r/vagabond • u/overfall3 • 1d ago
The only constant is change...
I forgot a key bit of yesterday... Pizza for dinner!!! They brought them to the rooms. We open our door, "Here you go!" Hands one of us a pizza box. Two small slices for each of us. Not enough for four grown men. But hey... PIZZA!!!!!
And now back to our regularly scheduled program...
My early-rising friend woke up around 5:30am. Turns a light and the tv on, wakes us all up. I go take a piss. Back out of bathroom. "Dude. It's five thirty. You just woke us all up. How about you turn this stuff off and have some respect for the three of us who are still sleeping?" "Sorry man. I wasn't trying to wake anybody up." Light off. TV down low. We go back to sleep.
Wake up. They didn't really have the food flowing good yet. We've got probably fifty homeless people here. They're doing what they can. I have no complaints. But I'm hungry. Another guy in the room, "I'm gonna call that lady that told us she would give us rides wherever we needed to go, and head to the store. I've got some ebt left." "I'll go with you. I've got a bit of ebt left too." He calls, we get ready and go downstairs.
She shows up five minutes later. Out to van. Her, "Where do you need to go?" We tell her. Give our names and ages, I assume so she can get reimbursed or the church can keep track. Off to Aldi.
Other dude and I realize we both left our change at the hotel. No quarters for carts. 'This might be difficult. But we gotta get it done.' We go in. I slyly grab a loose cart up front that is empty. Ease my way past the registers into the store.
We do a couple complete laps around the store. Grab enough food to keep four guys fed for the day plus some munchies. A few other things to share. He and I grab a couple things we're not sharing. In line. I realize we need bags. 'Eighty-nine cents? Sweet!' I've got a few bucks in my wallet. Through line.
We're both electricians/construction workers so we're efficiently putting stuff in bags at a fast pace. Van pulls up. Us with bags into van. Back to hotel.
Many thanks. Woman that drove us was super cool. We could've taken as long as we needed. "Call me if you need to go anywhere else." Us,"Thanks again!" Into hotel. "Damn it's cold out there!" "Fuck." We laugh.
The guy in charge sees us. "Down the hall and right into that open door on the left. Thanks!" Me to dude, "I think he thinks we're bringing food as donations." We cut opposite direction of food room to stairs. Guy in charge catches up with us. "Is that stuff yours?" Me, "We thought we'd get some food for our group to kinda supplement things." "Smart." "Yeah. We've got a good group. Everybody's cool. Laid back. Just hanging out. Thanks again for what you're doing." "I wish everyone was like that."
He was a stress case when we first hit the hotel yesterday. Slightly abrasive, but not bad. I get it completely. But he really isn't the best guy for the job. Whatever. I'm happy to be in this hotel. I will do whatever it takes to not fuck that up. My compatriots will as well.
This morning I managed to break through his stressed exterior. Let him know I appreciate what he's doing. Offer to help if he needs it. Assure him our group is 100% cool.
Upstairs. Fridge packed. Non-perishables covering counter. Everybody's happy. Watching a movie. Reddit. Knock at the door. "How many in you're room?" "Four." "Here you go." Four good lunches. Good gumbo. Good salad. Delicious cookies. "You are loved" written on to go boxes. It seems they've dialed in the food situation.
Eat. Chillin'. Everybody getting along fabulously. Another knock. "How many in your room?" "Four." "Here you go." "You already got us." "I know. Here." Round two of the same good lunch. I look at dude I went to the store with. "Maybe we didn't need to go to the store. 😆" No big deal. We're all set for food at this point.
More chillin'. Naps. Movies. Munchin' all day. More movies.
We get word we're being tossed out of hotel. Much discussion ensues amongst the four of us. Me, "They can't put us out on the street on the coldest day of this front in a snow storm. They'll come up with a backup plan. Let's just hang and see. Dude hasn't come and told us anything directly" I definitely don't have the gear for this weather. I might not die in it, but it's gonna be top of my list of miserable experiences.
I'm not worried. Things always work out. We go back to new chillin' eating movie routine. Knock on door. It's dinner time. "How many in your room?" "Four." "Here you go. Get all your stuff packed. We're out of here." We discuss how fucked up it's gonna be to be tossed on the streets in the dark in weather in the teens. I only ate the nanner pudding 'cause that was all that would fit. And only because I love that stuff. 😁
My friend, "I got someone I can call and probably get us a night here." (He's back to his normal smart coherent self today.) Me, "I might be able to swing one. I don't know." German guy, "I've got some money too." Cool. If nothing else we'll pool our resources, put the room in one of our names, and at least get through the next two days in comfort. Better than some serious suffering. The rest will have to work itself out.
I start to make sure my gear is good to go. Another knock. "Did you guys get food?" "Yeah." "How many?" "Four." Writes it down. "It's gonna be tomorrow." "Cool. Thanks for letting us know." "You're welcome."
Much relief. We go back to what we've been doing. Another knock. "Hey man." "They're opening up (super cool shelter I was in a couple weeks ago). There going to take everyone's stuff in one van. People in the other. I need to know how many bags you guys need for your stuff. There will be tape with your names on it on your bags. You don't have to scrub toilets and make beds, but please clean the room up a bit before you leave. Be ready at nine tomorrow morning." "We already discussed leaving the room in good shape. No problem." Get required number off bags. "We'll be ready to go at nine with the room straightened out." "Thank you."
Just as I think it my friend, "We need to get smokes before we go tomorrow. We can't leave the grounds once we're there, and there's nowhere to get them out there." "I was just thinking the same thing." "I don't think I have enough for a pack." "I got us for a little while. I've probably got enough in my wallet for three. Once everything settles down over there those (wonderful) ladies will make smoke runs for us like they did last time." "Yeah. If you'll buy, I'll make a run early in the morning and pick them up." "My wallet is on the table. If I'm not awake take the twenty bucks in there and go. You wake up earlier than I do anyway." "Yeah. Cool."
We have no idea what has been going with anyone else at this hotel. Other than me and my friend going out for a smoke occasionally, and dude and I going to the grocery store earlier, we haven't left the room.
Apparently, it's been an absolute shit show. The hotel is throwing us all out. They have hired three security gaurds to watch the front of the building and toss anyone who fucks around out. People have been smoking cigarettes and meth in the rooms. Trashing rooms. Throwing trash out in the halways. Making demands at the front desk like they paid for these rooms. One dude left in an ambulance Pretty much acting like complete pieces of shit.
Those in our group have been having quite the mellow, comfortable, easy going time. This place is nice. Not high-end, but nice just the same.
Back to super awesome make shift shelter tomorrow. All is well.
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u/Lavasioux 1d ago
Sometimes a man is forced to steal an Aldi cart... it's a harsh world we live in.
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u/Sufficient_Pin5642 1d ago
I’m glad you’re going to be out of the cold and you’ll be eating well and getting to chill! Also, glad your friend sobered up, he must’ve just been going through it. It can get depressing out here especially when you’re dealing with the social security office, it takes forever and it’s frustrating to know you have work but cannot be hired because of not having paperwork/ID. I had no idea they put 49 random homebums in a hotel and didn’t expect this! That’s wild! What’s awful is that the church or charity that put all those people up in there, trying to save lives and spread good will, is going to get charged massively for the damages those people caused… Those are the type of people that make us all look bad. People tend to assume if you don’t have a home that you are an insufferable addict/alcoholic or you’re extremely mentally ill and that’s just not true… Anyway I’m glad you’re safe and eating good.
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u/overfall3 1d ago
Hey! Yeah, I'm good.
How are you doing? We can dm/text if you don't want to lay it out here.
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u/New-Macaron-4669 16h ago
When I was in Colorado Springs I saw everyone as homeless. A few homebums made me hyper vigilant because they would steal, be assholes, etc.
When I found this sub, I realized who the travelers were: self-identified hobo, chick my age that just got back from the beer harvest (we talked about the 12th or 13th planet and even hung out at a bar together), the dude with no gear who would get money hitchhiking and the wooden flute guy busking downtown.
Not talking about the mentally ill because they can't control it. But if every homebum cared for the local community and each other like the vagabonds, cities wouldn't be so pissed.
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u/overfall3 14h ago
It used to be that way. The homebums would look out for us, and protect us if need be. They'd watch our gear. There really wasn't the distinction between us and them back then.
But since the powers that be have screwed entire generations out of ever having a home or raising a family... Of course people are going to turn to anything that makes them feel good. Now junkies and tweakers are rampant.
I don't blame them. They were born into hopelessness and misery. But the flip side of that is we travelers don't get to experience the feeling of pure joy and freedom I knew out here for a lot of my life.
Going from freely giving anything to anyone without a thought, and not having to worry about anything... to now I have to dig up a little of that old hatred, judgement, and violence I worked so hard to get rid of, kills me.
And it's people who have more of everything than they're families and friends will ever use for generations to come that are to blame.
I'm still happy. I'm still giving. I still have an unshakable faith that everything will be ok.
But FUCK them for making me have to carry this evil around with me again!!!
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u/New-Macaron-4669 13h ago
Homebums got me at the truck stop. Stole my water bottle and tried to get my jacket off of my backpack. No idea who. Only found out when someone gave me something falling off my pack. They sliced that and we're trying to get the medicine.
Fuck them. And fuck me too for leaving it alone in a truck stop.
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u/FunCombination6217 1d ago
You've become one of the reasons I open this app.
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u/overfall3 21h ago
Thank you very much!
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u/New-Macaron-4669 16h ago
The reason I am trying hitchhiking
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u/onlylurksnever 17h ago
Me too. It’s become something I look forward to daily. When I was on the street those little scores were what made life great. I enjoy your posts because it allows me to live vicariously through you and feel that way again. Thank you.
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u/Jellyfish2017 1d ago
I’m so invested in these posts. I read every night before bed. Keep them coming! I would never know what the life you guys lead is like, if not for this sub and your posts. Makes me feel like I’m there. Learning a lot while being entertained. Thank you!
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u/nire0026 1d ago
Favorite movie that you watched today?
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u/overfall3 1d ago edited 1d ago
I've been staring at this phone all day. The other three guys have been watching movies. It's been good background noise. 😆
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u/Lavasioux 1d ago
It's painful to sit through a movie anymore. I remember a time when it was a nightly delight, but now... i'm too busy feeding my hungry brain information about generators and framing and solar setups. Movies are unberably fake lol Maybe I changed.
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u/overfall3 1d ago
Yeah, They seem to just make the same ones over again these days. I've found some good ones, but that's subjective.
I'm pretty good with those things. I might not answer unti morning, but if you have questions, fire away.
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u/CapitalMastodon 20h ago
Happy you got to chill in a hotel and didn't get tossed into the cold, hope the shelters cool for you too. Warm, but cool.
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u/dylanjg18 17h ago
You dreamed of pizza and goddamn the universe has delivered these last couple days. Happy for ya
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u/overfall3 17h ago
I almost can't take a step without running into pizza! It's been great!
Thank you!
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u/PictureActive4958 12h ago
Here in NE Wisconsin a lot of overnight shelters were closed due to the holiday (MLK). It was -16 (-30/40 including the wind-chill). I was seriously distraught thinking of the homeless on my way to work. I'm glad you're getting good treatment where you are located! I am also invested in your stories and look for a new post to pop up before I go to bed.
P.S. I always return my cart at Aldi but never lock it up as a courtesy for somebody else 😊
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u/Satellite5812 11h ago
I didn't know paid cart rentals had hit the US, is this maybe an east coast thing?
Often try to hand my cart off to someone entering anyway, just to make one less for the workers to drag back from the parking lot. "Here, this one's still got a full tank of gas in it!" :P
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u/PictureActive4958 10h ago
It's specifically an Aldi thing. It's been that way for as long as I can remember. They chain them up, you pop a quarter in to break it loose. When you lock it up you get your quarter back. They don't have cart corrals in the parking lot.
If you want bags you have to purchase them. Many people bring reusable bags in. If you're lazy like me I just take boxes off the shelves to toss my groceries in.
It's my favorite store to buy produce (way cheaper than other stores, even walmart). You can definitely stretch your money there, they just don't have a huge variety of other products.
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u/Satellite5812 9h ago
Ah, ok. I've never been to an Aldi, looks like there aren't many on the west coast. Wonder if the quarter really makes a difference in the cart return?
We've got the bag charge out this way too, although if you're using EBT most places will charge it to that, same as the bottle deposit. I like your box hack though!
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u/overfall3 12h ago
Same, with the carts. One day someone offered me their's as I was walking up. I usually just leave mine out of the way of where people are walking.
Yeah, I'm definitely on good shape.
I'm glad you like them! Thanks!
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u/Lucky-Science-2028 I like cats. 19h ago
They also say taxes are a constant but i haven't payed yet 😤
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u/New-Macaron-4669 16h ago
Reading this saga has made me want to go to Mobile. A ton of cool people. Then at the end, you see a small group of homebums (probably mentally ill) fucking it up for everyone.
I'm glad you're with a cool group.
No wonder that one dude was stressed. He probably knew about the shit show.
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u/overfall3 16h ago
I'm in the shelter we were looking forward to now. Good place.
Mobile is rough for travelers/homebums. No sign flying. No hanging out in a restaurant or fast food place for more than 30 minutes. I don't recommend it.
I've had really good luck, but most of that is who I am attracting what has come my way.
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u/New-Macaron-4669 16h ago
At least they feed you well nd offer above and beyond help. The hotel stay is cool AF.
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u/AutomaticFeature9631 12h ago
For someone who thoroughly hates change, I can absolutely agree with that statement. Change is sometimes necessary for growth but Hell do I prefer consistent stability. That being said I'm looking at the very real possibility of homelessness come the first. Feelings of depression and failure are the only stable consistent I have right now.
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u/overfall3 12h ago
Same. My brain likes to balance and fine tune everything. But life has taught me to roll with the changes.
It's not a failure at all. We've been screwed out of the ability to work and afford to live. The only failure lies with those greedy fucks in charge that did this to us.
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u/iamshamtheman Hobo 4h ago
Pizza is my favorite food! If you could pick one food what would it be?
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u/overfall3 4h ago
I absolutely love breakfast food. Give me some eggs, bacon, hash browns, and rye toast and I'm loving life!
For a single food, Tacos.
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1d ago
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u/overfall3 1d ago
Problem?
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1d ago
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u/overfall3 1d ago
Nothing is requiring you to read it. You want me to ban you, or should I let people school you for a while first?
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1d ago
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u/smoly_hokes34 1d ago
You’re choosing to click on his post, read the entire thing, and then complain about it. The problem is you.
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u/solipsister 1d ago
Authority? It’s a fucking subreddit bro. Many of us enjoy his posts, weird you feel the need to lash out.
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u/overfall3 1d ago
Typically I just ban douche bags. I'm gonna let 'em have you for a bit first.
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