A Video, Photographic Interview With A Nomadic Van Dweller

(Click on all highlighted links and photographs for further information.)

I've met two very interesting and non-conventional people in the last two weeks. Neither have a conventional residence and neither considers themselves to be homeless in the way society might be tempted to label them.

I met Charlene while coming off the beach at Sunset Lane with my car as she was attempting to enter with her van. She asked me from her van window if it was safe for her to drive out onto the beach. It was the first time I had gone out with my car because all the other times it was not passable for a two wheel drive vehicle. But today the way was clear.

I noticed that she had an ocean Kayak on top of her van, and it seemed incongruous as she does not appear to be a woman who would be doing this. So I turned around and went back out to the beach to see if she would tell me about it. I found her to be an engaging and interesting person.

Charlene is a warm friendly woman. The first thing she told me was that she was going to travel through all fifty states and Kayak in each one. It's not anything I want to do myself. But to each her own.

We exchanged email and blog addresses. Her blog is at this address (link click here).

I got an email from her the next morning. She said she was going to the wreck of the Peter Iredale at Ft. Stevens Park and that if I showed up she would give me a metal detector. Yesterday she showed me a metal detector that she had. I remarked about a friend in New York that had one and who found all kinds of neat things with it. So she gave me one that she had bought for another purpose. If I recall correctly she told me she had gotten it for a grand-daughter who had not used it. So it will be fun to see what I can find.

Following are some photos from the beach at Sunset Lane and two video interviews with her about her trip and her lifestyle. I just came away thinking how nice it is to have more than one way to involve myself with the trip to the grave.

Charlene is completely self sufficient and as far as I can see is content with her life.

Her van is computer active. She powers her electronic needs with a solar panel mounted on the roof of the van. This powers a television and computer and allows her to cook. She charges a battery pack in her van with the solar panel and augments it with the generator of the car while she is driving. She showed me the control module. Today on the North Coast of Oregon, the sun was doing all the work.

The wreckage of the Peter Iredale remains on the beach in Ft. Stevens Park.



I am one who looks with fascination at decay. Decay for many means death. I see it as the necessary attribute associated with this impermanent reality that guarantees the continuance of life. The highlighted texts below look at the wreckage of the Peter Iredale up close disclosing the beauty of decay.

Click on them one by one, there is an immense beauty in this decay. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)


Meeting Charlene and understanding that there are other ways to live in America made me wonder at the providence of the Universe.



Below are two video interviews with Charlene:

1. Inside the hull of the Peter Iredale.






2. This interview took place alongside her van.