I Didn't Know it was a Thing

 Living out of, or in one's car is apparently a thing. Michael Lawrence, otherwise known as Marmalade Outdoors has a YouTube channel giving advice to those who must or choose to live in their cars.  He has a 2020 Ford Escape that is his "home."  His most recent advice was to have a gym membership for which he pays one dollar a day, or what is $30 a month.  He says to join a gym that is open 24 hours, so one can have one more place on one's rotation.  

His advice is to be sure one has a postal box.  He says in this day and age most anyone can find themselves homeless.  So, his channel caters to those who for whatever reason find themselves homeless.  The article I read didn't say how many followers he has on YouTube but I would imagine his videos get millions  of views as he gives advice to those people.  The thing is that most homeless have some money.  But they can't find an affordable place to live. 

I have more to say about this in tomorrow's post.  Many of these people might work remotely and have some income, but they have been forced into homelessness by not finding affordable housing.  Some homeless might be on SSI or have at least some income.  Some just find it cheapest in choosing to live out of their cars.  

But he says, a 24-hour gym gives access to showers and sometimes a locker for some stuff.  He says that one dollar a day is your best money spent.  Just don't think the homeless who live out of cars are just broke.  Often they're not.  They just can't afford a place on their own.  Some make just enough to get by.  But more often than not their stories are heart-wrenching.  

But I didn't know that giving advice to those who live in their cars was a thing, but evidently this young man is not all that rare.  Often a worker at Starbuck's can make enough to pay car expenses, insurance, cell phones, etc., but they just can't afford rent.  Or perhaps they just can't make enough to pay the fees, etc.   The homeless is a crisis that affects all of us.  He says too that a post office box is a must.  But finding a safe place overnight is the most difficult part.  So he just goes from each 24-hour gym parking lots each night.  

I would be happy as long as I have a place where I can smoke my pipes.  But the stresses of homelessness could kill me.  After almost 50 years of marriage I told my wife I'm not sure I could live without her.  But she says I would manage and I probably would.  But I try not to think about it.  Every place we have been, I've been able to at least smoke my pipes.  Some people on retirement incomes buy an RV.  Some buy tiny homes.  Not many live out of their cars.  

Most do what they have to do to survive.  Some keep buying smaller places to live.  I would say that warmer climate helps those who have to live out of cars.  Cold weather is not conducive to living on the streets.  But I know some  homeless make more from handouts that many people earn from an honest living.  Well, today I am comfortable on our lanai smoking my Peterson Sherlock Holmes pipe with Autumn Evening.  My wife asked me if this is my only tobacco.  It is until later today.  Tomorrow it should be something different.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave