Well, here's the tally...approximately half and half. Fifty percent of my time spent in the van, and fifty percent in people's homes. Both had their pros and cons, and I learned things from both! For those who are interested, here's the breakdown:
Houses I slept in - friends' homes.................................................8 - friends of friends' homes..................................8 - couchsurfing...................................................1 - people I met through schools I visited...............4 - perfect strangers I called out of the blue (boondockerswelcome.com)...............................1 - "cults"............................................................1 - intentional communities...................................2 What I learned being in people’s homes: - hospitality:
(ps. what made me feel the most comfortable was the "our house is your house - if you want something go get it" form of hospitality! easy on the host - easy on the guest!) | Places I Slept in the Van - people's driveways............................................5 - sidestreets.......................................................9 - unofficial/official campgrounds/scenic-pullouts....3 - parking lots:
What I learned sleeping in the van:
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Final assessment? They were both good. There were times that I was really grateful to be on my own, sleeping in my own bed, not having to talk to anyone or be in someone else's space. And there were times that I was so glad to have friendly people to talk to, someone to make me dinner, and knowing where I was going to sleep for a few nights. Having a balance was perfect.