Hiii! I forgot to mention - if you’d rather leave a question anonymously, I’ll be posting on my IG story (@christianschaffer) later today and you can submit it there. Hope you’re all having a great day, see ya soon :)
hey, I'm sure you already correlated the two, but if you do have mice it's possible the electrical gremlins are due to the mice chewing through wires. It's happened to a couple friends of mine
I’m a retired police officer. Please pick up the phone and call the police if there’s someone of concern next time. It costs nothing and will definitely ease your mind. Furthermore the driver of that van could be of interest to authorities.
Women's intuition is a real thing. Listen to it. Also get a gun. I am not joking guns are the best thing that happened to women since agriculture. Get a gun and learn to shoot it. I recommend a pistol caliber carbine. This is basically a small rifle that shoots 9 mm typically. Very easy & fun to shoot, very easy to aim because it's a rifle, very manageable recoil, legal everywhere if you have 10 round mags. Buy 30 round mags as well, and just mail them to a friend in a reasonable state when you have to go to someplace crazy like California. You'll have to learn the local laws and how to travel correctly with everything locked up tight. Mostly this is just a matter of having 10 round Mags and a lock for the chamber. Don't be a silly AWFL. Arm yourself.
Cmon, it's just easy was a car driver newbie. If you wanna rape and murder smthg in a car - do you really drove car 10 times? Looks like Christian wanna buy a home and prepare the community. "Oh, gosh, it's a stranger, I've had enough!!!!". Like her friends, Mariah Alice and Anna Unchained.
When you have that uneasy feeling, LISTEN TO IT. Don’t ignore it, don’t wait until it’s too late. That feeling is telling you something isn’t right, heed it. Right away. I’m a grown ass man and watching that van driving in circles and stopping by you tells me it was very suspicious. And you sat there until it got dark, which exponentially increased your likelihood of being in grave danger. I would have high tailed it out of there as soon as I noticed and not stay for 2 hours to “wait and see.” You getting aggressive may have worked this time but a determined attacker won’t be stopped, especially when they see an opportunity. Don’t give them that chance, leave immediately. If you’re afraid of being followed, call the police or drive to a police station. Be aware and safe out there.
Thank you for letting woman who haven't been raised in an atmosphere which was very rough to listen to their Instincts all the time, and if it comes to worse prepare and fight don't stop! When you get a chance run the opposite direction
My Aunt and Uncle, in their early 60’s were in their Motorhome stopped at a Rest Area, heading home from Washington to California on I5. A truck with two guys pulls up to them. They lift up the hood of their truck and they both start knocking on the door. My Uncle opens the door and he says they were very scruffy guys. The taller man asks if they can borrow some oil, and my Uncle says that they don’t have any oil. The other guy says that he doesn’t believe that and wants to check himself… they both begin to enter into the Motorhome. Their first step inside they stopped dead in their tracks and backed out. They had a full grown German Shepherd that growled at them, with teeth showing…. My Uncle did his best to keep the dog from lunging at both of them. The two guys went back inside their truck, and my Aunt and Uncle made it safely home. We are sure Brandy saved the day and possibly their lives. Soon after that they decided to stop RV ing.
What a fantastic story. If only our government cared more about lawful citizens than criminals your Aunt and Uncle could have stopped these suspect folks dead in their tracks with a constitutional right gifted to them by god known as a firearm.
I have a dog like that but he would bark already when strangers approached. What I learned however from creepy encounters is to protect my dog from such situations as well. It's funny it took the dog for me to start beings mart and getting the hell out of any creepy situation before it even becomes one. Your uncle was lucky but some guys hate dogs and all it takes is a guy who panicks and pulls out a gun.
@@Andthecheesestandsalone If she is telling us the absolute truth and this was not a set-up of any kind, then I agree. This absolutely could’ve been a real situation, but online you have to question things since things didn’t proceed logically and there was a lot that we did not see off camera.
Yes! I'd have left after 15 minutes of his behavior! That's One of the Beauties of VA life,you don't like your neighbors you Leave n get new ones! Glad you survived but in future Don't take chances.❤
As a fifty plus male van lifer, I too will leave if I feel uncomfortable. But I leave right away! In extreme cases like this, after dudes been circling for a bit, call the police! Kudos to you for being a solo female traveller, I wish you didn’t have to live in fear of us guys, it does really suck to see and as I guy, experience. Stay safe! Bryan from Vancouver
@@nostaljiturkceThat sounds like a great idea. And when you have figured out the kind of education that eliminates the evil side of humanity it will be a monumental moment in our history as a species 👍
@@infinitydreamzz You are the smart one, aren’t you? Nice to meet you. Do you really believe you can eliminate your feelings or thoughts? No need to eliminate anything if you can control your behavior. Such as being polite. Not making fun of others. So on. The basic stuff all the religions are talking about.
1st option: Call the police (as mentioned by previous commenter). 2nd option: Leave much sooner (before dark) and drive toward a police station. 3rd option: Park next to the other female vanlifer (safety in numbers) - maybe pull out together.
I just don't understand how you watched someone circle around for 2 hours and THEN still allow them to approach you. Glad you're O.K, important lesson's learned here.
First time watching your videos. Solo van lifer as well since 2018. Tips: High wind, park the van with the nose pointing into the wind. It will minimize the shaking. Circling vultures, third circle = 911 and to hell with the parking/sleeping place. "I'm not supposed to be here (or doing something) so I'm not calling the police" is one of the worst decisions we can make, I've made it myself and had a similar outcome, and resolved to do things differently. There are plenty of other parking spots but only one of you. Love your honesty
Please continue to post these honest accounts of van life, not just the creepy incicents but the ups and downs - like mechanical issues, vermin etc. It's always heartening to know that we van lifers and caravaners aren't alone in this. I don't think my husband and I have had one trip where something hasn't gone wrong, (brake lights not working, ant infestations, water leaks and so on) but we manage to get through it, and enjoy our travels!
Christian, your video was a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges, showcasing your resilience and authenticity in the face of adversity, inspiring viewers to navigate their own challenges with grace and determination.
That sounds super scary. It's fine to call the police in a situation like that. Circling around for hours is not normal, it is "suspicious behavior" and that is a valid reason to call police to investigate, people do it all the time. Too often we wait until it's too late to get help to actually try and get help! Thanks for sharing some of the downsides of van life, happy birthday and stay safe!
Suspicious is not a crime though. Many innocent victims/callers have been killed by Police. 1 example I remember was in Minneapolis. Lady caller hears bloody murder screams from a woman outside. She calls police, she then goes outside at some point...shot goes off and she's dead...Officer refuses to speak under 5th Am. Been a few yrs now he's still working there. Nobody knows what happened and why he killed her in a bath robe outside.
Had pretty much the same happen in front of my own house, which is just a few hundred feet from a busy highway. Guy in a gold Jag cruised by slowly, over a dozen times, while I was mowing. I live in small town where no one drives a vehicle of that caliber. Called a retired neighbor to follow him & get the plate, in the meantime he had returned 3 more times, that was when I decided that my truck was way bigger than him, & I took off. When I got back the neighbor was waiting, & as we were talking, the crazy azz approached, veered to the opposite side of the road, went through the ditch & up in the neighbor’s front yard, & exited out the ditch, never to return. I’ve had a few stalkers when I was younger, & kept a piece on me for 3 days, which weighed heavily on my mind, & that’s when I decided that I wasn’t going to wait for anyone to get beyond crazy, & not to live in fear for one second longer. They want to act crazy… I’ll show them crazy.
NEVER take the risk, especially at night or when alone. After the 3rd time, even I would have called the police to investigate. With each time he came around and stopped, he was building up his courage to do something you would not like, which is why your hackles were raised. Always trust your instincts, that's why they exist.
It’s great you told the story of the guy in the van. I’m a van lifer and this has happened to me on several occasions, though not the circling for several hours. Once I wasn’t even aware of being watched until a truck driver came over to check I’ve locked my van doors and warned me of the guy hanging around my van. It’s scary and people need to be aware this happens. Take care out there. ❤
Good for you for not letting social expectations get in the way of your personal safety!! I know personally this is something I struggle with and I so admire you for your quick thinking and having the courage to protect yourself instead of worrying about the feelings of a stranger who’s acting inappropriately.
I have 3 daughters. Screw social expectations and feelings. Van dude violated every basic safety expectation. He wasn't coming up to borrow a cup of sugar for his baking....
@@ChristianSchaffer I would have lost all grace after the fourth time he started circling that lot and called the cops lol. I also kind of thought you were going to get out and go up to the other woman in the other van. Sort of make him think y'all knew each other and had planned to meet up or something, that would have scared him off I think. But I guess that also requires trusting whoever the other person might be, too.
@@MyVanHaven it's also probably a nice idea to carry a piece and next time a creepy guy approaches in the dark --- roll down window and say "talk to my friend Smith & Wesson"
@@tryscience Read THE GIFT OF FEAR by well respected Gavin de Becker. Again, learn to listen to your instincts, it is proven that our subconscious mind is far smarter than our conscious mind and capable of picking up on more data, faster, for our survival. And the more you listen, the better it becomes. Law Enforcement is NOT for defense, and just a report or Protection Order can get you 6ft under. Learn to be your own advocate, alongside any legal recourse. My education, training, and experience given in my opinions here represent many years and thousands of clients I've worked with.
This happened to me but it was two vehicles that teed me in. One window was uncovered so when i saw them pull in close i figured this is how im going to die. A guy got out motioning for me to roll down the window. My dog went absolutely nuts and pressed her teeth to the glass. They took off. I was shaking so hard. Im glad you're ok. It's scary.
@@resortredneck it sure is. She never wanted to rest when I pulled over in a strange place. She felt it was her job to sit up and watch. Animals are so wonderful 🌟
@@glennoc8585 my great dane scares alot of people without even barking :D she started growling at someone the other day and she scared me! like I felt some kind of primal fear when she growled at someone else
My thoughts as well but my friends goes by Mr. Sturm and Mr. Ruger. I suggested she carry bear spray and or wasp and hornet spay if she doesn't want to carry a freedom stick. Also, the wasp spray reaches some 10 to 15 feet and is very effective when hitting the face and is not banned anywhere. I carry both.
@@davidwebb1832 I've been told that it is illegal to spray another human being (even an intruder!) with bear spray, which makes zero sense to me...because I'm fairly certain it's legal to shoot them. It sounds like you may have some insight on this. I am all ears, if so!!
@@jessica0321 I know some over the road truckers and I have driven to Alaska from Florida twice, camping and hiking all over North America. Canada definitely will not allow pistols into the country nor mace or even bear spray unless purchased in Canada. At the time I traveled to Canada, they allowed a shotgun and rifle (a bit unwieldy in a vehicle). The over the road truckers said they carry wasp spray as it is legal everywhere in the US and some sailors who circumnavigated said wasp spray was legal in every country they visited as well. I believe it can be used in a pinch as an accelerant to start a fire while camping.
That same exact thing with the van in a parking lot happened to me in California! My husband and I were stealth camping in our car and a van kept circling our car specifically (even with a ton of other cars in the lot). I felt so unsafe and couldn't help but feel like it could be part of a human trafficking scheme. I convinced my husband to go elsewhere. We took a very long, round-about way to get to our next spot just to be safe! Always trust your gut!
You could be right - I have heard that there’s a trafficking scheme among the mysterious white vans going on… They could be apart of the undercover effort to move migrants to key voting districts around the country
Same here in WA in the desert by the gorge two dudes suddenly on my hood one unzipped his pant I tried to drive off, they chased me for over 80 miles thru the desert region of Matawa, am sure they were human traffickers and lucky my gas tank was full enough to get away IN MY VW CAR if it’d been a van probably wouldn’t have outrun them and been unalived after trafficked..NEVER GO ALONE TO MATTAWA, WA! Trafficking is real and they will disappear anyone this is the real danger of being out in the wilderness especially desert regions… Being hunted
@@stevederr4927 Yeah, would’ve been nice to get a conclusion on that. I came here for the stalker that was advertised, but felt very baited overall by the video.
The first part of your video made me feel much better about the string of bad luck I had with my van on my recent trip. Van life isn’t without its challenges! So glad you’re safe. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve had similar van problems starting at year 6 (having to replace my inverter now; ugh!) the repairs seem to come in bunches and the ram battery lasts 5 years. Great job with your intuition with the creeper van; and not letting the driver get close to your vehicle. Thank you for being so transparent with the “not so fun stuff” and happy belated birthday!! 🎉
What a scary situation. When this video went black my adrenaline was pumping. I’ve had similar experiences and your message is so on point …just don’t let somebody you don’t know in your space because your options narrow at that point. What a wild ride and hopefully you’ll kick your new roommate out 🐭have a blast in the mountains and the best birthday ever!
Also, even when you think your content or video quality isn’t good, we still love it. You’re the way you put things together is still fabulous and happy birthday.
I can't emphasize enough how refreshing it is to see a video like this from you. Yes, all of your other videos are cinematic quality and just jaw dropping, but it's also nice to see the human side of what you do. Hope to see more "day in the life" type of stuff and always stay safe.
Dude is a 🤬 weirdo. I definitely would've had "everything" at the ready with that type of behavior. I'm glad you stood your ground and are safe. Stay safe and TFS 🤍
Thank you Christian. When I tell you that you are in my prayers, that includes your safety. I can't believe it's not all rainbows, sunshine and unicorns! 😳 You have always made it real, both in your trials and the good times. I love you and I'm very glad this turned out okay. Stay safe my friend. ❤🙏
First... the bad angle when you were making coffee... you ROCKED it beautifully. No worries. I really appreciate this video because I am just starting work on my *vintage* van build to get out there and enjoy vanlife while where I live is going through the cold, snowy winter months here. I have not gotten used to the snow and cold. Every year I hate it more. But I love my home and my hometown and community here. So taking off for the winter months in a van camper is a great solution. I will be traveling with 3 dogs! So, some security there! One of them is part Malinois. :) So as I said, I really appreciate this video showing me the kinds of things that can happen. I also appreciate many of the comments with advice on what to do in this situation!
You are the only content creator I watch who can stand the hair on my neck straight up! I'm so happy you can fend for yourself. I love that God watches over you always and all days...
The way you were so happy when the engine started, I felt it through the screen! It was so contagious. I was so happy too. Sometimes when it rains, it pours. And that’s ok. It happens to the best of us.
I really appreciate your brutal honesty when it comes to showing what you deal with from weather, electrical challenges, vermin and creeps. Please stay safe out there and never second guess your internal alarm bells, because if your gut tells you something isn't right, it most likely isn't.
So sorry that happened to you! That’s really messed up! You do such great work and I’m glad that both shared this experience and were still critical of your own work at the same time. That speaks volumes, though mostly glad that you are ok. No one deserves to be put in those types of situations.
That creeper had zero good intentions. He’s definitely not the sharpest crayon in the box doing all this to two of you in daylight and in clear view of witnesses. He was blatantly casing both your vans plotting and working up the courage to act. Smart of you to never give the benefit of the doubt and get out. Thank goodness you’re safe!
Thanks for sharing your current reality. Yes we are here for you for all of it! You share such beauty with us. We will. Certainly support you in these more challenging times ♥️🙏🏼✝️🥂
As an occasional solo female traveler myself I respect your actions- remained calm, focused, continued to assess, and did not allow them to get too close. You also did not create a sensationalized video. I may have noped out of the situation earlier- but I have also been followed.
Way to take care of yourself and get out of there Christian. I've been living in my van for a few years and even as a dude I can relate to the heightened spidey senses when things feel sketchy. There were moments while staying in my van in the middle of nowhere Mexico where I have felt it. All valuable lessons learned. Keep staying safe.
Mexico is not where you want to be, living this way. 3 friends and I tried that once as well, mostly in remote wilderness areas...never again. Am thankful you had no direct encounters.
A+ advice here in the COMMENTS, confront only if there are no other options, otherwise anonymity is important. Keep as much as you can. ESPECIALLY if you are not armed (perhaps that is something else she meant by “getting aggressive” if she told him she was armed and all of this happened exactly as it was portrayed).
@wj7867 suspicious behavior allows police officers to make contact with the individual & ask questions. They can also run his tags and ID… Reasonable suspicion is all we need to start figuring things out🤷🏻♀️
@@pounepoune1 Reasonable suspicion of what? What do you suspect this driver of? There is no crime in that video. There is no crime described by the author of the video. There is no reasonable suspicion. Cops can make contact with anyone, but there is no LEGAL basis to detain this person, and if he's driving when they arrive no legal justification to pull him over. They really shouldn't be running his tags either (though we all know they would), and they certainly cannot LEGALLY ID the driver unless he volunteers. Of course, we all know that cops would (likely) try to do all these things illegally, they would probably assault somebody, and no one would be surprised if they ended up shooting the reporting party out of confusion, belligerence and pure ego.
Problems keep you on edge and makes choice words fly from your mouth. I locked my keys in the truck once while I was alone in the mountains. Had to break in through a window. Keep upgrading safety backup features to be prepared. Wishing you good luck going forward! We all need a little luck. 😎
For that van - take a photo of the license plate and call the cops, if you did and have a photo of it it might be worth sending it to them now. He might have been inocent or getting up the courage to say hello but he might also have been planning something worse.
Yet another great video! Your editing, music selection and cinematography are always a joy to experience. Thanks so much for sharing, I know most all of social media is curated for all the beautiful and funs things so it's nice to see some real experiences although I hate hearing about that last part. Super scary and I'm so glad you're alright! Happy belated bday!!
Another option if someone is following, and there is no police station nearby, is to drive at appallingly slow speed. Such as about 5 mph, 10 mph at the most. Obviously with 4 way flashers on. Almost all burglars, robbers and bad people, simply do not have the patience to drive that slowly. If on some kind of motorway or freeway, police will attend much faster, to come and give a person a traffic ticket for driving too slowly, than they would attend if you phone 9-1-1 and claim a man with a gun is trying to kill you. Unfortunately all too often, USAmerican Police exist mostly to fit up innocent people, steal their stuff under "Civil Asset Forfeiture" or shoot dead innocent people.
Happy Birthday and sorry you have to deal with these issues and the creepy guy! I hope your travels are with less anxiety for the future and be safe always!
Glad you're safe christian and its always wise to pay attention to your surrounding. That person was scary driving around multiple times. i wouldn't be surprised the person has done harm to others before, Stay safe sis.
Sounds like he’s trying to make you uncomfortable enough to leave and then he can follow you and gain more information to attack later. So sorry this happened to you. So glad you’re safe!! And happy birthday!!!❤🎉
Wow! That was intense! Every time you showed him driving back around, I would yell, "Get out of there!" I am 5'10" 230lbs and I would have been on guard for sure. You handled it perfectly! Glad you are safe.
Something that woke me up to how dangerous it is for women is after my dad died and i started taking my mom to the store or to run errands. When i would leave my mom to go look at things and come back to see how she was doing i would catch guys being aggressive towards her. I almost lost a membership to a place because i pushed a guy down and ran over him with his shopping cart but the store reviewed footage and saw how he treated my mom. Makes me angry to see how men act out there. Glad you were able to get yourself out of that situation and i hope you and your van are alright.
Woah! So sorry your Mom was treated that way, that’s awful. 😳 Man, I try to picture my Mom being messed with and I honestly think she’d punch a man to the ground. I’d probably even wager a wolf wouldn’t stand a chance now that I think about it 😂
@ChristianSchaffer 🤣your mom is tough! My mom is so small and shy. Honestly I never realized how dangerous things could get for women. I used to be one of the "not all men are bad" type of guys but now I just think most men are stupid or terrible. Lol. There's a few good ones but you really gotta be careful.
Trust your instincts. I’m a guy and I’ve been in the same situation as you. It’s not just women who are at risk. I was sleeping right down the road from a guy camping in his van at Craggy Gardens when someone climbed on top of his van, pulled his air conditioner off, and jumped into his van. The camper was armed so he was able to protect himself but it was still a bad situation very close to home. We all need to be wary.
Thank you for sharing this experience. It's important for everyone to know about these things. I am so glad you came out of the situation un-hurt, which means you did the right thing. Also very glad to hear that you trusted your gut, which is so important! In the future I would call the police because people that act like that may be of interest to them. Thank you again!
We all have our "bad days" when nothing seems to go right, but your van troubles were way beyond frustrating. You handled it all with your usual patience and grace. Hard to believe they were going to charge someone as gorgeous as you another two hundred and fifty dollars, especially when they know you are a very popular UA-cam star. Love ya, girl! 🥰
First, the point where the key would not come back out of the ignition actually made me snort laugh. Second, good job with the creeper. Lastly...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!🎉
By the second time that guy came around and stopped next to me, I would have already been surfing for the local non-emergency police number. By the third time I would be calling. Even if you were stealth camping, chances are the cops are aware that RV’s do that there. We can’t have (and don’t want) cops everywhere all the time; they count on good, concerned citizens to help be their eyes.
Great to see you showing the reality of camping as a single person along with all the problems that happen along the way. Strongly believe you should contact the police if you are in that scenario. Glad you stood your ground but please be safe. Don't be afraid to reach out for assistance when needed. Happy travels!
I’m so sorry that you went through this. It never should have happened. Thank you for sharing. I’m glad you left and were ok. This is good info to share. ❤❤❤❤
this is actually one of my favorite videos you have done... raw, real and honest. Keep a few of these coming every couple of months. I really enjoyed seeing "the real side" of van life
Just some quick tips for the battery light issue: Usually the battery light means the charging system has malfunctioned, not necessarily the battery. This means you would have an issue with your alternator: it isn't charging the battery or isn't charging it fast enough. Your software findings might be the issue, so I wouldn't rule it out. Also, when you use a jump pack or jumper cables, you want to put the positive on first, not the negative. Since they are jump packs you probably had them off when you connected them to the battery and then turned it on, but it's good practice to get into by doing positive first. Hope that helps! P.S. Happy Belated Birthday!
I almost want there to be a van community in every state - so both women and men can get help if they need it. Your information is establishing an awareness and a concensus about van to van protocol, van to pedestrial protocol and van to local police protocol. You rock! Please be safe and know that your subscribers pray for your safety.
You have that sense of fear for a reason! Please always listen to that little voice! Any reasonable person will understand and those that don’t are the ones to fear so good job!! Happy Birthday
I had a similar incident, though involving a woman. This oddly dressed gal, who looked to be in her late thirties, came by and sat at a bench close to my parked vehicle. She would often stand up, look my way, then walk a ways, and go back and sit on the bench. She did this repeatedly, well into the night. At one point, she got into a car, which was filled with what appeared to be clothing, blankets, boxes, etc., and drove it up and down the street. After about an hour of doing this, she stopped, got out and began the same bench routine. It was now one in the morning, and so I drove to another little town in the Appalachians to sleep. The next day, I discovered her parked near me again, and so off I went. I'll never know what that was all about...
And what, you've been watching her all day? Maybe you are the stalker? I would approach her and ask what she wants, but your cowardice is justified, she could be an armed psychopath... Alas, this is America today... And once upon a time you hitchhiked and weren’t afraid, now it’s scary in parking lots.
@@vitalyk5916 I was inside writing that evening, and would look out the window once in a while to see if she was still doing her strange thing. She looked like a Romani. Perhaps she was just hoping to meet a traveling buddy. I pray that she is okay...
@@vitalyk5916Did you not literally just watch Christian watch someone for hours, then not approach them to ask them what they want? Have you made a comment and inferred that she was the stalker in this video? I'm sure & hope that's not how you meant your comment to come off, but it's quite nasty to victim blame like this, especially when reinforcing double standards when it comes to how male & female victims are treated. Have a good day.
Thanks for sharing some of the downsides of Van life. You handled all of the difficulties very well. I'm a guy, and I would have been completely freaked out and been very discouraged with all the problems you faced. Keep going to the beautiful places. They will renew you and your beautiful videos are a wonderful break for me. Thanks.
I think you handled this creepy situation VERY well. You can't un-do letting your guard down. I enjoy your content and tips. Keep up the fun adventures and super helpful footage :) AND happy belated birthday :)
One thing after another. That's how life goes sometimes. As for creepy van guy, I had someone do that to me up in the mountains with no one around and it went on for 3hrs. I had no cell service, and when he got out of his vehicle to approach mine, I opened my window and set off my bear banger. It worked. Glad you are okay. Hope you had a wonderful mouse free birthday! ❤
3 hours!?!? How awful. What kind of person has the stamina to harass someone for 3 hours!? That is wild. Brilliant idea - the bear banger. I had never thought of that!
Ok so if I'm doing my math right you're a fellow taurus like me (and share my sister's birthday!). This makes me appreciate your van life even more, since change might not be your natural comfort zone. I lived outside the lines for a year in TX and it changed my whole life and perspective. Good on you for keeping it up. I honestly hope you share your journey of settling down, too. You seem meant for both. Xo
This was one of the most chaotic videos and I actually really like it compared to the more curated videos you usually post. It's a nice change up. Glad you're safe and belated Happy Birthday.
I’ve had a few mouse in my van mostly in the fall… so I bought a live trap with a window got rid of the sticky killing pad that I find barbaric and replaced it with a sheet of paper to line the floor of the trap, i then smeared some peanut butter and cheese doodle and chips…. I caught 3 mouse that night and released them. Later I got more in the last 4 years but that trap is perfect I catch them in a matter of hours they cant resist the smell of the cheese doodle and peanut butter. This trap is always tucked under the front seat. Also the electric system of the promaster is really bizarre and the keys can be a nightmare… Always love your vlogs!
Sort of seemed like the creepy van was either a local or another vanlifer that didn't want any vans using that spot, but certainly could have also had bad intentions. I've had a couple of situations where I knew I was legally allowed to boondock and a local, without any legal authority to do anything, didn't want me there. Really surprising how protective people can be over parking lots that don't belong to them. Anyways in those cases I chose to move and get a good night's sleep instead of winning an argument. You handled the situation exactly the right way. Always follow your gut.
I don't understand this behavior. Local or not local, what's the difference? I mean, protect, or kick someone out of essentially an empty parking lot by driving around a van for two hours?? This is some kind of idiocy! What's the point of this? You can’t even imagine that this resident doesn’t like it, that someone dared to park their van in some vacant lot, if the person has any real concerns then come up and say “leave because and because.”. Why bother with nonsense?? Considering that there are many psychopaths in your country and anyone can have a weapon in their hands, such things raise questions about the adequacy of such people, even if - He is a local and she is a “stranger.” I don't understand this.
I doubt that person that drive around for 2 to 3 hours is a normal individual, it's probably safer to just leave and at least drive towards a public area that there are many people around. Maybe even drive to a police station if that person decides to follow her.
Thanks for posting this video. I think it is important to acknowledge the negative issues as well as the many positive things about van life. As I was watching the piece about the creepy van circling around you, I was saying to myself that you should call the police. I was glad to see the comment from the police officer. I had a situation at my apartment where it wasn’t a bad situation, but I did call the police and he said to call without hesitation if there is an odd or scary situation. It’s what they are there to do and they do not mind checking it out. Thanks for all your great videos.
Belated Happy Birthday Christian. Thanks for this dose of vanlife reality. You handled it well when push came to shove. Ferocity is the best defense against these preditors since they're looking for an easy mark. Always love your videos. Thank you ~
I actually saw you a while back in the Alabama hills while I was camping. I'm a huge fan and you were an inspiration for me starting my own channel. Even so, I would have never, ever approach you. Next time there is a creeper, call the police, please.
I have experienced creepy people like this as well in my travels, If you are in a city or town, I have found that if you drive to the police station or sheriff's office and just park in front of its they will drive right by and you will never see them again. Just a suggestion. Love your channel.
Wow Christian thank you for getting out of your comfort zone and sharing this! I’m sure your experience will help a lot of people that are oblivious to these kinds of situations. Sending much love, and all the good vibes for smoother times your way! 🤍
Happy Belated Birthday, Christian! It's great to see both sides of van life as I'm strongly considering it myself so the more information I have about both the good, and bad, experiences, the better. Thanks for sharing! Also, glad that the creepy person took heed of your warning and that you don't encounter situations like that frequently. It was a very odd one, at minimum.
Thank you sooo much for ACTUALLY taking the time to give realistic FACTS about van life. Most of the people on You Tube doing these van life videos don't tell us all about mice/rats getting in the van. Spiders, Dangerous break downs no battery power & HUMAN CREEPS. GOD BLESS YOU AND PLEASE STAY SAFE OUT THERE. 🙏👍
There should be some known communicative sign in the van life world to show it's just another van life person, looking for assistance, etc ur just trying to find a safe place, etc so people dont alarm each other.
There are many ways to approach a stranger without making them afraid. Coming up in daylight from having parked at some distance. Waving a hello. Stopping well before you get close to listen to what they say, and asking for what you need from that distance. Clearly this guy did none of them, hence, my warning bells would have been going off.
Drive to the police station. Every time ladies. Get their plates. Take pic of plates . Never get out after you've seen weird stuff...definitely leave. Again, drive to police station anytime someone messes with you. While calling 911. Never pause or feel your not supposed to call 911 for help. Please ❤.
If you are in the woods camping and something happens to scare you, the police station could be many, many miles away. Who just happens to even know in an unfamiliar camp area where the nearest police or sheriff's station is anyway? Also, what if the creeper decides it would be fun to follow you on your way out of the campsite, bumper against bumper, and run you off the road in pitch dark which puts you in an even worse position. My advice is stay in the car and call the police and beg them to come to you the first time the creeper starts acting cute.
Hey Christian, it's always good to see things in the cruel light of day. That way you know the truth, not the glamour or the hype. I salute you. It must not have been easy to do.
OMG, so many problems! But you dealt with them all. Someone apparently once said, "If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger." Man, you must feel like 'Wonder Woman'! Take care out there :-)
Happy Birthday, Christian ! 💐💐 Be safe and trust your instincts about other people as you did with the other van circling your van. It did seem rather odd. Hope you have less encounters with mice and the the battery issue. I pray for your safe travel ! 😊🦅
As a solo person it pays to be very aware of your surroundings and trust your gut while traveling. I don't live in my vehicle full time but I do camp in my truck and have had instances where someone did something that made me uncomfortable and I have left that situation. Be safe and take care of yourselves!
I want to say the guy had ocd or something but these days you never know, he should have known better than to approach your vehicle and you handled the situation right. U can get some sticky traps for the mouse and doubling up on batteries should knock out any lack of power issues. You'd need to add a bank controller to control the charge and switch parameters though.
Trying to find a logical explanation - perhaps his house batteries were dead and needed to drive around to charge them on an alternator. After not being successful for hours, he became desperate as he had an important work meeting that he would be fired if he missed. He began walking around, asking others if he could plug in to their systems to charge. Other explanation: a crazy person.
I think the perception of vanlife has evolved in the last few years. It started out as a way to save money while traveling and save money on rent. Now people correctly realize it can be a money pit, especially in light of $100k "builds" and 100k RVs which require constant, expensive maintenance.
Overall I still save a lot of money - I would have had to replace the battery/get 60k service on a car if not my van. But yeah, I can also see your point for certain situations. $100k is quite a lot to spend on a van, especially when it’s lifespan is essentially finite and dependent on mileage
No. If the driver is Black calling the police is effectively a death sentence. It almost as if people have learned nothing from the George Floyd incident 🤔
Or just start following them, and show them you have a nice toy for self defense(if applicable)...off they go, problem solved. They don't want risk being exposed. However if this occurs in isolated wilderness areas, where it's us and them, 3 friends and I will immediately take the offensive, staring with scare tactics, which have been 100% effective.
Happy Birthday! Keep up the great work, thanks for sharing this video and the potential concerns, and above all; continue to stay safe along with the enjoyment of life.
HAPPY VERY LATE BIRTHDAY CHRISTIAN !!! I hope and pray that you have emotionally recovered from this well. Literally 2 days ago I had something very scary happen to me with a man recording me and circling my car when I had my kid. It has made me feel almost paralyzed with fear in trying to figure out to cope and why would someone do that… but seeing you post this and your experience has given me some inspiration to post my video that I caught on film as gracefully as you did. I am so thankful that God has protected you even with all the car issues and just continue to have fun girl, stay safe and much love. ❤ P.S Side note- when people give you the creeps there is absolutely no room for the benefit of the doubt. People can be tolerably weird but creepy is an entire different thing… you made a healthy judgement and I learned something from you as well about people getting to close in your space your options being narrow.
Hiii! I forgot to mention - if you’d rather leave a question anonymously, I’ll be posting on my IG story (@christianschaffer) later today and you can submit it there. Hope you’re all having a great day, see ya soon :)
Question for the birthday Q&A - what is happening with the Washington home/land purchase??
Maybe but it doesn’t seem wise on his part to do it like that 🤷🏻♀️
Will watch tonight! Yeah buddy!
hey, I'm sure you already correlated the two, but if you do have mice it's possible the electrical gremlins are due to the mice chewing through wires. It's happened to a couple friends of mine
Hope your birthday and the coming year are filled with beauty. Thanks for sharing. ❤
I’m a retired police officer. Please pick up the phone and call the police if there’s someone of concern next time. It costs nothing and will definitely ease your mind. Furthermore the driver of that van could be of interest to authorities.
Thank you for your service and good advice to share!
Great advice. You never know if things will go wrong with the next person he approaches.
Agree with you totally. 👍
Or, that driver was the unmarked authorities, investigating some shady stuff going on in parked vans (with solo female travellers).
Amen!!!!
Never ever stay ! That uneasy feeling you get tries to protect you .....Leave immediately !
Women's intuition is a real thing. Listen to it.
Also get a gun. I am not joking guns are the best thing that happened to women since agriculture. Get a gun and learn to shoot it.
I recommend a pistol caliber carbine. This is basically a small rifle that shoots 9 mm typically. Very easy & fun to shoot, very easy to aim because it's a rifle, very manageable recoil, legal everywhere if you have 10 round mags. Buy 30 round mags as well, and just mail them to a friend in a reasonable state when you have to go to someplace crazy like California.
You'll have to learn the local laws and how to travel correctly with everything locked up tight. Mostly this is just a matter of having 10 round Mags and a lock for the chamber.
Don't be a silly AWFL. Arm yourself.
Cmon, it's just easy was a car driver newbie. If you wanna rape and murder smthg in a car - do you really drove car 10 times? Looks like Christian wanna buy a home and prepare the community. "Oh, gosh, it's a stranger, I've had enough!!!!". Like her friends, Mariah Alice and Anna Unchained.
When you have that uneasy feeling, LISTEN TO IT. Don’t ignore it, don’t wait until it’s too late. That feeling is telling you something isn’t right, heed it. Right away. I’m a grown ass man and watching that van driving in circles and stopping by you tells me it was very suspicious. And you sat there until it got dark, which exponentially increased your likelihood of being in grave danger. I would have high tailed it out of there as soon as I noticed and not stay for 2 hours to “wait and see.” You getting aggressive may have worked this time but a determined attacker won’t be stopped, especially when they see an opportunity. Don’t give them that chance, leave immediately. If you’re afraid of being followed, call the police or drive to a police station. Be aware and safe out there.
You are so right! If t feels wrong, it is wrong! I hope she listened to sound advice.
Thank you for letting woman who haven't been raised in an atmosphere which was very rough to listen to their Instincts all the time, and if it comes to worse prepare and fight don't stop! When you get a chance run the opposite direction
She’s dangerous
She will be on the news soon
They never learn
My Aunt and Uncle, in their early 60’s were in their Motorhome stopped at a Rest Area, heading home from Washington to California on I5. A truck with two guys pulls up to them. They lift up the hood of their truck and they both start knocking on the door. My Uncle opens the door and he says they were very scruffy guys.
The taller man asks if they can borrow some oil, and my Uncle says that they don’t have any oil. The other guy says that he doesn’t believe that and wants to check himself… they both begin to enter into the Motorhome. Their first step inside they stopped dead in their tracks and backed out. They had a full grown German Shepherd that growled at them, with teeth showing…. My Uncle did his best to keep the dog from lunging at both of them.
The two guys went back inside their truck, and my Aunt and Uncle made it safely home. We are sure Brandy saved the day and possibly their lives. Soon after that they decided to stop RV ing.
That would have been great, to have gotten their license plate number, and let the police know what happened!
Good dog! Hope Brandy got ALL the treats!!!
A happy ending. Doggie saves the day! Dogs have their instincts turned on high and that dog knew those two were up to no good.
What a fantastic story. If only our government cared more about lawful citizens than criminals your Aunt and Uncle could have stopped these suspect folks dead in their tracks with a constitutional right gifted to them by god known as a firearm.
I have a dog like that but he would bark already when strangers approached. What I learned however from creepy encounters is to protect my dog from such situations as well. It's funny it took the dog for me to start beings mart and getting the hell out of any creepy situation before it even becomes one. Your uncle was lucky but some guys hate dogs and all it takes is a guy who panicks and pulls out a gun.
NEVER roll down your window when a stranger approaches!
Pull out and leave!!
yeah, really unintelligent set of decisions that could have costed her life 🤦♀️
@@Andthecheesestandsalone If she is telling us the absolute truth and this was not a set-up of any kind, then I agree. This absolutely could’ve been a real situation, but online you have to question things since things didn’t proceed logically and there was a lot that we did not see off camera.
Yes! I'd have left after 15 minutes of his behavior! That's One of the Beauties of VA life,you don't like your neighbors you Leave n get new ones! Glad you survived but in future Don't take chances.❤
Not understanding why you didn’t call 911 or just leave? Rolling down your window 🤔
You mean if you're a woman. Yes I agree. If she had a man with her the 2.5 hours of circling would have never happened.
As a fifty plus male van lifer, I too will leave if I feel uncomfortable. But I leave right away!
In extreme cases like this, after dudes been circling for a bit, call the police!
Kudos to you for being a solo female traveller, I wish you didn’t have to live in fear of us guys, it does really suck to see and as I guy, experience.
Stay safe!
Bryan from Vancouver
I feel for you. I’ve had those days yoo
As a male I am also more concerned about males than females. Males sure need a better education about violence.
@@nostaljiturkceThat sounds like a great idea. And when you have figured out the kind of education that eliminates the evil side of humanity it will be a monumental moment in our history as a species 👍
"of us guys.." are you one of those guys that circle in vans or are you trying to say that kind of behaviour is an essential part of being a guy?
@@infinitydreamzz
You are the smart one, aren’t you? Nice to meet you.
Do you really believe you can eliminate your feelings or thoughts? No need to eliminate anything if you can control your behavior. Such as being polite. Not making fun of others. So on. The basic stuff all the religions are talking about.
1st option: Call the police (as mentioned by previous commenter). 2nd option: Leave much sooner (before dark) and drive toward a police station. 3rd option: Park next to the other female vanlifer (safety in numbers) - maybe pull out together.
All good options, and with me yelling at my computer screen asking Christian to call the police, didn't seem to work!
Lol those are all good options.
She did none of these haha.
@@Powerstroke98Yeah, she'll cancel my comment if I say what I really think about foolish risks.
Call the police 🤣🤣
@@Powerstroke98 Same! I would have def called, just seeing the police would probably be enough to scare him off.
I think its one of my fav video of yours, raw, roughly edited, and showing what no one really talks about Van Life
I just don't understand how you watched someone circle around for 2 hours and THEN still allow them to approach you. Glad you're O.K, important lesson's learned here.
First time watching your videos. Solo van lifer as well since 2018. Tips: High wind, park the van with the nose pointing into the wind. It will minimize the shaking. Circling vultures, third circle = 911 and to hell with the parking/sleeping place. "I'm not supposed to be here (or doing something) so I'm not calling the police" is one of the worst decisions we can make, I've made it myself and had a similar outcome, and resolved to do things differently. There are plenty of other parking spots but only one of you. Love your honesty
The police are more concerned with saving your life than where you are parked!
Please continue to post these honest accounts of van life, not just the creepy incicents but the ups and downs - like mechanical issues, vermin etc. It's always heartening to know that we van lifers and caravaners aren't alone in this. I don't think my husband and I have had one trip where something hasn't gone wrong, (brake lights not working, ant infestations, water leaks and so on) but we manage to get through it, and enjoy our travels!
Christian, your video was a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges, showcasing your resilience and authenticity in the face of adversity, inspiring viewers to navigate their own challenges with grace and determination.
That sounds super scary. It's fine to call the police in a situation like that. Circling around for hours is not normal, it is "suspicious behavior" and that is a valid reason to call police to investigate, people do it all the time. Too often we wait until it's too late to get help to actually try and get help! Thanks for sharing some of the downsides of van life, happy birthday and stay safe!
Thanks for sharing all sides of living on the road🙏🏻🕊️💖stay safe we love you and your gorgeous videos of all of it!❤🕊️🤍
Suspicious is not a crime though. Many innocent victims/callers have been killed by Police. 1 example I remember was in Minneapolis. Lady caller hears bloody murder screams from a woman outside. She calls police, she then goes outside at some point...shot goes off and she's dead...Officer refuses to speak under 5th Am. Been a few yrs now he's still working there. Nobody knows what happened and why he killed her in a bath robe outside.
Had pretty much the same happen in front of my own house, which is just a few hundred feet from a busy highway. Guy in a gold Jag cruised by slowly, over a dozen times, while I was mowing. I live in small town where no one drives a vehicle of that caliber. Called a retired neighbor to follow him & get the plate, in the meantime he had returned 3 more times, that was when I decided that my truck was way bigger than him, & I took off. When I got back the neighbor was waiting, & as we were talking, the crazy azz approached, veered to the opposite side of the road, went through the ditch & up in the neighbor’s front yard, & exited out the ditch, never to return.
I’ve had a few stalkers when I was younger, & kept a piece on me for 3 days, which weighed heavily on my mind, & that’s when I decided that I wasn’t going to wait for anyone to get beyond crazy, & not to live in fear for one second longer. They want to act crazy… I’ll show them crazy.
Is there any unsolved crime UA-cam channel covered the story about this, if so, what's the channel and title?
NEVER take the risk, especially at night or when alone. After the 3rd time, even I would have called the police to investigate. With each time he came around and stopped, he was building up his courage to do something you would not like, which is why your hackles were raised. Always trust your instincts, that's why they exist.
It’s great you told the story of the guy in the van. I’m a van lifer and this has happened to me on several occasions, though not the circling for several hours. Once I wasn’t even aware of being watched until a truck driver came over to check I’ve locked my van doors and warned me of the guy hanging around my van. It’s scary and people need to be aware this happens. Take care out there. ❤
Good for you for not letting social expectations get in the way of your personal safety!! I know personally this is something I struggle with and I so admire you for your quick thinking and having the courage to protect yourself instead of worrying about the feelings of a stranger who’s acting inappropriately.
Yeah, I was giving some grace for the first two hours but then I was like nope. This is not okay 😵💫
I have 3 daughters. Screw social expectations and feelings. Van dude violated every basic safety expectation. He wasn't coming up to borrow a cup of sugar for his baking....
I got to teach my good friend some self defense I would be grateful to do that 🙏 🙌 💯
@@ChristianSchaffer I would have lost all grace after the fourth time he started circling that lot and called the cops lol. I also kind of thought you were going to get out and go up to the other woman in the other van. Sort of make him think y'all knew each other and had planned to meet up or something, that would have scared him off I think. But I guess that also requires trusting whoever the other person might be, too.
@@MyVanHaven it's also probably a nice idea to carry a piece and next time a creepy guy approaches in the dark --- roll down window and say "talk to my friend Smith & Wesson"
*Former longtime Victim Advocate here: LADIES, STOP WORRYING ABOUT OFFENDING PEOPLE AND LISTEN TO YOUR GUT LIKE HER!*
don't listen to your gut. Take action. if you are in this situation, call the police and get it on record.
@@tryscience Read THE GIFT OF FEAR by well respected Gavin de Becker. Again, learn to listen to your instincts, it is proven that our subconscious mind is far smarter than our conscious mind and capable of picking up on more data, faster, for our survival. And the more you listen, the better it becomes. Law Enforcement is NOT for defense, and just a report or Protection Order can get you 6ft under. Learn to be your own advocate, alongside any legal recourse. My education, training, and experience given in my opinions here represent many years and thousands of clients I've worked with.
READ THE GIFT OF FEAR.
@@lulumoon6942 she sounds gifted enough already
@@tryscience Don't let your ignorance get you dead.
This happened to me but it was two vehicles that teed me in. One window was uncovered so when i saw them pull in close i figured this is how im going to die. A guy got out motioning for me to roll down the window. My dog went absolutely nuts and pressed her teeth to the glass. They took off. I was shaking so hard.
Im glad you're ok. It's scary.
it's Crazy and Great how Animals will pick up on people's intentions
@@resortredneck it sure is. She never wanted to rest when I pulled over in a strange place. She felt it was her job to sit up and watch. Animals are so wonderful 🌟
All van lifers should get a large dog for companion ship and protection. Ideally you'd have a partner but that's not always the situation in life.
@@glennoc8585 my great dane scares alot of people without even barking :D she started growling at someone the other day and she scared me! like I felt some kind of primal fear when she growled at someone else
Mr Smith and Mr Wesson are always good traveling companions!
My thoughts as well but my friends goes by Mr. Sturm and Mr. Ruger. I suggested she carry bear spray and or wasp and hornet spay if she doesn't want to carry a freedom stick. Also, the wasp spray reaches some 10 to 15 feet and is very effective when hitting the face and is not banned anywhere. I carry both.
@@davidwebb1832 I've been told that it is illegal to spray another human being (even an intruder!) with bear spray, which makes zero sense to me...because I'm fairly certain it's legal to shoot them. It sounds like you may have some insight on this. I am all ears, if so!!
@@jessica0321 I know some over the road truckers and I have driven to Alaska from Florida twice, camping and hiking all over North America. Canada definitely will not allow pistols into the country nor mace or even bear spray unless purchased in Canada. At the time I traveled to Canada, they allowed a shotgun and rifle (a bit unwieldy in a vehicle). The over the road truckers said they carry wasp spray as it is legal everywhere in the US and some sailors who circumnavigated said wasp spray was legal in every country they visited as well. I believe it can be used in a pinch as an accelerant to start a fire while camping.
@@jessica0321I’d take the chance with catching a charge over losing my life. Just saying.
@@davidwebb1832 This is excellent info. Thank you so much.
That same exact thing with the van in a parking lot happened to me in California! My husband and I were stealth camping in our car and a van kept circling our car specifically (even with a ton of other cars in the lot). I felt so unsafe and couldn't help but feel like it could be part of a human trafficking scheme. I convinced my husband to go elsewhere. We took a very long, round-about way to get to our next spot just to be safe! Always trust your gut!
You could be right - I have heard that there’s a trafficking scheme among the mysterious white vans going on…
They could be apart of the undercover effort to move migrants to key voting districts around the country
Same here in WA in the desert by the gorge two dudes suddenly on my hood one unzipped his pant I tried to drive off, they chased me for over 80 miles thru the desert region of Matawa, am sure they were human traffickers and lucky my gas tank was full enough to get away IN MY VW CAR if it’d been a van probably wouldn’t have outrun them and been unalived after trafficked..NEVER GO ALONE TO MATTAWA, WA! Trafficking is real and they will disappear anyone this is the real danger of being out in the wilderness especially desert regions… Being hunted
Make sure the mice aren't eating your wires. Check for a phantom drain on your battery.
Sounds like a parasitic drain/draw that’s killing the battery. Shop should be able to diagnose and fix.
@@stevederr4927 Yeah, would’ve been nice to get a conclusion on that. I came here for the stalker that was advertised, but felt very baited overall by the video.
Mice look for warmth which the can find on the engine or around electronics. They settle in and if there is a wire in the way, they just chew it.
yup,get traps
They like the wire because there is soy in them
The first part of your video made me feel much better about the string of bad luck I had with my van on my recent trip. Van life isn’t without its challenges! So glad you’re safe. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve had similar van problems starting at year 6 (having to replace my inverter now; ugh!) the repairs seem to come in bunches and the ram battery lasts 5 years. Great job with your intuition with the creeper van; and not letting the driver get close to your vehicle. Thank you for being so transparent with the “not so fun stuff” and happy belated birthday!! 🎉
What a scary situation. When this video went black my adrenaline was pumping. I’ve had similar experiences and your message is so on point …just don’t let somebody you don’t know in your space because your options narrow at that point.
What a wild ride and hopefully you’ll kick your new roommate out 🐭have a blast in the mountains and the best birthday ever!
Also, even when you think your content or video quality isn’t good, we still love it. You’re the way you put things together is still fabulous and happy birthday.
I can't emphasize enough how refreshing it is to see a video like this from you. Yes, all of your other videos are cinematic quality and just jaw dropping, but it's also nice to see the human side of what you do. Hope to see more "day in the life" type of stuff and always stay safe.
Dude is a 🤬 weirdo. I definitely would've had "everything" at the ready with that type of behavior. I'm glad you stood your ground and are safe. Stay safe and TFS 🤍
Thank you Christian. When I tell you that you are in my prayers, that includes your safety. I can't believe it's not all rainbows, sunshine and unicorns! 😳 You have always made it real, both in your trials and the good times. I love you and I'm very glad this turned out okay. Stay safe my friend. ❤🙏
First... the bad angle when you were making coffee... you ROCKED it beautifully. No worries.
I really appreciate this video because I am just starting work on my *vintage* van build to get out there and enjoy vanlife while where I live is going through the cold, snowy winter months here. I have not gotten used to the snow and cold. Every year I hate it more. But I love my home and my hometown and community here. So taking off for the winter months in a van camper is a great solution. I will be traveling with 3 dogs! So, some security there! One of them is part Malinois. :) So as I said, I really appreciate this video showing me the kinds of things that can happen. I also appreciate many of the comments with advice on what to do in this situation!
You are the only content creator I watch who can stand the hair on my neck straight up! I'm so happy you can fend for yourself. I love that God watches over you always and all days...
The way you were so happy when the engine started, I felt it through the screen!
It was so contagious.
I was so happy too.
Sometimes when it rains, it pours.
And that’s ok. It happens to the best of us.
Keep your chin up!
I really appreciate your brutal honesty when it comes to showing what you deal with from weather, electrical challenges, vermin and creeps. Please stay safe out there and never second guess your internal alarm bells, because if your gut tells you something isn't right, it most likely isn't.
So sorry that happened to you! That’s really messed up! You do such great work and I’m glad that both shared this experience and were still critical of your own work at the same time. That speaks volumes, though mostly glad that you are ok. No one deserves to be put in those types of situations.
I love how honest and real you are, its very refreshing. Dont change Christian
That creeper had zero good intentions. He’s definitely not the sharpest crayon in the box doing all this to two of you in daylight and in clear view of witnesses. He was blatantly casing both your vans plotting and working up the courage to act. Smart of you to never give the benefit of the doubt and get out. Thank goodness you’re safe!
Thanks for sharing your current reality. Yes we are here for you for all of it! You share such beauty with us. We will. Certainly support you in these more challenging times ♥️🙏🏼✝️🥂
😊🙌🏻
Your tenacity,honesty,ability not to totally freak out at can creep are amazing ❤😊
Her lack of freaking out put her in danger and made her act stupid.
Having watched the rest of this .. glad you're okay! Be safe.
As an occasional solo female traveler myself I respect your actions- remained calm, focused, continued to assess, and did not allow them to get too close. You also did not create a sensationalized video. I may have noped out of the situation earlier- but I have also been followed.
Way to take care of yourself and get out of there Christian. I've been living in my van for a few years and even as a dude I can relate to the heightened spidey senses when things feel sketchy. There were moments while staying in my van in the middle of nowhere Mexico where I have felt it. All valuable lessons learned. Keep staying safe.
Mexico is not where you want to be, living this way. 3 friends and I tried that once as well, mostly in remote wilderness areas...never again. Am thankful you had no direct encounters.
Former police officer here & former RV living traveler; take a pic of the license plate and call the police! Don’t move until the cops show up.
A+ advice here in the COMMENTS, confront only if there are no other options, otherwise anonymity is important. Keep as much as you can. ESPECIALLY if you are not armed (perhaps that is something else she meant by “getting aggressive” if she told him she was armed and all of this happened exactly as it was portrayed).
From the video it appeared he didn't have plates on either front or back. That in itself is more cause for concern and suspicious!
Nothing shown in that video is illegal. So, wait for the cops to show and do what?
@wj7867 suspicious behavior allows police officers to make contact with the individual & ask questions. They can also run his tags and ID… Reasonable suspicion is all we need to start figuring things out🤷🏻♀️
@@pounepoune1 Reasonable suspicion of what?
What do you suspect this driver of? There is no crime in that video. There is no crime described by the author of the video. There is no reasonable suspicion.
Cops can make contact with anyone, but there is no LEGAL basis to detain this person, and if he's driving when they arrive no legal justification to pull him over. They really shouldn't be running his tags either (though we all know they would), and they certainly cannot LEGALLY ID the driver unless he volunteers.
Of course, we all know that cops would (likely) try to do all these things illegally, they would probably assault somebody, and no one would be surprised if they ended up shooting the reporting party out of confusion, belligerence and pure ego.
Problems keep you on edge and makes choice words fly from your mouth. I locked my keys in the truck once while I was alone in the mountains. Had to break in through a window. Keep upgrading safety backup features to be prepared. Wishing you good luck going forward! We all need a little luck. 😎
For that van - take a photo of the license plate and call the cops, if you did and have a photo of it it might be worth sending it to them now. He might have been inocent or getting up the courage to say hello but he might also have been planning something worse.
Nah, nobody “innocent” behaves like that.
That’s not working up courage, that’s mentally ill and stalking.
No he might not have been innocent. Either drugged out of his mind, psychotic or just a creep. Nobody does that for 90 minutes. No-bo-dy.
There's no right-in-their-head adult male who does that to "get up courage to say hello." There was no "hello" coming. Period.
@@purselmer5931 Exactly. There were wildly inappropriate/criminal words or actions coming, 100%.
getting up courage to say hello when in camper vans doesn't factor. if it's a guy he want nefarious stuff always.
Yet another great video! Your editing, music selection and cinematography are always a joy to experience. Thanks so much for sharing, I know most all of social media is curated for all the beautiful and funs things so it's nice to see some real experiences although I hate hearing about that last part. Super scary and I'm so glad you're alright! Happy belated bday!!
If someone really follows you, drive straight to the nearest police station
Another option if someone is following, and there is no police station nearby, is to drive at appallingly slow speed. Such as about 5 mph, 10 mph at the most. Obviously with 4 way flashers on. Almost all burglars, robbers and bad people, simply do not have the patience to drive that slowly. If on some kind of motorway or freeway, police will attend much faster, to come and give a person a traffic ticket for driving too slowly, than they would attend if you phone 9-1-1 and claim a man with a gun is trying to kill you. Unfortunately all too often, USAmerican Police exist mostly to fit up innocent people, steal their stuff under "Civil Asset Forfeiture" or shoot dead innocent people.
Why waste time use bottle rockets
Would like to add if you’re carjacked, bump the car in front of you at a stop light and get help from the person or persons in that car
Happy Birthday and sorry you have to deal with these issues and the creepy guy! I hope your travels are with less anxiety for the future and be safe always!
Glad you're safe christian and its always wise to pay attention to your surrounding. That person was scary driving around multiple times. i wouldn't be surprised the person has done harm to others before, Stay safe sis.
Sounds like he’s trying to make you uncomfortable enough to leave and then he can follow you and gain more information to attack later. So sorry this happened to you. So glad you’re safe!! And happy birthday!!!❤🎉
Wow! That was intense! Every time you showed him driving back around, I would yell, "Get out of there!" I am 5'10" 230lbs and I would have been on guard for sure. You handled it perfectly! Glad you are safe.
Same, no way I would’ve stayed there, after like 20 mins it would be clear to me something’s off and not just in the socially awkward way.
Something that woke me up to how dangerous it is for women is after my dad died and i started taking my mom to the store or to run errands. When i would leave my mom to go look at things and come back to see how she was doing i would catch guys being aggressive towards her. I almost lost a membership to a place because i pushed a guy down and ran over him with his shopping cart but the store reviewed footage and saw how he treated my mom. Makes me angry to see how men act out there. Glad you were able to get yourself out of that situation and i hope you and your van are alright.
Woah! So sorry your Mom was treated that way, that’s awful. 😳 Man, I try to picture my Mom being messed with and I honestly think she’d punch a man to the ground. I’d probably even wager a wolf wouldn’t stand a chance now that I think about it 😂
@ChristianSchaffer 🤣your mom is tough! My mom is so small and shy. Honestly I never realized how dangerous things could get for women. I used to be one of the "not all men are bad" type of guys but now I just think most men are stupid or terrible. Lol. There's a few good ones but you really gotta be careful.
You can take the man out of the cave but ...
You ran over him with his own shopping cart 😂😂😂 that's so funny and so awesome lol
I'm fully convinced america is an open air mental health secure unit at this point
Trust your instincts. I’m a guy and I’ve been in the same situation as you. It’s not just women who are at risk.
I was sleeping right down the road from a guy camping in his van at Craggy Gardens when someone climbed on top of his van, pulled his air conditioner off, and jumped into his van. The camper was armed so he was able to protect himself but it was still a bad situation very close to home. We all need to be wary.
That's grim.
Holy moly that’s scary. If someone came through my roof my first thought would be alien abduction 😅
Gee thats really bad, how would you explain that to the cops?
@@ChristianSchaffer Well if it was aliens they're usually looking for intelligent life. So while you may be at risk, many other wouldn't haha
Sparkle sparkle
Thank you for sharing this experience. It's important for everyone to know about these things. I am so glad you came out of the situation un-hurt, which means you did the right thing. Also very glad to hear that you trusted your gut, which is so important! In the future I would call the police because people that act like that may be of interest to them. Thank you again!
We all have our "bad days" when nothing seems to go right, but your van troubles were way beyond frustrating. You handled it all with your usual patience and grace. Hard to believe they were going to charge someone as gorgeous as you another two hundred and fifty dollars, especially when they know you are a very popular UA-cam star. Love ya, girl! 🥰
First, the point where the key would not come back out of the ignition actually made me snort laugh. Second, good job with the creeper. Lastly...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!🎉
By the second time that guy came around and stopped next to me, I would have already been surfing for the local non-emergency police number. By the third time I would be calling. Even if you were stealth camping, chances are the cops are aware that RV’s do that there. We can’t have (and don’t want) cops everywhere all the time; they count on good, concerned citizens to help be their eyes.
Happy Birthday Christian, wish You stay well and safe!
Great to see you showing the reality of camping as a single person along with all the problems that happen along the way. Strongly believe you should contact the police if you are in that scenario. Glad you stood your ground but please be safe. Don't be afraid to reach out for assistance when needed. Happy travels!
I’m so sorry that you went through this. It never should have happened. Thank you for sharing. I’m glad you left and were ok. This is good info to share. ❤❤❤❤
this is actually one of my favorite videos you have done... raw, real and honest. Keep a few of these coming every couple of months. I really enjoyed seeing "the real side" of van life
you enjoyed it?
Just some quick tips for the battery light issue:
Usually the battery light means the charging system has malfunctioned, not necessarily the battery. This means you would have an issue with your alternator: it isn't charging the battery or isn't charging it fast enough. Your software findings might be the issue, so I wouldn't rule it out.
Also, when you use a jump pack or jumper cables, you want to put the positive on first, not the negative. Since they are jump packs you probably had them off when you connected them to the battery and then turned it on, but it's good practice to get into by doing positive first.
Hope that helps!
P.S. Happy Belated Birthday!
It really doesn't matter which
@@mrmotofy maybe not with a jump pack but yes if you are doing jumper cables between two cars
I almost want there to be a van community in every state - so both women and men can get help if they need it. Your information is establishing an awareness and a concensus about van to van protocol, van to pedestrial protocol and van to local police protocol. You rock! Please be safe and know that your subscribers pray for your safety.
You have that sense of fear for a reason! Please always listen to that little voice! Any reasonable person will understand and those that don’t are the ones to fear so good job!! Happy Birthday
whatever you feel comfortable putting out here, we appreciate
Happy Belated Birthday Christian! Love ur content 💯 especially the raw stuff. Stay safe🤙
I had a similar incident, though involving a woman. This oddly dressed gal, who looked to be in her late thirties, came by and sat at a bench close to my parked vehicle. She would often stand up, look my way, then walk a ways, and go back and sit on the bench. She did this repeatedly, well into the night. At one point, she got into a car, which was filled with what appeared to be clothing, blankets, boxes, etc., and drove it up and down the street. After about an hour of doing this, she stopped, got out and began the same bench routine. It was now one in the morning, and so I drove to another little town in the Appalachians to sleep. The next day, I discovered her parked near me again, and so off I went. I'll never know what that was all about...
Secret admirer! 😂
She followed you?? Yikes. That’s pretty scary 😳 Glad you didn’t stick around to find out why
And what, you've been watching her all day? Maybe you are the stalker? I would approach her and ask what she wants, but your cowardice is justified, she could be an armed psychopath... Alas, this is America today... And once upon a time you hitchhiked and weren’t afraid, now it’s scary in parking lots.
@@vitalyk5916 I was inside writing that evening, and would look out the window once in a while to see if she was still doing her strange thing. She looked like a Romani. Perhaps she was just hoping to meet a traveling buddy. I pray that she is okay...
@@vitalyk5916Did you not literally just watch Christian watch someone for hours, then not approach them to ask them what they want? Have you made a comment and inferred that she was the stalker in this video?
I'm sure & hope that's not how you meant your comment to come off, but it's quite nasty to victim blame like this, especially when reinforcing double standards when it comes to how male & female victims are treated. Have a good day.
Appreciate you and all that you've created🙌💕 Thankyou
Thanks for sharing some of the downsides of Van life. You handled all of the difficulties very well. I'm a guy, and I would have been completely freaked out and been very discouraged with all the problems you faced. Keep going to the beautiful places. They will renew you and your beautiful videos are a wonderful break for me. Thanks.
I think you handled this creepy situation VERY well. You can't un-do letting your guard down. I enjoy your content and tips. Keep up the fun adventures and super helpful footage :) AND happy belated birthday :)
Thank you Tara 🤍
One thing after another. That's how life goes sometimes. As for creepy van guy, I had someone do that to me up in the mountains with no one around and it went on for 3hrs. I had no cell service, and when he got out of his vehicle to approach mine, I opened my window and set off my bear banger. It worked. Glad you are okay. Hope you had a wonderful mouse free birthday! ❤
3 hours!?!? How awful. What kind of person has the stamina to harass someone for 3 hours!? That is wild. Brilliant idea - the bear banger. I had never thought of that!
Happy belated Birthday…..lovely! ❤
Thank you!
Happy birthday and thank you for the videos, you're an inspiration!
Ok so if I'm doing my math right you're a fellow taurus like me (and share my sister's birthday!). This makes me appreciate your van life even more, since change might not be your natural comfort zone. I lived outside the lines for a year in TX and it changed my whole life and perspective. Good on you for keeping it up. I honestly hope you share your journey of settling down, too. You seem meant for both. Xo
This was one of the most chaotic videos and I actually really like it compared to the more curated videos you usually post. It's a nice change up. Glad you're safe and belated Happy Birthday.
I’ve had a few mouse in my van mostly in the fall… so I bought a live trap with a window got rid of the sticky killing pad that I find barbaric and replaced it with a sheet of paper to line the floor of the trap, i then smeared some peanut butter and cheese doodle and chips…. I caught 3 mouse that night and released them. Later I got more in the last 4 years but that trap is perfect I catch them in a matter of hours they cant resist the smell of the cheese doodle and peanut butter. This trap is always tucked under the front seat. Also the electric system of the promaster is really bizarre and the keys can be a nightmare…
Always love your vlogs!
Happy birthday! Good job listening to your instincts.
Sort of seemed like the creepy van was either a local or another vanlifer that didn't want any vans using that spot, but certainly could have also had bad intentions. I've had a couple of situations where I knew I was legally allowed to boondock and a local, without any legal authority to do anything, didn't want me there. Really surprising how protective people can be over parking lots that don't belong to them. Anyways in those cases I chose to move and get a good night's sleep instead of winning an argument. You handled the situation exactly the right way. Always follow your gut.
Ah, could be. Well, I probably really pissed him off then because I still didn’t move even after he left 👀
I don't understand this behavior. Local or not local, what's the difference? I mean, protect, or kick someone out of essentially an empty parking lot by driving around a van for two hours?? This is some kind of idiocy! What's the point of this? You can’t even imagine that this resident doesn’t like it, that someone dared to park their van in some vacant lot, if the person has any real concerns then come up and say “leave because and because.”. Why bother with nonsense?? Considering that there are many psychopaths in your country and anyone can have a weapon in their hands, such things raise questions about the adequacy of such people, even if - He is a local and she is a “stranger.” I don't understand this.
@@vitalyk5916you dont understand some people are assholes?
Woah, you are incredibly brave. I don’t think I could have stayed after that even if I scared him off.
I doubt that person that drive around for 2 to 3 hours is a normal individual, it's probably safer to just leave and at least drive towards a public area that there are many people around. Maybe even drive to a police station if that person decides to follow her.
Thanks for posting this video. I think it is important to acknowledge the negative issues as well as the many positive things about van life. As I was watching the piece about the creepy van circling around you, I was saying to myself that you should call the police. I was glad to see the comment from the police officer. I had a situation at my apartment where it wasn’t a bad situation, but I did call the police and he said to call without hesitation if there is an odd or scary situation. It’s what they are there to do and they do not mind checking it out. Thanks for all your great videos.
Belated Happy Birthday Christian. Thanks for this dose of vanlife reality. You handled it well when push came to shove. Ferocity is the best defense against these preditors since they're looking for an easy mark. Always love your videos. Thank you ~
I actually saw you a while back in the Alabama hills while I was camping. I'm a huge fan and you were an inspiration for me starting my own channel. Even so, I would have never, ever approach you. Next time there is a creeper, call the police, please.
Aw shoot, would have loved to say hello! Just preferably during the daytime, haha. Super humbled that I could offer some inspiration ☺️🙏🏻
@@ChristianSchaffer Have you seen his content? It's so relaxing. I wondered of he followed your content.
I have experienced creepy people like this as well in my travels, If you are in a city or town, I have found that if you drive to the police station or sheriff's office and just park in front of its they will drive right by and you will never see them again. Just a suggestion. Love your channel.
Wow Christian thank you for getting out of your comfort zone and sharing this! I’m sure your experience will help a lot of people that are oblivious to these kinds of situations.
Sending much love, and all the good vibes for smoother times your way! 🤍
ps: That spider 🕷️ tho! you are much braver than me, it would be its van at that point 😂
Happy Belated Birthday, Christian! It's great to see both sides of van life as I'm strongly considering it myself so the more information I have about both the good, and bad, experiences, the better. Thanks for sharing!
Also, glad that the creepy person took heed of your warning and that you don't encounter situations like that frequently. It was a very odd one, at minimum.
Thank you sooo much for ACTUALLY taking the time to give realistic FACTS about van life. Most of the people on You Tube doing these van life videos don't tell us all about mice/rats getting in the van. Spiders, Dangerous break downs no battery power & HUMAN CREEPS. GOD BLESS YOU AND PLEASE STAY SAFE OUT THERE. 🙏👍
More videos like this please!! :) I'm SO happy your safe girl. Gosh, you had my heart pumping as I've been in VERY creepy situations before too.
There should be some known communicative sign in the van life world to show it's just another van life person, looking for assistance, etc ur just trying to find a safe place, etc so people dont alarm each other.
There are many ways to approach a stranger without making them afraid. Coming up in daylight from having parked at some distance. Waving a hello. Stopping well before you get close to listen to what they say, and asking for what you need from that distance. Clearly this guy did none of them, hence, my warning bells would have been going off.
I absolutely loved this video! I really enjoy your aethetic style, but it's nice to see vlogs of raw real life sometimes.
Drive to the police station. Every time ladies. Get their plates. Take pic of plates . Never get out after you've seen weird stuff...definitely leave. Again, drive to police station anytime someone messes with you. While calling 911. Never pause or feel your not supposed to call 911 for help. Please ❤.
If you are in the woods camping and something happens to scare you, the police station could be many, many miles away. Who just happens to even know in an unfamiliar camp area where the nearest police or sheriff's station is anyway? Also, what if the creeper decides it would be fun to follow you on your way out of the campsite, bumper against bumper, and run you off the road in pitch dark which puts you in an even worse position. My advice is stay in the car and call the police and beg them to come to you the first time the creeper starts acting cute.
Hey Christian, it's always good to see things in the cruel light of day. That way you know the truth, not the glamour or the hype. I salute you. It must not have been easy to do.
OMG, so many problems! But you dealt with them all. Someone apparently once said, "If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger." Man, you must feel like 'Wonder Woman'! Take care out there :-)
You didn't shut down the situation quickly enough so he kept getting bolder. Stay safe traveler!
This right here is probably best explanation. Good thing there was timidity to begin with.
Don't you EVER blame the woman again. EVER.
If people demonstrate that they lack knowledge of appropriate boundaries, it always spells trouble of some sort.
And this is why I ALWAYS carry a sidearm with me, granted: last resort, but being prepared is being safer
Happy Birthday, Christian ! 💐💐 Be safe and trust your instincts about other people as you did with the other van circling your van. It did seem rather odd. Hope you have less encounters with mice and the the battery issue. I pray for your safe travel ! 😊🦅
As a solo person it pays to be very aware of your surroundings and trust your gut while traveling. I don't live in my vehicle full time but I do camp in my truck and have had instances where someone did something that made me uncomfortable and I have left that situation. Be safe and take care of yourselves!
9:00 - people can be so strange sometimes! What a creeper, glad everything worked out okay.
It was so weird! Just glad it didn’t happen in a remote location. It’s always the cities where I have issues lol
Did you consider calling police? I thing I would do that!
I want to say the guy had ocd or something but these days you never know, he should have known better than to approach your vehicle and you handled the situation right. U can get some sticky traps for the mouse and doubling up on batteries should knock out any lack of power issues. You'd need to add a bank controller to control the charge and switch parameters though.
I think maybe is a driving lesson, I used to go with my dad and learn to drive in circles xd in a parking lot
Trying to find a logical explanation - perhaps his house batteries were dead and needed to drive around to charge them on an alternator. After not being successful for hours, he became desperate as he had an important work meeting that he would be fired if he missed. He began walking around, asking others if he could plug in to their systems to charge.
Other explanation: a crazy person.
I think the perception of vanlife has evolved in the last few years. It started out as a way to save money while traveling and save money on rent. Now people correctly realize it can be a money pit, especially in light of $100k "builds" and 100k RVs which require constant, expensive maintenance.
Overall I still save a lot of money - I would have had to replace the battery/get 60k service on a car if not my van. But yeah, I can also see your point for certain situations. $100k is quite a lot to spend on a van, especially when it’s lifespan is essentially finite and dependent on mileage
depends on your comfort lvl alot of people do still live the super cheap vanlife i tend to think of dirtbag skaters lol :P
or alex honnold
Please call the police after the 3rd circle attempt. Don't hesitate!
That’s the number I came up with too! 😊
No. If the driver is Black calling the police is effectively a death sentence.
It almost as if people have learned nothing from the George Floyd incident 🤔
Or just start following them, and show them you have a nice toy for self defense(if applicable)...off they go, problem solved. They don't want risk being exposed. However if this occurs in isolated wilderness areas, where it's us and them, 3 friends and I will immediately take the offensive, staring with scare tactics, which have been 100% effective.
Happy Birthday! Keep up the great work, thanks for sharing this video and the potential concerns, and above all; continue to stay safe along with the enjoyment of life.
HAPPY VERY LATE BIRTHDAY CHRISTIAN !!! I hope and pray that you have emotionally recovered from this well. Literally 2 days ago I had something very scary happen to me with a man recording me and circling my car when I had my kid. It has made me feel almost paralyzed with fear in trying to figure out to cope and why would someone do that… but seeing you post this and your experience has given me some inspiration to post my video that I caught on film as gracefully as you did.
I am so thankful that God has protected you even with all the car issues and just continue to have fun girl, stay safe and much love. ❤
P.S Side note- when people give you the creeps there is absolutely no room for the benefit of the doubt. People can be tolerably weird but creepy is an entire different thing… you made a healthy judgement and I learned something from you as well about people getting to close in your space your options being narrow.