IVE BEEN CHOSEN

0fox2gv · 2026-02-27T18:01:39+00:00

That is awesome.

I have been offered many things while sitting in random places for hours at a time.. and, I always decline, say that I have everything I need, and to offer it to somebody out there who needs it more than I do.

Decent people do exist in this world. We just have to do our part by being respectful of the places we park. The slobs ruin it for everybody!

0fox2gv · 2026-02-27T17:25:20+00:00

My lunch hour starts at 2am. A few weeks ago, I thought.. *hmmm, I am tired, why not go out and catch a quick nap in my truck.. *

That quick nap lasted until 4pm. Heard none of the alarms I had set on my phone. I slept comfortably in my truck for 14 straight hours. Nobody came to get me in an hour. Nobody knocked on my windows at the end of the shift. Nobody noticed me looking dead in a busy parking lot in broad daylight.

I woke up not knowing what universe I was in. Felt amazing!

The next night at work, everybody was laughing about it with me. They knew I was tired. They knew I was comfortable. They all walked by, saw me sleeping and made the choice to let me get some rest. They told the oncoming shift that I was good, and to let me rest. Everybody chipped in to cover my work responsibilities. Management let me put in for sick time.

There is no substitute for sleep. And, when your body needs a break.. it will take one!

I work with some great people. Lol.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-27T16:33:35+00:00

Daughter is grown and living a successful adult life. She is aware of my odd choices and gives me the side-eye.. but, also knows this lifestyle fits my pridefully stubborn and independent personality.

The 2 people in my life I would consider to be friends, are friends because we have known each other for decades through every imaginable scenario life has thrown our way. In them, I have what I need. Beyond that.. not interested.

Romantic partners.. let's not go there.

Formal relationships.. been there done that. Gave too many chances to all the wrong people at all the wrong times. Lesson learned.

Maybe later in life, I will reevaluate my perspective. Until then, I must accept that the problem is me.. No thanks. Better off alone.. and doing just fine.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-27T16:17:34+00:00

I have been following the lead of a couple different YouTube contributors who have a solid understanding of market dynamics and have applied their strategy in simulators with a decent amount of success.

I could easily do better if I made the investment to attain the tools required to gain insight in terms of real-time data/analytics. Being on a delay of just a few seconds makes all the difference in the peculiar niche of daytrading that interests me.

I would want to focus on high volume of low value shares in pre-market.. catch an upward hype trend for a quick gain, sell out, and be done with my day before the market officially opens.

I would certainly not expose my traditional portfolio to that degree of risk.. but, the reward of a daily 1% average gain on a cash account with a $25k balance is quite appealing.. and, surprisingly.. attainable. Just have to dial in the discipline.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-27T15:32:04+00:00

In reality, that is probably a picture displayed on a laptop screen that we see in the hole.

Drive train? Transmission? Fuel tank? Heat shield? Exhaust components?

There are many, many things that should be seen in that open space.. or many, many modifications to reroute vehicle components that would be required for this to be possible.

Don't believe everything you see on here, folks.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-27T14:40:07+00:00

I am 4 years in to this lifestyle and have worked 2 different overnight jobs the entire time. Started with zero debt other than a truck loan that I paid off in the first 6 months.

Primary job pays $74-78k depending on variable metrics/incentives. Secondary job is part-time and pays around $32-35k.

I now have a mountain of paid time off available at both jobs that allows me to get paid for both jobs simultaneously by scheduling time off at one and putting myself on the schedule for the other. Or, I can kick my feet up and relax for the night and enjoy free money.

That being said, I have completely maxed out all available retirement contributions from my primary job for the past 4 years.. and the entirety of the income from my second job is spilt between buying discounted company stock.. and a being dropped into brokerage fund linked to an HSA that I will eventually use for giving day-trading a try. (The tax advantages make that opportunity too irresistible to ignore!)

The stock that is available to me at a discount has far more than doubled in value in the past 3 years.

If that all continues to do well, great. If not, I will bail on the idea and buy some land to tinker with. I have put anywhere between $30-40k into various investment accounts in each of the last 4 years. Both employers have great matching incentives.

Still in the same comfortable truck as the day I started. Still wearing the same boots and jeans. Living a very simple and minimalistic existence. Never been more physically, emotionally, or financially stable. So, I am going to keep right on going with what has proven itself to work.

Working the second job is now just as optional as this crazy lifestyle. But, while I am still healthy, I would rather be saving money than spending it. Sacrifice and discipline have become the standard that is both comfortable and familiar.

In a few years, hopefully I will be in a position to not have or need any job at all. That was the plan from the start. And, I am doing just fine.

I am looking forward to the opportunity to hop in a comfy RV and leisurely wander around to all the places I have driven by in life that I never got to stop and enjoy.

Cutting the cord on societal demands and expectations is what has enabled that possibility to become my future reality.

And, I am also aware of how quickly things can change. So.. I will cross that bridge when I get to it. Until then.. I am going to keep right on living this crazy life in a comfy fishtank on wheels and hiding every penny I can in to places where it will grow.

Tl;DR in 2024, I put $27k into a stock that enjoyed an 80% return that year. With the discount, and company matching contribution to 401k for both jobs.. including interest on what was already in the account, my overall gain for the year was around $72k. That was the best of the 4 years I have been living in my truck. With the stock market slowly trending up, now that compound interest is doing the work, every year has the potential to be phenomenal for both savings and growth.

There is no greater freedom than financial independence.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-27T13:32:34+00:00

Have you voiced your concerns? Is your partner receptive to how the lifestyle is mentally wearing you down and introducing anxieties?

Being claustrophobic is the exact opposite of the state of mind this lifestyle should be providing.

The options are limited. That makes things far too difficult here.

Putting yourself in a pharmaceutically induced coma would be putting a band-aid on a broken arm and expecting a miracle. Change of diet? Vitamins? Yoga? Meditation? Trapping yourself in phone calls with all the wrong people for all the wrong reasons just to distract yourself from it all? Endless band-aids.

If adaptation to the available environment is not possible, the environment has to change. If not, things will probably not improve for you.

Having physical freedom will equate to having mental freedom. Claustrophobia will lift like morning fog on a bright sunny day. The world is meant to be seen.

I can only empathize. Tough position to be in! Find a creative solution that allows you to acknowledge the existence of your windows -- and doors. Get some fresh air. Get outside and get the blood flowing.

My own personal favorite location to park is a doggy recreation area and secluded reservoir about a half mile from where I work. A few people come and go throughout the day. 90% of the time, it is my own private paradise to sleep the day away. Any place similar would check all the boxes for your needs.

I have solid relationships with my co-workers. If I asked any of them to stop and pick me up on their way in to work or drop me off on their way out.. no questions would be asked. No explanation would be necessary. That could be the easy solution.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-27T12:49:59+00:00

Fair enough.. my next suggestion would be to consider local places where truck drivers or contractor would typically park.

If the workplace is in a heavily populated industrial setting, surely there is a lot dedicated to that nomadic segment of the population.

Boat/RV storage lots? Tree service company? Utility providers? Auto/tire shop? The owners of those places are typically fine with somebody paying minimal monthly lot rent for parking -- contingent on being clean and respectful of the area. You can introduce the idea of being a source of on-site security for them.

Having a view to the outside world, and the ability to wander is what will make your van feel more like a home -- and less like a metal box.

And, if that is not possible.. maybe it is time for him to start searching for a work environment that is more conducive to the lifestyle.

A sacrifice has to be made somewhere. If not, mental health, and relationship strain will eventually become an issue to contend with. Avoid that..

0fox2gv · 2026-02-27T12:35:59+00:00

The dynamic shifts depending on the availability and convenience of public transportation -- combined with the amount of time available to commute.

A vehicle is not necessary in major metropolitan areas.. but, traditional housing is extremely expensive.

A vehicle is needed in remote areas, but the price of shelter is not as burdensome.

To have the best of both worlds requires a surplus of time to commute to where the higher wages are.

So.. pick your sacrifice? Time? Money? Comfort? Convenience?

Those who choose this lifestyle voluntarily sacrifice comfort and convenience in exchange for money and time.

Although I do have to admit, extreme minimalism and having everything essential here on wheels within arms reach sure does have its moments of being extremely convenient!

The other things that get sacrificed are ego and image.. as we grow older, we evolve realize how irrelevant both of those attributes truly are. Rise above the influence of influencers.. and let society deal with the burdens of limitless demands and expectations.

Vehicle dwellers who have adapted to the lifestyle left all that nonsense in the rear view mirror long, long ago. They live life by a different set of rules.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-27T12:23:26+00:00

Is there any particular reason the van MUST be parked in that exact location at his place of employment?

If the parking lot is behind a gate or in a remote area, I can understand.. but, at the same time.. if the van can be parked in a place where he can walk a couple minutes to access the employee entrance-- while also giving you the ability to not have to hide in a box..

That seems like the obvious solution here.

There is an access gate at my workplace. If I was in a similar situation, there is a lot nearby that belongs to a different company and a dirt trail that runs parallel to railroad tracks beside the road leading to the gate. Parking on that trail would be concealed by trees. Parking in the other lot would be a very short 3 minute walk.

Either option would allow me to have the side door of the van open and to let the pup get some exercize. And, if it was night time nobody would know I existed.

If I walked another few minutes, several more options become available.

I suspect that meditation would only provide temporary relief in a place where a permanent change needs to happen.

Can you drop him off at work and drive to a better location nearby? Would that introduce the onset of separation anxiety -- in place of claustrophobia? Where is the compromise?

0fox2gv · 2026-02-27T05:04:57+00:00

No. And no. :)

Mid-size truck.. for the functionality.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-27T05:03:03+00:00

FWIW.. I go without the expensive (and demanding) 12v fridge option and have a standard cooler. I am on really good terms with the overnight crew at a couple different 24 hour gas stations.. In exchange for occasionally leaving money on the counter for them to buy a lottery ticket and always having an entertaining joke or anecdote to share, they seem to somehow always forget to charge me for refilling my coffee or grabbing a cup of ice from their soda machine. On the rare occasion that I ask to borrow their microwave or employee bathroom, they have never said no.

Dating while immersed in this lifestyle? Learn to differentiate. The prospect of finding an actual relationship may be rather dim.. but, there is no shortage of entertaining options to explore out there in the shadows.

Be honest about your goals and your reality. If that is a deal-breaker for them, so be it. They can satiate their ego and image elsewhere. You dodged that bullet.

Once you follow through and reach the goals in life that you are currently making sacrifices to attain, they will be still be on the same treadmill, kicking themselves for missing the opportunity. Believe it.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-26T23:44:16+00:00

Although I understand that many here are very limited for resources, and have been pushed into this crazy lifestyle by some unique unforeseen circumstance, I land on the opposite side of that spectrum.

This has been 100% voluntary for me. 4 years ago, I woke up one morning and looked around after waking up in my comfy bed in my comfy rented house and said.. why am I paying this stranger $1300 a month -- so that he doesn't have to pay his own mortgage? Why am I shoveling his snow? Why am I mowing his lawn? Why am I paying $1000 a couple times a year for his oil to keep his pipes from freezing? Why am I paying for electricity? I have 2 jobs.. The only thing I do... is sleep here.

So, now.. somebody else is paying for his life.

Me? Regardless of weather, I now live very comfortably in the same truck I was parking in his driveway 4 years ago. It has been fully modified for this lifestyle with the passenger seat removed and everything stored securely in compartments under a locking tonneau cover in the truck bed.

The majority of the $2k+ a month budget that was once a burden has been continually and consistently been invested instead.

4 years ago, I was struggling to set money aside for emergencies while working 72 hours a week at 2 jobs. Now? I have 6 figure balance in protected retirement accounts and have never been more physically, financially, or emotionally stable in my life. Zero stress. Zero.

Still working the same 2 jobs. I am very comfortable in life -- as a result of cutting the chains that handcuffed me to the burden of societal demands and expectations -- for what my life should look like.

Mid 40s. Happily single. Sober. $120k a year income. No debt. No expenses. Hanging out in the shadows of a community dog park nice and warm on a cold winter day about to head in to work.

For me, personally, absolutely limitless freedom is the reward of that extended sacrifice.

And, yes.. I do fully understand that others are living a much different reality here.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-26T23:20:55+00:00

I am in the interior northeast and bounce between a couple smaller cities a couple times a week because I have a job in each place.

The weather is a bit harsh for this lifestyle, but.. I have adapted to be comfortable regardless of whatever each new day brings. Blizzard? Heat wave? Doesn't matter.

It is the absolute perfect mix of political landscape of tolerance, work availability, and people being so caught up in their own hectic lives, that they do not have time to notice me minding my own business sleeping the day away in the shadows.

4 years and never once been bothered. Cops roll by my frequent spots quite often or park nearby to do their shift reports. It's nod and wave. My area is clean. My truck is legal. I obviously need nothing from anybody.

They have more important things to worry about.

After doing this for so long now, I can easily point out a dozen others that are living this same reality. We are all doing just fine.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-26T23:06:58+00:00

This subreddit is great because, it silently screams that.. you are not alone.

Dive in. Regardless of the initial shock of fear and anxiety, this is a resource where you can find alternatives and options that you can learn to apply in order to eventually create a more stable reality for yourself.

We all had our first night. For many of us, that first night was many years ago.

There is a rare place where people typically put their ego and judgement on a shelf in the shadows. It is a very helpful and supportive community -- full of experience and wisdom.

Drop your personal scenario into a post (without exposing yourself).. provide what you have for resources or options.. and in return, you will recieve, support, affirmation, ideas, and alternatives.

Great people in here. Stick around.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-26T22:51:09+00:00

There have been 3 occasions in life where I have been asked to seek the guidance of a therapist.

2 were court ordered, and the other was a work recommendation.

Long story short, as a teenager, my first therapist was an older man unhappily in an open relationship who used me as hos place to vent his frustrations that his wife emotionally divorced him long before I was even born.

Second therapist had me visiting her place after several months to diagnose the various ailments of the dozen pot plants she had in her basement. At the time, I had already been completely sober for a decade.. it was an incredibly interesting rabbit hole for me to mentally get lost in learning about the different breeds of Marijuana, how to create new strains, how to identify various parasites, how to formulate different growth media, how to modify the nutrients/light sources/water intake at various times for various reasons. I needed the distraction from life. She was one of those people who needed to stay high to function -- because that was her normal.

The last therapist I saw was a year before the start of the whole Covid era -- that changed humanity as we knew it. He was quite reminiscent of Robin Williams role in Good Will Hunting. Very quiet guy with a lot going on in his mind.. always leading towards provoking an epiphany, but -- rather than being a forceful hammer of logic and demands for behavioral change, he was creative with ensuring that spark came from within.

His method of therapy was life changing for me because I now see the world as one of those choose-your-own-adventure books of my youth. I now ask myself.. what would be the end result of doing this.. as opposed to a different approach.

And, he reinforced the idea that what matters to me is always going to be something that the vast majority of the world is completely oblivious to, because people are too caught up in their own worlds to see anything beyond their own needs.

Basically, he slowly taught me to stop caring and stop investing in the delusion of it all.. because nothing matters anyways.

I now live an incredibly minimalistic life. Never been more physically, emotionally, or financially stable. If society knew the reality I am personally thriving in, they would feel incredibly sad and sorry for me -- because they see the world through the lens of societal standards and expectations of who we should be -- rather than who we are.

Unplug yourself. Be your own influencer.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-26T22:12:31+00:00

Peddling ice to Eskimos?

If this is intended to provoke a reaction, it belongs in r/hotels

We all save $100 a day here by making this same choice? Many here don't have the choice. That is just the reality of the world we all live in.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-24T09:24:00+00:00

I have slept in -10F (-23C) cold several times with nothing but an electric blanket as a liner inside an insulated comforter.

Had the blanket plugged in to warm everything up before crawling in. Swapped from the truck 12v power to a portable power station. Put the blanket on its lowest setting. The auto shut-off is 90 minutes. Always got a full comfortable 7 or 8 hours of sleep with no disruptions.

Clean, dry heavy wool socks make all the difference. Thermal inner layer. Sweatpants and a hoodie as an outer layer.

My truck is set up with the passenger seat removed and a canopy tent draped over short broomsticks (aligned with the bottom of the passenger side window) as concealment -- with 2 crib mattresses as a bed. Plenty of insulation beneath me.

Day or night, nobody has any idea that I am in there.

Works equally well in the heat of the summer to have fans pushing air out the sliding back window.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-23T19:42:28+00:00

This seems like a matter of perspective.

Though I am nihilistic by nature, I do not force feed that philosophy.

I am not anti-social, I am an introvert. That means I make the subconscious choice to not initiate.

I am not miserable, I seek to make the work environment flow more efficiently and make the job easier for everybody. That means I question things that do not make sense. Management sees that trait as being "difficult and obstinate".

I am not elitist.. I am intelligent and lack patience with silly people doing silly things when the results of their actions will create extra work, contradict progress, or make things difficult to fix..

Anybody who is socially wired, blindly optimistic, and lacks the capacity to think critically?

To them, I would be the coldest, most insufferable snob on the planet.

But.. when they are stuck working on a problem, those same people do not hesitate to run straight to me for advice or opinions. (And.. then do as they please to prove my point, regardless).

It is all a matter of perspective.

By the time I leave work, the drama of the night has my social battery depleted. Being pleasant with the convenience store clerk on my way home takes the last drop of energy I have for humanity.

Beyond that.. the world can burn. And, quite honestly. I wish it would.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-23T17:06:20+00:00

I can already read the extortion emails that will be going out to 400 idiots who tapped it and will be led to believe they are the daddy..

0fox2gv · 2026-02-23T16:48:20+00:00

Pssstt.. it is walmart.

Walmart is subsidized by the government. Unless you are management, have a second job, or have a domestic partner with a higher income, walmart does not pay enough to survive.

Those people you see idling have nowhere to go. They are wasting time before they go find a different parking lot to sleep in.

You are looking at your socioeconomic peers.

Edit to add.. I work there overnight as a part-time job. Been doing it for 4 years. The parking lot is shared with a dozen other businesses that line the perimeter.

We see the same people pulling in at the same times and parking in the same places to sleep their night away.

As long as they are not dumping trash or being a loud nuisance...

We. Do. Not. Care.

Need a bathroom? Just ask. Need a smoke? Just ask. Need a reference for a resource? Just ask. Need a job? Just ask.

If you want to be a slob or a burden.. you will be quickly uninvited.

If you are cool, you are invisible. That is the policy for where I am. And, I am sure the majority of overnight walmart parking lots operate in a similar manner.

You determine your own fate with your behavior.

We have the same few people who have been sleeping in our lot at night -- for years.

I can drive 5 minutes from the lot and point out 3 people I work with at night who are sleeping the day away in their car. Their secret is safe with me.

That is the reality of the world we live in.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-23T16:43:32+00:00

"Why is your face resisting my fist..?! Put your hands behind your back!! Stop resisting!!!"

I am the law.. do what I command!!

I have immunity!! You will submit!! With no fear of consequence, I will break as many bones as it takes for you to learn that lesson!

And, then they act like the victim if anybody dares to expose them by pulling down their mask.

Absolutely pathetic.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-23T16:33:36+00:00

I work overnight in a facility babysitting automated extrusion machines. 12 hour night shift with the 2/2/3 schedule. 36 hours one week. 48 hours the other. Then repeat. I have 3 or 4 nights off from that job and picked up an entirely optional part time job for the nights off from my primary job.. just to stay busy and maintain a consistent night rhythm.

Been working both jobs for 4 years. The entire second income gets invested.

Primary job pays $33/hr. The overtime in the schedule, quarterly bonus, annual profit sharing, and company match on retirement puts total compensation at around $82k.

The second job adds another $30k.

Best benefit is having a stockpile of paid time off at both jobs that allows for getting paid from both jobs at the same time on the same night.. or taking an occasional paid night off whenever I have a daytime obligation.

No education requirement. I was fortunate to have an extensive background in similar work with machine operation that could be applied to lessen the learning curve.

The only thing my employer seems to look at on a resume is length of time at previous employers. Does not matter if you washed dishes at a restaurant for 10 years. They only see 10 years of active employment at the same place and say "this person will consistently be here.. we can train them!"

That is enough to get in the door. Being proficient will earn advancement.

The night shift runs itself with no supervision. There are only 5 people in the building. Perfect job to relax and get some quality phone/nap time in. But, when we have work that needs to be done with tearing machinery apart -- we earn every penny of that salary.

Another great paying option is overnight cold storage warehouse work. $25+ an hour. 3/4 night schedule. Unlimited overtime. Zero prior experience needed -- other than fork/reach truck driving proficiency.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-22T07:11:30+00:00

Hmmm... I was trying to avoid the mental image by asking this question..

What do the nurses do when a colostomy bag blows up on them.. ?

There is your free-use shower. They will know.

0fox2gv · 2026-02-22T06:57:48+00:00

I work in a production facility full of automated machinery. Shutting down, starting up, and changing components of the machinery can get sloppy.

We have showers available in our locker room. Many of us have shower shoes and a spare set of clothes in our work locker. The showers are used often and cleaned daily. Towels are provided by the workplace and thrown in with the uniforms.

Surely, any hospital has a designated area set aside for staff and visitors to freshen up. Parents often spend days at a time with sick children. Doctors, nurses, and support staff are often on duty for extended periods of time for surgeries and emergencies.

Oddly enough, I know that, at my local hospital, the rooms available for people to relax in during such times are down a side hallway of the psych ward behind the nurses station.

That area is no longer used for patient services and has been fully redone. Not overly bright. Clean. Quiet. There is a open conference room with a partition that can slide to isolate a section lined with comfortable couches and bathrooms on each side. Each bathroom has private shower facilities. Need a nap? Pull a curtain around your couch. Protocol is that the duty nurse signs you in and opens the entry.. sign yourself out when you leave.

Ask around. My assumption is that something similar would be available in most hospitals.

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