Tag: houseless

Glamorous Houselessness

(reblog from June 4)

Prior to modern history, both cowboys and lumberjacks had been esteemed within American culture. Inventors, explorers, industrial pioneers and the wealthy had been also, and perhaps more socially so, but not so personally. The cultures and lifestyles of both cowboys and lumberjacks somehow seem to be easier for more to identify with.

Throughout my career, I have been involved with both cowboys and lumberjacks. Because I attained my degree in Horticulture from an agricultural school, many of my academic colleagues are cowboys. Because I am a horticulturist and arborist, many of my professional colleagues are also arborists, and many of them had formerly been lumberjacks. Both professions are as admirable as society considers them to be.

However, for many, both professions involve houselessness.

The open range is certainly not what it had been only a few decades ago, but even now, some cowboys still drive cattle through undeveloped regions that lack accommodations for them. Such cowboys must be completely self reliant for several consecutive days. During the 1980s, some of my academic colleagues drove cattle through entire summers. They only rarely retrieved supplies that were left for them along their drives, and camped in different locations nightly.

At about the same time, and into the 1990s, some of my professional colleagues were lumberjacks who harvested timber in remote and undeveloped forested regions. Some of their camps were remarkably simple and primitive. Some sites lacked organized camps. Like cowboys, they were essentially houseless.

Nonetheless, not so long ago, American culture admired both cowboys and lumberjacks for their self reliance, resilience, independence and nonconformity.

American culture has certainly changed. Not many know what cowboys and lumberjacks do nowadays. Independence and nonconformity are discouraged. Self reliance and resilience are more typically phony components of superficial vanity. Houselessness has become criminalized, vilified and derided.

San Jose Reports Decreasing Homelessness

4.7% fewer people than a year ago are homeless in San Jose. That is a difference of more than three hundred people. Some data indicates that about five hundred fewer people are presently homeless in San Jose, which would be a greater percentage. The rate of homelessness is similarly decreasing within several other Communities within California. Although the rate of homelessness within all of California continues to increase slightly, the rate of increase is decelerating.

People are always becoming homeless. For now though, in San Jose, this is happening at a slower rate than those who are already homeless are becoming not homeless. Some who were homeless there migrated to regions where rent or purchase of a home is more affordable relative to income. Some procured domestic situations locally. Perhaps fewer are actually becoming homeless to begin with. There are many variables. It is difficult to identify the most likely causes of this trend.

Much of the decreasing rate of homelessness in San Jose is the result of innate socioeconomic variables. Influence of local government and its associated assistance programs are also very important. Again though, there are too many variables involved to identify the most influential among them. Otherwise, other Communities would be more proactive with governmental influence and assistance that is determined to be effective.

This all may seem to be nearly irrelevant here in Felton, where the rate of homelessness has been decreasing for quite a while, and where only a few remain homeless. Yet, it may be quite relevant to the few who remain homeless, or those who could potentially become homeless. If this currently decreasing rate of homelessness is due more to innate socioeconomic variables than to governmental influence and assistance, it will be more likely to eventually influence adjacent Communities, including Santa Cruz County.

Glamorous Houselessness

Prior to modern history, both cowboys and lumberjacks had been esteemed within American culture. Inventors, explorers, industrial pioneers and the wealthy had been also, and perhaps more socially so, but not so personally. The cultures and lifestyles of both cowboys and lumberjacks somehow seem to be easier for more to identify with.

Throughout my career, I have been involved with both cowboys and lumberjacks. Because I attained my degree in Horticulture from an agricultural school, many of my academic colleagues are cowboys. Because I am a horticulturist and arborist, many of my professional colleagues are also arborists, and many of them had formerly been lumberjacks. Both professions are as admirable as society considers them to be.

However, for many, both professions involve houselessness.

The open range is certainly not what it had been only a few decades ago, but even now, some cowboys still drive cattle through undeveloped regions that lack accommodations for them. Such cowboys must be completely self reliant for several consecutive days. During the 1980s, some of my academic colleagues drove cattle through entire summers. They only rarely retrieved supplies that were left for them along their drives, and camped in different locations nightly.

At about the same time, and into the 1990s, some of my professional colleagues were lumberjacks who harvested timber in remote and undeveloped forested regions. Some of their camps were remarkably simple and primitive. Some sites lacked organized camps. Like cowboys, they were essentially houseless.

Nonetheless, not so long ago, American culture admired both cowboys and lumberjacks for their self reliance, resilience, independence and nonconformity.

American culture has certainly changed. Not many know what cowboys and lumberjacks do nowadays. Independence and nonconformity are discouraged. Self reliance and resilience are more typically phony components of superficial vanity. Houselessness has become criminalized, vilified and derided.

Bureau of Land Management Camping

Bureau of Land Management land is available for camping. It is less popular than more refined campgrounds because it is less refined. The least refined lands are classified as ‘primitive’. They are merely bare land without any facilities. There is no fee for camping on primitive Bureau of Land Management land for as long as two weeks monthly.

It was tempting. I noticed a few locations for such camping while vacationing in the Southwest during the past two weeks (while I neglected to post on this blog). I made the same observation while vacationing for two weeks in the Pacific Northwest about a month earlier. After all, while away from home, I was essentially homeless.

Furthermore, I did happen to indulge in camping for a few days while in the Los Angeles region. It was not within a campground though. It was in the backyard of my colleagues home. Both the weather and the situation were splendid. I could have stayed in a hotel, but there was no need. Actually, I could have engaged in more camping if accommodations had not already been arranged at my various destinations.

So, why is such camping so socially acceptable while houselessness is not? Houselessness is not vacation. Nor is it typically a choice. For most, it occurs within their home Community, where they formerly lived within homes, worked and paid taxes. While vacationing, I choose to go to regions where I have never lived, worked or paid local taxes, and am unhoused while I do so. I essentially exploit local resources. No one seems to mind.

Perhaps I should indulge in primitive camping on Bureau of Land Management land as an alternative to more refined accommodations. Now, I am wondering how many of the unhoused do so as an alternative to stigmatized houselessness.

Pioneers

Pioneers made America what it is now, and continue to do so. The first migrated from northeastern Asia many thousands of years ago. During the past several centuries, many more migrated from Europe. More migrated from Asia during the past few centuries. They all came for something better than what they had where they came from, although few knew what that entailed. Slaves from Africa had no choice about coming here, but their descendants eventually also participated in pursuit of legendary American opportunity.

Arrival was merely the beginning for earlier pioneers here. Many arrived with minimal resources. Many were unhoused when they arrived. They all needed to go somewhere. Many migrated west into regions that were inhabited by descendants of earlier pioneers. They built homes, farms, industries and towns as they went. This is how every American industry and city began. Actually, this is how every industry and every city in the World began at one time or another.

Everyone is a descendent of someone who lacked resources. Many are direct descendents of pioneers who arrived in America with nothing more than aspiration. Many actually are such pioneers. Many are direct descendents of slaves who were freed into an oppressively bigoted society, but were compelled to be circumstantial pioneers.

Many of our pioneer ancestors were unhoused as they migrated across America. Many were unhoused as they prospected for gold during the Gold Rush. Many were unhoused as they harvested timber from American forests.

Houselessness is a common theme within American history and culture. However, it has become less respectable over time. Ancient tribes that were formerly nomadic within America were considered to be uncivilized savages early within American history. Refugees of the Dust Bowl were shunned as they migrated mostly to California and Arizona. Even the formerly glamorized undomesticated lifestyles of traditional American cowboys who prefer a home on the range is now difficult for most to understand.

Real Estate

Real estate is depreciating significantly. There is no easier manner in which to say so. Some predict that this will be the most significant adjustment of the real estate market in modern American history. This adjustment is expected to be most severe within the first year, and then to continue for a few years. The more overpriced markets and overpriced properties will likely be affected most.

Recession, inflation, interest rates and the many economic variables that affect the real estate market are all so confusing. Their influences are undeniable though. Real estate investments are losing value. Rental properties will likely be generating less revenue soon. It all seems to be so unpleasant.

However, depreciation of real estate may improve the potential for some who would like to purchase a home to do so. Also, declining rental rates may facilitate procurement of rented domestic situations by some who would benefit from them.

The local real estate market has been unreal for quite a while. Average and better than average incomes have been insufficient to sustain mortgages or rents. Although declines of real estate markets are considered to be detrimental to the economies of their respective societies, they make real estate more realistic.

It will be interesting to observe the results of the declining real estate market, particularly in conjunction with what already seems to be a declining rate of houselessness. Any benefits from such loss would be gratifying.

Meanwhile, although many homes were damaged by severe weather since the end of December, only about eight were destroyed within all of Santa Cruz County. Those that were damaged should be repairable, so those who inhabit them should not lack them for too long.

The innate risks associated with real estate here do not deter many of us from continuing to live here.

There’s No Place Like Home . . . Really!

Prior to March, I intend to return to the Pacific Northwest for two weeks. Prior to May, I hope to return to Southern California and continue almost to Phoenix for two weeks. I am confident that both trips will be very enjoyable. They always are. I should enjoy such trips more often, and perhaps go to a few places that I have not been to yet.

I have already been to some rather excellent places, and experienced many of them more intimately than average tourists do. I explored Steinbeck’s favorite sites in Monterey with a direct descendent of some of the first Spanish people to arrive there. I camped in an abandoned home with rain seeping through the ceiling west of Portland just to enjoy time with my uncle. I have visited homes of celebrities in the Los Angeles region simply by following my colleague to his projects. All of these experiences were excellent, even Las Vegas. However, none were here.

I really can not say that ‘here’ is necessarily any better than ‘there’, wherever ‘there’ is. Nor can I say that ‘there’ is any better than ‘here’. I only know I enjoyed every ‘there’ that I have been to, but the one ‘here’ that I know is home.

Houselessness is certainly no vacation. Yet, like vacation and travel, it instills a unique appreciation for home. For residential or employment opportunities, some who lack a stable domestic situation may decide to relocate and make their home somewhere else, even if they eventually return to their original or previous home because it is where they prefer to be. Some may lack such options, so simply stay within their respective home region. Every situation and every individual is different. Ultimately, whether within a domestic situation or not, there’s no place like home.

More Than Shelter

Starting coffee for the crew in the morning is a mundane task, after opening the gates and turning the heater on in our meeting room. Even after the heater has been off for a night of cold weather, the meeting room and adjoining galley are not too uncomfortably cold by morning. I do not give much thought to the unusually rainy weather right outside. After all, the rain is outside, and I am inside with coffee and a heater.

There is not much view from the window in the galley. The yard below is storage for several dumpsters. It is surrounded by a fence and the Memorial Grove. A busy road and associated bridge over Zayante Creek are just beyond that.

Since New Year’s Eve, some of us have been watching Zayante Creek from the window in the galley. The water is normally barely visible. Because of the storms, it had risen to within only a few feet of the yard downstairs on a few occasions. It will likely be about that high again by morning.

The bridge is prominent within the center of the view from the window. Under its closest corner, on this side of the road and on this side of Zayante Creek, I can see a site that had sometimes been inhabited by unhoused neighbors. It would be very unpleasant to be out there now, in the cold and damp weather, and also dangerous as Zayante Creek rises again overnight. It is very muddy there after getting submerged earlier.

I do not consider that much though. Instead, I remember how homey it was when friends lived there. Although it was not as comfortable as where I now observe it from, to more than a mere few, it was more comfortable than being out in the rain. Furthermore, it was where some people really lived, even if merely temporarily. They did much of what people do in homes, as if homes were unnecessary luxuries. Although I do not party like most, I attended a few celebrations there. I directly witnessed the extreme generosity and graciousness of others of society who had no business under such a bridge. Regardless of how pleased I am that almost everyone who had been unhoused back then presently resides within comfortable and stable domestic situations, I also miss some of how it was in what now seems to be history.

Discontinuance

Discontinuance of my other primary blog will be completely different from discontinuance of this blog last July. Articles from my weekly column will continue to post on that blog on Mondays and Tuesdays, so even without recycled old articles and all that other hooey in the future, some readers may not notice much of a difference. Realistically, that was what the blog was originally intended for.

Actually, I discontinued writing for the other blog quite a while ago. As for this blog, posts there are mostly recycled. Recycling is cheating, but writing occupies too much time that I could devote to other more important interests, such as gardening and travel. If I were to continue to devote so much time to writing, I should write books instead.

What makes discontinuance of each of these two blogs so completely different is that the primary remains relevant while the secondary does not remain as relevant as it originally was. The secondary was intended to “feature articles and insight about the distinguished small group of displaced or socially marginalized people and their friends in Felton”. So, there is not much to feature now that so few remain displaced or socially marginalized.

Of course, the situation is dynamic. A scant few remain displaced, although less socially marginalized than prior. A few others become displaced about as often as those who are already displaced procure domestic situations, although they are likely to encounter less competition for limited resources. Regardless, pursuit to obtain insight from so few would be intrusive.

Insight regarding those who had formerly been displaced or socially marginalized would be more relevant, but eventually, would not be particularly interesting. Many of us inhabit comfortable homes with modern utilities and conveniences. Many of us are gainfully and gratifyingly employed. Others doing so becomes mundane.

Lifestyles

As a casual and almost outside observer, I am fascinated by the lifestyles of others. I happen to be quite pleased with my lifestyle, but can totally understand why it would be unappealing to most. Also, I can understand why others are pleased with their particular lifestyles, although such lifestyles do not appeal to me.

It baffles me though, that some believe that their particular lifestyles should be desirable to everyone else. I would not recommend a lifestyle as simple and primitive as mine to anyone who would not appreciate it. I appreciate the same courtesy. It is presumptuous for someone to recommend a more complicated and modern lifestyle to me merely because it is what most supposedly prefer.

Besides, I do not observe many who are any happier with their particular lifestyle than I am with mine. To the contrary, I observe many who are less satisfied with their seemingly preferable lifestyles.

I do believe that most who lack domestic situations should prefer at least a bit more comfort in their lifestyles. When the weather gets as cool as it has been, warmth and some sort of enclosure to contain such warmth should be preferable. I also assume that plumbing is desirable, even though my own homes are equipped with only minimal plumbing. I really do not know though. Some or many of my presumptions could be partially or even mostly inaccurate.

I also believe that those who live in luxurious penthouses on top of skyscrapers in big cities should be happier with homes on ground level with spacious gardens. It is difficult for me to imagine why they choose to live in such expensive homes that lack so much. Nonetheless, they do so, while they can afford to live almost anywhere. Obviously, their chosen lifestyles appeal to them.