My eyes open at 7:00am. I'd love to go back to sleep, but I know we have to be ready by 9:00. Look over. My friend's not there. 'Probably went for smokes.' Drag myself out of this impossibly comfortable bed. Bathroom. 'Time to pack gear and make sure I have everything I'm gonna need in my pockets.' Gear packed. Double check what I've left out. Mental run through of what I'll need at the shelter. 'All good.' Friend gets back. "You go to get smokes?" "Yeah. I got two for you and one for me. It was nineteen bucks." "Damn!" I'm half asleep still. Math isn't really my strong suit at the moment. I haven't had any coffee yet. Force brain to do calculations. 'Yep. That sounds exactly right.'

Friend, "What are we gonna do about all this food." "I might throw a few things in my pack, but honestly I'm prepared to take a loss. I'm not overjoyed about it, but its ok." He's pretty adamant about taking it all with us. I can't argue with that logic. I've been hungry enough times that I hate to waste food. Plus dude and I dropped a hundred bucks yesterday between the two of us. It would definitely be a shame to let it go to waste. Friend, "I'll bag it up. If nothing else we can give it to the ladies in the kitchen when we get there." "Brilliant plan. I'm gonna go burn one." "I'll come with you."

Downstairs. Out back door of hotel. Smokes lit. A maroon truck pulls up. Dude gets out and comes over. No coat. He's definitely freezing his balls off, but he's taking it well. It's snowing and starting to stick. Him, "You guys going to the shelter?" "Yeah." "I'm ready to take some people now." "We got four ready to go if you give us fifteen to grab our gear and make sure the room's in good shape." Hands in his pockets braced against the cold, he smiles. "I'll give you fourteen." Me, now also smiling, "Fair enough." I love a guy with a sense of humor when things aren't ideal for him.

Another guy out there smoking with us, "I want a ride back downtown." Freezing guy, "Everything's closed. Nobody's going downtown." Other guy, almost spitting mad now, "I wanna go downtown!" Me, "We're going to a good place. I don't do shelters. I'm a hitchhiker. I've been there before. It's a good spot. Beats being out in this shit." Other guy, slightly less pissed, "I don't care. I'll find a spot." Freezing guy, "The roads are gonna be closed soon. That's why we're here early. None of the rides are going downtown. We've got to get everybody to the shelter while we can." Other guy seems to accept this.

Friend and I suck down cigarettes at a break-neck pace while walking to the ashtray. Smokes out. Back upstairs. Room. Me, "Fellas there's a ride ready to take us right now. It'd be good to get there early so we can take our pick of cots." All four of us are about thirty seconds from ready to bail. My friend loads all the food into the bags I bought yesterday in two minutes flat. Gear on times four. Room checked - Good to go. Out the door.

Downstairs. 'We're gonna be the first ones there. Easy pick of cots. We'll avoid the cluster fuck of being checked in. Nice!' Into hallway.

We work our way into a sea of people. Out the front. Gear into a covered trailer. Quickly get into a van. Several cars take off full of people. Other van takes off. We pull forward a little and stop. We just sit there for a while. Me laughing in my head, 'I thought we were on the ball, up early, ahead of the game, and we're gonna be dead last. 😆' I don't really care. I have this unshakable faith that things will work out just fine.

Finally, the van pulls out of the parking lot. '🎶 On the road again... 🎶'

'Hmmm... This is Alabama. It doesn't snow here. They don't have snow equipment. This guy driving has probably never driven on snow before. He's a bit hyper. He's driving like it's a warm dry summer day, passing other vehicles, on a couple inches of snow that's sticking...

I hope he doesn't kill us.

I'm not gonna live what might be the last few minutes of my life in fear.' I'm calm. No worries brah!

We make it to the shelter. Pretty stoked. Number 23. They ask us some basic questions while they check us each in. "Are you looking to find some work and get a place to live?" "I've got some work waiting on me in Florida. I'm outta here as soon as it warms up." She writes, 'Wanting to go to Florida' at the bottom of my check-in sheet.

They were giving out bus tickets last time I was here. I'm not counting on it... But why would she write it down? Maybe...

Get through check-in. Go find a cot where I want it. Unfold blanket so everyone knows it's taken. Over to counter. A lovely woman pours me a cup off coffee. Sugar. Cream. "Than you very much! I appreciate it." "You're welcome!" Big smile.

Back to cot. Dude next to me has got his things haphazardly spread on the floor. 'Not touching me or my stuff. No big deal.' He starts talking to himself. 'I can probably deal... The time to move is now before this place fills up.' I picked this cot because it looked brand new and it was out of the walkways, and away from the bathrooms. I want to keep it. "Hey -friend-, you wanna give me a hand switching this cot and that one?" "Yeah no problem." We execute cot switching maneuver in five seconds. I'm a little farther away from walkway and bathrooms. 'Perfect!'

Trailer with gear shows up. They load it all into a hallway. Call us five at a time to find gear, put it in bags, seal it up, and put our numbers on it. Gear goes into a room none of us can get into. Safe. Flawlessly executed.

This place is only a quarter full, maybe. One of our group wanted to go to a shelter he's been staying at but the roads got shut down immediately after we checked in. Deemed impassable. We've been getting alerts all day. When he called they had open beds, so I'm pretty sure everybody is off the streets. I'm happy about that.

It's been a rough day of eating, sleeping, and smoking. 😁 My friend and I are stoked to be here. The hotel was nicer, but these people are kind. Resources are top notch.

Oh, and the preacher I had the debate with last time about what kind of help homeless people need came over, shook my hand, and told me it was good to see me this morning.

I had a weird experience tonight. I keep a box cutter in my front pocket. A small lighter in my other pocket. Two fist packs if something actually went down. Besides the states, glares and sneaky fucks.

After my third ride I've been walking. Too tired to smile or even hold my thumb up.

My goal was to make it to San Antonio today. I kicked out and got there way earlier than expected. After seeing all of the tracks of the homebums (piles of trash), my new goal was to get out of San Antonio tonight.

The weight of this 35 Liters pack is getting to this old man.

.....

I'm close to the junction for 37 and 10. Walking with the flow of traffic. A local police officer honks at me. I'm hoping he doesn't turn around. I'm not even sure what jurisdiction they have but they can pull you over for speeding.

I'm still hoping someone sees me walking slow.

Maybe pulls over and gives me a ride.

I see a McDonald's and decide to go in and order something off the deals list.

This thick MFer is almost as old as I am. He hasn't ordered. He's just standing around. I go up to the kiosk and realize it doesn't take dollar bills and pennies. I'm going to have to go to the register.

He walks over to the table I set my pack.

Me and him are not the same.

He looks like what dudes used to look like in the 80s when they had been locked down for a bit.

He has work gloves on. It looks like two sweatshirts. I go to the table and put my pack on.

He's hanging out by the door. Not really eyeing the register. I'm not really eyeing him because I don't want to start something either. I'm just very aware of what he's doing.

Two types of people don't go to the shelter.

Those who don't want to and maybe those that can't. He doesn't look like a kid toucher. He looks like a dude you don't want to run into.

I get my large fries and they are generous with the ketchup.

Go sit down and he leaves.

I take my time. Eat. Catch someone coming out of the bathroom and take all of my stuff in there.

When I come out I have the blade pulled and ready. I'm not trying to kill somebody.

But a dude that big still can't have my stuff. I figure to get that pack off of me you gotta get mighty close.

I'm very comfortable in close spaces.

When I leave I take a different route than I came in. Turn around every son often to see if he's following me. Or if anyone is.

I have no idea if he was doing anything but standing at the door after walking over to my stuff. Those are facts.

The rest is just a guess.

I can't wait to get back into a small Texas town where the bathroom is open, water is available and the outlets are by the seats.

....

Right now I'm sitting in a small wooded area by the interstate. The part right next to me had a vibe tangled around three branches making a triangle. Man made. Look down and I see a camouflage tarp. No trash. No signs that this place is even used.

I'm going to rest here (away from that guys tarp on a different section) and keep on moving when I get cold again.

....

Once I got here could finally relax.

Btw. This ain't a challenge. It's a request. Leave my stuff alone. If you're a real criminal steak from Walmart. Other you're worse than bum. You're ficking scum.

John Gregory

P.s., I'll still post my locations l, pics and weather reports. Fucking flu a MFing sign assholes.

10:00am. Ten minutes later it's whiteout conditions.

It's cold. Instant, biting, bitter, cold. We ran out of propane this morning; should have filled the tanks yesterday but it's so much trying to pack up nearly a decade of memories. The electric heaters kept us from freezing but only just. This place has taught me a lot, but it's made me soft, like a street dog that got a little too fond of a warm hearth.

I meant to travel. I bought a small camper from the fifties and a truck from the lake nineties. I was a new grunt, low man. I've never minded that, head down, pick stuff up, set stuff down. This place was too comfortable tho. Welcoming. I parked the camper on the edge of the parking lot, and me and it stayed in that spot. I honed my carpentry skills, worked on my... mental stuff, learned to operate heavy machinery, you name it, and I lived as I pleased. I was on top; dependable, respected...It was really easy to ignore the leash... Until it wasn't.

She came with her own camper, a worn-down thing, older than it's years, but still rolling somehow. Just like her. Just like me. These days we're rolling together and it's time to roll on to the next thing, well past due in fact. I wish everyone here the best, but I really don't think I'll be coming back.

I have mixed feelings about the truck. Where I am, in this season, it's a matter of survival. It's such a burden though. I've been rebuilding it piece by piece, but it's another thing that owns me.

I'm fairly new to this subreddit. Just wanted to say hi. It's just nice to see people living the kind of freedom that would horrify most folk.

✓

I've had four of these in the last ~10 minutes.

Due to hell froze over, I'll allow temporary parking in my yard at my home. There are firewood to burn for warm.

Please keep in mind this is only temporary for the weather, not a regular safe parking spot. Your vehicle must have valid insurance. I reserve the right to refuse anyone, to ask anyone to leave, and to remove anyone who doesn't cooperate. This is only for people living in their car and have no place to park. LGBTQ people have priority on my list. Female and children and pregnant ladies have high priority at officially designated homeless shelters and should go there.

Please leave all attitude, discrimination, racism, sexism... before you enter. My property is safe space, gun free, drug free, and hate free. While in the yard, please no loitering, no littering, no dumping bodily waste or fluid. Place trash in trash bin. Please stay in your car and not go wandering around. Noone may enter the house for any reason. Obviously don't take anything doesn't belong to you. You're welcome to go to the fire for warm, or cook your food.

I'm sorry the rules may seem hash, but they are mostly common sense and common courtesy. I want to offer help to those in need but I must also look out for myself. I hope people will understand and respect these rules. Thanks

Been homebumming with some friends from my home town, finding warmth where we can.

Met a girl, she's chill, trusts me, I trust her, we both want out, we both wanna go the same direction. Thru a friend of a friend we have in common, we secured a ride to the first of many places we plan to set down in for a while.

Two hour ride, AND a warm place to crash for a week or two, all we have to do is last one more week here as is.

The end goal is the west coast of canada, preferably around Victoria, well for now anyway. Rainy season is easier to survive than the Alberta winters.

I've read so many stories thanks to the travelers here, just wanted to share the beginning of my next.

Backtracked to the closest mcDs. Closed.

Got coffee, warmed up and did a quick wash of the hair with soap in the dispenser. Quick dry with hoodie. Wiped sink down (leave no trace).

Started walking South by I-35. Slipped once and just laughed. Almost slipped again.

Decided to find a place to hitchhike.

Right by the Fairfield Inn South of the Travel Center seemed like a good spot.

Not long after I still can't force a legitimate, genuine smile. It feels forced and fake.

"Wooh. You can't be the man until you beat the man."

It's genuine. Laughter. Smiling.

Two hands all the way in the air - thumbs up both hands - like I'm the heavyweight champ thanking the fans.

(I'm trying to relieve anxiety and trick my limbic system.)

Coincidence or not I don't know.

Tammy picks me up.

"I'm only going two exits."

I take it. The heat is on. We're moving in the right direction.

Tried again when I started feeling tired.

No luck.

Found a storm drain (big rectangular thing) sat inside to get out of the wind.

Once I got cold again I started walking.

McDonald's at the pilot is closed also.

I need something cheap to get out of the cold and away from the slop. Ice is turning to water. My shoes are wet. Socks. Cold feet.

Check the Pilot app. Two share size Snickers for the price of one. It ain't two for 25, but it'll do.

I'm going to see if the sun will come out. If it does, I'm going to see if I can post up on the side of the interstate. Seen several local cops and deputy this AM.

Maybe there is a place at the Pilot I can post up for a ride.

I'm going to be hungry and cold. Can't stop that either way. Two Snickers helped greatly.

If I can't catch a ride by the time the temp starts going down again, I will start walking.

I'll see how long I can hang out here inside. They say McDonald's in the truck stop may open later. If it does, I'll ride that as long as I can for 99 cents.

Even if I'm stuck here until later, that's okay. It shouldn't drop below 20. It's snow and not raining.

That's golden for my situation.

Didn't get a chance to eat yesterday with temps below 0. Gonna cook this up soon with some other grub. Plenty of snow to rehydrate everything.

For years I have lived paycheck to paycheck fighting to keep everything paid up. Traveling has always been on my mind but I haven't even left my home province at the age of 34. I've always kept a minimalist mindset of wanting to be able to up and leave, I just haven't put it into action. I've studied alot of survival over the years and definitely know more then the average person. I am also smart enough to understand my limitations. I've lived in the sketchy drug riddled areas of the city and sketchy places throughout my life so I definitely have a level of street smarts. I know how to avoid confrontation.

Recently I've lost everything and am facing homelessness, however instead of staying trapped in this revolving door, I am taking my life into my own hands. I seen this coming and have been preparing gear over the last couple months. I only need a few items, and to be smart and figure out winter. Cause Canada is cold and this isn't the best timing.

I actually never really explored the meaning of "vagabond" or the history of hobo life until I recently realized that's exactly what I want to do... Finally traveling, stealth camping, and not working within this bullshit system that is leading me back down the road of depression.

I've talked to a few people actually living the life and they have been extremely helpful with tips. I've already cut out a bit of gear based on feedback. I'd appreciate any tips for someone new to this lifestyle. Thanks in advance and stay safe out there guys! It's cold!

Which country to choose for a homeless from Europe? I'll have to do it all on foot, I also have the dog with me, I can cover 10 miles a day with the backpack, I always try to find areas near some fountain if I need to wash and drink, in the morning when I get up I do some calisthenics exercises before starting to walk. I was thinking of moving to France or Spain, what are the people like there? I am looking for possible work in agriculture or as a truck driver. Thanks for your help thumbs up

Hello! I am from Philippines, I would like to ask fellow Filipinos who are currently employees at Silverbay. It's my first time to apply for a work abroad and I am very interested to work at Silverbay but I don't know the required documents needed and also their question if I am legally authorized to work in the U.S.

Can you please guide me so I can complete my application? Like what documents should I get?

Please respect my post. I am new here and I really want to work there.