My ~30 day trial: no house

[Jugga J]

Interesting Read

[llong]

Openeyes, thanks so much for this thread.

I live in New York, and for many years I've wondered if I could live here without a home. Maybe someday I'll try it.

[openeyes]

Originally Posted by llong

Openeyes, thanks so much for this thread.

I live in New York, and for many years I've wondered if I could live here without a home. Maybe someday I'll try it.

I'm glad people have enjoyed the thread. I think New York would be quite doable. The main thing is finding a place you feel comfortable sleeping. The crime rate is well below the national average, and I imagine there are plenty of places open 24/7. To make things more comfortable you could get a gym membership with easy access to a shower. If they don't have a locker you could use long term, a nearby storage facility may be useful. You could leave important papers in a safe deposit box, as many do already. Just in playing with google I see there are plenty of storage places around New York with unlimited access 7 days a week, though it's best to have minimal stuff to worry about. If you're still working and need to dress particularly well it could be more complicated of course.

What I've gotten from all this is that even if I were to go broke and lose everything, I could still lead an enjoyable lifestyle here. There's an incredible feeling of security in that. Being in a house now, much of what's around me seems superfluous, but I can tolerate it for the moment since I'm getting paid to stay It wouldn't be worth paying high rent or a mortgage for very long though. A home easily serves as a cocoon that cuts down on one's involvement with the surrounding area. I used to be fairly introverted, preferring lots of time to myself, but have since found it much more enjoyable to be surrounded by the activity of others most of the time.

[openeyes]

I initially wasn't sure whether this best fit here, in the "panhandling as income stream" thread, or in a thread of it's own. A couple months ago I was attending a talk by Fleet Maull, trained in Tibetan Buddhism. Near the end he mentioned hosting street retreats. My interest was piqued and I went on to read more about them online. I might check one out sometime, whenever the next one is and my calendar is open. Rather than using panhandling simply as an income source, they use it as an intense form of spiritual work:

"The practice of the street retreat is a "plunge" - the intentional placement of participants into a completely groundless situation in which anything could happen, while anchored by spiritual practice. Developed by Bernie Glassman Roshi, the Founder of Peacemaker International, the Street Retreat has been described as “an amazingly powerful spiritual practice.” Street Retreats have been held in many countries across Europe, and in various U.S. cities like New York, L.A., Seattle, Denver, D.C. and San Francisco.

"For four days and three nights participants will live on the streets without money, bedding, change of clothing, books or watches. We will panhandle for bus fare, eat in soup kitchens and intimately and vividly come to see how our cocoons have insulated us from our groundlessness. We will meet three times a day for meditation practice and sharing in Wisdom Council, often joined by other homeless, giving us the opportunity to see ourselves as Other, to recognize our commonality, and to renounce habitual concepts that foster aversion, rejection and separation."

Denver Street Retreat

I generally just say "no thanks" and keep walking when asked for money by strangers on the street, but it's interesting to see how some people are making positive use of the profession, and were a very meditative person to honestly tell me what he needed, I just might be happy to help. Tibetan Buddhists have a knack for making use of the most profane aspects of life for personal work.

[Andreas]

Thank you so much for what you've shared here, OpenEyes.

It's ironic that I can't even remember how I found this thread (was aimlessly browsing perhaps), but I've played around with the idea of living out of my car before. A part of me thought that was slightly crazy, but I also realized that it encourages the antithesis of materialism. When I found out that you had actually done this experiment, I was amazed.

Thanks to whoever posted the CouchSurfing.com link! That website is going to change my life, I know it. Wonderful concept...

Now that it has been a few months, where are you living now, and where do you see yourself living in 5 years?

[openeyes]

Originally Posted by Andreas

Now that it has been a few months, where are you living now, and where do you see yourself living in 5 years?

After living out of my car and then house sitting this summer, school started back and I began using my car trunk as storage again, while sleeping out in the woods instead of in my car. At first I used my tent hammock mentioned above, but I soon found that when it wasn’t raining I could comfortably just put a couple towels on the ground and cover up with a quilt if it were cold. I didn’t have to worry much about being bothered because I didn’t go out until after dark, and I was up before sunrise.

After a couple weeks I got an email from a local reporter wanting to do a story on me. I’d let some of my friends know what I was up to and apparently the story had spread. Being concerned that people might actually start looking for me if I continued sleeping outside, I moved in with a good friend who had a couple spare beds. We hang out all the time anyhow, so it works out well.

Now that I feel more comfortable with it, the local paper looks set to be doing a story on me, first it was just to cover my sleeping habits, but it’s since expanded to a number of other things I’ve been up to, and I have a cute camera girl on call for whenever I’m up to anything fun It seems people gravitate to anyone who makes a point of actually doing the things they dream about. (The first article came out today. Anyone interested can PM me and I'll send a link to it).

As for where I’ll be living in five years, unless/until I have a family I’ll likely focus on being very mobile to maximize experience. At times I may stay with friends/family, and sometimes I may actually pay rent somewhere if the place really interests me (I almost ended up staying at an organic farm for the semester, but they were just looking for women). Lately I’ve been thinking about other vehicles that I could use, from a van to a car with tinted windows, to a motorcycle, small aerobatic plane, or simply my bicycle.

The main possessions that I value are those which provide me with access to a number of experiences, such as a bike that can get me places I wouldn’t make time to walk to. It's very true that people tend to fill however much space they have. Going in the other direction, by having very little space I feel I need very little, and am quite satisfied. Best of luck in your own experiments.

[openeyes]

A local news channel did a segment on my "no house" experiment this week. Anyone that would like to check it out just send me a PM.

[Andreas]

It seems people gravitate to anyone who makes a point of actually doing the things they dream about.

Amen, brother! When we follow our dreams, we somehow give permission to others to do the same. I'm proud of you, and I haven't even met you. What are some of the main things that people need to know before they do this? And how to do this?

Thanks in advance.

[openeyes]

Originally Posted by Andreas

What are some of the main things that people need to know before they do this? And how to do this?

It can be fairly simple for starting off. If you plan on staying in your car, simply find a place you feel safe parking at night and have somewhere you can park during the day as well. If staying in a hammock, find a spot you feel comfortable setting it up, with your other possessions placed wherever they won't get wet (I always kept most everything in the car, though if you have few things and no car, a waterproof container or something with a trash bag for a liner would do).

Have enough changes of clothes to keep you clean until you wash everything (this will depending on whether you plan on washing your clothes in a sink every couple days, or take a batch to the laundromat every week or so. I do the latter.).

Have whatever toiletries you need to wash up every day or two. I place everything in a nice bag for when I walk into the gym for a shower in the morning, fitting in perfectly.

As it gets cooler, have enough layers of clothing/blankets to keep warm.

I went back to sleeping in my car a couple weeks ago, no longer being so worried about anyone seeing me. With sweatpants, socks, a coat, toboggan, and quilt, I've felt fine even as the weather falls into the low 30s. I started paying $100 per semester for a spot in a parking lot a couple miles from campus, though in the evenings I still make use of the free parking near campus. I've enjoyed having everything within reach in my car. I can drive somewhere and not worry about forgetting anything, as I essentially bring my home with me whenever I go out.

Most things you'll learn as you go. You'll find new areas you like staying, new places you can log online (or you can get a cellular card with a notebook and not worry about looking for computers), and so on. Part of the fun is getting to know your area better and becoming more resourceful. A lot of the specifics depend on your individual case, such as whether you actually need internet access, what you need to be wearing, what items you need for carrying out your daily activities and so on. In general though, none of it need be that complicated, the challenge lies in just getting started and trying it out.

My current (no) housing situation is fun as a short to medium term activity, and it provides excellent mobility, but in the long term I won't be surprised if i end up with my own comfy little house, I just don't see it as an immediate necessity.

[Andrew Brunelle]

This is a great thread. I have dreamed of doing this myself, except right now I live in Myrtle Beach and it is way too hot in the summers to be able to accomplish this. I have thought of migrating north for the summer and coming back down when it gets cooler. I love being in the woods and it gives me time to think and gives me great perspective. Keep us posted.

[James81]

I really appreciated this thread. Gave me perspective on a lot of stuff.

and sounds like something I'd like to try sometime.

[openeyes]

Originally Posted by Andrew Brunelle

Keep us posted.

A month after my last post, in mid December '07, I graduated college and went down to New Orleans to help rebuild for a while, meeting my current girlfriend in the process, and having some great hot cocoa at Cafe Du Monde. When we got back I went to help my parents for ~3 months while driving back to visit my girlfriend a lot, then coming back to my college town and being with her, then getting a job.

Elle and I occasionally go camping in my hammock and have made some road trips, by car, foot, and bicycle. We like living lightly with few expenses, still focusing on experiences more than possessions we'll have to deal with whenever we move.

I highly recommend testing in your life what you really want/need to be happy, see what possessions prove their worth, what relationships brighten your day. If something isn't helping, reclaim your energy and go on to create whatever you want to try next.

It's not necessary to always do without things. The important part is the relationship you have with yourself and your surroundings and whether you find your center within or outside of you.

for a clip of what the local college news recorded of my experience:

YouTube - Carolina Week

[CoolBee]

Wow what a fascinating challenge! When I lived in Central London, having done a bit of work with a couple of homeless charities and also gone down the old Waterloo bullring with a friend to show him that yes, there were people in London living in cardboard boxes which he refused to believe. I had this time of wondering what it would be like to be homeless, where I would go, what I would do and I used to spy out places - like the back of one of the big department stores which blew out hot air 24/7, or some of the big university buildings which had little places you could nestle in against a wall in shadow and not be noticed by casual passers by but less dangerous than shop doorways - homeless people sleeping in shop doorways in London tend to get an incredibly rough ride - either with people deliberately urinating on them or getting attacked.

You are so right - if they strip you of everything - what remains? This is the core of your being and you should accept and be happy with it. People are not their stuff.

[Angelique]

Thank you for posting this! I've thought about doing this a few times. If I do, it would probably be while living on the road, in a van. Sounds really fun.

[Thanatopsis]

Originally Posted by openeyes

for a clip of what the local college news recorded of my experience:

YouTube - Carolina Week

Inspiring. Keep up the good work!

[RagsToRiches]

Originally Posted by openeyes

Elle and I occasionally go camping in my hammock

So you got one of those hammocks?

What's it like? What brand can you reocmmend?

I'll be travelling for an extended period (Approximately a year) in europe as from this summer. Although we are planning to use hostels, hotels, friends, and other accomdation - as an emergency what do you think of throwing up an urban hammock?

We will have my car - which will hopefully last the duration

[openeyes]

Originally Posted by RagsToRiches

What's it like? What brand can you reocmmend?

In my above video you'll see me setting up my Desert Rat Hennessy Hammock. Though only for one person (the company makes two person hammocks also), it fit my needs well at the time with its built in bug screen, attached tarp, and good sale price at the time I got it. Additional insulation for colder weather is also available.

I later got a simpler, cheaper hammock from Eagles Nest Outfitters that is rated to hold at least 400 pounds and can readily hold my girlfriend and myself (we're under 300 pounds combined). Its texture feels more comfortable to me than that of the Desert Rat. The company sells bug screens and tarps to add to the hammock if/when needed, but if either are likely to be needed often I would consider the Hennessy system, particularly for setting up in the rain. If you just want a hammock for occasional use on the road in dry weather, I'd get one or two (some couples like to each have their own) of the Eagles Nests.

Originally Posted by RagsToRiches

I'll be travelling for an extended period (Approximately a year) in europe as from this summer. Although we are planning to use hostels, hotels, friends, and other accomdation - as an emergency what do you think of throwing up an urban hammock?

Rick Steves wrote a good article on camping through Europe, both at formal campgrounds, which can be found in or near most every city, since that's how many Europeans themselves vacation (just google city name+ camping, such as Paris camping), and informal camping:

Rick Steves' Europe: Camping European Style

"Free camping: Informal camping, or "camping wild," is legal in most of Europe. Low-profile, pitch-the-tent-after-dark-and-move-on-first-thing-in-the-morning free camping is usually allowed even in countries where it is technically illegal. Use common sense, and don't pitch your tent informally in carefully controlled areas such as cities and resorts. It's a good idea to ask permission when possible. In the countryside, a landowner will rarely refuse a polite request to borrow a patch of land for the night. Formal camping is safer than free camping. Never leave your gear and tent unattended without the gates of a formal campground to discourage thieves."

[RagsToRiches]

Hi Openeyes,

Thanks for that information and the link, that is extremely useful.