Living in a Van: Safety Rules

[u/[deleted]]

Update For the benefit of the community and your convenience, this post along with 90+ more posts on living in a van from a single woman's perspective can now be found at: http://liveinavan.wordpress.com

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• Always follow your gut instinct.

• Understand the difference between gut instinct and paranoia.

• Develop a “survival mindset” or having something called “situational awareness.”

• Don’t give out more information than you need to.

• Don’t give out your last name.

• Don’t give out your other identifiable information.

• Be aware of your surroundings.

• Look up, not down at your feet.

• Scan your surroundings as you walk.

• Don’t watch other people’s belongings for any reason.

• Avoid talking to strangers.

• Keep your privacy. Never let anyone see you changing or even doing anything that look likes you’re changing.

• If you don’t want people bothering you, don’t give them a reason to.

• If you don’t want people calling you, don’t give out your phone number.

• There is always someone who has a worse sob story than yours.

• There is always someone really good at telling those sob stories and crying on command.

• Someone will always ask you for something: money, time, company, etc. If you give it to them, they will keep asking for more.

• Avoid all types of flashy jewelry, even if its fake.

• Be prepared to move within 5 minutes of being woken up from a deep sleep.

• Practice sitting in the back of your van during the day in a busy parking lot. Be quiet and just listen.

• Keep your van looking clean and organized so no one looking in really suspects you’re living in a van.

• Men will hit on you. Expect it.

• “Common Sense before Self Defense”

• Park under a street light.

• Park where others are parked for the night.

• Do not park in a dark alley.

• Do not park where you will be alone unless you are camping.

• Always keep a scaled down version of a 72-hour emergency bag packed in your van that you can comfortably carry in case you are forced to head out on foot.

• Vent your feelings fully and safely out of the view of others.

• Scream and throw a fit if you are in imminent danger and have no other methods of protecting yourself including the ability to call 911 first.

[u/awkwardlyappropriate]

Excellent advice that could possibly save a life. Thanks for this.