Van Life at 75: Surviving on Social Security of $1200 a Month
My major concerns in this lifestyle are gas prices and rising cost of food.
Who says adventure ends at retirement?
I’m living my dream in a 2016 Ram Promaster Cargo van converted into a 72-square-foot home on wheels. It’s plenty big for me to live comfortably. There’s stand up room to accommodate anyone who is 6’2” tall. I’m 5’5” in height.
I built a regular twin size bed 39” wide and 72” long outfitted with a 4” memory foam mattress. It’s very comfortable. And spacious for one sleeper.
I carefully place all my clothes in a trunk organizer under my bed, along with boxes of tools, a moon shade, a lawn chair and other essentials.
I cook on a one burner butane portable stove top, a small electric skillet, a toaster and a small coffee pot. I carry very few dishes and silverware. Just enough to service two or three people.
I Use Solar Power
I use an 1800Wh Bluetti and a 1,000 wh Grecell generator to power all my needs except for the AC. If it’s extremely hot, I park where I can plug into shore power and use my Furrion 14,500 BTU AC. The rest of the time I get by with my Max air van and 2 little USB powered clip-on fans.
I Barely Get By on my $1200 Social Security Check
Van life keeps me free from rent hikes and rising utility bills that ate up all my fixed income back in the apartment days. I was always running behind on my utilities and often 5 days late on my rent.
But these days—no tent, no landlord, no worries about rent increases, just open roads, sunsets, and the thrill of self-reliance. My life is much easier now.
And yes, there is a downside to the Nomad life—what if my rig breaks down—what if I have a flat tire—what if I run out of gas? That’s why I carry Triple AAA insurance to handle unexpected problems. And I’m able to save something for vehicle maintenance.
Nomad life is a better choice over rising cost of rent and utilities, especially since my retirement income is fixed.
Medical Needs
My Medicare insurance takes care of my health care and prescription drugs. I use Walgreens and Walmart pharmacies to fill my prescriptions. They are located almost everywhere, as you may know.
If an emergency arises, I go to local emergency room for care. And when it’s time for my annual, I plan ahead and make it happen. I schedule my travels well in advance.
My mornings start with a hot cup of brewed Folger’s coffee, going outside with my journal notebook and pen where I sit down in my lawn chair to write down my woes, joys, and future plans. Journaling keeps me on track.
I love my solitude, but I also enjoy friendly conversations with other van lifers. I find joy in socializing with good people.
At 75 years of age, I’ve traded stuff for stories and experiences. Less house work, less T.V.—more writing, more reading, more you-tube, more acquaintances that enjoy the great out doors and new adventures.
What is your retirement adventure? Share below—I reply to every comment. Subscribe
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First of all, Merry Christmas wherever you are. Thanks for your perspective, which I enjoy (obviously since I subscribe.)
Since I'm not retired yet, my plan for retirement was to be a writer - but economic conditions during the Great Recession hastened that by about 15 years. So in a sense I'm really not going to retire, but I will someday stop going to a job every weekday - after eight years, I finally got the job I was laid off from back after a series of detours that included scrambling for the aforementioned writing jobs.
I have a smattering of paid subscribers here but also get a monthly stipend from another writing job, so it is a work in progress. While I do enjoy traveling to some extent, I also like sleeping in my own bed that's not a foam mattress, but to each his or her own.