Homeless and free

I've made the same choice a few times in my life. The first time it lasted all of 3 days. The next time it lasted like 6 months.

Cities: Knoxville, TN (never been but heard it was nice) and Asheville, NC, def. go there when it's warm. Also Southwest Florida I think is good. There are places in California too but you're saying you're on the East coast. I think there's probably a good number of places in Georgia and AL too, just search for wooded towns that border a bigger city. If you have some money you'll be able to find nice places to stay, camping, hostels, etc. I'd go to Florida though if I were you.

To respond to whether it's more free: I think it can be for sure. I found it very freeing to live that way, but it loses it's charm after awhile, unless maybe you're totally rich and you can just surf all day every day.

 

If you're gonna be homeless you better travel in order to avoid harsh seasons or I don't think it would be enjoyable at all. When it gets really cold homeless people will put a blanket over a hot manhole cover warmed from the steam below (and sometimes steam acutally comes out which can burn you) and just sleep right there on the sidewalk with people stepping over them and shit.

These people usually look pretty fuckin miserable. I've even seen a dude cookin' a burger on one of those manhole covers but I think I was trippin and he was just tryin to heat it up or something. And then you have people that will just stay on a bus or stay on a train all night. This does not work for those hobos that have quite a collection of shit that they drag around with them cuz bus drivers won't let them get on with that shit and the train you can't get it thru the turnstiles.

I did see on TV about a homeless guy in Brooklyn that had his own mobile dumpster that was like a little apartment inside with all the amenities, regrigerator and eveything I think i remember...even a way to shower.

 

Oh yeah I saw that AceK...that place was swagged out! Travel is definitely a good idea. I don't see any point in sleeping on a sidewalk, there's plenty of nice places to stay in any city. Of course I've always had money and used it, being homeless doesn't necessarily mean totally broke.

 

i have enough trouble sleeping as well. I didn't sleep at all last night and I've got heat and a comfortable bed, I can't even imagine trying to sleep on cold, hard, dirty concrete. That actually sounds kinda like jail except the environment in jail is a lot worse. Jail doesn't get this cold though, and your guaranteed food. All you have to do is commit a petty offense and try to make sure you stay in there as long as you can. But that's not living, in jail you are totally removed from the world at all...it doesn't exist except on TV so fuck that shit.

 

My opinion is get a job, bum.

We don't want you here, really.. stay out. The rainbow family is a big bunch of bullshit. All you do is sit around high having your epiphanies that don't last and destroy our forests. Feel free to come down and actually contribute, otherwise we already have enough trash in Florida.

 

That sounds a lot more like camping than actually being homeless.

 

When I think of being homeless I basically think of camping as well...or just not having a permanent residence, staying at farms, wwoofing, etc. I think for anyone choosing to stay out there that's the best route to go.

 

It's like camping...just usually you don't have tent and a warm sleeping bag plus plenty of food

 

If it's a choice you can't call yourself "homeless", you're basically just "slumming"...

 

Well, I think the OP didn't really say exactly what the details are. Getting a nice tent and sleeping bag is a good idea. Having inside places to stay is also nice and having a car is very beneficial. If you're really, really homeless with nothing or a bunch of useless stuff, like not having any of those things, I would say get as much help as you can so you're not in that situation for long.

 

I've been homeless twice against my will, first time at 14. And it ain't glamorous. If you are getting 'kicked out' at 26.. that means it's time to grow up. Find what you love that will allow you to actually survive and contribute to your fellow humans and do it.

 

What hedgeclipper was describing was camping. Not being homeless. 2 totally different things. I have no sympathy for someone who chooses to be homeless. Choosing to be that way is irresponsible and you can expect no help from me.

There are circumstances in some peoples lives that force them to be out on the streets. I think people who are really forced to the streets don't want to be there and will do what they can to make a better life for themselves. Those are the people, in my opinion, that deserve the help. They want better for themselves than to just be a lazy bum on the corner begging for money. Sorry but if you're not trying to better your situation then I don't really care. Put a little effort into your life. Get a job like the rest of society.

I'm sure everyone would love to have no responsibilities. Hang out all day. Have other people pay for your meals. That's not the way life works. I'm not saying you have to be a millionaire to be happy. Money doesn't buy happiness but I don't really see how someone can be happy sleeping on a park bench in the winter. Have a little respect for yourself and try to better your situation. Nobody else is going to do it for you.

 

Why is it the OP dosnt have to be homeless but other homeless cant help it.

 

Because many people here are judgmental assholes.

 

I wasn't referring to the OP. I was speaking in general.

 

Re-reading it sounds like the OP doesn't have much of a choice. He only works 10 hours a week at the moment and he got kicked out. I guess he's saying he doesn't really mind the situation much and wants to move to a bigger city to find a better work opportunity so I don't see what the big deal is.

I think there is a lot of projecting going on. When did he ever say anything about begging on street corners or having other people pay for him? I think out of most homeless people only a very small percentage of people actually do that.

I really think that most people who choose to wander or whatever you want to call it, are actually paying for their own food, making their own money, etc. and like the OP he actually does have a job. It's just not helping him to have a place to stay right now.

 

join a gym and take showers there and there is wi fi everywhere, just get a laptop

 

I've been gearing up the van since the summer. Partial-homelessness has been on my horizon for a bit. Successfully been dodging it but I'm mostly prepared.
I've yet to make the biggest and most expensive step: power

 

solar is a great way to go with a deep cycle battery, a lot of van dwellers are using it these days. Also, just an inverter from your 12v adapter will charge phones and laptops and small electronics without the need of anything else.

 

Trickle charge solar is gonna be waaay down the road. $$$$$$$$$$

I'll just start with a deep cycle and pay some friends or rent an rv spot to recharge when I need it. Energy conservation can be easy fairly easy in the city if you're just charging moblie devices but I'll have to battery up for heat.

I can't afford the set up right now but if the new apt. falls through, I should be able to use the money allotted for that on the van.