As a dad of two women about your age, some of this was hard to watch, but I'm glad you have taken steps for protection. In the case of the gas statin guy, don't be nice. He isn't. Always protect yourself and stay safe

The incident at the gas station didn't have anything to do with van life, but real life. Thank you for the inspiring video. Safe travels, safe living.

You left your gas station situation totally vulnerable. Never leave your door open while pumping. It's a subliminal invitation towards uninvited attention. Where were your keys? On you or in the van? What would you have done had he jumped into your van? It's like leaving your front door open to strangers. I actually lock my van while pumping gas. I walk with a don't "f" with me attitude. Predators prey on young pretty women. Being nice is what they are hoping for - as you know. Be more cautious & careful.

As a nice person, I had to learn to keep a poker face when dealing with strangers. Predators test people assessing their body language to determine if they’re an easy target. A straight face and eye contact goes a long way to scare off bad guys.

When I pump gas, I always lock my doors, with my alarm on, so no one tries to hop in my car. I was at a stop light once, and a man walking in the crosswalk, walked up to my car, and checked my door handle. I drive with my doors locked too. Imagine, if they had been unlocked. He would have been in my car, and God only knows what would have happened to me😮😮😮😮. That man got way to close to you😮.

I’m an older woman and while I face risks still, though different ones, I wish someone would’ve told me as a young woman to never be nice to random creeps. They know exactly how disrespectful they’re being by approaching you. They know you feel vulnerable and they exploit it. The best they deserve is for you to be unfriendly. If anyone, man or woman, ever is harmed by a criminal it’s 100% the fault of the criminal and not you.

Wear a fake ring on wedding finger. Say you're married. Don't need to placate and give a fake number. I'm a vanlifer and l do not dress to be cute because l'm not dealing with the consequences. Too many crazies out there.

A friend of mine memorized the phone number to the local police station and would give that number out.😂

I'm a truck driver and the only state I've been messed with in is California. My advice, make a short list of things to see and then get the heck out. I'm shut down near Stockton now so my pretrip inspection in the morning will be extra thorough. This isn't based on political views or opinions, it's based on experience. Be safe out here.

Get yourself some 3m security window film. It will slow down a break in or smash and grab. You’re still able to break the glass from the inside- if you need to escape, but from the outside, it takes longer and will help deter bad people.

Put on a mask when filling up or want to be left alone, as they approach tell them "I have COVID,back up if you don't want it"!

As a man I truly will never understand how you could feel the “leave me alone” vibes and proceed to creep into someone’s car behind them. People are freaking insane lmao

Tory, as an older woman, please take my advice. Practice an assertive voice and look in your eyes. Be direct and firm next time, telling him to back off away from you, NOW. Don't kerp busy, keep your eyes directly on him while keeping something between you both. If it turns out he is a rude, nice guy, he'll understand. That man could have so easily taken over you and your van without anyone noticing. PS There is a reason why we call it Hollyweird.

If I were your mom, I’d advise you to cover up if you don’t want unwanted attention. Yes, I know we should be free to wear what we like as free wheeling females. Best to face reality and be as safe as possible when being a solo female. As a granny, I’d be very worried about your safety. Don’t tempt fate. You’re very beautiful and bright…be wise.

Definitely consider wearing a mask and sunglasses everywhere like we all did in 2020. That tends to keep people away in general. It also makes it harder for people to see your face.

You couldn’t pay me to park a van anywhere in LA, Hollywood, or even Las Vegas. Too many crazies!

My grandfather is gone now but lived just outside of Hollywood. Family kept telling him he needed to get out of the house. He told them no. He's been out. He has seen it. He was over it. Be safe.

Always trust your instincts if something telling you to get the hell out of there…GET OUT OF THERE!

There is a big difference between being adventurus and just plane foolish. It's good to be happy, but it better when someone is happy because of you. What you are doing can never be safe and OMG the constent stress. I hope you find someone that you click with that you can share in your dreams and you in theirs. Traveling in such a way would be much less stressful with another.

Hi Tory. It’s so, so important to trust your gut and make sure your SA (situational awareness) is in peak condition. I also love that you have the Byrna and use other methods to protect yourself. Van life seems like a great way to live, don’t let the bad things in this world screw that up 🤗

Good tips. Two more I recommend are always buy a vehicle with the gas intake on the driver's side of the vehicle and when pumping gas always stand between the gas hose and your driver's door so you can get in the vehicle in a hurry, even if you have to leave the hose hanging in your vehicle. In a life-threatening situation, you can drive off and let the hose break with it's safety feature for shutting off the gas. And remember to hold that gas nozzle in your hand until they leave the area or you can get into your vehicle. Most creeps don't want sprayed with gasoline! Enjoy your life, while staying safe...you've got this!

4:14 I'm a dad, and if you are that scared you need 2, do something different!!!!! Even if you have to move back in with your parents!! I can tell you your parents are probably shitting their pants! Even if they don't tell you they are! I know there are some good things Associated with van life. BUT you must ask yourself does the good outway the bad? And if you are that scared???? Anyway thanks 4 the content and good luck and stay safe.

Of course, continue to take safety precautions and listen to your intuition! However, every "scary" situation you survive is a learning experience and great story to tell!! Summed up...be safe, have fun!!! ❤

Don't know why but exactly but this video made me a little sad. I wish the world was different than it is.

Gotta be a warrior to do solo vanlife as a female. I'm a big, powerful, confident man, and a boxer, yet it's hard to avoid the crazies.

watched a vid today bout being either a soft target or a hard target. be aware, use your phone, fake being on a call while you scout your van before approaching and entering it, perhaps change the key fob to unlock only your driver door not all doors. I'm glad you listened to your gut, it really is a good guide. that guy at the gas station is a great example of being a hard target - I think you should be really positive about how well you handled it, and great learning from when you turned your back on him n made yourself a soft target briefly. maybe leave a pair of ya dad's shoes on the passenger seat so it looks like a guy might be in there? I leave extra shoes outside my house so it doesn't appear I live by myself.

The best part about this video is learning that you have quite a few security measures in place! You sound very wise about knowing how to stay safe.

Gosh, I breathed a sigh of relief when you decided to move! Glad you’re ok xx

I was having a crappy day now everything‘s better because I got to see your life hang in there. It will not always be so bad. It’s good to step into the unknown. This is where we find opportunities. Perception is everything with life. I think you are brave and amazing.

Great vid Tory Here's my take. I treat people with respect and kindness as I would like to be treated....to a point...lol. I was a bartender for 22 years and learned very quickly that self confidence goes a long way when dealing with "people". Basically, be nice till its time not to be nice. You have tons of confidence, that's evident in all your videos. Use that confidence to stand your ground and don't be afraid of hurting someone's feelings if that's what ya need to do. Example with the dude at the gas station...be nice till it gets creepy, then ask him to please leave you alone. If he doesn't walk away, then TELL him to leave you alone in your confident, loud voice. Yea, you may get called a name or two but who cares. Always trust your gut for sure...but don't let that ruin your experiences. Finally, I would delay uploads till your out of the area, or at least not be too specific on your location. All the best and happy travels 👍😎

Also, lock your doors at the gas station- people will steal out of the passenger seat where some keep purses, etc

Not about the outfits. Wear what you want, you're beautiful and you don’t have to hide that. Like you said, either way we still get attention we don't want no matter what we're wearing. That guy was lame and way too close to you. No boundaries. Please don't be too nice! Love all of the ways you're staying safe. Thanks for sharing and showing the reality of the dangers in the world but going out there anyway. I'm doing the same thing. I love that you can explore, be prepared and look hot doing it. Woot. Happy new year!

Never leave your door open at a gas station, have your keys with you and lock all the doors.

Hi Tory, as usual proud of what you are doing and glad you got out of that situation safely. In response to safety tips my tutor taught me, first and foremost observation & gut feeling if it doesn't look or feel right it isn't worth it. As soon as you get in your vehicle lock your doors (something I'm sure you already do) you're most vulnerable then. Try to avoid parking nose first in a space, it is easy for someone to follow behind you plus reversing into a gap it is easier to drive out & you can put the driver's door between you & anyone trying to follow & if absolutely NECESSARY you can drive off with the door between you using them to close it. Finally I was taught to look for :- "presence of the abnormal - absence of the normal" harder for you when travelling I know. I hope this helps anyone who reads it. Stay safe everyone & merry Christmas/happy holidays however you celebrate.

My backup plan when, was always to try to drive to a big reputable truck stop, if they are outside of walking distance to urban city centers, they feel safe. Often they have signs that say no overnight parking but if you pull in late and don’t draw attention you’ll be left alone. It’s not always convenient but worked for me.

When you go out and do walk about , lose the mini dress and halter top you are showing too much skin, go with jeans or sweat pants and a top that doesn't show much skin. Unless you are looking for a mate of course.

In the UK there are 2 great van security things you can add on . One is Bear Lock and the other is Van Guardian . I have ordered both of these ready for my van ( Black Friday deals ) All I need to do now is find a van 😂😂 .

UPDATE: The Muzen Audio Code Isn't Active Until the 27th of December because they currently are running a big Christmas sale! BUT THE CODE YOU CAN USE UNTIL THEN IS "30MZWDCR" for 30% off :)

I worry that they tag the vehicle. I once in my van was creeped out by a guy to close to my van, Later I was 20 min away in the water with my paddle board and the guy was again near my van.... creepy

Good choice, Tory! I could see you grappling with the decision, but I'm a fit older dude and *I* wouldn't have slept there! Safety first :)

I’m glad you’re safe… ty for taking us on your journey

I love your energy and the positive perspective that the video reaches at the end 💚

So glad you found a safe place to stay for the night, Always keep your guard up and stay safe.

Rick Rolled!!! I love the bumper sticker. If I could have one on my vehicle, I'd definitely put it on there.

Love the storytelling aspect of this video. Stay safe!

Byrna: I'm familiar with it. In NY it is still technically a firearm, the legal definition is basically "any device that uses stored energy to fire a proectile". So, some discretion is advised, especially in antigun states like Commufornia, where cops might just see it and panic. (Good choice though.)

You are a True Adventurer. So Brave. Stuff like what happened a the gas station is pretty normal anymorre really. it is sad. Thank you for sharing your adventures. I love to see what you are up to next.

Pro tip in Southern CA Tory. Head West of the 405 and you can find a safe place to park. Manhattan Beach is a short drive from Hollywood.

Glad you are taking protective measures to stay safe. Keep practicing your Karate as it will help you stay focused no matter what happens around you. Awareness is so important. Stay Safe and Happy New Year

It looks like a character from the movie The Strangers. Parking at Hollywood and Vine wasn’t smart. I call Hollywood Hollyweird. I’m glad you left. Stay safe. Don’t live your life in fear. Happy Holidays and New Years!

People with babies definitely break into vehicles. Never be nice. I would never do vanlife in a city like LA, Philly, or any of the deadzone cities. I looked up the Byrna thing, and that's interesting. Stay safe.

I don't know if this would work or not: If you had a few magnetic "business" signs that you could keep swapping out on yor vehicle - signs that would deter people from wanting to have anything to do with your vehicle - such as "Lead Removal Service" or "Waste Oil Collection" or "Diaper Recycling". I Hope nothing bad every happens to you.

I grew in LA and Hollywood is the last place you should ever sleep in your van. There’s a reason we call it “Hollywierd”

Be careful out there, I park by warehouses usually most of the time it’s quiet but tonight I heard a loud noise.

Los Angeles is not a good place for Van life. I lived in Santa Monica for 5 years. It is terrible to go anywhere because of traffic. There are no parking spaces for Van life You either have to pay or you can't find a open parking spot. All filled up quickly. Or you can go to a bad neighborhood to park and get yourself in dangerous situation. I recommend stay away from Los Angeles.

This really puts things into perspective... Personally I'm quite distrustful of people and safety-conscious, but as a dude there are things that I don't have to worry about much (or at all) that you do. On the one hand it's great that you're so conscious of the risks and do so much to prepare and protect yourself, but on the other hand it's awful that you *have to*. By the way, even though it may not feel like it, statistically you're absolutely safer in the middle of nowhere. Unfortunately sometimes you're LESS likely to get help the more people are around, due to the Diffusion of Responsibility effect, where everyone thinks "well, there are so many others around, someone else is going to help". Anyway, thanks for being so open about these challenges and sharing your experience.

First off, love your videos and story telling. As for a safety suggestion. I would recommend not putting out videos right after recording. The advice I was given was to have a three week backlog of videos. That way viewers don't know where you are if the newest video was shot three weeks ago and you are already off to the next thing. Also get out of LA... Car break-ins are a regular occurrence and just part of life there. Ventura up north is awesome, or Newport & the area further south is great. Stay strong 💪

Omg. I was just there (Disneyland) on Sunday. I would've been so stoked to meet you. While I'm not full time, I can tell you I've never regretted the time spent in my van. Haven't tried it on the west coast yef, but you got this!

I’ve never left my purse or backpack just sitting there. I’ve seen way to many snatch and runs to trust anyone not to touch my stuff. 🥺

Hi Tory, While it is good to be vigilant do not let these worries ruin your day. You would be at far more risk living in a flat and going out Friday and Saturday night to a club for drinks, the risk of spiking or just being abused while drunk are much higher. A risk of 1 in 176 in one area is not your risk as there will be people not taking any precautions and people being stupid with their safety, being drunk or buying and using drugs or just being out at 2am. The world is normally much safer than people think but where I am in Manchester hundreds of young people were injured and a number killed just leaving an Ariana Grande concert, my wife was working in the front corner of our garden just an hour before a car rolled and bounced snapping the fence posts to the ground where she had been, in 1996 the IRA bombed Manchester with a 1500Kg (3300lb) bomb in a lorry it did around the equivalent of $1.7 billon damage but they gave a 90 minute warning so 75000 people were evacuated with 200 injured and no fatalities. No where is absolutely safe and some places and some activities are more dangerous than others, the risks you are taking living your life are minimal.

Tory you are so right about just general awareness.. Just think about stuff... Love your work... Im a newbe... You offer more than Van Life... Its just Life...

You are an awesome person. Be careful out there take care.❤

Maybe in retrospect it might seem that acting nice was the wrong choice and even though people say hindsight is 20/20, it actually isn't always that easy to know what is the best way to act. Some characters might get aggressive when you are rude or mean to them. In most cases it's best to go with your intuition and trust yourself to do what's right in the moment. I can relate to how feeling cute and dressing that way is somehow motivating. I was wondering if you also feel more vulnerable that way? Not just because it attracts attention but also like emotionally or something?

When I get back on the road I am planning to try to find people to travel with. Maybe could find someone to travel with or a group of people even. I wish people could just respect each other.

When you were at the gas station, I was on the edge of my seat hoping for another "live demo" of your bear spray setup! That would go so viral. And we all would have cheered. Sorry you had to go through that and glad you're safe! I'm pretty much just going to boondock outside city limits.... you're way braver than me!

I usually put the four cam system on. I can see everything repeat zoom. You name it. I pop some popcorn and I just watched the crazies. It’s better than a reality show because you’re guaranteed it is real.

You can use the seatbelts to secure the front doors. Then I’d disable the outside door handles for the back and side doors.

Most van lifers make their life look glamourous. But for yours, its really rough and make me appreciate my flat 😅

Don't be afraid to be rude. You have the right to be cute, but you shouldn't have to deal with unwanted attention. Don't engage! I act appalled when people approach me at a gas station or exiting a store or anywhere really. You're safer in the middle of nowhere. Criminals are opportunists. They don't go looking for victims outside of their stomping grounds which is in big cities.

The Walmart guy is a certified Victorville moment 😬 I was sitting outside at an in n out burger there, looking at my atlas after finishing my food and someone asked me for money, but got quite upset when I said no. Needless to say I’ll be skipping that town on my next trip. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us again Tory! Keep up the great work 😁

I'm from Downey so it was cool seeing you at the mcdonalds on here. I'm a guy and I get scared every time i go outside here in socal. As others said, stay safe. Good luck!

always close and lock your doors when getting gas. I live in los angeles county

What it comes down to is this. Sleep wherever YOU feel comfortable. If you don't feel comfortable in a certain area, then my advice is to leave. Find a place to sleep that you feel comfortable. That's the bottom line. If you feel comfortable sleeping in big cities, then sleep in big cities. If you feel comfortable sleeping off the grid, then sleep off the grid. What matters is what you feel and how you feel. If your gut tells you to move to a different area, then move to a different area. Always go with your ut, because your gut is telling you something may happen. Edit: I would suggest to ANYONE that is thinking of van life, to always make sure that you have protection. Good for you that you learned martial arts and other skills. Those skills will or may come in handy in situations.

thanks for sharing Tory and Welcome to California JUST BE VISUAL of your surroundings and you now the rest, enjoy your stay.

1) swap your back doors out for doors that don't have windows. 2) get some sort of bulkhead between the cab and the back of the van. They make them with lockable doors that allow you to go back and forth between the cargo area and the cab without ever having to get out of the van. 3) your window coverings you put up at night are a glaring sign that says "somebody is in here sleeping" 4) I was glad you left hollywood. I've been on those streets. Unspeakable evil things go down there. Now that I'm an adult, I think that place is completely demonic.

Thoughts on the gas station tips: Don’t wear a cute skirt with a shirt showing midriff and cleavage if you’re wanting to discourage attention. When you get out of the van close the door so someone can’t hop in and drive off as you don’t have a place to put your keys so they’re probably in the ignition. It’s also immediately obvious you’re carrying nothing to deter an attacker. I wear jeans with a knife in the pocket. Not as cute / sexy but pretty practical. YMMV.

“the least safe in the middle of nowhere”. To me, that's the safest place, because the most harmful things are humans, so the less there are, the safer it is. When we look at crime maps, high population and high density are things in common with high crime.

These women know not what they are doing or how dangerous it really is. Staying the move is all I can suggest.

You are a very talented and original blogger, onset and true to life and very compelling to follow .

Consider buying a "cattle prod", which is like a long taser. If someone busts your side window to stick hand/arm in order to try and open the door, that prod can quickly be used to make them pull it back out, and it stuns them at same time. Great thing to have in dangerous area for vanlife.

lmao that masked girl randomly walking past was so funny xD

Glad that you stayed in Orange County and had time for Disneyland. Thank you for sharing your journey.

As a Brit I have to ask myself WTF has happened to America ? 😱🇬🇧

In LA, security is wearing a bullet proof vest, a bodycam and daul wielding handguns. It's not just for show either. They get active over there. 😂

OMG Tory, please don't ever let your guard down, your so beautiful and a magnet for strangers to harass you. Always have your head on a spindle and always know what and who is around you. Come up to the Pacific NW Washington area, so many nice people up here and small towns are great places to check out and safe too. Your just too cute to not love lol.

Life in the US is stressful for everyone.

As a past resident of the area for five years, do NOT stay in Hollywood overnight in a van.

Lmao !!! That was you in Victorville Walmart I was like she looks like that KZfaq Van Girl Haha I was just coming from Vegas heading to San Diego and stopped at that Walmart lmao

Hollywood is the worst place to camp alone and when you’re not alone. It’s just not a safe place whatsoever.

🤣 I need that bumper sticker! hahahahahha ... I was thinking of Jenny's ;)

❤ GR8 VID ~ LOVED IT ❤ Super entertaining .. during most of the video I wanted to yell out "take a chill pill and settle down", then I remember you're a pretty girl and girls are usually pretty emotional. Not that being emotional is bad, i'm just saying that aspect is woven into the creativity of your work, in your story, in your video, and I loved the story. I'm a retired 72 yr old guy whose been living & traveling for years in my own RV, so from my perspective, I find your channel fantastic ❤ Hope to see a lot more of your vlogging work ❤

My wife and travel in a modified van and I do have some suggestions. 1 I recommend getting some items from goodwill, Mens Boots, flannel shirt or anything that makes it seem like you're not alone. Place the shirt over one of your front seats, maybe leave the boots on the seat. Make sure they look well used. (Variations, include Police work shirt, muscle shirt, construction vest and hat, Dog Collar and destroyed chew toy ) 2. Make the front of the vehicle looks a little messy, NO FOOD just things like clothes, napkins, clean food wrappers ( ask for a couple of burger wrappers at McDonald's . Messy usually indicates no valuables. 3. Try to never park on a main road, It only takes 1 DUI or Drag racer to take out your vehicle. 4. Get a cheap police scanner and turn it on in sketchy areas. Just the sound of it makes others nervous. You can also just do an MP3 of scanner talk to mimic it. Be aggressive or agitated don't be so innocent. Be polite but firm. Practice your responses so it becomes muscle memory. (Use as few words as possible , be direct and to the point. "No, I am not Interested", "What do you Want", "Please go away", " I have to pickup my kids", "I am waiting for my boyfriend", look them straight in the eyes and take a step towards them forcing them to backup. Take ownership of the space. Most people will back down. Practice these steps in a non dangerous situations to see how people react. 5. Place gun stickers on your van. I have a Burna as well and can't recommend them enough. I keep mine in the drivers door pocket covered by a dirty rag. 6. Don't act dumb or intimidated. Use big words when talking to scary people, ( don't let them see that you're scared). 7. Get a panic alarm in your van and on your person (Make sure they are LOUD). They don't like noise because it attracts attention. 8. Get a dog or fake dog barker. 9. (Sorry) Dress conservative, wear shoes you can run in. Keep your nails shorter so that you can fight without them breaking. 10. Never drink or do pot when you're somewhere vulnerable, It dulls your senses, impairs your judgment and response time. I wish you the best. Remember, being a little scared keeps your guard up. I hope this gives you and others some ideas

I would advise getting a dog for self protection, company and most importantly extra warmth at night. That guy hitting you up was a drug dealer and from his actions most likely a pimp also. I think you handled the situation well.

Hi Tory, no disrespect but why are you traveling alone? Do you have a video explaining why? You mentioned your mother and grandmother stressing out about the interaction. For good reason. It could have been a terrible situation. I hope you the best of every situation.

The good thing is if you’re blocking out all light from outside then you’re the good thing is your house has wheels and you can crank up and drive away to another place

I simply commend you for the way you face adversities. Keep it up, Tory.

Love your videos. Girl, you can not be nice at all. I tell them to back the hell up.

I lived in a van for about a year after my house burned down. My greatest problem was the absolute lack of something USEFUL to do all day. I'm a man capable of looking after himself, so 'safety' wasn't an issue. (I also deceided early that the best place to park was between other vehicles on tree-lined SUBURBAN side-streets.) The local police (notified by a passing 'security operator') came to have a 'stern word' to me, but left after I pointed I had every right to park on a PUBLIC ROAD, as long as I was in a registered vehicle. Being wary is all well and good; bu not being seen as a 'pushover' goes a long way toward solving any problems.

Hey Tory, you dealt with that guy at the pump the best you could, so sorry there are people like that out there, glad you got to “enjoy” your McDonalds! That McD’s looks a little creepy cool! Crispy like fried chicken, lol 😂❤️

I am starting my traveling life full time this year. Maybe we'll cross paths. Stay safe and enjoy life. Good video