After visiting the homeless shelter last semester for poverty awareness week, I decided to try living out of my car for a while. Initially it was going to be for all summer, but instead it's just for a few weeks, as I'll be getting paid to house sit starting starting June 6th. It's just been a few days so far, but it's already been educational. Of course I have more of a cushion than most guys I see on the streets, by having a car and money in the bank, but it's still a change. I go to bed by 10 or 11 because most everything closes by then.
My only internet access is the libraries. Initially I wasn't even sure I'd have a place to shower, but I found I can make use of the showers in the men's locker room, and do so every couple days now (compared to twice a day when I had my own place). I'm considering eating at the soup kitchen more often as well, but for now I have coffee and a small meal at McDonald's at about 6 in the morning, where many of the guys that later show up at the soup kitchen can be found, and a later meal at night so I can sleep. I leave my car about as the sun rises, so no one will see me. I find it quite ironic how it's only in doing all this that I've become an early riser
A couple nights ago as I arrived at the spot I'd be sleeping I heard a rustling sound. An older white man was going through recycleables looking for cans. He went on for at least 30 minutes, and I fell asleep before he stopped. I felt a lot of empathy for him, while at the same time knowing we're in very different stations of life. My current situation is a temporary one of choice, almost a luxury. I'm not sure I want to know what it's truly like to live without hope.
Well, now I have class to head off to ...