If bringing your van or RV into New York City freaks you out, this is the exact “safety reality check” we wish we had sooner. In this video, Bob and I show how we did NYC the smart way: we parked Mr. Lemon at Skyline RV Park (waterfront in December… which was gorgeous and also freezing) and treated our van like the world’s tiniest studio apartment. For us, that’s the whole trick—New York in a van isn’t about driving your van. It’s about parking once somewhere secure (surveillance, bathrooms, and even a surprisingly warm setup) and living like a local with ferries, subways, and a whole lot of walking. We cover the real costs ($130/night for waterfront, about $85/night for the non-waterfront spot), how to use the NYC Ferry app (and how we literally missed the ferry by going to the wrong dock—learn from us), and what Christmas in NYC is actually like when it’s a sea of humanity. We also share a huge safety tip: the Staten Island Ferry is free, and there are scammers who will try to charge you. Bottom line: we had no tickets, no towing, no parking stress, and we felt secure leaving the van. Even with 39° weather, wind off the East River, and vanlife mess/chores in a tiny space… it was totally doable and totally worth it.