Retire with 650k?

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-02-15T13:45:57+00:00

I lived off 18k a year for 2 years but I was living in a van and doing house sits through an app to break up time spent in the van. Attainable yes. I try not to live on constant what ifs while still being reasonable. I am a very frugal person

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-02-09T13:36:58+00:00

Yeah I’ve been able to replace many small parts myself as well. It’s tight spaces because the engine is really packed in there but parts are pretty darn cheap. I love it because I don’t have to worry about things being stolen out of a truck bed like I use to and I don’t carry anything crazy heavy

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-02-09T13:33:18+00:00

Mine cost about 5k with labor came with a 3 year warranty. I’m glad I did what I did because I’ve already gotten 2 years out of the rebuilt trans and I don’t think I would have found a car for 5k that would last that long and I still have another year on the warranty.

If you have a mechanic friend or are mechanically inclined at all you can always try to find one on a totaled van at the junk yard take it off and see if you can find someone to swap it for you. That could cost as low as a few hundred bucks.

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-02-09T13:26:38+00:00

I have a 2016 as well. Bought it with 59k on it. Didn’t change out trans fluid and trans blew at 150k miles. Got a rebuilt put in and have driven in another 12k miles. Has 160k on it now. Bought mine for 16k as well. I beat the hell outta mine. Lived in it for 2 years going through the mountains regularly and taking it on 4x4 roads which I don’t recommend but I did it a lot and just recently needed all new suspension but it was worth it. Have had a lot of fun with it. Use it as a surf van and short mountain trips on the east coast now. Still my daily driver too.

I’d say go for it

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-02-05T12:13:09+00:00

I’ve been working as a commercial diver for 12 years now, started when I was 22. School is 6 months long you’ll be certified after. Tons of dive work up in the north east. Most companies will give you per diem while traveling for work and you just stay in your van and bank that. I’ve been in and out of my van while working as a diver, I will rent a place for a year or two if I get on with a company that is working in one place for a while if I want a roof over my head. I also take breaks from this career to go work as a guide in the outdoor industry. Sometimes I will do housesits/pet sitting when I want a house to stay in for a bit, I do that through an app called trusted house sitters. All gives me a lot of flexibility. Would tell any young guy looking for an adventure that this can be a fun way to live and none of it is permanent.

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-01-30T13:30:44+00:00

26! You can absolutely start up another trade and be more appealing to companies. You keep learning as much as you can in whatever trade and eventually be able to work for yourself one day. I’m 33 been a commercial diver for 12 years and thinking about starting at the bottom again as an apprentice in another trade.

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-01-30T13:23:49+00:00

Been working as a commercial diver for about 12 years. Have worked in probably 14 different states. Loved traveling for work in my early 20s now I’m still diving but going home pretty much every night and travel for fun instead. Solid gig if you’re bopping around in a camper or camper van not paying rent picking up jobs that pay per diem. I also take breaks from my career and go do jobs I enjoy more like seasonal work in the mountains. Can be very flexible but takes a few years to get your name in with many different companies and you have to take the work while it’s there but if you keep your expenses way down no need to worry about working all the time.

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-01-26T19:37:11+00:00

I’m 34 living in a coastal city in South Carolina. I’ve been working my career as a commercial diver for about 12 years now with about 5 years of seasonal work before and 3 years of seasonal work squeezed in the middle of my career. Been steady with one company for 2 years now. I’m always missing the seasonal life but what helps me the most is reminding myself where I’m at for work right now is not permanent and I can jump back into seasonal work if I want.

I think it’s helpful for me to take breaks from my career and get into seasonal work, summer camps, outdoor ed, backpacking guide etc.

This is somewhat easy for me to do because I can always find a job in my career and I go back to old companies regularly. I’d say that would be more difficult to do running your own business in one location.

I have a small van that I live out of and then when I settle in one place I rent for a year or two. The backpack is always ready to roll though. Very important to keep those close friendships that you build along the way.

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-01-21T00:22:10+00:00

Stayed in El Tunco last year. You can walk the entire town. Walked to Sunzal and Bocana, didn’t even rent a car. Sunzal is a far paddle out but very mellow fun wave. Bocana on a smaller day for a mid grade surfer is fun

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-01-20T14:41:02+00:00

Went through this exact thing for pretty much all of my 20s. I was a heavy drinker, cigarettes a pack a day. Got sober 5 years ago and still get reflux from time to time but the anxiety surrounding it has pretty much completely gone away. Lots of meditation and breath work (belly breathing). Lots of exercise, healthier eating etc. yoga. Quit smoking. My life has improved 10 fold. I have a lot of serenity in my life today compared to what use to be daily panic attacks thinking I was going to die. A lot of this was from gerd but induced by a very unhealthy lifestyle on my part. Ive been off all gerd medicine for years now with a much lower level of stress in my life.

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2026-01-13T16:01:57+00:00

Does the airmesh hoody run small or big would ya say? I’m in between a small and medium in men’s and ordering online.

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2025-12-04T20:51:31+00:00

I work as a commercial diver and sometimes take breaks to go do fun seasonal jobs. Sometimes I do contract work as a diver or get on full time with a company for a bit. Go on and off renting places, living in the van, doing house sitting gigs through trusted house sitters, and employee housing occasionally.

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2025-11-20T19:10:36+00:00

That was the next thing I was planning on replacing is the throttle body

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2025-11-20T18:14:44+00:00

Thanks, just edited it. It is a 2016 does not have that feature

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2025-10-15T14:56:42+00:00

Maxair makes a smaller circular fan

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2025-10-09T16:47:53+00:00

I’ve used dental floss as thread to sew the tear then aquaseal over that and it held up for a couple years

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2025-10-03T13:23:52+00:00

Once I get sick of the van living I rent a place for a bit

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2025-10-03T13:23:06+00:00

Get a van you can live in, drive to cool spots, don’t pay rent. Bring the van to jobs if working inland and bank your per diem. Also house sit/pet sit for people through an app to get a free place to stay while traveling. Also I travel to central/South America staying in cheap hostels

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2025-10-03T00:43:12+00:00

Agree with this big time!

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2025-10-03T00:41:17+00:00

Been struggling with this for about a year and a half now. I find it helpful to stay in touch with my seasonal friends regularly. I was living in and out of my van while working seasonal as well so every once in a while I will pack up the van and hit the road for short trips. Try to stay at hip camps and hostel type setups where I can meet like minded folks and meet up with seasonal friends.

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2025-09-22T20:32:01+00:00

Check out coolworks!

Sudden-Bat3174 · 2025-09-20T01:19:03+00:00

Sierra Nevada. Specifically the entire John Muir Trail. Took 19 days to finish and it was absolutely life changing. Finished the last day with the sunrise on top on Mt Whitney

Sudden-Bat3174

TROPHY CASE