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 Topic: About to start a new Adventure
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09/4/2016 at 12:43am
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Good evening to all my fellow caravaners out there...
My names Mark,and this is my first post since joining uk campsites tonight.
I trust this post finds you all well ?,wether tucked up in your vans pitched up on an indilic campsite or dreaming of your next big adventure as I am,??
As for me,I've decided to take the plunge and live in my van full time..
Why,?
Well read on and maybe some of what I'm going to say may resonate with some of you out there ?.
I had a lovely home,then downsized to a modern one bedroom flat,very nice and comfy (as my van is)but I quickly came to the Conclusion that I could have all the comforts of home in my van without the massive bills,mortage,council tax etc associated with owning a home..!
No brainer for me...so here I am..
And I love the lifestyle...
Yes,I fully appreciate as a single man this would represent no problems as I have no dependants,but I've read so many stories of families who are as like minded as me on various Internet sites and they have taken the plunge to..soo refreshing to have read all about thier success stories.
Mum's and dads are relaxed...the kids,no longer have that 1000 yard stare at thier computer screens,Facebook this,x box that...!!!
My niece and nephew live thier lives on thier phones...x boxes etc...
but when thier away with me in my van..its,uncle can we do this,?
Uncle,can we do that,?
They want to get out and about,do things...no phones or computers in sight,!...I love that,whether it's camping or caravanning,it brings families closer together..spend quality time together,and in a world of internet and all things keyboard related..
Nothing beats a night under the stars to drag them away from all that.
Yes..I've digressed from the main point of my post,but I'm sure there are a lot of mums and dads out there who understand where I'm coming from,?
Well,I'm not sure if what I've said tonight makes a lot of sense to my fellow caravaners out there,?
Whether your full timers,retired, or just love to get away in your vans on the school holidays,I hope some of you out there will drop by and say hi,?
Thanks for reading.Mark.
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Mark.
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09/4/2016 at 6:52am
Location: fareham
Outfit: Bailey Unicorn Seville 2011
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Well done to you, if it fits your lifestyle why not indeed. My o/h and i are looking to do this when he retires in 8 years or so, but living in the south means expensive pitches and living costs, plus finding a site with a seasonal vacantcy
Life has got very stressful and expensive these days and our lifes revolve around electronics, gone are the days of family time etc, i have two teenagers whose hands and eyes appear permentaly glued to phones .
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10/4/2016 at 8:48pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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I don't have a sat-nav or a smart-phone either. I do have a mobile, but it's an old Nokia 6210 which fits in the hands-free holder in my car.
As I spent many years as a coach driver, and a few years as a mobile service engineer covering the whole of England, I know my way around fairly well and can read a map when I need to.
When we go away in our caravan we never take a TV, and rarely take a computer of any kind. We don't have a tablet. If and when we do take a laptop, it's only used to check on local facilities, buses, and trains.
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Best Regards,
Colin
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11/4/2016 at 1:47pm
Location: West Midlands
Outfit: Coachman Amara 570 6 + Shogun SG4
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Hi Free spirit
sounds like a nice idea although i personally wouldn't want to do this in the uk. i really cant stand our climate and uk built caravans are not suitably insulated. this is one reason our 'traveller friends' plump for german caravans over uk built vans. certainly over the easter weekend the condensation on and under my coachmans front windows was quite considerable even though we were warm enouugh. if i were free and single, and didnt have to work i would up sticks and tow my van down to southern europe where the cost of living is less and the days are drier and warmer.
i have chatted to other caravanners who have used their vans long term whilst working away from home. this is possible but in order to qualify for health care, pensions, the right to vote etc... you need a fixed address. maybe a po box is suitable for this, i don't know. its something to consider. these guys working away always have their postal address back home.
i know of folks who live in 'park homes' and these are considered a postal address but to get around rates issues they cannot live in them for more than 11 months per year. this must be cheaper than renting a flat though.
we dont bother with WIFI and use the 3G on our phones for basic information gathering but we do watch tv and dvd's having fun out doors is great when its warm and the sun is shining but even last july in Cornwall it was too cold to stay outside after sunset. it dropped to 9c even in july where we had to use the heating in our van. my children are only 4 and 7 so tablets and phones dont really interest them but watching DVDs in the evening does.
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First van bailey ranger 550/6
Now the proud owner of a coachman amara
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11/4/2016 at 2:25pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Quote: Originally posted by Baileyjake on 11/4/2016
I know of folks who live in 'park homes' and these are considered a postal address but to get around rates issues they cannot live in them for more than 11 months per year. this must be cheaper than renting a flat though.
That is not quite the case Baileyjake. A proper Park Home is considered to be a permanent address, and will have a proper postal address. The 11 months rule only applies to "Holiday Homes" which are not regarded as residential. I lived in a Park Home for several years.
There are several people living on narrow boats in this area, who obviously have no permanent address. They have the local post office as their "mailing address". My wife used to work in there and handled much of their mail. She got to know quite a few of them in this way.
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Best Regards,
Colin
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11/4/2016 at 10:04pm
Location: Argyll Scotland
Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4
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Colin 21 is quite correct in all that he says. We used to own a Park Home and were liable for all Council Taxes as well as all "normal house" costs.
What would discourage me from full timing in the UK is that if it was as idyllic as all that, then many thousands of folks would be doing it rather than be stuck with ordinary brick & mortar houses.
Even residential caravans are not sufficiently insulated enough to withstand the British Weather and between Gales, Floods and the Cold, there are fundamental good reasons why the choice of a house will always outweigh the choice of living in a caravan.
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Lobey.
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17/5/2016 at 10:06pm
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Good evening to my fellow full timers out there...
I trust you are all well and enjoying the freedom our vans gives us...Well,it's five weeks for me now,not an eternity I know,but long enough to see if I can cut it as a full timer,?...and the answer to that....
is a resounding YES,!
Was I worried from the start that I was doomed to failure in my new adventure,?
Not at all..what a relavation it's been for me,just wonderful. ....
work is only 5 mins away....
rise after a rest full nights sleep (my vans bed is so much comfier than any mattress I've ever had at home)go to work feeling rested and totally refreshed..
and to come home to my van at the end of the day is a welcoming site..
as is the fact that I can pack up in 15 mins and journey on to pastures new and literally take home with me,fabulous...
some have commented...love my van...for a holiday, but couldn't live In a box full time,!
Yes,there right if you spend every waking moment in there and experience nothing else,!
For me,I work 5 days a week....leave home at 8,back at 5...
But home is home,no matter where,how big,how posh,how much....!
A box,!!
No...My home..I love it...
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Mark.
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09/1/2019 at 11:42pm
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Hi to my fellow full timers out there...
This is my first post for a good while since ive started living in my van full time...a few years methinks since i stated my intentions with regard to "living the dream in my van" but not really knowing how it would work out,seemed perfect at the time,but..how has it worked out,almost 3 years down the line,???
Well,for me...
Life couldnt be better..
As a single man on a modest wage ive been afforded the comfort of a home...!
My home,!!
Warm..comfortable...relaxed..stress free...
No mortage..no rent..no council tax..and i can survive and have a few pounds to spend on myself,and enjoy life,makes a change from working all the hours god sends just to pay the bills,and have nothing to show for it...
I turned my van into a fun place to live..for me at least..
Led lighting,bright colours inside instead of the depressingly sea of biege fixtures and fittings...
Had a brief moment of fame on Bargain Loving Brits in Blackpool last year on ch5 along with my friends which was fun..
A new year has begun,and plans are afoot for a few trips this year...
Any full timers out there please say hi and share your stories with me,???
Id love to hear from you....
Regards.Mark.
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Mark.
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11/1/2019 at 12:48pm
Location: Gloucestershie
Outfit: Fiat Ducato campervan
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Nice of you getting back nice that you have enjoyed your time up to now it would be nice if you could update us more often
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 via mobile 25/3/2019 at 9:17pm
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Good evening to you all out there...
Kenles has reminded me to update more often so i will endeavour to do so,havnt had the time to visit the site as often as i should.
I will try to rectify that...
Well..how has my life been 3 years on living in my van...
ITS GREAT,!!...
Its the norm for me now,any thoughts of bricks and mortar have long been consigned to the history books and i couldnt be happier...
21ft.. by 6ft,7
Everything i need..
Holidays...?
Hook my van up and go..
My home goes every where i go...
Work...my van is situated with all the power,cooking,water and washing facility's i need..
And may i add,at a fraction of the cost of a family "HOME"..
Downsides...to living in a van fulltime,??
Im sure there are many questions out there with regard to that,?
As ive always said im a single man and as such my circumstances are a little different from a families needs and concerns with living full time in a Van..
But they are out there and living their lives to the full and i wish you all the best...
Id love to hear fron you guys and let me know how life is for you,whether your single and living on your own in a van or a family,?
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Mark.
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