Alternative Living
- scottperoff
- Sep 1, 2016
- 2 min read
British Columbia, and Vancouver in particular, is notorious for an unrealistic cost of living, especially when it comes to purchasing a house or apartment. This has been an ongoing issue since the early 2000’s due to the popularity in foreign and domestic ownership. It’s no secret that the Lower Mainland has a luring appeal for every type of person, and the growing economy to just barley support these expensive desires and habits.
One of the most interesting reactions to this demanding lifestyle has been the gradual shift to RV/mobile home living. Some may call it an unfortunate result of ever-increasing housing markets, while others deem it as a reverse of the Western standard of living. Personally, I consider it an opportunity for an alternate and efficient style of living. One in which, as a community, we can lower the average cost of living, practice a simpler and less materialistic lifestyle, and embrace the usage of renewable energy sources in efforts to create a self-sustaining environment.
Like any emerging idea such as year-round RV living, there are many pros and cons which must be debated on a personal level before committing to such a drastic lifestyle. Given the nature of a vehicle, and the lack of affordable electric vans, living in a mobile home is not the greenest method of living. Although there are ways around eliminating pollution while living on the road, though it won’t be very cost efficient. It’s quite obvious that the biggest pro is avoiding monthly rental cost or mortgage payments and all the added cost associated with living in a permanent structure. Once you get over the initial cost of purchasing a new or used RV, the maintenance and gas does not compare to traditional living cost. One thing to remember is that a portion of that “saved” money will be going to small amenities such as community center membership (public showering becomes normal) or purchasing propane (if chosen method of energy source). Diving deeper into the realism of living in an RV, many roadblocks will begin to appear, and after some thought most can be overcome with innovative thinking or a slight shift in living standards. No one has claimed it to be easy and luxurious, but for some, we find great pride in beating the ever-engulfing system and striving towards a self-sustaining future.
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