I'm considering attempting to live in a van. Canal barges are now rather expensive. I would do it, so that I could be 'on my toes' , meaning, trickier for the dementors to catch up with me.
Any thoughts or hints, on living in a van, or a canal barge, or any other similar abode

I dunno about in your country but in mine, many people have done it.
People also live in campers, spend some time at one place then move to another.

A few things to consider:

Supply of clean water for bathing, drinking, cleaning.
A permanent post box somewhere.
Some type of food storage (cold and ambient)
For a van/camper, a valid license, registration and insurance.
Some type of dependable income.
A place to park for the night.
Compatible electrical products or a power inverter.
Self-defense capability.
Ventilation/air fresheners/air purifier
Some type of entertainment

I 'dated' a woman who lived in a camper at a local campground.
It was much like a small apartment.
She had a PO box in another town and her daughter picked up her mail for her.

I met another woman who lived in another camper in a local town.
It was a cramped, uncomfortable place which resembled an old box.
She was dirty most of the time, her clothes were dirty, she had no food reserves and little storage. Her living conditions were terrible and I told her it won't work with us and that she needs to move to a trailer or apartment. Last I heard, she moved to a mobile home somewhere upstate.

It will be however good or bad you tolerate.
If you have plenty of steady income, it can be good but if you can't afford the lifestyle you can quickly deteriorate.
It depends on you and your abilities, tolerances and standards.

As with anything..... don't just take what you read or hear at face value -do your homework.

There is a lot of hype about tiny homes, also, but you can't actually live in one for very long in many places. That is changing to allow for cheaper housing alternatives, but then there are lots of codes and rules associated.

It is similar with vans -but there is no sign of it becoming more accepted.
It is usually illegal, also.

Many places which once allowed people to sleep in vehicles no longer do so.
If you want to do it legally -part time and in approved areas -you also have to plan where you will be well in advance to avoid driving around hoping to find a spot somewhere -or to find showers, supplies, food, etc. Free vehicle camping spots are usually far from services, etc.

The more prepared you are, the less likely you will get fed up and waste ridiculous amounts of money on a hotel.
If you are thinking of traveling with pets, it is way different than being able to just leave them in the house or yard all day -and you often can't just leave them in the van due to heat, cold, etc. They will ALWAYS be with you! You might need a hotel to keep them warm or cool enough!
Same with people you might invite.

Do some trial runs just camping a few days to make sure you are comfy, have what you need, etc. Get everything set before you go, because everything is more difficult on the road.
Have as many spare parts and supplies as possible for your vehicle and everything essential.
Be or become a mechanic -even if you have an auto club membership -which you should -but that's a LOT less money and often less time wasted!
Prepare for the worst-case scenario -desert heat, blizzard, rednecks that don't take kindly to folks like you.... water, blankets, beer for bribes to make rednecks take more kindly to you, etc.

Make sure you have privacy -but don't look like you are camping (mismatched towels covering all the windows, etc.) -and you will attract a lot less attention. The stealth factor is often discussed in #vanlife circles.

Finally... you really have to be good at it (lots of thinking can cause stress for some) and proactive for it to be less expensive than a home base.

It is a very good idea -especially now -to have a vehicle you can live in COMFORTABLY -just in case you need to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv2VIEY9-A8

They do it out here all the time. It's not easy though. They are here, on property right now infact. This desert can be unforgiving. it's been cold the last few nights here. Maybe they will talk to you if you like.

That just sounds yucky. I like to be able to stand up, straight,
wherever I live. :)-

Make sure you park it "down by the river".

It depends on ...

your income source and how you are placed to earn money .

Your health and health needs . You may feel that running away is a good option but have you considered the consequences ???

How well you adapt to change .
.... . winter can be harsh . (Depending on where you live.)

Consider your basic needs and how you will meet them .

I know several people who successfully live in vans / mobile homes and others who struggle .

Perhaps as someone else suggested ., try the lifestyle first without committing to it and see if the reality meets your expectations .

Such an 'adventure' would be short lived over here as it's not allowed. What is called mobile home in the US is called caravan or "standing caravan" here, and you're not allowed to permanently live in that either.
Some do so regardless but if you get could you are in deep chit. You're given a date by which you have to be out and risk a nice fine.

Canal boats are allowed but have to meet certain rules.
Much of not being allowed to live in a van etc. likely has to do with not paying for the crap you produce like sewage, garbage removal etc. not having drinking water & electricity.
Another part is likely based on health & safety regulations.
The same with a canal boat: is it connected to the sewage system, does it have a permanent place to, and so on.
Another part is possibility to not get insurances incl health as you don't have a home address.

Check your countries rules and laws.
Personally I'd never want to. Such things aren't made to live in and you easily get mold etc.

One possible trial run, If you have a van, take a long trek across country.
Plan a route which takes a week or more.
Load up the van with what you think you will need to live comfortably.
Hit the roads.

Treat the van like your home on wheels.
Take notes of the things which go wrong and the things which go right.
When you return home, consider how you feel being home again.
Is being 'home' again better or worse?

If being home again is a relief, living in a van is not for you.
If being home is awful, perhaps van life is for you.
Review your notes, make changes and try again, see if it is a better experience.

Around here (Gulf Coast) there are many campgrounds where people stay permanently. Its a post-Katrina lifestyle accommodation. There are some people who chose to continue to live in the FEMA trailers. Some campgrounds also rent campers that are permanently installed.
If your country has campgrounds which rent campers you could do a test run in one of those. Choose one which is not close to home.
Again, take notes of what was good and what was not.
Again, see how you feel when you do return home.

If you are running away from your problems there's a good chance those problems will follow you where ever you may go. This is because we tend to create our own problems. Instead of running away, use your wisdom to remove the problems.

Many people try to run from money problems. That usually doesn't work either.
To cure money problems you must live within your means. You must also adapt living standards as your means change. If you live by 'credit' the bill always comes due. Even if your means changes.

It's good that there are rules concerning safe and healthy dwellings, but they could be much less restrictive while achieving that goal.

Some have started to think that way given the present circumstances, but probably not enough.

One thing many first worlders fail to realize when they set living standards is the fact much of the rest of the world does not have such standards. Places we deem unfit for living would be considered thriving by many people around the world.

Pre-Katrina, there was a shanty town at the US49/I-10 interchange. This shanty town was a series of plywood/cardboard/sheets grouped together where hundreds of people lived.

Even now, on the bayous and inlets/streams/lakes are homemade houseboats and shantys where many Cajuns live by choice.

In any major city, there are thousands of homeless people living on the streets.

Many people 'choose' not to see it but they are there.

First world living standards are based on wealth/credit as deemed by that society. Let a disaster strike where wealth/credit has no bearing and living standards depreciate quickly to basic needs.

Basic survival needs are simplistic. Many people don't realize how simplistic. Electricity is a convenience. You don't need electricity to survive. Indoor plumbing is a convenience, you don't need it to survive.
According to first-world society's mentality you do.

DON'T be fooled by all this "van life" nonsense on Youtube. Most of these channels are run by folks with little money who NEED to have a successful channel just to put gas in their vans so they can keep moving legally. For them to post all the negatives about how they live would turn off those watching and thus, destroy their channel. Thus, all you see is the "wonderfulness" of it all. Hardly a true experience most will have.

It's fun/cool to camp once in awhile. It's another thing to glorify how shi++ing in a bucket is "such a wonderful way to live for free". And don't even get me started about those able bodied 20 and 30 something's doing this to avoid having to work and contribute to the world. Pathetic!

Unless you are flat broke, desperate, and homeless, the "fun" of this lifestyle will wear on you quickly regardless of all those instagram pictures trying to encourage you to be a homeless bum living in a van.

How about Slab City in southern California? It's an off-the-grind community of squatters.

My point is what you think you need to survive and what you actually need to survive are often two different things.

I personally would have no way of making a trial run, though it's good advice. UK law allows it, I believe. I'm sure it's not all glamorous like some of these youtube videos.
Here's a perhaps strange point..I need a driving license for a van...i don't need a licence for a boat.. admittedly the laws depending on where you are in
the boat ( which country) may change. I do believe, that I could sail to France ( I'm having visions of del boy going to Holland in a canal barge) , not that I would, I'm terrible at sea. 4 mph is the maximum on a lot of the canals I believe, and your adviced to go slower. Apparently you can get a cheap boat on 1 side of the panana canal. I wouldn't fancy crossing the Pacific with a jam sandwich , a Mars bar and a litre of avian
Hmmm

All I can say is it is not for me.

That's got me wondering, if anyone has actually attempted to cross the Pacific with just jam sandwiches and mars bars

Try to find good secluded area. Have an extra battery for your Van. Books and something to do outside of ur van. You’ll meet good people

I know this topic is old, but I've been doing rvlife/vanlife well before it became a trend since 2003. I'm also a long haul trucker, I own land, a few houses, and currently live in a 89 33ft winnebago chieftain...

it's not all glamor but it can be fun. I enjoy my quiet space, I drive 10 weeks out over the road, come back to my motorhome and then take a trip somewhere on my "to visit" list.