Comments by "Lily Gazou" (@LilyGazou) on "Van Life: What Happens when Seniors Can No Longer Be Nomads?" video.
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You can find vans on Craigslist or by word of mouth. Talk to car mechanics that you trust, they usually know who is thinking of selling and they know how well the vehicle is maintained. Talk to the clerks at the auto parts stores because they know all the people who work on vehicles.
Consider a minivan like a Toyota Sienna. There are videos on how to do a no-build build- out. Minivans are better on gas. Gas might go to $10/ gallon for a while so you want to be prepared.
I have a camper van but I usually cook outside on one burner, wash dishes outside and use the shower at a gym. A canopy, a folding camp chair and table— follow the best weather and you won’t have to worry about heating and cooling.
Save up at least $5000 for an emergency fund- and don’t use it for anything but an emergency.
You can try car camping first to see how you like it- stay at a state or county park for a few nights, practice using the equipment. See how well you sleep. Then plan a trip for a week, see how many hours you are comfortable driving, find the things that you like for filling your time- reading, a walk, writing. There’s a thing called decision exhaustion that you need to be prepared to feel. What to eat, where to stop for gas, how far to drive, where to camp, what to buy and cook for meals, etc.
whatever vehicle you buy, learn as much as you can about maintaining it yourself. Get it checked by a mechanic before you buy.
I hope this helps.
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