Exiting the 9 to 5 Grind?
I’ve been living out of my car for nearly 20 months while working a full-time office job. My primary reason for doing this has been financial. I wanted to save a lot of money.
I wrote about this a year ago in my article, “Why I Choose to Live in My Car.” The plan was to ditch rent and save enough money to buy my own condo in cash. I didn’t want a mortgage. It was my primary motivation for making such a radical lifestyle change. I already had some savings and figured living out of my car for two to three years would be enough to reach my goal.
Once I had the condo, I would save for two additional years to buy a van before retiring and traveling. I would have the best of both worlds: a camper van and a home base.
But now my priorities have changed.
I enjoyed a relatively low-stress job for years, but over the past few months, it has rapidly become a tense and increasingly stressful environment in which to work. Significant changes and further upheaval are expected to occur in the coming months. I’ve decided I don’t want to be around for them. Therefore, I’m preparing to leave. I’m done.
At this point in my life, I have no interest in looking for another job elsewhere. I’m turning 63 in a few months, and I’m perfectly fine with taking social security at that time instead of waiting until the full retirement age of 67.
I’ve reached the point where my mental health and well-being are more important than saving money. I’ll sacrifice some income (Social Security will be considerably less than my current paycheck) for peace of mind and greater freedom. Not working 40+ hours per week means I have more time for traveling and doing things I enjoy rather than being stuck in an office five days a week.
After downsizing my lifestyle in 2023, I’m now downsizing my goals for 2025. Instead of trying to attain a traditional sticks-and-bricks residence, I’m aiming for an SUV or a minivan with a nice parking spot down by the river. It’s amazing how a pejorative punchline from a famous SNL skit can become an aspirational goal for millions in America. Our vehicles have become affordable housing.
All kidding aside, I want to extract as much joy, happiness, adventure, and wonder for the remainder of my life. I never thought it possible, but I’m happier living out of a vehicle than in a house or apartment.
The reason for the vehicle upgrade is simple. Living out of a small sedan has been feasible for me precisely because I work full-time at an office. I have access to many amenities during the day at work and can store a variety of items there. But I will no longer have that when I retire in a couple of months. Therefore, I plan to get a larger vehicle with more living space later this year.
I recall when I began this journey and initially thought that living in a car would mean sacrificing my quality of life, something I was prepared to do to save substantial sums of money. But I’ve adapted and learned to appreciate a very minimalist, simple way of living. It has led to a significant shift in my overall mindset.
This quote from van lifer and long-time nomad Bob Wells perfectly encapsulates my life right now: “I can tell you that many of us have found a solution by living in our cars, vans or RVs. It is one of the best answers for how to live on an extremely small amount of money. For many of us it was also the only way we found to feel truly alive and free. It was a way out of the drab mediocrity and nothingness American life has become.”
Living out of my car to avoid living paycheck to paycheck has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. I’ve settled into a healthy routine and learned to appreciate this minimalist, rent-free lifestyle. I’m amazed at how little I need to be happy and how much joy I find living a simple, uncomplicated life.
As I head into retirement, there are numerous places to visit and people to see across the country. I’m looking forward to hitting the road and embarking on more fun-filled experiences as a full-time nomad. To quote Helen Keller: “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”
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I have lived in my car since August 2023. You can follow my adventures on Facebook and Instagram