Just Wondering: Ever Lived Out Of Your Car?

Editor

I haven’t had to—yet—though a few days of "suburban camping" in my Eagle during a certain surf trip with my kid sister one summer got me acquainted with the rigors faced by those who do. Things started to go sideways when we hit the snobby Outer Banks of North Carolina, where everyone drives a brand-new "crossover" and my Eagle stood out like a turd in a punchbowl. The car was getting a lot of looks, and one morning after we’d bedded down for the night in the very landscaped parking lot of some la-di-dah business park, there was a huge North Carolina state trooper tapping on the window at 6am to ask if we girls were "runaways."

Anyway, MotiveMag is running a really cute article on how to live out of your car with dignity, in a way that allows you to still do classy things like attend job interviews and not stink to high heaven. Top tips include earplugs (yeah!), upholstery freshening, and making creative use of fast-food restrooms. Enjoy!

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Posted at 8:38 am in Jen Dunnaway, Weird

Comments

cknarf
Sep 4, 2008 at 2:20 am

No, but my uncle has.

I love the ron paul reference in the article.

Maverick
Sep 4, 2008 at 1:00 am

Been there, done that! Over a year on and off in my 80 cutlass while i pondered what i wanted to do with my life after leaving career choice 1. Ran out of money before I found work and the rest as they say, Is ancient history. I did learn that you never stay in the same place two night straight, that many campgrounds will let you work for a spot and use of their showers!, for a few days at a time(exception to rule 1.) Also that if your creative, you really can eat on only a few dollars a day, or in my case week… I think everyone should do it at least for a bit, it really makes you appreciate things we normally dont even pay attention too, like running water, commodes, cooked food… you get the picture..

Jake
Sep 4, 2008 at 12:22 am

Never had to live out of my car, don’t plan on it either. Although I could easily do so in the Monte. The cloth seats fold back flat, and are very comfortable.

Could just stare out through the T-tops at the stars.

Nes
Sep 3, 2008 at 11:01 pm

Never lived off my car but slept numerous times on the backseat of my ’97 T-bird, and surprisingly enough its very roomy if you use it as a bed! I’m 6’4 and I had a nice sleep!

Anonymous
Sep 3, 2008 at 8:13 pm

That is hilarious. I did similar after my humble abode took on a deadly gas. After a long day,Very po’d, I simply left with a blanket and pillow and old subaru all by myself. Never got questioned, even took a nap in the back….I enjoyed it to the point of going camping with it.Campfire, a river, silence..now that spot has a gargantuate house, but hey..It seems impossible to do now, only “weirdos” running from something attempt camping in unlikely cars. *Sigh* I think of my trip as new york city before it became one.

GTwildfire
Sep 3, 2008 at 8:10 pm

In Soviet Russia, Car lives out of You!

Oafman
Sep 3, 2008 at 5:22 pm

I have not lived in any of my cars/trucks but I have slept in some of them. Word of caution – if you are over 6′ tall do not try to sleep in the driver seat of a 90s Explorer. I tried that once when my wife and I arrived at about 2am for a weekend event. Too dark to find out spot and pitch the tent so we decided to just sleep in the truck. It took me hours to work the kinks out. I have slept in the back of our 97 Suburban though. We laid the seats down and had 2 adults, 1 kid and 2 dogs sleeping in the back. Everyone had a choice of sleeping with someones feet or butt in your face.

Stewart
Sep 3, 2008 at 5:09 pm

Nope.
.
Never have.
.
But if I do, at least my car is huge

HB
Sep 3, 2008 at 2:32 pm

Only lived in my Astros for cross country road trips. Full size futon mattress fits perfectly in the back after the seats are removed.

Waytofurious
Sep 3, 2008 at 9:57 am

I am happy to say that I have never had to live out of any of my cars. Many years ago in my young and stupid days I went to a party and feel asleep in the back of my VW Bug. Being 6ft tall it was a really interesting experience when I woke up the next day hung over and literally bent out of shape!! Ahhh to be young and dumb again, not.