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Greenvalley
PRS



Registered: 06/16/10
Posts: 2,033
Loc: Why not?
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Homeless by choice
#14351040 - 04/25/11 07:18 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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So a few months ago, August-october, I lived out of a backpack and just walked and hitchhiked around the western US; It was the best experience of my life, so much fun and I loved the lifestyle. Im in college now and I really miss doing that, hopefully doing it again this summer.
I found these videos and thought Id share them with all of you. How many of you would live like this???
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Samuel L Jackson
Bad Motherfucker


Registered: 12/10/09
Posts: 8,393
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i like my air conditioning, tv, internet, stocked fridge, stocked pantry, bed, clean clothes, and sofa too much.
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Bodhi of Ankou
*alternate opinion blocks path*



Registered: 06/02/09
Posts: 24,778
Loc: Soviet Canukistan
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If you know the closing times of the restaurants around town you could easily eat like a king, everyday.
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Greenvalley
PRS



Registered: 06/16/10
Posts: 2,033
Loc: Why not?
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Quote:
Bodhi of Ankou said: If you know the closing times of the restaurants around town you could easily eat like a king, everyday.
When I was in oregon I camped at the base of Mt. Hood and went around the Timberline Lodge every other day. If you act like your staying there they have showers, free laundry, a sauna, internet, and they even had a buffet that had amazing food. I got in line for the food, filled up a plate and walked off and ate it on the balcony near the pool then went back for dessert, no one even noticed. That was a great day.
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BaSSidio Head
Pebble Wrestler



Registered: 03/29/11
Posts: 577
Loc: Highcountry, NC
Last seen: 11 years, 9 months
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i am not down with the whole hitchhiking thing, it's too dependent on other people. The past few summers, though, i have lived out of my car and just drove around to different places, mostly climbing locations, and just made a fixed budget last as long as possible. It's a great way to meet a bunch of cool people, especially if you don't mind living off oatmeal and pb&j
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What's from the earth is of the greatest worth. So before u knock it, try it first and you'll see it's a blessing and it's not a curse.
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A Day InThe Life
Jack of All



Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 1,175
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
BaSSidio Head said: i am not down with the whole hitchhiking thing, it's too dependent on other people. The past few summers, though, i have lived out of my car and just drove around to different places, mostly climbing locations, and just made a fixed budget last as long as possible. It's a great way to meet a bunch of cool people, especially if you don't mind living off oatmeal and pb&j 
That sounds pretty cool
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eek
Stranger

Registered: 03/02/11
Posts: 19
Last seen: 12 years, 2 months
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I was 'homeless by choice' years back but was also holding down a job. I slept out of my car, showered at a gym, and ate mostly canned food-- cooked depending if I could make a fire that day. The journey ended up with me being arrested and having to get friends to come bail me out of jail.I had a feeling my employers were catching on anyways since I smelled, had dirty/un-ironed clothes, rarely shaved... just generally unkempt. I would lean more on the experience being a negative one because my reasons for doing it were bullshit-- bored and dumb. Just because you are homeless doesn't mean you are going to have some kind of spirit changing experience. I learn from my mistakes though.
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eeso
Str@nger

Registered: 03/25/07
Posts: 554
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Hell yea. Hitchiked around the east coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains the summer a few years ago. Heading out to Washington in June for Rainbow Nationals and gonna use that as a jumping off point for further travels in the west.
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s240779


Registered: 12/07/10
Posts: 12,880
Last seen: 2 months, 10 days
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Re: Homeless by choice [Re: eek]
#14351652 - 04/25/11 08:57 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
eek said: I was 'homeless by choice' years back but was also holding down a job. I slept out of my car, showered at a gym, and ate mostly canned food-- cooked depending if I could make a fire that day. The journey ended up with me being arrested and having to get friends to come bail me out of jail.I had a feeling my employers were catching on anyways since I smelled, had dirty/un-ironed clothes, rarely shaved... just generally unkempt. I would lean more on the experience being a negative one because my reasons for doing it were bullshit-- bored and dumb. Just because you are homeless doesn't mean you are going to have some kind of spirit changing experience. I learn from my mistakes though.
How did you get arrested? And why did you smell if you were showering at a gym?
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blewmeanie




Registered: 10/01/06
Posts: 28,984
Loc:
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Re: Homeless by choice [Re: s240779]
#14351664 - 04/25/11 08:59 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I've done it, it sucks. "No pleasure, no rapture, no exquisite sin greater than central air."
Edited by blewmeanie (04/25/11 08:59 PM)
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The Whale

Registered: 11/01/10
Posts: 2,384
Loc:
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The guy in the first video has a very weird communication style. His pauses are entirely too long and misplaced.
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Cherk
Fashionable



Registered: 10/25/02
Posts: 46,493
Loc: International
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
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All you kids are poseurs...no one can beat the holy homeless man
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I have considered such matters. SIKE
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Greenvalley
PRS



Registered: 06/16/10
Posts: 2,033
Loc: Why not?
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: Homeless by choice [Re: eeso]
#14352063 - 04/25/11 09:54 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
eeso said: Hell yea. Hitchiked around the east coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains the summer a few years ago. Heading out to Washington in June for Rainbow Nationals and gonna use that as a jumping off point for further travels in the west.
I want to go to there!
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nannybooboo

Registered: 04/23/11
Posts: 325
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Being homeless for two months at age 16 was pretty fun. I just basically rode bmx almost 24/7 after quitting school. Eating was pretty easy if you know good spots to dumpster dive, or have close friends save a bunch of old food from their work day.
Then i lived on a friend's floor for 6 months and found a job and moved into an apartment. But that's a whole 'nother story 
I still have urges to dumpster dive and squat on a daily basis. It's definitely a fun/different lifestyle, so long as you're not a boozer or cig smoker.
There's a cool book called "Evasion" by CrimethInc about a homeless straight edge vegan who pretty much lived for vagabonding and spent all his money on vinyls, and gave good tips on how to survive on the streets.
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frith
God

Registered: 10/27/09
Posts: 7,512
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
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a friend of mine went homeless by choice about this time last year. he was living out of a van and his office at work for about 10 months. the only reason he got an apt is because you cant really sleep outside when its below 40 at night.
he did a podcast miniseries on things he learned and what to look out for if you decide you want to go "urban camping".
Ep 1 - Introduction: http://hackerpublicradio.org/eps/hpr0602.mp3
Ep 2 - Finding shelter: http://hackerpublicradio.org/eps/hpr0615.mp3
Ep 3 - Personal hygiene: http://hackerpublicradio.org/eps/hpr0624.mp3
Ep 4 - Organizing your gear: http://hackerpublicradio.org/eps/hpr0626.mp3
Ep 5 - Where to find food: http://hackerpublicradio.org/eps/hpr0634.mp3
Ep 6 - How to make money: http://hackerpublicradio.org/eps/hpr0638.mp3
Ep 7 - What to do all day: http://hackerpublicradio.org/eps/hpr0641.mp3
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Greenvalley
PRS



Registered: 06/16/10
Posts: 2,033
Loc: Why not?
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Quote:
nannybooboo said: Being homeless for two months at age 16 was pretty fun. I just basically rode bmx almost 24/7 after quitting school. Eating was pretty easy if you know good spots to dumpster dive, or have close friends save a bunch of old food from their work day.
Then i lived on a friend's floor for 6 months and found a job and moved into an apartment. But that's a whole 'nother story 
I still have urges to dumpster dive and squat on a daily basis. It's definitely a fun/different lifestyle, so long as you're not a boozer or cig smoker.
There's a cool book called "Evasion" by CrimethInc about a homeless straight edge vegan who pretty much lived for vagabonding and spent all his money on vinyls, and gave good tips on how to survive on the streets.
I think Ive heard about crimethink, Ill check it out. But I really miss that lifestyle, anything else seems 'fake'. Id love to make a living off of it, get a job for a few months then just walk around wherever, save up and go over seas, India for sure.
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s240779


Registered: 12/07/10
Posts: 12,880
Last seen: 2 months, 10 days
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Re: Homeless by choice [Re: frith]
#14353984 - 04/26/11 08:02 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
frith said: the only reason he got an apt is because you cant really sleep outside when its below 40 at night.
Yes, you can. and if you have a van and an income you can rig up some kind of heating element such as an electric heater plugged into a battery operated outlet or solar powered heating.
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trekie
Metal man


Registered: 05/11/09
Posts: 11,085
Loc: Larger cities
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Re: Homeless by choice [Re: s240779]
#14354017 - 04/26/11 08:14 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Homelessness is a serious problem for our veterans and many of our most vulnerable citizens (IE mentally handicap).
Now what we DONT need is a bunch of lazy trust fund suburban kids running around thinking there homeless cause its just so scene.
There is a very finite amount of resources for the homeless in this country.
How about you guys stop being so fucking selfish, Man up and get a fucking job. And save those resources for those who DONT have a choice of being homeless.
fucking kids and hippies .
-------------------- I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
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s240779


Registered: 12/07/10
Posts: 12,880
Last seen: 2 months, 10 days
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Re: Homeless by choice [Re: trekie]
#14354040 - 04/26/11 08:25 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Several people have stated that they're simply trying to avoid rent by living in a vehicle or presumably camping out outside, but still having an income and independently getting their food. No one has stated, "yeah take advantage of the free lodging at homeless shelters and the free food at soup kicthens." And if those places aren't jam packed, like if there's not a lot of homeless people in the area, there's nothing wrong with taking advanatge of that stuff temporarily. Eureka, California is a twon with both geuniely homeless people and hipsters and there's more than enough to go around for everyone. Just last year they installed showers at the soup kicthen (so they have a lot of financial support) and the homeless shelter always has a few spare beds.
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trekie
Metal man


Registered: 05/11/09
Posts: 11,085
Loc: Larger cities
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Re: Homeless by choice [Re: s240779]
#14354057 - 04/26/11 08:34 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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You just said you take up on the soup kitchen so explain to me how you not using there recsrources.
Just a bunch of kids acting demanding hand outs cause its so scene. Then you end up as junkies demanding more money ect.
How about some of you really battle homelessness and get back to me.
Maybe thats why I'm so about this having worked in soup kitchens and have battling homelessness myself.
Now rich kids on the streets I see downtown begging for money I tell em to fuck off or step on what ever cheap hippie shit they are trying to sell.
So if I see you prepare to get a size 12 doc Martian right up your ass
-------------------- I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
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frith
God

Registered: 10/27/09
Posts: 7,512
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
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Re: Homeless by choice [Re: trekie]
#14354062 - 04/26/11 08:37 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
trekie said: Homelessness is a serious problem for our veterans and many of our most vulnerable citizens (IE mentally handicap).
Now what we DONT need is a bunch of lazy trust fund suburban kids running around thinking there homeless cause its just so scene.
There is a very finite amount of resources for the homeless in this country.
How about you guys stop being so fucking selfish, Man up and get a fucking job. And save those resources for those who DONT have a choice of being homeless.
fucking kids and hippies .
in the podcast episodes i posted above, my friend specifically says to avoid places like homeless shelters and soup kitchens.
he also has/had a full time job while homeless. the company had a gym in one of their buildings so thats what he used as a shower.
no one ever said to take advantage of the system.
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trekie
Metal man


Registered: 05/11/09
Posts: 11,085
Loc: Larger cities
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Re: Homeless by choice [Re: frith]
#14354083 - 04/26/11 08:42 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Still begging for money taking away from those who really need it.
Most of the homeless you speak of dont have a job and just want fucking hand outs.
Maybe you guys should get off the Internet and check that shit out.
Tomorrow ill take a walk downtown and take photos of all the scumbags im talking about.
Reality people its not on the internet
-------------------- I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
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frith
God

Registered: 10/27/09
Posts: 7,512
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
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Re: Homeless by choice [Re: trekie]
#14354091 - 04/26/11 08:45 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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eeso
Str@nger

Registered: 03/25/07
Posts: 554
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Re: Homeless by choice [Re: trekie]
#14355030 - 04/26/11 12:35 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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LoL
I've never used any of the mentioned resources when I was homeless. For me it's partly about being as self-sufficient as possible.
Shelters aren't really places you'd want to be anyways, as was previously mentioned.
Never begged, never will. The road provides, and you can find odd-jobs here and there.
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MisterMuscaria



Registered: 05/13/08
Posts: 27,646
Loc:
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Re: Homeless by choice [Re: eeso]
#14355049 - 04/26/11 12:41 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I drifted for a while but was never really a homebum. Only every spanged as a last resort. I dont like it when people do that as their main source of money.
Only a small percentage of people who sleep rough beg and only a small percentage of beggars sleep rough.
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guywiththegun
Shroom Chewer/Beer Brewer



Registered: 03/31/09
Posts: 613
Last seen: 1 month, 28 days
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I was technically homeless for a while. I lived on a boat, down on the Gulf Coast for about 6 months. Stole our feed to eat (because nobody was hiring) and eventually asked a buddy to get us some money to get back home and paid him back.
I won't lie, it wasn't fun, and it taught me a lot of things, but in the back of my mind, I've always wanted to do it again. Lately I've been looking at building a rudimentary camper out of an old cargo van. I'm thinking of living a transient lifestyle part of the year as a rubber tramp, and I'll go up and down the west coast and pick mushrooms or make money however I can. This would be when I'm finally self-employed, and therefore can take my act on the road without worrying whether my mushroom harvests are going to get me by.
It's not a bad thing, it's a cool way to see the country, and if you do it right, you don't have to live off of other people's resources.
As far as stealing food and stuff goes...dude, half the shit we stole was destined for the trash can, so fuck this entitled POV where people say "Well, if you didn't pay for it, you can't have it." Half the shit you see in the grocery store is destined for a trash can, trust me. Probably 3/4 of the shit you see in a free buffet line (especially at a ski lodge or something) is going in the garbage. Those garbage cans are then locked up so the food can rot without doing anyone any good. Fuck that shit, I'm not stealing, I'm RESCUING food.
Good thread, I like this.
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LobsterSauce


Registered: 11/09/08
Posts: 19,884
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I wouldn't mind bumming around and busking as a source of income. Would be good fun I'd imagine.
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guywiththegun
Shroom Chewer/Beer Brewer



Registered: 03/31/09
Posts: 613
Last seen: 1 month, 28 days
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Also, another note. It's one thing to beg for money with a sign that says "Homeless Vet, please help" when you really aren't.
I find the best panhandlers have signs like "Seeing the World: Accepting Donations" or something like that. I gave ten bucks and a couple of burgers to these two kids with a sign like that who were playing ukelele in the park. Said they were just seeing what they could see, had this cool old dog with 'em. Sweet kids, too.
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eek
Stranger

Registered: 03/02/11
Posts: 19
Last seen: 12 years, 2 months
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Re: Homeless by choice [Re: s240779]
#14368898 - 04/28/11 07:19 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
superhigh said: How did you get arrested? And why did you smell if you were showering at a gym?
A single unpaid speeding ticket... i know, soo lame. If you used the trunk of your car as a closet and slept in sleeping bag you start smelling no matter what. Also, towels in lockers don't dry properly for some reason.
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blewmeanie




Registered: 10/01/06
Posts: 28,984
Loc:
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Re: Homeless by choice [Re: eek]
#14368902 - 04/28/11 07:20 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Shoulda bought a sham-wow.
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