Living in my van while attending Berklee

[boston2denver]

Originally Posted by mmyk72

What are you going to do when it's freezing cold or during parking ban on snow days?

If you've been in Boston long enough you know that Mr. Butch lived in a van in Allston during the winter. It can be done.

[Cantabridgienne]

Mr Butch also had a host of friends who took him in from time to time. While he may not have had a proper home, he was generally not without a place to stay (whether he wanted to stay was another story).

[boston2denver]

Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne

Mr Butch also had a host of friends who took him in from time to time. While he may not have had a proper home, he was generally not without a place to stay (whether he wanted to stay was another story).

During the winter he slept in a van behind a store in Allston.

[miu]

Originally Posted by boston2denver

During the winter he slept in a van behind a store in Allston.

Well the area behind that store was not a public street. And probably he was able to park there with the permission of the store management who happened to be sympathetic to his situation. I'm sure that neither you nor I could park our cars behind that store right now in that parking space the whole winter for free.

Mr. Butch was a Boston institution for many decades, a real character that many were very fond of. The average person wouldn't be able to get away now with what he used to do. A lot of my old friends in the local music scene liked him a lot. Personally, I never shared that same feeling of affection for him. I was sorry when he passed away, but he should have been wearing a helmet while riding his scooter.

[boston2denver]

Originally Posted by miu

Well the area behind that store was not a public street. And probably he was able to park there with the permission of the store management who happened to be sympathetic to his situation. I'm sure that neither you nor I could park our cars behind that store right now in that parking space the whole winter for free.

Mr. Butch was a Boston institution for many decades, a real character that many were very fond of. The average person wouldn't be able to get away now with what he used to do. A lot of my old friends in the local music scene liked him a lot. Personally, I never shared that same feeling of affection for him. I was sorry when he passed away, but he should have been wearing a helmet while riding his scooter.

The point is that he lived in his van during the winter months.

He seemed like a very nice individual. When I lived in Allston he helped me carry an AC from a little store on Harvard Ave to my place for $10. Poor guy was so winded. We had to take several breaks. I was grateful for his help though. Long live Mr. Butch!

[miu]

Originally Posted by boston2denver

The point is that he lived in his van during the winter months.

He seemed like a very nice individual. When I lived in Allston he helped me carry an AC from a little store on Harvard Ave to my place for $10. Poor guy was so winded. We had to take several breaks. I was grateful for his help though. Long live Mr. Butch!

I still don't think that you've made a valid point here. People survive in extreme cold wintery conditions all of the time. There are mountain climbers that sleep in tents on Mt. Everest, Mongolians living in yurts, and eskimos living in igloos. It's not enough for the O.P. who is a stranger from out of town to have a van to sleep in at night. Having a stack of blankets or a sub-zero rated sleeping bag isn't enough. He would still need the support system of other people in order to get by. What about bathing facilities? What about a regular overnight parking space? And what happens during and after big snowfalls and during the snow removal process? The BTD tows vehicles off the roads during declared snow emergencies. And if the OP can't afford housing, then he's most likely not able to afford renting a private parking space in the Boston area near Berklee.

Mr. Butch and his van got cut a lot of slack that no one else got. And if a bunch of people started living in vans in the Boston area, the police and residents would notice, not be very happy about the situation and those van dwellers would be given the option of going to a homeless shelter or to leave town.

[miu]

I don't think that the OP wants to go to Berklee any longer, but if he really wants to save money, then my advice to him is to fine cheap housing like a room in a house with other students or a boarding situation with a discount for doing household duties, and to sell his van. It's expensive to have a car in any major city. It's all too easy to rack up parking fines. Then there is gas and general maintenance costs. Most cars and van do better being driven on a regular basis. Parking a vehicle for extended periods is not good for the engine or the brakes, and also makes the tires out of round.

[boston2denver]

Originally Posted by miu

I still don't think that you've made a valid point here. People survive in extreme cold wintery conditions all of the time. There are mountain climbers that sleep in tents on Mt. Everest, Mongolians living in yurts, and eskimos living in igloos. It's not enough for the O.P. who is a stranger from out of town to have a van to sleep in at night. Having a stack of blankets or a sub-zero rated sleeping bag isn't enough. He would still need the support system of other people in order to get by. What about bathing facilities? What about a regular overnight parking space? And what happens during and after big snowfalls and during the snow removal process? The BTD tows vehicles off the roads during declared snow emergencies. And if the OP can't afford housing, then he's most likely not able to afford renting a private parking space in the Boston area near Berklee.

Mr. Butch and his van got cut a lot of slack that no one else got. And if a bunch of people started living in vans in the Boston area, the police and residents would notice, not be very happy about the situation and those van dwellers would be given the option of going to a homeless shelter or to leave town.

If you had actually read the thread you'd know that a valid suggestion about bathing was already made.

To the original poster, I think you can live in your van while attending Berklee. It won't be easy, but it can be done. Or you can work full-time while attending school. I did, for both my undergrad and my masters, while attending school full-time. It's a question of priorities.

Best of luck.