Living Car Free - Living Car-free and Home-free!

I am doing an experiment for the next six months on living homeless on a bike. This thread would be a bit of a combination of the touring and living car-free threads. I realize homelessness is highly stigmatized but I think it would be an interested thread to read about and see if anyone else is doing this. I just graduated with a degree in Anthropology and am shipping out to the Peace Corps in January. On August 15th I am required to move out of my college dorm and do not really see the point in renting an apartment for 5 1/2 months when I am just going to leave for the next 2 1/2 years and have to sell most of my stuff anyways. Yes, I could rent out a room somewhere but I am planning on have a job during this time and just want to save as much money as possible so I can do some backpacking/touring is Asia. Anyone els ever lived out of/off of their bikes? Do you couch surf, camp, homeless shelters, stealth camp? Tell us about being car and home free!

squat punx.

Living homeless you may get lessons in humanity that you wish you hadn't.

Becareful in this endevor!:eek:

kick ass. Go for it. Not for the weak brother!

GOOD LUCK!

Like I said being "homeless" is highly stigmatized and thought of as "dangerous" when its really not. Think of it as a 6 month tour but your staying in roughly the same area, just moving around within it.

I wouldn't do this if I were you, but I'm not you. Good luck, and don't be afraid to bail and stay with friends if it starts to suck too much to deal with.

And do be very careful about your safety. I used to work with homeless vets, and homelessness is not just about not having a roof over your head. If you're perceived as homeless, middle-class type people will do everything they can to pretend you're invisible, including totally ignoring you if you try to talk to them. More to the point, some homeless people, due to the rigors of the lifestyle and the nature of their personalities, tend to be pretty predatory, especially towards other homeless. This is probably not an issue for you, given your situation, but stay away from places where "real" homeless people go, and do everything you can to make yourself look well-groomed and prosperous. Leaving urban areas and moving around among state parks, etc., might be a good choice.

not sure where you'll be spending the time, but if you're in a place as cold as Seattle is in December, be careful. A well-prepared person will do fine in the cold but if you aren't prepared, it's a serious hazard.

Extended bike tour does sount fun, though.

I spent 6 months homeless, and it sucks. 3 months on a 'walkabout' between HS graduation and starting college, then 3 months again after I graduated college (although I was employed, so I was able to sleep in my office a couple days a week at the grace of my boss.) I don't suggest it for anyone. Don't be homeless unless you have to. Shelters are horrible 99% of the time. Stealth camping is dangerous because if the police don't feel like politely asking you to move along, you're facing one of two situations: Arrest, or a beat down. Then there's the theft, so you need to keep an eye on all your stuff, all the time. I had a guy try to use a pair of scissors to cut the straps on the backpack I was wearing while I slept. Someone else tried to steal my glasses. Not sunglasses... my prescription glasses that I can't see past my elbow without them. Suckage.
Now, if you're talking about couch surfing kind of homeless, then it's different. The 3 months after college was less of a crap-fest. I slept in my office, and I floor-camped a buddy's trailer a few nights a week. His place was a 17 mile ride from town, so it wasn't too horrible a commute. I was able to stay a a few different friends' places every couple of weeks, and trade off chores for space on the couch. I stored most of my stuff between 4 people's garages, and I could get to what I needed semi-conveniently. If you feel the need to go sans-domicile, I'd suggest going about it that way. I only had to stealth camp about 2 weeks total during that time.

Camping's probably the best and safest way. Even if you have to invest in some gear, you plan on using it later in Asia right?

Then again, as an anthropologist you may enjoy living with the truly homeless to see what it's all about.

Do you have enough cash to camp legally, at least some of the time? That kind of takes the "edge" off of your experiment though, huh?

To answer some of the questions so far.

1) I will be steering clear of most other "real homeless." No shelters or anything like that. I also used to work with them when I volunteered a lot and know that things like Hepatitis and other such diseases run rampant with them

2) Yes, there will be some couch surfing involved with friends, this is my hometown we are talking about! However, it will probably be a combination of camping, surfing, and stealthing. The "Area" I am referring to is the greater Sacramento area and its surroundings such as the bay area and Chico. I basically have friends all over here. I will probably have a roof over my head most nights except win in transition from distant couches. Should be great experience for learning about touring for long terms.

3) As i said before, I will have a job because the whole point of this is not because I am an anthropologist but because I want to save money for Asia. Like I said, why rent a new apartment and pay deposit/new furniture/ect.... when I am just going to have to sell it all in January anyways?

4) Maybe its the term "Homeless" that is freaking people out, telling me to "be careful." Relax guy, take a rest. Lots and lots of people go for longish periods before/after college/job/spouse without a "place of their own." The word "homeless" apparently does not just mean to not own/lease/rent a place but to be a pan handler reeking of urine on the side of the road who is also probably a crook. HA! Like I said, highly stigmatized class of people. I have met all sorts of great "homeless" people in my day, the problem is that they get a bad rap from the most VISIBLE homeless people who are always panhandling and begging and stealing, getting drunk in public, ect... There are tons more homeless people you just see and notice a very small minority of them.

5) Once of the main points of this thread was to see if anyone els was going to do or has done anything like this and to share the experience with others. Advice is always nice, such as the last guy who got to sleep in his office, good idea! What are some other ways of keeping your self off the streets? Lets talk about it!

Just have a backup plan.

I could see camping for several months. It would get rugged, but certainly do-able. Pick some sweet spot in a national forest. I think there is a limit as to how long you can stay in one spot, but if you are mobile, changing spots once in awhile could be nice.

I would not want to live street-homeless in a town or city. Even rats have their own holes.

Of course, you could mooch your way through a couple of months staying with friends and family. That is an age-old approach to homeless and comfortable living.

There are some sweet caretaker jobs available in beautiful and sometimes remote areas. You get free rent in posh cribs AND get paid. Some caretaker jobs aren't even remote such as caretaker jobs for big homes at mountain resorts and second homes. You can also find caretaker jobs on large yachts that remain unused for long periods of time.

Why not just go to Asia and be homeless there? You can live in Thailand for almost nothing, and Kambodja is probably even cheaper.

When I made the BIG DECISION to leave my job in 2005 to travel, I spent all bar three weeks of the next six months as a person of no fixed address. That is probably a good way around "homeless" which, as has been pointed out, has certain connotations in this modern age.

I was in a better position because my travels were into the country looking for farm work. I camped and travelled as the work took me around various small towns. I did feel nervous about security of my items, especially as I left an established free-range campsite while I worked down the road or on the other side of town. But it worked quite well for me.

The essential thing is to not let yourself slip into the appearance of common image of a homeless person. Keep reasonably well kempt... continue to shave if you already do, or keep your beard trimmed. Wash clothes, etc, etc. Which is probably what you will do if you are working anyway.

You can get very creative with looking for "stealth" campsites. It takes a certain knack (based on experience) to pick the places that will be quietest and least likely to be found not so much by the police, but by the drunken louts looking for a bit of entertainment. The most significant problem in fact becomes weather and finding a place that is sheltered from wind, rain and/or dust. I did spend some weeks in paid-for campgrounds, which was good for the socialising, too.

Start your Peace Corps job early.

Have a look at Hennesy Hammocks, tent and bed in one. Useful for stealth camping, because you can camp in places not normally thought of as suitable.

There's nothing wrong with a stripped down lifestyle. There's no shame in living without a car, with few possessions and in humble accommodations. However, true homelessness in any Canadian or American city is not a good idea, even in the short term. It's a difficult and dangerous existence, one to avoid if at all possible. It would be much better to spend that time in a cheap or free camping area. This would still provide a low-cost lifestyle without the risks of urban homelessness.

Start this yet? Any updates? Come to any decisions as to what you're going to do?

So, go ahead and go "homeless." It's not that long of a time period. It's summer. Go have an adventure and squirrel away your money. Tell us about it.

No updates yet I will be officially "homeless" on Aug 18th though, as one astute poster pointed out, abetter term might be "no permanent address" as I will usually have a roof over my head. I will send updates and pictures as they happen :)

Good luck, i did this for awhile and the only thing i had trouble with was feeling like a mooch!

have fun!

I like the term "housefree" as you will always have a home, even if it's only a sleeping bag. Or a patch of dirt.

I was only housefree for a few weeks, more than 30 years ago. I think the short experience had more impact on my life than almost anything else I ever did. I don't think an education is complete if you've never lived in radically altered circumstances. I suppose that different people learn different lessons. I especially learned about faith and where to place my trust.

People will tell you that it's so difficult, but in some ways it's very easy. You'll learn it as you go along, and others will help you along the way.

I only did it for two weeks, between apartments, and I had money in the bank, a job and a car, and it was still unpleasant enough. The lease on one apartment ended two weeks before the second was available. I couch surfed with some guys I didn't know very well and who didn't give me a key. My girlfriend's mother happened to be in town for most of the two weeks, so it wasn't ok to stay there. Napping in your car in a park because your hosts are out and you have nowhere to go is a very weird sensation. I wouldn't do it again. I'd rent a cheap room of some sort.

I only did it for two weeks, between apartments, and I had money in the bank, a job and a car, and it was still unpleasant enough. The lease on one apartment ended two weeks before the second was available. I couch surfed with some guys I didn't know very well and who didn't give me a key. My girlfriend's mother happened to be in town for most of the two weeks, so it wasn't ok to stay there. Napping in your car in a park because your hosts are out and you have nowhere to go is a very weird sensation. I wouldn't do it again. I'd rent a cheap room of some sort.

But for you the homeless experience was an unplanned interruption of your desired life. Wouldn't it be a very different psychological experience for somebody who wanted it and planned for it?

Also, it sounds like you put your trust in your girlfriend and the guys you stayed with, and they turned out to be unreliable. That must have been a painful situation for you, and it might have colored your entire homeless experience.

It's not called being homeless if you're doing t on purpose.

Call yourself a NOMAD. That sounds cool. You'll be living a nomadic lifestyle.

You could make yourself a t-shirt that says NORCAL NOMAD or something like that, and you'll be cool.

Free food is everywhere. Wedding receptions, Wednesday night church potlucks, convention centers, hotel lobbies in the morning (free continental breakfast), etc.

Just make sure you stay relatively clean when you enter public places. If you have on a pair of clean slacks and a collared shirt, with a clean-shaven face and combed hair, you'll be good.

Most homeless guys gave up personal grooming a long time ago, and that's why people are afraid of them. Dirty clothes, unshaven, wild hair, darting eyes (from being paranoid, and for good reason).

Keep yourself clean and you won't be homeless. You'll be nomadic. A good electric razor will do wonders if you can afford it.


Read the newspapers for public announcements. You can usually find free food all over the place. Free coffee is everywhere, like car repair shops, car dealerships, etc.

This one sounds silly, but will work: Carry a clipboard. When you walk into a place with a clipboard and a pen, people will rarely question you. Give it a try.

What you might want to do is make a calendar, and fill in where you can get free food for each day of the week, etc. Mark down areas with good restrooms, and such. Do lots of research ahead of time.

Make sure you have a loose-fitting swimsuit so that you can shower in public. Use a bottle of softsoap that can be closed so that you can easily wash yourself in an outdoor shower or hose.

If I was TRUELY homeless I'd do whatever it took. But if I was doing it by choice, as an experiment, I'd have a hard time going around helping myself to free food meant for customers of those establishments. It's one thing to want to save on five months of rent, but I don't know about trying not to pay for my food.

If I was TRUELY homeless I'd do whatever it took. But if I was doing it by choice, as an experiment, I'd have a hard time going around helping myself to free food meant for customers of those establishments. It's one thing to want to save on five months of rent, but I don't know about trying not to pay for my food.

This is a very good point. And not just for food, but for staying in shelters, or using any resources that are meant for the truly destitute.

My feeling is that this isn't what the OP (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=7213947&postcount=1) had in mind. My impression is that he wants to live without a house, but he will continue to work and pay his way.

I really had not been planning on taking advantage of people/establishments like that. I am just trying to save money because I do not see the point in renting another apartment for 6 months! What a waste of time to move in and out so fast. As I said, I will have a job and money in the bank. No need to be a mooch that just contributes the the streotype of homeless people

On another subject, there a lot of words being thrown out as to better describe what it is that I am doing. One person suggested that I call myself a nomad because becomeing "homeless" on purpose means that I am not a "true" homeless person. Well lets talk about being "car-free." why do we call ourselves that? Why not carless? Carless has the word "less" in it which in the US has negative conotations where as "free" is very highly valued in our culture. The word Nomad sounds cool in a Mad Max sort of way and beging to capture the idea but ultimately I do not have to keep moving if i do not want to, I have plenty of freinds who have offered to house me for the entire six months. I still prefer the name of this thread, homefree! I look at it as being liberated from the chains of renting. Think back to when you first went car free and remember how great it felt having all that extra income to put in the bank all of a sudden. It feels like, "man i could do anything with this money, take a trip, save, whatever!" Same thing with a home , though a realize that the long term prospects of such an endevor are not as sustainable as with being car free. Sorry for all the type-ose, im writting this on the fly!

Sorry for all the type-ose, im writting this on the fly!

What will you be using for internet access? Laptop? Public terminals?

Will you have a phone?

Recently I lived for 3 months on the Pacific Crest Trail. I slept out in Nature every night. I stocked up on supplies and used the Internet when I arrived in small towns along the way. I mailed myself a box with battery chargers for my phone and camera and other odds and ends up the trail, care of General Delivery. I loved living this way.

Why not give up the silly job and live on a trail or a bike tour. Hike and bike campsites in California State Parks are only $3 and other places to stay can cost even less if you stealth camp or stay on BLM or national forest land. All you need is a guide book and a little money.

Go for it!!

In September 2004, I sold and tossed most of my stuff ... then moved what I had left two provinces over into storage.

Then I hopped a plane for Australia and spent the next 3 months living out of my panniers. My "home" was wherever the tent was parked.

Although that particular tour had some difficulties, I could easily go back to that lifestyle, and for a longer period of time than just 3 months. I would be quite comfortable with a nomad or gypsy-like lifestyle. :)

I've spent some time out in the wilderness on camping trips, usually up to two weeks at a time, and those trips made me appreciate to have a home to return to when I was done. Fortunately I've had cheap rents before puchasing my home, which I'm now glad that I did make the sacrifice in making the mortgage payments (now paid off) since now the monthly rent for a local two bedroom apartment far exceeds what I paid monthly for my house. I am car-lite, but I have no plans on ever being house-free.

Anyway, good luck on your nomadic endeavor, and in making that Asia trip.

I belong to a 24-hour gym and have often thought that it would be a good base for living home-free (especially for $30 a month). Besides a place to hang out and exercise, one could shower, shave, brush teeth, have a free locker to store stuff in, etc. Also, it would be a good place to go during a storm.

Great idea about the gym membership, I may just use that one and I dont feel like I am taking advantage of them! Internet access will not be a problem on this trip as all of my friends in the area have wi-fi or I can always buy a coffee at a local free wi-fi hot spot. Thanks also for those of you with encouraging things to say, keep it coming because I need it! As soon as I get to Sacramento and sell the car next week Ill take some pictures of my loaded rig/new home! Cheers

Hey Zepp,
A LONG time ago I decided to "extend" a vacation trip/biketour and wound up spending about a year and a half living off a bicycle. Trip included working and staying in Yosemite. Got room and board AND.... a paycheck for working someplace pretty fantastic. Don't know what the minimum commitment is these days but I DO know that after Labor Day they're probably going to be looking to replace a lot of workers going back to school. Be prepared though, it gets COLD! That's one idea for you. Check out other resorts/campgrounds for similar positions.
I live in Key West and I've run into an interesting group of nomads. You wouldn't know them on sight but they're guys that have been cross country maybe 8-10 times, down the Keys 7-8 times. They live on their bikes full time. They're usually a little older, a tad wary but the one's I've talked to (the guys that aren't totally mental) seem content, they're intelligent and once you get them talking...They are a wealth of information. They don't always have the latest greatest gear but it's usually good functional stuff. I plan on my own extended-go-where-I-want-when-I-want-for-as-long-as-I-can-stand-it tour next year. I'm in the process of getting rid of all the excess "stuff", training and getting my gear all sorted out right now.
Whatever you decide? It'll be the right decision.

Happy trails


Jim

Colleges are an especially good resource. Most college libraries are open until 12am or so, and many 24 hours a day. Use the college rec facilities for showers/entertainment. You can also hang out on campus to get free entertainment (lectures, sporting events, etc) and/or free food. If you just graduated, maybe they haven't revoked your privileges from your id yet.

Also, if you still have college friends in the area, they are probably pretty receptive to you crashing on the couch or floor for a bit. Generally there is a lot of leeway in college for things like this which may not be possible in the future years.

I've done the sort of thing you talk of for a short period- and it sucked. I'm the type who needs a good night's sleep and food to function the next day, so it didn't work too well for me. I'm the type that needs a place to go back to each evening and mentally decompress. Also, if you can work yourself to be semi-nocturnal, that seems to work out better. Way easier to nap in a park or whatever during the day without being hassled than at night.

I've thought about buying a 1 month unlimited greyhound or rail pass and travel the country- board a bus at night, sleep all night, explore a different city by day, repeat. Just a backpack on my back, maybe sleep on a park bench once in a while.

Hello again Zepp,
Wow... I'm kinda surprised at some of the reactions on the word "homeless." I've met a couple of guys here in Key West that were kind of interesting. Unless you talked to them you wouldn't know this was the 8-10th time they'd been cross-country or that they'd been living off their bikes for oh.... the last 5-10 years! The nomadic lifestyle is definitely a chosen one and certainly not for the feint of heart. To my mind, it can be an enviable way of life but you'd best be prepared.

Take a close look at this one. I always wanted to make one for camping. Maybe this winter..

http://www.tonystrailers.com/nomad/

Ask or pay somebody to store it when you go abroad.

Get yourself some "daddy trousers" as we call them, stretch synthetic material, nice cut, you could go anywhere in them. Go for black. I started using them since i do not look good in lycra, and do not like bikechlotes. I discovered these trousers always stay in shape, and dust and other stuff just "fall off". Grease from the chain do not show, comfy when riding sinche they are stretch. They are light material so you can fold them up to just under your knee and still bend your knees easely. i think looking good while doing it is important.

Myself I would rent a SMALL (tent size, no watwer) room and live there "camping style" (camping bed, sleeping bag, all chlotes and food in plastic boxes with lid, one campingchair, storage boxes as table) instead of totally homefree. Then use the "fitness club, college facilitys" solution for showers and such. Could be cheaper and much moe comfortable, also psycologically.

Sorry not to have posted earlier, and I haven't read all the posts. Sometimes I don't get access to the Internet for a while. I have chosen this lifestyle and have been living it for nearly 2 years now. I travel by bike or public transportation and do volunteer work wherever I go. Here is my blog: www.diane-emerson.blogspot.com

I very highly recommend the lifestyle!!

With airfares going up, I am researching getting myself and bike over to India by helping out on a sailing yacht. I will be working on slavery issues, etc while there.
Cheers!
Diane

I too thought you meant you had no money and no place to go. That is a different subject all together.

I spent a few months in Australia while in college. The first part of the trip was for college credit, housing & food provided. (Although we did prepay everything in advance :) ) 4 of us guys extended our plane tickets and spent the reminder of the time wandering up the East Coast. We rented a camper-van and drove until we saw something we liked. We would go out drinking, sleep in our van, and wake up and keep on trucking. We liked one town, so we stayed another few days. Why not, we could. We'd stay in campgrounds, rest stops, parking lots, whatever. Met a lot of interesting people and learned a lot as a person.

You wouldn't know it beforehand or now, but I was a care-free irresponsible person (for a while) :D :lol:

I read your post and looked over your blog pages....Can you tell me how you are funding your travels? Are you alone? I am a female who wants to do what you are doing when I "grow-up" (within the next 5 years). I could use some helpful information on the practical side of you adventure - such as equipment recommendations, finances, whatever you can tell me.

I started this other post and then I was kindly reminded of the stickies.


I really like this lifestyle. It all started with sleeping on the floor. Everytime I gave something up I became simpler.

For those interested in this subject, I highly recommend the Capitol trilogy of sci-fi books by Kim Stanley Robinson. The main character lives homefree--in his office, a treehouse, and using his gym for cleaning up. He runs into a lot of urban scavengers, squatters and freegans who illustrate different aspects of this intriguing lifestyle.

http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/news/2007/07/stanley_robinson_qa

I read your post and looked over your blog pages....Can you tell me how you are funding your travels? Are you alone? I am a female who wants to do what you are doing when I "grow-up" (within the next 5 years). I could use some helpful information on the practical side of you adventure - such as equipment recommendations, finances, whatever you can tell me.

Hello Amoshutch,
Myself? I have a regular source of income so for me that's no biggie. There are a number of different ways to finance your travels. If you live and travel in the U.S. you can look into working for consessionaires in the National Parks. A lot of times you get room and board for a very nominal fee and while you're working there you get to live in some of the most fantastic places on earth. I worked in Yosemite, it was great!
As far as gear? A lot of it depends on when and where you want to travel, time of the year, how long you intend to be gone... The thing I keep hearing over and over when it comes to camping gear is get the very best you can afford. Opinions are going to vary greatly on what's the best tent, stove, sleeping bag, cookset, etc. Crazyguyonabike is another site devoted to touring. They have a section on bits and pieces of gear and kit and such.


Happy Trails!

Jim Sweet AKA scruffyboy

Hi this is brad, yes u said rite, i agree with u this kind of problems are faced so many people,,,, but this is only for time being we should face for some time.
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brad

Auto Auctions (http://cars.gov-auctions.org)

I like the term "housefree" as you will always have a home, even if it's only a sleeping bag. Or a patch of dirt.
.

yea house free what are your thoughts which I started?

not to hijack this persons thread.

As I think getting away from structures or dwellings was the point for me. Not to just become less house lite.

How is it going?

Got pictures yet?

Hi all sorry for the long delay in updates on this but as you can imagine I have been busy. I have a steady job 40 hours a week working as a Valet at a hospital in downtown. Sacramento is turing out to be a pretty decently place to be car free by the way if anyone is looking at moving here. There are lots and lots of miles of interconnected trails from downtown all the way out to the foothills following the american river. The light rail system is cheap, fast, and allows bikes. I have to admit, a friend of mine felt so bad for me, living home-free that is, that he made me an extra key to his place and said to use it as often as i want for the next few months. I do take advantage of his comfy couch about 3-4 times a week. Disapointing because its not as home-free as I would have liked but you cant refuse the hospitality and warmth. However, as I have said earlier this is not a project to try and "get away" from it all. I am merely waiting for my Peace Corps service to begin and do not feel the need to rent a place for six measly months. The other nights of the week and crash on a variety of couches. I may go over to a buddies house for a few beers then ask if I can crash. I think they assume that its because i dont want to ride after the beer and I am always welcome to stay. To be honest its not always the beer, but sometimes it is. I have spent only about a week totally outdoors at night. I have been all over the city on my bike doing everything from running errands to visiting with old friends. I even did a two day mini tour to Oroville if any of you know where the hell that is, to visit a friend! (near Chico) I am taking pictures of my rig in the morning light and will load them up asap! Thanks everyone for your input but please feel free to hijack this thread. I would love to hear about the many many different variations on this theme and how people cope with their individual situations! Got any questiosn for me? As far as cleaning myself goes, my couch buddies always include a shower with the package :)