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Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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I don't do boondocking + cities. (One of my places is near Portland Oregon, A 'swatters paradise". Tragic for the community and businesses / economy / police)
I keep a few rural props dispersed in USA regions with different climates that I prefer to visit.
Each property has main home rented out, and a free place for me and others to stay. All have shops, RV hookups, and separate living spaces. All all financially self supporting, including my main home. I have often bought rural view props and built a shop with apartment, hookups. I sometimes rent them, but usually sell to someone wanting to build their dream house.
I use retirees as responsible tenants. They are more friends, than tenants.
We often sell properties to tenants (if they desire to buy it).
By age 80, I expect to be a renter myself.
In a rural senior community.
Or Facebook. There are many-many people living the fulltime/boondocking life who prove the ignorant comments posted here wrong. Lord, people can be morons.
We've been RVers for years. Dabbled with the thought of full-time+boondocking, then decided on the more secure existence of a small condo and most-time travel.
There's boondocking and there's stealth camping. The latter is more easily done in the setup you propose - van conversion - but there are things to learn in order to not be so obvious and prone to harassment, while also being a respectful stealther. I've seen videos of the stealthers who aren't even trying to pass as stealth campers. They deserve the boot up the ass they get from authorities and make it hard for folks who just want to park/sleep/move on.
When people talk boondocking, it's typically out west on BLM land, or in approved places like Walmart, Cracker Barrel, and Carabela's. There are rules and etiquette to that kind of camping as well.
Do the research and follow the path of people who know how to be the best kind of stealth campers and boondockers. It will be less of a hassle.
You may not want to include Walmart. There are many the post no overnight parking now. I have had a lot of success with truck stops, mainly Love's and Pilots.
You may not want to include Walmart. There are many the post no overnight parking now. I have had a lot of success with truck stops, mainly Love's and Pilots.
True
Walmart is one place where it is definitely better to ask, even if there are no signs saying it's prohibited. Also, it's best to arrive at one before dark and scope the area and shoppers. I follow several youtubers who have begun to be very wary because of the behavior issues from people coming there after dark. Tip: to access the free Wi-Fi (if offered) I've read posts from several people who advise parking down at the garden center area. The signal will be stronger there.
Cracker Barrel - best to make sure it's in an easily accessible area. We recently got stuck at a light, waiting for someone with a huge 5th wheel to navigate the U-turn into the parking lot. Personally, I would have gone "nope" and headed down the road to the next CB, but someone was stubborn about getting into that particular one.
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ok thanks..
