This is by far the longest thread I've seen on this site, and it's about
people, not cars. Perhaps that in itself gives an indication of the common
denominator here.

I find myself attracted to these vans because of their legacy, which leads
back to the kinder, gentler counterculture of the 60's. Even though it may
have been hippie-dippy, touchy-feely, and artsy-fartsy, it was not such a
bad thing.

I'm a former general contractor with a degree in Comparative Literature from
the Sorbonne; studied film at SF State, earned living as photographer for a
short while, taught in a community college for 11 years, built a couple of
houses, play jazz piano (only Sundays), father of two, soft-hearted Marxist,
landlord.

A book I'm reminded of is "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." There
is something about these vans that encourages you to explore them and bond
with them by doing mechanical work. This goes against the grain of modern
consumerist culture, which produces impenetrable object meant to be
discarded. Maybe a distrust of this culture is another trait Vanagon owners
share.

Geza