Day One

Well here it is, getting close to midnight and the day is ending. So far the experience has been foul, but nothing worse than I expected.

I left where I was staying just before nine this morning. I packed all my clothes, the laptop, and a bottle of soda. Then gassed up the car and hit the road. My first task was finding places to park. After a lot of research I found that if you sit in one place too long, or even the wrong place, the cops will take notice, as most towns/areas have no loitering and anti vagrancy laws.

What I worked out was that if I drove to a larger town, one with a few shopping centers, I could comfortably park in a store's parking lot for up to 2 hours and not have to worry. That is what I set about doing. My first place of choice was a grocery store parking lot. I was able to sit there for a few hours, before going in to use their restroom. After that I thought it best to leave. So I headed over to another store across town, and repeated what I had done before. It was working out pretty well, although I must admit, boring as hell. I didn't want to use up the battery on the laptop right away, so I didn't have much to do other than sit and watch the people go in and out of the store. Before leaving that parking lot I did use their restrooms and browse a bit.

Pretty much that sums up my entire day up until an hour ago that is. I ran through a drive thru and picked up a burger and set out on the highway. My destination, the closest rest stop. Later in the evening this seems to be the perfect place. Right off a busy highway so enough traffic coming and going, but also other people (most of them legitimate travelers catching a break) sleeping in their cars.

I have already called my wife to check in, see how her and the baby growing inside her are. So now it is off to sleep, if I can sleep that is. Not really too comfy in here, but it will have to do, this is after all my life for now, and the foreseeable future.

More updates will follow, keep checking back

Introduction

On The Road Blog? What is that?

Well the simple answer is this is a blog I am keeping of my experiences living on the road (i.e. newly homeless and living in my vehicle).

I am setting out to chronicle just what it is like to be without a place to live, or even stay, to be living out of a vehicle, not because of want or desire, but do to a lack of options available to me. It is my hope that anyone that comes across this may learn from it, even pick up a few tips if god forbid the day comes that you find yourself in the same situation that I face (and believe me I do not wish it upon anyone, not even my worst enemy).

One question you may be asking, how are you blogging from the road if you have no home? Well the short and simple answer is that I am using the free wifi that I find along the way, and charging this laptop when and where I can.

You may also be asking, why not sell the laptop and get a place to stay? The answer to that is slightly more complicated. The laptop is older, and not worth much (have already tried selling it and what I could get for it is not enough to make even the smallest dent).

F.A.Q.'s

Q - How did you become homeless?
A - Both my wife and I lost our jobs due to the economy. We were staying with family, but there is not enough room for both of us, so only she can remain there

Q - Why didn't you get another job?
A - I have tried, have applied at many companies and even had some interviews, right now it is a waiting game. But I am still trying, every single day

Q - What happened to where you lived?
A - After losing our jobs, we were not able to pay our rent, and thereby where kicked out.

Q - Why didn't your wife come on the road with you?
A - She is pregnant and not a good idea for her to try vehicle living, she is much better in a safe place.

More F.A.Q's will be added later, or better yet, have a question, leave a comment.