Being Home-less vs BEing Homeless

Ok, it’s time for me to make a distinction about my trip. When I explain to people what I’m doing, they often have this view of me as a homeless man. You know, like I’m going to be sleeping outside, showering infrequently, and scouring the dumpster for my meals.

I can understand why people think that, because most people we see hitch hiking might fit that description. So, when I say that I’m going hitchhiking around the country, it’s normal for people to associate my experience with their existing views of hitchhiking.

However, I do not plan on living like a stereotypical homeless person. It’s true that I will be homeless, but I won’t be living the homeless lifestyle. I will be sleeping indoors at different people’s homes on my trip. I plan to never sleep outside, unless it’s great weather and I decide to sleep on the beach or something for fun. I’ll eat normal food, and I won’t be scrounging around looking for food in dumpsters. Also, I’ll take a shower every single day, and I’ll be dressed normal and be clean-shaven every day. So, if you think I’m going to grow out a beard, put my possessions in a shopping cart, and have plastic bags that I put all my stuff in, you’re wrong.

I think this perception that people have also translates over into their concern that I’m going to get mugged and what not. Just because I’m homeless, doesn’t mean I’m going to go walking around the slums of the city. No, I’d rather like to avoid the trashy places, because getting robbed doesn’t sound like it would be that fun. I’m still going to be very practical-minded, and I’m not going to put myself in awkward situations or places. So, no, I’m not going to go hang out in East LA or wherever.

Since the purpose of this trip is to find out what I’d like to do with my life, what kind of people do you think I would like to hang out with? Well, I would like to explore jobs that I have an interest in and that seem like I might enjoy them. That means, I’ll be jobshadowing educated people in well-respected occupations. No, I’m not going to go with somebody to McDonalds and see how flipping burgers really is.

Now, I know that some of you might be thinking that I can have all the hope in the world, but that I still need to prepare myself for whatever situation I can find myself in. I agree, to a small extent. I think if I accept certain situations as options, like, sleeping outside, then I will find myself sleeping outside once in a while. But, if I refuse to accept that as an option, then I will never do it. I will be in complete control of what I do on this trip, based upon what I’m willing to do. Maybe it’s more fun to picture me as a smelly, dirty homeless person. Sorry folks, it’s not gonna happen.

Hitchhiking

Well, I have officially moved out of the Big Tan today and into my car. I put all remaining possessions of mine into my car, and thought that I wanted to live out of it. However, when I was talking to my friend Aaron Haslam, I realized the danger of using my car since it isn’t registered. I can’t afford to get a ticket at this time, so, I better not drive it around and park it on the street. It looks like I’ll be getting some practice this week in the art of hitchhiking. I borrowed a backpack from Aaron, and I’ll just try to leave my car in the parking lot of my old house, and make my way around town by getting rides from people.

I consulted Seth about his methods for hitchhiking, and he gave me some pretty good ideas. He said it is better to just go to a gas station and ask for rides, rather than sticking your thumb up by an exit. That’s what I was pretty much planning on doing anyway for my trip, but, it was nice to hear my plan confirmed. Also, for hitchhiking around a city, he said he just waves down cars and asks for rides. I tried it twice today, and it seemed to work just fine. The second guy I got a ride from told me that I should bring mace or something on my trip because of the danger of hitch hiking. It’s interesting, because I’ve always disregarded the worries that people have about hitchhiking, but, I wonder if some of those concerns are more legitimate than I’m making them out to be. So, I decided I’d like to make a study of documented incidences that have happened as a result of hitchhiking. So, if any of you can find any news stories or anything on the subject, please bring them to my attention. Just go ahead and post them in comments about this post.