We nomads know this can be a rewarding and frugal lifestyle, but not everyone will share our enthusiasm. Be prepared for judgement, ignorant comments, and "down by the river[1]" jokes. Camping or long-term travel in motorhomes or travel trailers is generally seen as socially acceptable, but full-time nomadic living usually isn't.
Knowing how others may react can help you navigate the social pushback you may get.
Reactions of friends and family
If your friends and family are experienced travelers or adventurous types they may be supportive, but many people either won't understand your choice or may even be hostile.
It is common for family to try to dissuade potential van dwellers and nomads from the lifestyle for one or more reasons:
- they are worried it's dangerous (see Safety and security)
- they are worried it's a waste of your life
- when your parent's friend asks, "what's Johnny doing these days?", they don't want to answer, "he's living in a van".
- they are "crabs in a pot", pulling at any individual who tries to climb out
In politics, there's something called the Overton Window: the range of ideas that are accepted as valid/reasonable to most people. For most people, the idea of someone they know deciding to live in a vehicle, especially one that wasn't specifically designed for it (RVs, etc.), is outside their Overton window. It's just too weird for their brains to process. They literally can't figure out why some people do it or even choose it voluntarily. There MUST be a better way, they think, without considering all the reasons why you have decided to do it this way instead.
Reactions of citizens and police
Homeowners may be hostile to your presence for reasons given in this article.
Those homeowners complain to the police and elected officials, resulting in enforcement actions. Practice stealth and obey local laws if you want to stay under the radar.
Reactions of coworkers
If you have a regular job while living in a van, you may wish to keep your residential status on the down-low. Your employer or fellow employees may treat you differently if you don't have a conventional sticks-and-bricks home or apartment. See Managing your mail for more on establishing a legal address for work.