Transhumance or dirtbaggin' while still having an apartment (kinda).

So I live in a sucky place. Let's call it Northern New York. But the bright side is that the dacks are 2 hours away and the gunks are 4.

I've always been super interested living out of a van or pickup trucks but with a 5 day a week job and lots of snow, I don't think it would be fun or uncreepy to live out of my Subie Forester at the parking lot at work. And I have a dog.

I thought of this: I currently have a 2BR apartment with a roommate. Why not just get another roommate? That way I could still use the kitchen and keep my food fridged and store my gear, have the dog, and hang out in the common area. But at night and on the weekends at the crag I could sleep in my Subie Forester, which I could mod to make more comfortable.. I feel like this is such a simple idea that somebody's thought of it before. What are the downsides that I'm not thinking of?

Living in a car gets old. Have you lived in a car for an extended amount of time?

This is an absurdly terrible idea. Why on earth would you want to live in your car while still being stuck in some shitty rustbelt NY town? That isn't living the dirtbag dream; it is just called being homeless. Climbers who live in their cars don't do so because living in a car is some glamorous thing to do; they do so because it allows them to not work and to easily travel around to climbing areas. Sleeping in a car sucks (when compared to a warm house), but it is worth it if it lets you climb all the time. Sleeping in a car, but still having to work all the time, and being stuck in NY and not climbing much...that would really be the worst of all worlds. If you are going to work full time, enjoy the fruits of a steady paycheck, which include getting to sleep in a bed and having electricity and central heating. If you really want to live in a car, do it right. Save your money for a while, quit your job, and go on a big climbing trip.

JCM wrote:This is an absurdly terrible idea. Why on earth would you want to live in your car while still being stuck in some shitty rustbelt NY town? That isn't living the dirtbag dream; it is just called being homeless. Climbers who live in their cars don't do so because living in a car is some glamorous thing to do; they do so because it allows them to not work and to easily travel around to climbing areas. Sleeping in a car sucks (when compared to a warm house), but it is worth it if it lets you climb all the time. Sleeping in a car, but still having to work all the time, and being stuck in NY and not climbing much...that would really be the worst of all worlds. If you are going to work full time, enjoy the fruits of a steady paycheck, which include getting to sleep in a bed and having electricity and central heating. If you really want to live in a car, do it right. Save your money for a while, quit your job, and go on a big climbing trip.

That pretty much sums it up. I dont sleep in my car on trips because it is fun. I would much rather sleep in a hotel. But sleeping in my car saves a ton of cash as camping is easily $25 a night in many areas.

I'm all for your idea.

I've been living a similar style for a few years. It's definitely not for everyone, but I really dig it. I currently have a unique gig as geologist in Montana which is a few weeks on/off, so paying rent doesn't make much sense, to me at least. On the time off I dirtbag around skiing and climbing. I'll have either my vanagon westy or my subie outback, depending on the amount of time off I have, and the logistics of the adventure. Usually it's the subie for better mpg's. If I'm spending a couple weeks based out of someone's house, I'll pitch in for utilities and be positive I'm not a burden to them.

That being said, before this job I lived the van life for a year while working a 9-5. Very similar to your idea, and I loved it then too. Obviously a van is more ideal, but I like sleeping in the subie as well. I just pitched in my share for utilities (and often beer as a courtesy) at friends houses and slept in the van outside. You've got the right idea that the subie will basically just be your bedroom, only it's outside, while still having the comforts of a hang out spot, kitchen, shower, etc.

Access to a bathroom is a good idea. I'd assume you'd have a key to the apartment.

Anyways, if you've got friends that are chill with it, give it a try.

Thanks for the ideas guys. I did laugh out loud at "that isn't living the dirtbag dream, it's just called being homeless." Thanks 20kn.

Unfortunately (for climbing at least) my full time job is the Army so money is not the issue just freedom. I'm the main tenant so I'd still have access to the internet and living room and kitchen and shower- so I wouldn't be really homeless. I just wouldn't have a bedroom, which I've never found super important. Basically the car would just be for sleeping and trips. I have a backyard, so depending on city ordinance, a tent might be a choice for the summer.

I also have friends in the area, so I have the option to just abandon my apartment (I'm on a month to month lease) and semi- move in with them. It might be easier to live with buddies instead of rando roommates.

I do like the simplicity of living out of a car, and I guess I kinda want to get training so I won't be attached to a comfortable lifestyle if I decide to dirtbag in the future.

Kevin, did you have any special setup in your Subie? Or did you just fold down the seats, move the gear over and crash? I've found its comfortable like that but I might want a more permament thign.

Great idea to get another roommate. Use your apartment as a "base" and the place to store gear and regroup. I lived in a car for one year solid. No problem as long as you have a gym Membership to take a shower and it's not too hot outside...cold is easier to deal with.

Fitz Cahall and the Dirtbags Diaries did an excellent story on climber/photog/vehicle dweller, Mikey Schaefer.
An excellent listen and extremely relevant to this discussion.
Check it out.
dirtbagdiaries.com/mikey-bu…

Get the seats out of the back of car and build up the bed. Use room under the bed for storage. Store the seats at the apartment. Get a space box for the top and a bike rack. Elementary. Stay slim and clean.

Just rock the subie....we need to find some time for an extended trip out west!

- signed,

also stuck in upstate NY.

Why don't you ask your current roommate about your plan? And who in their right mind would want to rent a room in this situation?

I can just imagine the conversation when your roommates have friends over... This is my roommate Jon. He and his dog live on the couch. That's not being responsible to your roommates or, especially, to your dog.

From my experience (I lived in my truck during my first semester in college) there comes a point where the meager amount of money saved is not worth the hassle and the lack of personal space.

saguaro sandy wrote:Get the seats out of the back of car and build up the bed. Use room under the bed for storage. Store the seats at the apartment.

It is often more efficient to use a larger vehicle. Putting roof boxes on top of the car really messes with the aerodynamics of the vehicle, and unless you are running a diesel you can expect large drops in highway MPG. I know Prius owners that see a 10 - 15 MPG drop by adding bikes and a large cargo carrier. I have a Jetta TDI with a large cargo carrier and I can get the rated fuel economy with the carrier, but only if I drive 60 MPH. If I drive 75, I cant get anywhere close to the rated fuel economy with the box on.

Jon D wrote: my full time job is the Army

I dont know how things work in the Army, but in the Navy if you are receiving BAH you are required to have a mortgage, 6- or 12-month lease, or some other type of document. Sailors cant just collect BAH without actually living in their home. You might want to check with your command on what their official requirements are for maintaining BAH eligibility because if you are caught out of compliance you might have to repay everything, plus you would probably go to NJP.

Jon D wrote: I do like the simplicity of living out of a car, and I guess I kinda want to get training so I won't be attached to a comfortable lifestyle if I decide to dirtbag in the future.

A few thoughts:

1. Living in a car isn't something you really have to "train" for. You just kind of do it. When it comes time to actually "live the dirtbag dream", you'll figure it out just fine.

2. Living in a car gets old after a while. Have you done it for a multi-month period? Or in the winter? It sucks, and you get tired of it. Enjoy the comforts of home while they are easily available.

3. Carefully consider the impact that this mode of living would have on your friends and roommates. There is serious potential to become a pest and a leech when engaging in heavy-duty coachsurfing. This may strain friendships.

4. If you want to simplify your life, there are more meaningful ways to do so that do not involve freezing your nuts off in the winter. Living in a car does not necessarily simplify life, but in fact usually adds a host of extra complications.

We are getting ready to trade in our rig for a van...commercial preferably before heading north beginning of summer. It will be worth to take advantage of the housing money. I'm really looking forward to that!

This would not work. Your thinking of not sleeping there at nights and weekends, just would not work as soon as temps drop below freezing. And in Northern New York, I can see that happening a lot. You'll be on the couch often and your roommates would despise you. As someone who had been on the receiving end (think your roommates) of a similar situation, I can tell you that it is unacceptable.

I second 20kN's response regarding BAH. If you're an NCO, you should be making some relatively decent money. Save up your pennies while enjoying an apartment, get out with a nice lump of change, and then be a dirtbag. I got out as an E-5 with about $20,000. I spent most of it on tuition much to my dismay. I wish I would've done something badass like climb or travel or hike the AT or something.

Off-topic:
If you've not been to college, and have the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you'll be able to live like a fat cat in school; that thing is lucrative. Be normal while in the Army, get out, do something cool for a year with your hard earned cash, then go to school or whatever. I didn't do that and I hate myself for it.

This sounds like a terrible idea. It may save you some money but will not gain you any freedom as long as you've got a 5 day a week job to go to, and you said money is not an issue, freedom is.

What happens when you want to bring a lady over? Or when you get the flu? Sometimes it's really nice to have a bedroom and a bed. Are you realistically going to be away camping all weekend every weekend? What about when the weather is crap, or you sprain an ankle?

It also sounds like a really bad deal for your roommates. Sounds like you want someone to take over your half of the rent, but you want to retain nearly all the privileges of living there. You want to take up space in the fridge, in the storage areas, take your turn in the shower every day, and spend probably a ton of time in the living room. Sharing a 2-person space between 3 people is no fun.

And in the end, what benefit are you getting from it? The point of living in your car is long-term travel, and you can't do that right now. If you want to "train" for future car-living, do it by soaking up all the comforts of indoor living while you can, so you'll have a longer time on the road before you get burnt out on it.

Ha, glad to see everyone is generally on the same page as me. Em Cos, rangerdrew, 20kN, etc. are all saying exactly what I'm thinking:

Soak in the stationary life while you are tied to your location/job, then go on a true adventure with your savings and freedom from work. Then when you burn out on dirtbaggin' (and you will), pick your favorite location, set up shop, and go to school, or whatever with your gi bill.

Your roommates would hate you if you tried your current plan. Especially if they are forced to take care of your dog for you while you aren't around, while you get to pay less rent, and commandeer the couch and public space with you and your stuff. Sorry, but that sounds just plain awful.

Good luck in your future travels!

Thanks for all the insight guys. Being in my twenties I didn't really think of all the ramifications I could have on others. I really don't want to be a burden on my friends.

I guess in the end renting out my room wouldn't save me that much money ($200-300/month) that I couldn't save elsewhere in my life. And it definitely wouldn't add to my ends of climbing and running as much as possible.

But I can still turn my subie into the ultimate weekend warrior mobile. I'm currentliy debating whether to take out the back seat and do the sleeping platform or the whole roof box thing.

I am jealous of you guys from places like boulder, wa, and bishop

At the risk of sounding trite, if you don't like what you are doing make a change. If you want to dirtbag, go for it. You get one life. Don't waste it making compromises that you will regret and wasting years in a situation that does not fulfill you. Reading between the lines, it seems that you want a change but are afraid to pull the trigger.

No life is perfect. Dirtbagging / the traveling lifestyle is not always fun and glamorous, and not at all "easy." However, if you really want an adventure you need to do it now. You will regret it if you do not.

Best wishes with whatever path you decide to take!