the poop sheet

So it's time to deal with the toilet issue. I'm guessing that when I'm full-time van-dwelling, I'll generally be close enough to a public restroom to handle my needs, but I'll rest better knowing I've got an on-board backup plan. After my usual round of online research, I've settled on the Hassock Portable Toilet by Reliance. It's basically a sturdy bucket with a toilet seat & a lid that has a built-in toilet paper compartment. The fancier holding-and-waste-tank models just seem like too much hassle at this point (though we'll see if I'm whistling the same tune after I've used "the bucket" for awhile). If I had more space, I'd install my composting toilet (saved from the family cabin when it was upgraded to indoor plumbing), but that thing's huge. I'm planning on lining the bucket with heavy-duty (doodie?) plastic bags for easier disposal of contents. If the lid doesn't keep the odors at bay, I'll try adding a bit of kitty litter or peat moss to the bucket. I'll be generally keeping the Westfalia Z-bed in the bed position rather than using it as a passenger seat, and the toilet will fit snugly underneath the edge of the bed, out of the way when not in use.

I don't know that I'd normally go into additional detail on the subject, but the question my friends seem to most commonly ask when I announce my van dwelling plans is, "Where will you go to the bathroom?!" Thankfully, I'm not a nighttime bathroom goer, but I am a night owl, and my "last call" for the toilet before retiring for the evening is often after public restrooms are readily available. When in wilderness areas, it's a non-issue... I grew up backpacking and am seasoned at finding the nearest bush. However, I'll likely be dividing my time between urban and wilderness settings, so I'm equipping the van with a pee bottle. I looked at the Lady J, a sort of "female urinal," but ended up going the DIY route and grabbed a wide-mouth plastic water bottle and wide-mouth plastic funnel at the thrift store. I keep them in a special box with my roll of t.p. and an extra plastic bag for used toilet paper. Did I enter the "too much info" zone?
By the way, for those who are interested in more info on the subject, there's a great book, with an environmentalist outlook, called The Humanure Handbook.