Why More People My Age (55+) Are Living in Vehicles... and Why We Stay

If you had told me a few years ago that I'd be happier living in an SUV than I ever was living in a house, I probably would have laughed.

Yet here I am.

It also turns out I'm not alone.

More and more people my age are living in vehicles. Some chose this lifestyle from the very beginning. Others found themselves here because rent kept climbing, retirement income didn't go as far as it once did, a relationship ended, or life simply took an unexpected turn.

What surprises many people is that those who didn't choose this lifestyle at first often discover they don't want to leave it.

So why does that happen?

Freedom Looks Different Than It Used To

For me, it comes down to freedom.

I sometimes joke that a "sticks and bricks" house is one you're stuck in.

If you have difficult neighbors, you're stuck unless you're willing to pack everything you own and move. If you don't like the weather, you're stuck with it. If life changes, your house doesn't change with you.

Living in a vehicle is different.

If I don't like where I am, I can leave. If I want cooler weather, I can drive toward it. If I wake up one morning and decide I'd rather spend the week near the mountains than the desert, I can.

That flexibility changes the way you experience life.

I Didn't Realize What I Was Missing

One of the biggest surprises wasn't the travel itself.

It was spending so much time outdoors.

When I lived in a house, I spent most of my day inside. These days, the first place you'll usually find me in the morning is outside with a cup of coffee.

I notice the sunrise.

I notice the birds.

I notice the weather changing.

I notice the desert, the forests, and the mountains in ways I never did before.

Living in a vehicle didn't create nature. It simply put me back in the middle of it.

The Part Most People Never See

When people meet older adults living in vehicles, they usually meet us at our best.

They see us in campgrounds, on public land, at truck stops, or gathered with friends.

They notice how much pride people take in their vehicles. Many are beautifully organized and decorated. If someone has been parked for a while, they may even have a little outdoor space that feels like a front yard.

What they don't always see are the difficult days.

There are times when money is tight.

There are times when you're lonely.

There are days when you're trying to figure out healthcare, Social Security, insurance, or where you'll safely spend the night.

Sometimes we cry.

Sometimes we question ourselves.

Those moments are just as real as the beautiful sunsets people see on social media.

Community Changed Everything

During my first year on the road, I lived on very little income. I relied on money I had saved, and there were times when I needed help buying gas or groceries.

That's when I discovered something I never expected.

The vehicle-dwelling community looks after its own.

Friends helped when they could. Sometimes complete strangers did, too. Through online communities, I met people who understood this lifestyle because they were living it themselves. Others simply admired the freedom of the lifestyle and wanted to help someone continue living it.

Nobody treated it like charity.

It felt like neighbors helping neighbors.

That sense of community changed my understanding of what it means to have a support system.

Home Isn't Always a Place

When I first left the East Coast and headed west, I felt like a rabbit out of a cage.

I remember driving across the northern United States toward California and thinking, I can't imagine life being any better than this.

I eventually went back east several times because family needed me.

Each time I thought I was going home.

Eventually I realized something.

The people I loved were still there.

But home wasn't.

Why We Stay

Vehicle living isn't for everyone.

I would never suggest that everyone should sell their house and hit the road.

But I also don't believe that someone living in a vehicle should automatically be seen as someone whose life has fallen apart.

For many of us, life simply looks different than it used to.

We've traded square footage for freedom.

We've traded possessions for experiences.

We've traded routine for flexibility.

The challenges are real.

So are the rewards.

If you're reading this because circumstances are pushing you toward vehicle living, I hope you're a little less afraid.

If you're already living this life, I hope you feel understood.

And if you've never met someone who lives this way, I hope you leave with a better understanding of why more people my age are living in vehicles...

...and why we stay.