HectorPascal
Lifetime VIP Member
We have not yet committed to buy a van but after almost two years of watching this forum, renting twice and completing our 'due diligence' I would say it's odds-on that we will take the plunge. It seems no one ever regrets it or if they do, we never hear of or from them as they melt away.
We have a niggling concern: I would consider large parts of Europe considerably less safe than others and paradoxically, probably the places we would like to visit most, the Balkan Peninsula, for instance. A newish Cali is a valuable chunk of real estate and the people who possess such a thing most likely have other tasty trinkets contained therein. Unless you take the trouble to hide the parked vehicle at night or find a really remote spot in a dingly-dell somewhere, you are a prime target for the next amoral, drug-addled psycho-not-nice person (of whom there appear to be a plentiful supply) to relieve you of your kit and perhaps, lives.
I am sure there have been such attacks though searches for security etc on these forums has not revealed any cases. Short of using prime camp sites which would reduce the appeal of a Cali/MP-type vehicle. So what is to be done? I have images of cowboy campers in 'injun country who rig trip-wires and tie one end to a big toe, or take it in turn to guard camp hunched under a blanket with hat pulled down. Neither of these Ideas appeal much to my wife, and probably would just afford a longer period of being terrified with same outcome.
The thing I have noticed in life, is that concerns that keep on niggling are best addressed.
We have a niggling concern: I would consider large parts of Europe considerably less safe than others and paradoxically, probably the places we would like to visit most, the Balkan Peninsula, for instance. A newish Cali is a valuable chunk of real estate and the people who possess such a thing most likely have other tasty trinkets contained therein. Unless you take the trouble to hide the parked vehicle at night or find a really remote spot in a dingly-dell somewhere, you are a prime target for the next amoral, drug-addled psycho-not-nice person (of whom there appear to be a plentiful supply) to relieve you of your kit and perhaps, lives.
I am sure there have been such attacks though searches for security etc on these forums has not revealed any cases. Short of using prime camp sites which would reduce the appeal of a Cali/MP-type vehicle. So what is to be done? I have images of cowboy campers in 'injun country who rig trip-wires and tie one end to a big toe, or take it in turn to guard camp hunched under a blanket with hat pulled down. Neither of these Ideas appeal much to my wife, and probably would just afford a longer period of being terrified with same outcome.
The thing I have noticed in life, is that concerns that keep on niggling are best addressed.
) that it's extremely unlikely ever to have happened, for reasons of the behaviour of gasses on the human body.
