Not traveling often but, downsizing to camper

I have inherited a two story house full of all of my family's stuff. It's just me and my son and our two dogs. The house is impossible to clean because these things are not mine to throw away. The two car garage can barely fit my bike with all this crap in it. The yard is massive and exhausting to cut on my own. So, as I've been wanting to do my whole life, I'm getting a camper and moving in. I plan on staying in michigan close to my son's family (if for no other reason than to keep peace with his father). Before I was pregnant I lived in my Dodge Grand Caravan (with my dogs) for two years. I have never been that content in my life. I know I can live this way. I know my dogs can live this way. And, my son claims to want to live this way.

So, is the massive upgrade from mini van to camper legit for my child? A tornado passed through my town a few years back making it impossible to get into my house let alone live there. My son and I camped out in the van right in front of my house for about two weeks. I was happy for the excuse, honestly. And, my son was disappointed to have to go back into the house when it was cleared (ish) out.

There are three places I can rotate being set up if I'm not able to establish a year round site. I plan on keeping my child in school (within thirty minutes of all three sites) and I'm about to finish cosmetology school and (hopefully) find a job as a nail tech, at the very least.

All of this being said. My past, preferences, and potentially delusional plans of living. So, tell me if you think I'm crazy and why. It probably wont stop me but, give me some more to figure out and plan for before the big transition.

 

the only issue i see off the top of my head is that your son is going to be ridiculed mercilessly in school for being the kid that lives in a camper.

also, if you inherited the stuff, i would think it's yours to throw away. as it also would be if it technically belongs to someone else who refuses to take it.

 

They all live around and occasionally dump more shit into the house. None of them are dead.. (incorrect wording, my bad) just unwilling to throw the things they don't want away. If I leave.. someone else has to stay here instead of me. Or my dad can come back from france, sell/throw away his stuff and sell the house. Until I'm gone he'll never do it. Just perpetually say he's gonna like he has been for the past five years. My father didn't put the house in my name in case I became stupid and owed money to the point of repossession. I thought he was being thoughtful. But, he uses it as more of a control tactic.

In regards to the teasing children.. he's a fairly popular kid. And, we live in red neck central. My living in a camper idea is not original around here.

I'm about to be on my feet. I wont need a lick of help from my family or the government. i don't like being a "mooch" and i don't like being unhappy. For the sake of myself, my son, and my dogs I need to get the eff out of this house.

 

Sell that shit.

If you have a house that they don't want, well fuck, you're doing a lot better than me.

Put an ad on cl or in the paper.... free shit, all you want..... Learn to use ebay.....

Make some money.

If it's not worth shit, take out any copper wire or other meatal/recyclabeles, sell those for cash, and throw the rest of the shit out.

It sounds like you have as bad a parkrat tendencie as them, if you can't just throw shit out...... you have a house, all you have to do is put the shit on the curb, but you can't do that to avoid living in a camper.....

Living in a camper isn't bad, if you need to. Or if you have a lifestyle that requires it. But because you're too fucking lazy to grab a trash bag and spend a day throwing shit out? No, that's NOT the right thing to teach your kid, and it's not a good reason to make him deal with your lifestyle. It might be fun for a few weeks, it's NOT in the long run, if you're not even traveling but living in an RV.

 

As others have said living in a camper doesnt have to be crazy and shitty. I've been a traveller for the past 9 years living in various vans, trucks etc. Fortunately I'm now lucky to have a large touring style truck which I live in with my family on shared land. Mess and surplus crap just makes life miserable, clear out and only keep what you need, it's about a change in lifestyle you can't take the need for stuff with you. Also I have two well adjusted children, yes they are different from some other kids but I have yet to experience them being teased or bullied and have lots of friends from our community and 'regular' lifestyles. We need to give kids a little more credit, sometimes they can be more openminded than most adults.
So if you stay in a house or van clear up, even if it's bit by bit, you'll feel so much happier for it!

 

When things went bad in the marrige I took my cat and my laptop and moved into the first camper. That was 2001. Iv been living in a camper ever since. Im quite happy in this small space. I dont need nor want a lot of materialistic goods around. I like being able to hook onto my little hut and going someplace else for a weekend or migrating during the coldest part of the year. I have no desire to live back in a brick and morter home.

Something that I really want to do and I did start but never completed is to go completly off grid with it. I have picked up a couple solar panels 160 watts worth so far. Be self reliant, grow my own food or just go on the road and be a vendor. Iv been eyeballing the street fairs, what people are selling there.