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lifestyle:downsizing

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Words of wisdom: You have to be ruthless. Follow the wisdom of the backpacker: “Bring what you need, and need what you bring”. – lenny flank1)

Downsizing for van life

understanding the available space

The best way to understand what should go in your camper is to move it into your camper, or at least a camper-sized space in your home.

If your build is sufficiently far along, actually put each item in your camper when you decide to keep it. The amount of available space and need for organization will become apparent.

If you don't have a camper (or have the vehicle but can't load it up yet), measure the camper's floor plan and mark it out with painters tape on the floor. Placing it in a corner works particularly well. Also mark the ceiling height on your walls; nothing can go above that. Literally place each item you will bring in the space as if it were your camper. Cardboard boxes can be arranged to represent furniture and other items.2)

everything else must go

books

Many people have an emotional reaction to physical books are are horrified at the thought of giving them up. But they are bulky, heavy, and we will never read most of the ones we already own. In a van or RV you won't have room to store many of them.

m.media-amazon.com_images_i_613kthj4g7l._ac_ul320_ml3_.jpgKindles are popular with 'dwellers they can hold thousands of books in the space of one slim paperback. E-ink models look like real paper and use so little power they can run a month on one charge. Tablet models can do double duty as media viewers, web browsers, etc. Non-Kindle tablets like the iPad or android equivalent can use the free Kindle app.

Your public library probably already digitally loans Kindle books through Overdrive (they are delivered by Amazon). No standing in checkout line or driving back to the library to return them - the books are just deleted from the reader after the loan expires.

Note: Non-DRM books (like public domain works from Project Gutenberg, etc) can be read in third party apps like FBreader, a free and massively configurable reader.

If you need to jettison books quickly, donate them to your local Friends of the Library group for an upcoming book sale or drop the reading material off at a nearby Little Free Library. – rubbertrampartist3)

further reading

  • /r/onebag - a community devoted to the idea of lugging around less crap. Fewer, higher quality items, packed into a single bag for ease of transport make life simpler. Feel free to share your favourite bags, packing lists, and interesting discussion topics.
lifestyle/downsizing.1579811830.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020/10/11 19:48 (external edit)