Living In Your Car Is Harder Than You Think
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Living In Your Car Is Harder Than You Think

Many people fantasize about that off-the-grid lifestyle, but is that type of life as easy as it seems?

22
Living In Your Car Is Harder Than You Think

Living out of your car seems like that perfect fairytale

You wake up in your backseat sleeping bag and you take on the day behind the wheel, but doing this may be a little more complicated than it's made out to be.

If you drive a pickup truck, this is helpful off the bat. If you have a cab roof to go over the bed, you can sleep in there while well-protected from the elements. In SUVs and vans, as long as you have the back seats down you can sleep the same way. If you drive a sedan, compact, or subcompact car, you may run into issues pertaining to space, but may be manageable depending on your situation. Using blankets, pillows, sleeping bags, maybe even a mattress pad, etc. you can sleep comfortably in your car. This, sadly, is where the simplicity ends.

Where will you shower?

If you can find a local rec center or recreational swimming pool, there are showers there; but when traveling those can sometimes be few and far between. You can find showers at campgrounds sometimes, but you also run into the same problem there. Restrooms for purely using the restroom can be found in any restaurant, and when in nature you can/may have to improvise. When it comes to eating, yes, fast food is an option. If you enjoy making your food, you'll need a portable grill and the supplies to get it going and/or maybe a microwave that you can plug into an outlet in your car.

Pertaining to where you can park, Road Trip America suggests anything from Walmart or casino parking lots to city street parking

Anywhere where parking for extended periods of time is legal, you can park there. But if you have a job, keep in mind that you should probably be close to your place of work. If you need to freshen up before heading there, then it's a good idea to have alarms early enough so that you can drive to the places with showers and such so you can freshen up and make it to work on time. If you work from home (aka online), this may present some complications as well. You'll need outlets for an internet router and to charge your devices. Many cars have USB and USB-C ports, and some even have normal household electrical outlets; but the problem is that to use these effectively, your car needs to be on. When working for multiple hours on end, this can use up a lot of gas which will be costly.

Mail for bills and such could be complicated, too

You won't have a concrete address for bills, mail, and packages to be sent to. You can get a PO box that will solve some of the issues, but some delivery companies won't deliver to these.

This isn't all-encompassing- there may be more things that you need depending on your situation and what region of the world you hail from, but these are a few things you need to consider when you think of living out of your car.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

77121
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

47691
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

977989
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments