Stealth Parking
Stealth Parking.
Chicago - by Elmo Mackinnon.
Chicago is a great town for VanDwelling, but you must be prepared for the weather.
Parking all night on most streets is legal, unlike most of the surrounding suburbs. As for local ordinances: I'm sure that there is probably an ordinance against it, but no one has ever bothered me. If you're well dressed, well spoken, and driving an inconspicuous vehicle, chances are you'll just be left alone unless someone complains. You avoid notice by: not parking in the same spot often, having a van that is closed to prying eyes, going to your nightly parking spot only when you're ready to sleep, and not doing your "housekeeping" in an area where you frequently park. Big city cops have too much to worry about without hassling the average looking guy. Crime is avoided by parking in middle to upper income neighborhoods.
For stealth, I would recommend an older model "family conversion" type of van. They are common around town, they don't yell "I have money" and they don't yell "steal my expensive tools" like a commercial/contracters plain white van. I also see a few regular RV's around town; class B and C, mostly, but the occassional class A or travel trailer. I am considering either putting a hard camper top on my van or buying a used camper van. I don't think a clean, plain looking camper van would attract too much attention.
I haven't been bothered yet, and I've been doing this off and on for the last 5 months. Keep it clean and tidy and no one will give you a second look. Cities don't have that "everyone knows everyone else's business" that small towns do, unless you are in an obviously single-culture neighborhood for an extended time and you stand out.
One thing to keep in mind: living in an SUV (Stealthy Urban Vehicle) isn't half as hard as boondocking. You literally don't need anything in your van to start out but a mattress. There are 24 hour supermarkets and restaurants everywhere, so you don't need to store much food or ever worry about finding a toilet. A YMCA membership is about $40/month and is honored by all YMCA's in northern Illinois, so you can move around as you like. They have great showers, hottubs, swimming pools, etc. If you're frugal like me, you carry your empty water bottles in your gym bag and fill them up at the water fountain in the locker room. Many more upscale health clubs are available, if you are interested in that sort of thing.
Chicago has wonderful lakefront parks with beaches and nature preserves. Some summer days are best spent just playing hookey and laying on the beach, watching the waves and the floor show. If you like nightlife, there's nothing like being able to go to the spots you want, spend what you want (not having a rent bill is wonderful) and just driving a block or so away to a quiet area and going to bed. Public transportation is everywhere.
I love this city, and now that I live most of the time in my van, I have the time and money to spend on the excellent entertainment available. I have found only one down-side: entertaining guests while at home can be quite a challenge, but that's a whole different story. :) Best, Elmo.
