybe its just where I live, idk. As far as, is it ok? I dont know. Probably not, but I/we have to live with it lol. Honestly, even if people did speak to me, I dont think I'd want them to. But thats just my PTSD talking. I think I'll be perfect for SUV road life.
Weird enough I have the same feeling... in a way meeting people is also pretty overrated. I loved in a sort of hostel for many months, and met A LOT of people. With 99,9% of them I just do not click at all
Most of my Van and RVing has been alone and I would rather enjoy it with people but the experience I get are so worth while. I make sure I stay in contact with my friends though and having a dog helps.
For someone who doesn't resonate with meditation, this was a nicely meditative offering. And that ending was a hoot. As for your points of van-life-lonely. My observation is that anywhere can be lonely, especially as one who prefers quiet or solitary pursuits (as I do). I've learned it's important to make an effort to reach out in friendship - both to create new friendships and strengthen the friendships one has. Thanks for sharing your perspective!
Making friends when you’re an adult is hard. I’ve owned businesses my entire adult life, so I’ve always kept a very professional approach with work vs personal life. The only people in adulthood that have stayed friends, are ones I’ve met from hobbies.
Exactly! I bodyboard at a spot called Da Wall in Waikiki almost every morning. All my friends are from there. We don’t go out for a drink or dinner, but we are always there in the morning and talked about our lives to de stress.
Depends on who you are and what you want in life. I know I couldn't spend that amount of time on my own. Sure you meet people but you will probably never see them again. Community in one location is what the vast majority of people need.
I get more excited seeing a critter on the trail than a face. I actually talk to them. Have I gone over the deep end? I still need small fixes of human interaction, then I'm good to go. That becomes less and less as you age though.
Do you go up to them and say hello as you both have something majorly in common in that moment so logically that's what you can talk about male or female it's a great icebreaker and be really interested in their camper setup as there's always opportunities to learn off others this will encourage open conversation and new Connections it's what I do instinctively when I'm in my camper (I have the same one as you) passenger side air bag though)very similar with a shorter wheelbase though absolutely love it I'm in Australia hope to be an American next year
Do you teach? I feel that you are one very intelligent person who I can learn from. You can do online teaching on any topic. One way to make connection while you are out and about. Live questions and answers sessions…. For almost two years, all that I have been watching on RUclips is everything about the war in Ukraine but then one day, your videos popped up on my feed. Your videos seemed to be helping me break out of watching everything Ukraine. Don’t get me wrong, I still am obsessed with everything Ukrainian, and yet I have been going back to watch all of your stuffs. Don’t sweat the loneliness part, you can always quit and go back to living in one place anytime.
Thank you for this video, Max. Really enjoy following along with your adventures and love how brutally honest you are about what real van life looks like. How is your charging system doing after the repairs?
Thanks for sharing. How do you feel being alone so much? Is being alone the same as being lonely for you? The background music suggests so, but maybe it feels good being alone a lot this phase. That's okay too!
I have been alone for a very long time and i know how to keep myself entertained for the most part. So, I know that part of the lifestyle won't be an issue much. But, I do picture finding others to travel with so this is interesting to consider. I look forward to having time to read and create sewing projects. I also game and will ne taking my R2D2 xbox 360 with me. Lol so, do you have any hobbies, like painting or writing? Well, i hope you are still out there when im able to do the same because I would love to hang out even though I'm a lot older I can still hang. Lol Hang in there though because you have a great personality and i believe you will meet someone to share lofe with out there, with patience. Happy trails!
My creative hobbies have always been related to photography and video, and I also wrote a script for this video (first time I tried that). So I’m playing the dangerous game where I try to make money doing my hobbies haha. Hope to see you out here!
i meeeean it's not just vanlife - regular life in a dang house can be similar. back in the 70s there was church and bars weren't dumb. they kept your soul fed and your face in other peoples' face. churches and bars gotta get replaced with something fast.
plenty of people live very isolated lonely lives and yet they live in highly populated cities and even often high occupancy dwellings - ie, apartments/condos. It's not just 'van life'
I see lots of people online going on caravans together and such, but those mostly seem to be the Bob Wells / CheapRV Living / HOWA crowd. I'm sure they're nice folks, but like me I think most of them are much older than you. Once I retire in a few years and start going on extended road trips, I'd enjoying traveling around with interesting folks, too. But hanging out with grey-haired guys like me for a longer period might not your cuppa tea 😁
Yeah, I didn't mention the fact that most people I meet are retired. I don't mind being friends with older folks. But I also feel like it's harder to relate some times 😅
@@DavidHuffTexas As a loner myself, I get so much out of watching the videos of RUclips creators that I have a strong wish to shake their hand and say thank you in person. The RTR is the only place I've been able to do that, with two RUclipsrs. Now I've met those guys at two or three RTRs and it's been great to see them again. If I was a full timer instead of a road tripper, I'm sure we'd share a campfire now and then.
Dude I think generally van life suits an introvert dude like me. I love people but overall they are over rated. I'd just go with the flow brother. You have a cool vibe!
indep van life is: social off-roading studying complex issues is: intellectual rock climbing of conceptual architecture creating a unique artistic healthy wise fun social life and economic living, can be: identity-parkour
I feel lonely only if I don’t progress with my music and share it. Any day I skip music, even if I haven’t posted in months or talked anyone in days, the loneliness begins to creep up. Are you musical at all?
First thing I noticed: your steering wheel is on the wrong side! If it was on the left you would realize right off that the oncoming traffic is WAY to close! Those people are crazy. They are gonna kill you both! Get off the road. You need a one lane dirt road. Slow down, take it easy. Get some pet food, canned is good. It smells more. Set it out away from your van and see what shows up. Hang up a bird feeder and sit back and watch. Feed the animals. Nature needs us. People basically suck. That's 76 years of experience talking. Trust me you'll be lots happier.
![What Do I Eat Living in a Van? [REAL]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/GxySwVP8hmg/mqdefault.jpg)
Nice summary!
I really agree with one of your points. About, being lonely, leads to understanding yourself.
Having profound depression most of my life. I used to be scared of being left to my own company. I did everything I could to not be alone. To never do things alone.
A few years ago a health scare made me radically change my lifestyle and choose to distance myself from the circle of friends I had seemingly built to keep myself, from being by myself.
I spent a lot of time alone recovering and rehabilitating myself. Hiking and biking was the activity I chose to be that rehabilitation.
I’ve spent many hours and many miles by myself, riding trails and hiking terrain.
I have spent months on the road, visiting beautiful places to explore. And I have witnessed jaw dropping beauty that I had only previously seen in pictures.
The most beautiful thing I have finally accomplished, was being ok, with being alone. I love my company, I love letting my curiosity run free, unfettered. Something that frightened and even terrified me, for maybe 45 years. I have finally made peace with.
Sometimes, a littlest loneliness might just teach us something about ourselves. It might humble us.
Im just getting ready to head out west for an indeterminate amount of time On one of my trips. Perhaps we will cross paths and maybe share a campfire, or casual conversation while pumping gas. Whatever. I hope you learn some key lessons in your travels that you carry with you for all of your years. Feel fortunate that they came early in your life and not on the back end.
✌🏼enjoy your channel.
Thanks for sharing! It feels great to be ok, being alone doesn't it? Safe Travels!
Stranger danger worked a little too well and now people are straight up scared of each other.
People are utterly pathitc. They deserve long lines and toilet paper shortages forever.
I taught my son a saying. Do you know what the shy guy gets? Absolutely nothing. Say hello to everyone. Help when and where you can. Always keep your head up don’t stare at ground. Google the friendliest state in USA and go there. If we are lonely it’s on us as an individual to make changes. If you think lonely sucks at a young age. It’s worse at 60.
The loneliness you are experiencing will be one of life's most important lessons. When you get to your loneliest point is when you will begin to really appreciate and love yourself. Later in life, as you grow, there is nothing like the peaceful feeling of being alone. Hang in there and always know you have friends and family who care and love you. Enjoy your journey while you can. ☮
Agreed. I genuinely wouldn't trade this experience for anything
I as well :)@@Jean.A.squirrel
I’ve been living in a vehicle for four years now and ive thrived in being alone. I love it, I’m very sorry you’re not having the same experience
I think the pandemic has exacerbated loneliness. We became so used to isolating ourselves from others due to fear of disease. That being said, I'm sure traveling alone can also be uniquely isolating. In small doses, being on one's own can be good, but we humans do need those social connections. I hope you are able to find a way to fulfill that need that all of us have. 🤞
Great video. Get a small to medium size dog. Dogs are often cooler than people and better companions. Whatever you do, keep making videos and living life on your own terms. Cheers.
I completely agree with you on the loneliness aspect of van/road life! I am glad I am not ALONE in that regard. I think the whole caravan aspect of van life is a facade at least on social media. I likely assume those are just content-creator gatherings rather than actual friendships. They break off and disperse along their separate ways like you might expect. I do think van life is just that, inherently LONELY. I might dial it back and just stay in 1-2 cities year-round in a state or area where I can have community
This is a cool video. I appreciate your openness and sincerity
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you. A very thoughtful piece for me to watch from the peaceful, calm, quiet bed in my van on Vancouver Island. I’m an older woman tired of feeling as though I’ve failed my life by not being sociable because of my neurodivergence. My appreciation for nature and being able to just sit and appreciate where I am has grown through the years. I am very happy to hear your perspective.
I can relate to following the cold weather and in turn, not meeting many travelers. I spent last winter living in a van in Tasmania and the colder parts of South Australia. All other young nomads were up north enjoying the tropics, and I can only recall meeting 2 young travelers who were passing through. I did however, stop in an area for work, and I met some of the best people I know. I became part of a small community and everyone welcomed me. I had more success befriending locals opposed to other travelers. I can't wait to return one day and see all my friends in that town.
That sounds like an awesome experience!
Someone will come along soon… guaranteed…. And it will be completely unexpected… 😎
I started living in my vehicle in part to get away from people, I didn't realize some people view it as a way to meet others
I feel you bro, I live in my car after a hard divorce and ya it’s boring af, wish I had friends like yourself.
Tribe is the key word. Van life is lonely and relationships are fleeting. Forming a tribe can be difficult and is hard work to maintain. Since you are in colder weather you are leaving out about 80% of the nomadic community. But it’s not impossible. Lots of vanlifers are introverts who don’t really want to be in a tribe. You may want to spend more time in warmer states to meet people where there are a lot of vanifers then see if that tribe is willing to move to colder weather at least for a time.
I spent my summer camping out of my car driving a loop around the us, and this video totally resonated with me. I met basically nobody except for the friends I already had. Nobody approaches a hatchback filled with crap. The only l talk I got was about my far from home plates which honestly just made me homesick. My experience made me appreciate my friendships soooo much more, and now I try to be a better friend and a nicer, more outgoing person since coming home. On the introspective part, there is a lot of time to think. However the connection to mother nature that you get with this kind of lifestyle is priceless. I grew so much as a person in just those two months, it was worth the nomadity, and I’m already looking forward to getting back out there to explore some more.
That's to bad because you car dwellers have the best stories!
😂You took the words right out of my mouth! I was just saying that to a friend of mine, who is just starting out in van life due to hurricane damage just like myself. If you’re staying in one place for a fairly long time, you might want to try just spending the day in a local county park.. you will meet locals who live in the area see a different local campground in these parks. But I believe that most of the traveling packs are don’t last long and most of the time are older people who don’t want to be alone for safety reasons they’re scared. I don’t worry if it’s been two years and you haven’t went crazy yet I doubt you’re going to. I had the same worries.😂❤ if you ever come to Florida, give a shout out and we’ll come and meet you😊 Glad I found your channel 😁👍🏻🌴🚐💕🙋🏼♀️
I appreciate your openness in sharing your wise observations regarding some of life's difficult questions.
May I wild guess here? Your pattern reveals the term "a fixer - can manipulate almost any outcome of a situation”, which means you have the ability to recognize patterns with keen observations of critical and meaningful subjects.
Question; would it be lonely to encounter thought-provoking seekers whose concepts complemented your natural talents?
As has been quoted before in the world;
“When I am alone, people think I am lonely, however, being around all the wrong people can be the loneliest feeling in the world.”
You are not alone.
I so love your videos. So thanks. I just wish you would have made the split between lonely and alone. I have been more lonely amongst people then in the time being alone. I don't think it specially has to do with living in a van.
Noone has to be lonely. It's about choices. We can always go where people are and be friendly. We must make effort to engage with people, and either not move around constantly or make friends online to text and/or call. It's not that difficult, but it takes effort. We need to seek out what we need.
god... you are living blissful life bro.
I loved the honesty of this video. Don't stop trying to make new friends, it's worth it.😊 And if I ever see you, I'd love to have a chat and talk about life. Take care brother!
so glad, found ur channel - already saw ur diesel heater fuel pump silencer!👍
friends are over rated .. i dont really have many that i actually hang out with on a regular basis tbh .. partly because i am a bit of a loner ...love the channel..i like your honesty
Your life is bolt of lightning. Enjoy the blast and let it fade away. If you're loud enough, a few seconds later people may hear the thunder. Then you are truly gone.
Thank you for touching on this overlooked topic
I'll be your friend Max. 🙂
haha, ok :)
Check out some fall events on the east coast. Skoolie Swarm is doing one in Upstate NY. Smaller groups, but you'll make friends from all over, giving you the opportunity to have higher chances of community on the road.
Been living in a van full time for 2 years as well. I agree with most everything said but I view all these things as positive, I also make my life about spending time with friends as much as possible even if that takes traveling a few hundred miles. There’s so many good people out there that can boost your spirits you just have to find them.
❤ This mom from Vancouver Island is sending you a hug. I love your videos and your ponderings. Enjoy what you are doing until you don't enjoy it and do something else. You are brilliant and creative and a nice person. May you find your tribe with lots of alone time when you need it.
Thanks!
Thanks for a real world view into van life which has been skewed by influencers into a holy grail of living... there has to be a catch right?!?
I like you honest comments on your experiences doing this. It made me subscribe to your channel from the first video.
Hope you can continue on your journey on a personal level as well as on YT :)
Wow, thanks so much! The journey never ends! 😊
Have you checked out the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous or Slab City? Good places to meet folks that park themselves all winter in one spot.
Just got recommended this video. Love it! i’ve learned to embrace the loneliness. Just gotta find things to do in between. Go to concerts, attend conventions, meet up with friends
Haha I have the opposite going on ! Where I seek to be by myself as I live in a built-up environment. And yes I agree that solitude does assist with knowing oneself at our very human essence. This self- wisdom is surely of great benefit in enriching our human experience. But hey yeah its only natural to seek the company of others - a human trait too.
This is real in sticks & bricks adult life too. Takeaway Lesson: welcome people into your circle every chance you get!
love your videos! just stumbled on the channel. great van! I got a Toyota Sienna my self.
Yeah, a lot of thoughts are mine too. I've been wondering why no one is talking about it. You're the first RUclipsr I've come across who has.
i moved from my busy family home into my one room apartment two years ago. i only have little social contacts (i see my friends one every few weeks, i dont know anyone at uni). and i have to say im absolutely THRIVING. i might just be an extreme introvert. i do enjoy parties and meeting people, but only in small doses.
ngl i find it kind of weird that people assume you have to be sad when youre alone.
my mental health has improved vastly over the last two years and im way more indulged in my creative projects
i think either way, if you want to enjoy your alone time more or if you want to meet more people, both are active choices you have to make and work towards. at the end you have agency over your own life and should take it.
Sorry to always digress to my younger years when I traveled. But I use to have the same feelings. Probably put on more miles as a result. Had to keep moving. Having a goal in mind also helped. But I only traveled part of the year, working for a time and traveling the rest. Certainly nothing wrong with you they are normal feelings.
That's actually how I often feel about (van) life. 🎈You are brilliant at putting feelings into words, and music, and editing. ♥
I feel that kind of way too. I don't know a whole ton about life, and I feel like I just know people, they arnt my friends, but theres that thrill of adventure just waiting out there for me that keeps my mind racing. I hope you rediscover that thrill that keeps you company. Have a good one.
Better to be lonely than to be annoyed!
Theres nothing wrong with you. I live in an apartment and I'm just as lonely. I've learned to never expect community or friendship or even interaction from other humans. Everyone kinda sucks these days, no one wants to talk or connect. Maybe its just where I live, idk. As far as, is it ok? I dont know. Probably not, but I/we have to live with it lol. Honestly, even if people did speak to me, I dont think I'd want them to. But thats just my PTSD talking. I think I'll be perfect for SUV road life.
Weird enough I have the same feeling... in a way meeting people is also pretty overrated. I loved in a sort of hostel for many months, and met A LOT of people.
With 99,9% of them I just do not click at all
Most of my Van and RVing has been alone and I would rather enjoy it with people but the experience I get are so worth while. I make sure I stay in contact with my friends though and having a dog helps.
Thanks for sharing!
Your videos are very real and sincere, and ofcourse have good sense of humour
For someone who doesn't resonate with meditation, this was a nicely meditative offering. And that ending was a hoot. As for your points of van-life-lonely. My observation is that anywhere can be lonely, especially as one who prefers quiet or solitary pursuits (as I do). I've learned it's important to make an effort to reach out in friendship - both to create new friendships and strengthen the friendships one has. Thanks for sharing your perspective!
It's so true that anywhere can be lonely. I always have to remind myself to reach out as well.
Making friends when you’re an adult is hard.
I’ve owned businesses my entire adult life, so I’ve always kept a very professional approach with work vs personal life.
The only people in adulthood that have stayed friends, are ones I’ve met from hobbies.
Exactly! I bodyboard at a spot called Da Wall in Waikiki almost every morning. All my friends are from there. We don’t go out for a drink or dinner, but we are always there in the morning and talked about our lives to de stress.
Depends on who you are and what you want in life. I know I couldn't spend that amount of time on my own. Sure you meet people but you will probably never see them again. Community in one location is what the vast majority of people need.
I definitely agree with that. We all need community!
I get more excited seeing a critter on the trail than a face. I actually talk to them. Have I gone over the deep end? I still need small fixes of human interaction, then I'm good to go. That becomes less and less as you age though.
I do find talking to myself, the plants, critters, the camera, all helps. If you're crazy that means I'm crazy too 🤪
Do you go up to them and say hello as you both have something majorly in common in that moment so logically that's what you can talk about male or female it's a great icebreaker and be really interested in their camper setup as there's always opportunities to learn off others this will encourage open conversation and new Connections it's what I do instinctively when I'm in my camper (I have the same one as you) passenger side air bag though)very similar with a shorter wheelbase though absolutely love it I'm in Australia hope to be an American next year
Do you teach? I feel that you are one very intelligent person who I can learn from. You can do online teaching on any topic. One way to make connection while you are out and about. Live questions and answers sessions…. For almost two years, all that I have been watching on RUclips is everything about the war in Ukraine but then one day, your videos popped up on my feed. Your videos seemed to be helping me break out of watching everything Ukraine. Don’t get me wrong, I still am obsessed with everything Ukrainian, and yet I have been going back to watch all of your stuffs. Don’t sweat the loneliness part, you can always quit and go back to living in one place anytime.
Thank you for this video, Max. Really enjoy following along with your adventures and love how brutally honest you are about what real van life looks like. How is your charging system doing after the repairs?
Thanks for sharing. How do you feel being alone so much? Is being alone the same as being lonely for you? The background music suggests so, but maybe it feels good being alone a lot this phase. That's okay too!
haha, I think maybe my music choice was a little too dramatic 😅I really enjoy my alone time for the most part 🙂
I think I'd like to be alone. it seems refreshing
Followed you on the Gram. Come through Utah and say hi sometime! 👋🏼
I have been alone for a very long time and i know how to keep myself entertained for the most part. So, I know that part of the lifestyle won't be an issue much. But, I do picture finding others to travel with so this is interesting to consider. I look forward to having time to read and create sewing projects. I also game and will ne taking my R2D2 xbox 360 with me. Lol so, do you have any hobbies, like painting or writing?
Well, i hope you are still out there when im able to do the same because I would love to hang out even though I'm a lot older I can still hang. Lol
Hang in there though because you have a great personality and i believe you will meet someone to share lofe with out there, with patience. Happy trails!
My creative hobbies have always been related to photography and video, and I also wrote a script for this video (first time I tried that). So I’m playing the dangerous game where I try to make money doing my hobbies haha. Hope to see you out here!
@@dustyodyssey you are doing great with your hobby. It was a good script!
4:08 what salsa did you pick
Newman's Own 😅 Mrs. Renfro's was $7
i meeeean it's not just vanlife - regular life in a dang house can be similar. back in the 70s there was church and bars weren't dumb. they kept your soul fed and your face in other peoples' face. churches and bars gotta get replaced with something fast.
plenty of people live very isolated lonely lives and yet they live in highly populated cities and even often high occupancy dwellings - ie, apartments/condos. It's not just 'van life'
true!
Definitely nothing wrong with you dude. It can be hard to really connect with people, and many people already have enough on their plates.
Me too
Please go and find work. You seem a good guy
I see lots of people online going on caravans together and such, but those mostly seem to be the Bob Wells / CheapRV Living / HOWA crowd. I'm sure they're nice folks, but like me I think most of them are much older than you. Once I retire in a few years and start going on extended road trips, I'd enjoying traveling around with interesting folks, too. But hanging out with grey-haired guys like me for a longer period might not your cuppa tea 😁
Yeah, I didn't mention the fact that most people I meet are retired. I don't mind being friends with older folks. But I also feel like it's harder to relate some times 😅
@@dustyodyssey No worries, I get it 😄
I don't know about friends, but if you come to the RTR I'll be among the fanboys happy to meet you. :)
Right ? The HOWA crowd seems quite friendly & community oriented, but a lot of them are quite a bit older than Max.
@@DavidHuffTexas As a loner myself, I get so much out of watching the videos of RUclips creators that I have a strong wish to shake their hand and say thank you in person. The RTR is the only place I've been able to do that, with two RUclipsrs. Now I've met those guys at two or three RTRs and it's been great to see them again. If I was a full timer instead of a road tripper, I'm sure we'd share a campfire now and then.
Haha, thanks. I was actually thinking about going.
how about a small dog or cat?
Dude I think generally van life suits an introvert dude like me. I love people but overall they are over rated. I'd just go with the flow brother. You have a cool vibe!
indep van life is:
social off-roading
studying complex issues is:
intellectual rock climbing
of conceptual architecture
creating a unique artistic
healthy wise fun social life
and economic living, can be:
identity-parkour
I feel lonely only if I don’t progress with my music and share it. Any day I skip music, even if I haven’t posted in months or talked anyone in days, the loneliness begins to creep up. Are you musical at all?
I'm not musical, but I like making videos! 🙂
Yes, and you do make fine videos. You might consider adding the element of learning an instrument.
I dont want to be around people.
If you would be in Europa I would like to be your friend and travel some time with you.
First thing I noticed: your steering wheel is on the wrong side! If it was on the left you would realize right off that the oncoming traffic is WAY to close! Those people are crazy. They are gonna kill you both! Get off the road. You need a one lane dirt road. Slow down, take it easy. Get some pet food, canned is good. It smells more. Set it out away from your van and see what shows up. Hang up a bird feeder and sit back and watch. Feed the animals. Nature needs us. People basically suck. That's 76 years of experience talking. Trust me you'll be lots happier.
Want love? Friends? Get a dog, they rarely disappoint
Are you having a 'stain on the carpet' moment? I'd really miss your videos now
❤❤
Not, your society demands that you have friends and fall madly in love, which we in northern europe do have
Don't have
Without Jesus, the answer to all your questions are YES YES and YES.
Single, adult life can be lonely. Please don't get a pet, it's not worth it.
It definitely can be, and I could never share this space with a pet 😅
get a dog or a kid. they will not let you down
Autism?