I lived in my car for a week and let me tell you, it's not fun and it got to my psyche. I'm the kind of person that needs a "home".
On one of the nights a cop tapped on my window. I told him I was just taking a quick nap because I started to feel drowsy while driving. I felt like a total bum.
To each their own though. That's just my two cents.
Some good responses here, so thank you everyone who took the time.
I certainly do alright for myself, Moo (though big city living and rent prices still make me feel under-compensated at times), but if you've never worked in a similar position as mine you can't imagine how boring life can be. I pull off 80-100 hr weeks on a not-that-unusual basis, and much of that time is spent explaining things to upper management which range from risk analysis to (I kid you not) how to hide cells in Microsoft Excel. The day-to-day grind of answering to people who logically do not have the proper skillsets to deal with today's world of finance but still outweigh you on every level because they were born in a time of low competition and limited technology is quite difficult to deal with. And you kind of have to suck up to these people to advance, because if you don't, you can be assured your colleagues will. This alone makes me yearn for something where my skill and ambition is tied to my results.Originally Posted by moo321
The family issue is certainly something I've considered. But at the risk of sounding like one of those whiny "men's rights" activists, I truly believe that millennials are screwed when it comes to marriage, at least in the States and probably most of the Western world. Divorce is laughably easy and statistically probable, women (and often men, to be fair) my age seem lazy and narcissistic, and when children are involved the courts will almost always favor the woman. Plus at my income, it's extremely likely that I'd get hosed financially in a divorce. I honestly can't see marriage as a rational decision for successful men in my generation.
I'm on the shorter side of average, around 5'9/175 cm. I'm really not overly concerned with sleeping in the car. I was dirt poor growing up and slept on the floor of the kitchen until I was around 16. The Avalanche actually sounds pretty comfy, but then again you guys make some good points about the Prius gas millage savings (though I guess that could be partly mitigated through tax deductions when I file as a "pro gambler," yet another headache in this scheme). I'm thinking the gym is a good idea because I'm pretty big into weight training and I don't know how I could get/keep the look I want without weights (that being said, I'm far from creative in terms of working out, so feel free to correct me there). The hiking sounds like a good idea regardless, though.
It was only for a little more than a week, but a road trip I took with my friend where we just slept in his old Honda was one of the best experiences of my life. I could see how it could get old fast, though. I actually kind of like the idea of feeling like a bum. It feels more real than my current lifestyle. Dealing with the security issues/cop hassling is definitely a concern though.
If I were at a job I could take a 3-4 month vacation I wouldn't feel very good about my job security. Usually after a couple days off I like the employers to really miss my ability to get things done efficiently. That is job security. Then ask for a raise. Kind of my own boss now. Nobody can really cover for me.
what is the longest stretch where you played 6 hours daily? You just have to do it on a stretch for a month and see if you can handle it, if you can make as much in a month as you would in your job. Don't base it on "I made more in a week playing BJ than I did in a month of work". Do it every day for a month. Take your vacation, head to Las Vegas and play.Not sure my workplace would be ok with me quitting for 90 days and then returning
Most make money on their first few days and then the tiredness, the grind, affects you around the end of 4-6 days and result in loss/variance hitting you. Try to get the max time you can from your work ("my mom, who lives in Henderson, NV is terminally ill, expected to last 2 weeks") and then head out!!!!
There is a big difference between sleeping in your car while travelling and living in your car while homeless
If you're at a truck stop, or a wayside rest area, or even a darker corner of a 24 hour Wal-Mart parking lot that's just off the Interstate, you can pretty honestly say "I was just too tired to drive safely, I'll be on my way in a few hours, after a little more shuteye - say, is there a decent diner around here to grab some breakfast when the sun is up?"
If you park in the same spot every night next to all the other guys sleeping in their cars, that's going to invite the cops to come around looking for trouble.
Don't make the car look like you live in it. It shouldn't be crammed full of all your worldly belongings, and you should throw away the cans, bottles, and fast-food wrappers. You will be making at least one fuel stop a day, and probably at least 2 rest stops a day in addition to your destination stops. Throw the trash out every time.
As for the problems with a 3 month vacation, I think Randy Pausch said* that "the hurdles aren't there to keep you from doing things, but to give you a chance to show how much you want to do them". Long weekends may be a start, although I'd suggest Saturday-Tuesday over Friday-Sunday; from what I've seen out here in the hinterlands, the tables are less crowded on Mondays and Tuesdays than Fridays.
As to the fuel issues... yes, 45+ MPG is sweet, but I'm not going back to that. I was driving a 2 seat compact hybrid for a while, and the gas mileage was the only thing it had going for it. No cruise control. No way to stretch out (curling up in the driver's seat to sleep sucks, especially when you can't recline much). No back seat to carry extra players. I'm in a small SUV now, and about the only thing I really miss from the compact is the aftermarket stereo. Cutting the mileage in half was more of an annoyance than a deal breaker - I consider the increased operational cost to be an investment in comfort and versatility, and comfort is much more important than I had realized before my time in the compact. (Yes, I was typically driving 1000 miles a week in several rides, before and after the compact. Cruise control and the ability to stretch out are both big deals for me.)
*I'm sure I'm paraphrasing or misquoting, but if you watch the last lecture, I think you'll agree that the sentiment is there.
May the cards fall in your favor.
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