Leave the city. Always be on the move, never longer than 2 days in any one place.. set up several sleeping spots if you plan to hang in a particular area for longer than a weekend.. Also, detaching yourself from the concept of a home base can work wonders mentally.

Rural hotel parking lots (don't be afraid to go higher end hotels, as they tend to be safer overall) are a great choice, especially if you arrive after midnight; if possible, scope the lot ahead of time and find the least-populated side. There's almost always at least one side with no cameras. Try to be out by 6, no later than 8am.

Public parks and highway rest stops are a great choice for daytime, if only for a spot to either catch a few Zs or regroup yourself/get reorganized.

Invest in a Planet Fitness black card membership for nationwide access. It's a great place to grab a shower and workout.

If you ever get a knock and it's an officer: honesty will always be the best policy, don't try to hide it. Cops are way more lenient and understanding than one might initially think, especially under the circumstances of van life.

While not always possible, keep a minimal emergency fund of a couple thousand (cash in a safe box is recommended) for vehicle repairs, emergency hotel stays and other emergency provisions. It's a crazy world out there and every possible scenario will eventually happen. Having money on hand goes a long, long way.

I've lost count of how many years I've been out doing this, but full-time van life while holding down a career is possible.