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Van Life in Japan

kumazen.com

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Re: Van Life in Japan

#21

Post by bradleyjg »

BizarreByte wrote: post #18
EngCanMan wrote: post #11

"An empty water bottle/adult diaper can become a luxury in the middle of the night to avoid putting on your clothes/shoes and exiting the van in the coldness" You lost me when adult diapers became a luxury.

It’s hard to imagine putting up with stuff like this when for the same amount of money it takes to do “van life” in Japan you could live quite well elsewhere.

What does it cost to live in rural Japan? I was under the impression the countryside is depopulating, which I would think would mean reduced costs.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#22

Post by nicbou »

rgrieselhuber wrote: post #16
ietktnz wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I came here to quote this with virtually the same response. I will go so far as to say this is gross.

Gross. Anyone who has camped knows that feeling of sadness when it’s cold outside but you have to go to the bathroom at 3am. But some of the best moments I’ve had outside are during that time. The air is cleaner, you can see the stars if it’s clear, you might hear coyotes or other animals yipping not too far off...well worth the momentary annoyance.

It's a rare opportunity to see the stars. It's always worth it.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#23

Post by Liuser »

petodo wrote: post #5
TurboHaskal wrote: post #4

> We usually don’t bathe every day and listen to our body’s needs. If I did this I'd need to shower every 4h :)

I'm living in apartment and shower twice a week (at least in winter). Never understood obsession with daily shower as seen is American movies, no wonder Americans have extreme water consumption, I wonder how common is eczema and skin diseases over there compared to countries which shower less. EDIT: instead of downvoting rather prove me wrong, do you think Americans don't have extreme water consumption? US water cons…

Is that link for personal water use or does it account for farming?

What do you suggest to people who exercise everyday?

Re: Van Life in Japan

#24

Post by elbigbad »

joxel wrote: post #15
petodo wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm living in apartment and shower twice a week (at least in winter). Never understood obsession with daily shower as seen is American movies, no wonder Americans have extreme water consumption, I wonder how common is eczema and skin diseases over there compared to countries which shower less. EDIT: instead of downvoting rather prove me wrong, do you think Americans don't have extreme water consumption? US water cons…

So everyone else just smells like shit all the time in other countries? I smell like shit when I wake up in the morning, you wouldn't want to work next to me if I don't shower.

Not only from just existing, but between going to the gym a few days a week and doing regular cardio on other days, I just can’t imagine the absolute rank stink from not showering regularly. Once I thought I didn’t work up enough of a sweat weightlifting in the gym so went to bed when I got home, and the bed smelled like absolute trash the next day and neither me nor my partner could sleep there again without washing everything.

Maybe it’s just my neuroses or mental illness, but I can’t imagine smelling so badly and not showering even if I didn’t socialize with others, and can’t imagine I’d have many people to continue to socialize with (in USA so this is probably different in the OP’s country) if I smelled so bad when I went out.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#25

Post by HPsquared »

ajsnigrutin wrote: post #20
petodo wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm living in apartment and shower twice a week (at least in winter). Never understood obsession with daily shower as seen is American movies, no wonder Americans have extreme water consumption, I wonder how common is eczema and skin diseases over there compared to countries which shower less. EDIT: instead of downvoting rather prove me wrong, do you think Americans don't have extreme water consumption? US water cons…

If you do any physical work, you get sweaty, sweat means bacteria, means bad smell. Some of us don't like to stink, also don't like our beds to stink.

What fraction of people do any substantial physical work in an average day? I reckon about 25%.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#26

Post by Lio »

I love this or at least the idea of it.

The only thing that really would bother me is, not sure how to put this, but the lack of privacy with regard to sleeping arrangements.

I guess some people are more comfortable being intimate with their partner in close proximity to their children but that's not for me.

Anyway everything else looks like an amazing adventure so I wish them good luck.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#27

Post by rtpg »

bradleyjg wrote: post #21
BizarreByte wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s hard to imagine putting up with stuff like this when for the same amount of money it takes to do “van life” in Japan you could live quite well elsewhere.

What does it cost to live in rural Japan? I was under the impression the countryside is depopulating, which I would think would mean reduced costs.

I have a hard time imagining it to be cheaper to live in this truck than most things. And the kid… I can’t imagine this is good for the kid.

Obviously the point of the van is that you can move around a lot!

Aside: vagrancy is illegal in Japan, so if you’re sticking to the law you probably need to rent somewhere (or use your parents) and have a registered address.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#28

Post by ch4s3 »

EngCanMan wrote: post #11

"An empty water bottle/adult diaper can become a luxury in the middle of the night to avoid putting on your clothes/shoes and exiting the van in the coldness" You lost me when adult diapers became a luxury.

Yeah, this and the trash situation seem pretty unpleasant to me.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#29

Post by esperent »

petodo wrote: post #5
TurboHaskal wrote: post #4

> We usually don’t bathe every day and listen to our body’s needs. If I did this I'd need to shower every 4h :)

I'm living in apartment and shower twice a week (at least in winter). Never understood obsession with daily shower as seen is American movies, no wonder Americans have extreme water consumption, I wonder how common is eczema and skin diseases over there compared to countries which shower less. EDIT: instead of downvoting rather prove me wrong, do you think Americans don't have extreme water consumption? US water cons…

I'm from a northern European country and I moved to a tropical country. I sweat buckets here, quite possibly literally.

You can bet I shower daily. Sometimes I shower several times a day (although fortunately I live by the sea so I try to jump in there instead when possible). I also sometimes go though several shirts in a day and have to take care to manage my electrolytes and hydration.

Showering this often is not a luxury, it's a necessity. To avoid becoming a stinking sweat monster who would send children screaming, I mean.

Locals don't have this problem. I've been living here for years and I don't think my body is going to adapt.

America is a big place, and a lot of it is hot and populated with many people of a similar ancestry to mine. Maybe it's where their "obsession" comes from?

Re: Van Life in Japan

#30

Post by pigsty »

HPsquared wrote: post #25
ajsnigrutin wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you do any physical work, you get sweaty, sweat means bacteria, means bad smell. Some of us don't like to stink, also don't like our beds to stink.

What fraction of people do any substantial physical work in an average day? I reckon about 25%.

Men also generally stink more. Just being too warm for a few minutes means smelly armpits and crotch for loads of dudes.
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