Wiley's urban survival giude part II

Into my third week vehicularly housed.

This life is great. Oh sure it's a tad cold in the back of an SUV in the wee hours. Heck though I've saved up a grand in less than three weeks! Need to work on that miniature furnace system (Wiley is handy).

Other considerations.

California cost of living is extremely high however you can still find a free place to park your car at night. Hospital parking lots are the best. They actually offer some security as no "bad guys" would dare break into your car while under video camera. Or with my Doberman buddy "Barney" (real name) holding court. What you need is a convenient place to store shit. Also somewhere with a shower. Numbner 1's and 2's aren't a problem (mostly because I'm a male) however I don't feel like discussing the specifics of those at present.

Actually if I ever get bounced from the place where I park (ONLY at night!) I may shift to a metered lot like the airport. Even with the cost it is far cheaper way to stay at night.

So storage and showering can be the main challenge (after making a living). Thing to do:

1. Rent a small, low cost storage place. Buy or find a 6 gallon potable water car camping tank. Fill at a friend's house and leave it in the storage room. I fill mine in the park or next to a Lucky Supermarket. Next get one of those small mixing boxes from some building materials store place competive with the Home Despot. Also buy a camp stove and five gallon pot and a couple used buckets.

2. Heat up a two and 1/2 gallon shower!. Yep this urban life CAN be energy efficient. Have reduced my carbon imprint substantially since leaving the suburban sprawl life. Water drains down into the black mixing box which later you pour off when done into buckets and recycle somewhere as plant nourishment. This is "gray water" and beneficial to the planet.

3. Storage room, while not accessible 24 hours will still be open seven days. So if you have a night on the town you can hang clothes there, shower, shave whatever. Electricity use is possible even though most of these joints don't have outlets. You just insert one of those adapters into the ceiling lamp and PRESTO! 120 volts...

Don't be a real hog on the electricity though. Like don't run any grow operations or equipment of any kind while you're gone. Wattage is checked at the meter monthly or more often. The management will know if you're using a lot of juice. So stay in good graces with them.

Again: Don't tell a soul you are "homeless". Because technically speaking. You're not.

A lot of prejudice exists even (and sometimes especially) among Democrats. In Marin County many people vote Democratic but live REPUBLICAN. They don't want you in their neighborhood at any time of day or night. Nor will they hire you even if you wear a three piece suit all day.

Next month I intend to save TWO grand. Getting that parasitical landlord off my back has been a living dream. That and the deadbeat room mate I used to have. Soon will have enbough cash to develop my acreage parcel down south.

This IS a political post folks. Why?

Because this is the way most of you or your kids could be living not far down the road.

Wiley is just ahead of the curve. As always.

Best of luck and keep checking in!

Only have honed my skills somewhat since.

The main difference between now and the last time is the use of hospital parking lots and a smaller vehicle.

Smaller cars like minivans and SUV's drawl little attention. Being conspicuous is the number one problem maintaining security while vehicularly housed. Cops hate the "homeless". They will roust you in the middle of the night, disturb the dogs (I have two) and then pull guns if they think the dogs are dangerous.

Police take orders from the very wealthy. It is they who pay their bills. So they think.

I haven't been rousted this time out and intend to keep it that way. Five years ago I owned a large vehicle and it attracted a lot of attention. So reducing space is essential. Back then got one roust which I learned from.

Wherever you hang at night observe quiet hours. No loud music and please do not dump any trash or human waste. Gives our kind a bad name.

Acme shower? I like that.

Go to the bookstore & find a California camping guide. You should be able to find state & private campgrounds that will let you tent camp & get a shower.

Or you can either find a truck stop to get a shower or join a gym that's open 24 hours to get a shower.

Hope this helps! Good luck to you!

now you have a $1000.00. :toast:

who comes in every morning, does a very small amount of exercise, showers, then leaves. It's not an outrageous deal for $20/month (but you need a credit card)!

and you shouldn't trust anybody else living that life. be friendly, don't trust.

the amount of people living in tents, cars, trucks, RVs, boats, or whatever is HUGE.