Going to be floating around the Durham, Chapell Hill, and Raleigh areas for a while. Let's go!!!

Got a ride to Melbourne. Google maps said i could catch a bus there all the way to Miami but that was a fucking lie. So now im back to hitchhiking.

Here we are. It's Friday and time to help buddy with his ridiculous amount of luggage. His mother is helping him with a limo suv rental to transport the gear. As we head out we stop and pick up a shawarma plate and he realizes he forgot his medication. Go back and hit the road again...

10 giant bags are loaded onto 3 carts and we bring everything to check in. I've never been on a plane. I know nothing about the limits other then don't bring weapons... We weighed each bag before hand and they were all between 60 and 70 lbs. Well it turns out weight limit is 23kg. Someone messed up. And it added $1400 to a $750 ticket. Baggage is checked in and and his mom wants to grab some Wendy's.

I get a call... They rejected an item I need you to grab it at the desk.... Fucking item is like 30 lbs. Now i gotta lug this on a bus and back to the city....

This was going to be my first night alone here. But my buddies mother (who is technically the owner) is staying the night. For the last 3 hours I've listened to constant complaining and snooping through my friends stuff. Talking about how someone in their 30s shouldn't have a bb gun. And I gotta sit here and smile and nod while biting my tongue.

It's all good though. I am irritated. But I'm also warm and secure. Tomorrow is another day and she is supposed to leave by noon. We will see.

EDIT/UPDATE:

To clarify only one person was flying. My buddy is trying to leave Canada completely. However he still needs to do some things. Thats how I ended up here in the first place. He basically brought an apartment in 10 large luggage bags plus carry on. Apparently it is allowed cause they did take it. But almost every bag was overweight. And he got hit with charges for every one of them. His mother seemingly being well off just pulled out her card and paid it. He should be in his destination now and I'm expecting to hear from him. Ngl I'm still worried. Cause he's probably gonna get hit with import fees once there. But you can't tell him anything. And his mother will probably pay the tab again. I was simply helping out a friend that helped me. His mom left this morning.

Hey everyone! I'm a college student in Virginia looking to spend my spring break (mid-March) at a Buddhist temple, meditation center, or spiritual community in California. I'm specifically looking for places that are either:

• Free/very low cost
• Offer work-trade programs
• Have student discounts
• Allow short-term stays (7-10 days)

My goals are to meditate, journal, spend time in nature, and connect with like-minded people. I'm open to any spiritual traditions but particularly interested in Buddhist practices. I'm willing to work (garden, kitchen, maintenance, etc.) in exchange for room and board. I have done a 10-day Vipassana retreat in the past that worked like this.

I know of Spirit Rock and Green Gulch Farm but would love to hear personal experiences or other suggestions. Also interested in transportation tips since I'll be flying in from the East Coast.

Has anyone done something similar? What was your experience like? Any red flags to watch out for?

Thanks in advance!

I couldn't fall asleep for the life of me last night. At 5:30 this morning I checked the weather and finally dropped out.

At 8:30 my eyes grudgingly come open. 'Why am I awake?' There's nothing I can see or hear that could have caused this. I have the faint sound of my phone ringing way back in the back of my mind. Check phone. My friend has texted and called, ten minutes ago. Still ninety percent asleep I text, 'Hey' 'Hey. VHF.' I'm not moving. I can't even fathom the idea of getting up and going the maybe ten feet over to the VHF. 'Just call me.' My phone is automatically reuping today anyway (Thanks Obama). Phone rings. "Hey." "What're you up to?" "Just opened my eyes." "Yeah, I kinda figured. I was gonna see if you want to go and look for your dinghy. I want to hit the trial this afternoon, so I'm thinking of coming by now and getting you." "You're gonna have to give me fifteen to get my shit together." "Cool. I'm leaving in a couple minutes. Do you want to use your big tank on this motor?" " Yeah, definitely. See you when you get here."

'Fuuuuck' 🥱🙂 I force my dead tired body up and out of bed. Wallet, knife, phone, mini cigars, lighter in pockets. Luckily I grabbed a few instant coffee packets at the church yesterday. I bought two for a dollar coffee cups at Dollar General when getting groceries the other day because somebody didn't clean mine out before they left the boat. Cold water in cup. Two instant packets. Into coffee bin for sugar. 'Still all setup in there. Won't that be nice.' Sugar dumped in cup. Stir. Taste. 'Definitely gonna need more of that.' More sugar. sugar sealed and back in bin. Lid on bin. High speed stirring. Taste. 'Good enough. Just like when I was a meat cutter and my coffee used to be cold fifteen minutes after I got it, but worse. Fuck it. Gotta go.'

I go into the drawer my keys and lock are in. On table. Thought I opened two hatches for air flow. My friend is hooking a rope to one of my jib cars. "Hey man." "Hey." Grab hoody, shades, keys, lock, coffee. Double check pockets. Try to make sure I have what I need. Seems like it. Out into cockpit. Hatch and door closed, latched, and locked. Keys in pocket. Sip coffee. Set coffee on deck.

Propane tank up on deck. Dig around for some ropes I can tie together for towing. Toss in friend's dinghy. He struggles to get his one pound tank off his motor. Finally gets it. There's a cap that switches places depending on what size tank you're using. Cap moved. Hose in stalled. I hand him my tank. He hooks it up as I get in his dinghy. Grab my coffee off the deck. Hoody already in. Engine fires first pull. I unhook us from my boat. Light push. We're off.

We spent four hours looking for that dinghy. Found the wreck it was supposed to be near. Had binoculars out the whole time. Scanned the shore both down and back. Even went into the river as far as we could to see if the tweaker who said he saw it got it and towed it in there. Ran into said tweaker on the river. I'd never met him. He and my friend talked for a minute. He lamented that he should've grabbed it.

That dinghy, in the shape it was in, was one heavy son of a bitch. It would've been six guys minimum to pick it up, and still you wouldn't have gone far. There's really no easy access to get it on shore and disappeared. Even if there was, dragging that thing would've taken a mule team.

I figure it probably just floated off again when the wind shifted. It's probably enjoying a nice cruise down to the keys.

End of the day, gotta get a new one.

Got back to the boat around 1:30pm. It was kinda nice hanging out with my friend on a long cruise, but I still feel shitty. I was hacking stuff up all day. I was definitely ready to be back when we hit the boat. Tank on deck. Him, "I don't think we used much propane." Me, feeling the weight of the tank, "Oh we did. The tank was quite a bit heavier. Not bad though." Hoody on deck. Coffee cup on deck. Me on deck. I wait until he has his motor hooked backed to a little tank and running. We say our goodbyes. "Thanks man." "You're welcome." He unhooks and heads out.

We probably used five pounds of propane including the third of a pound I might have used last night with the heater. Fifteen pounds lasts me around six months of just cooking. No heater. At $17.99 for the twenty pound refill, I'm more than happy to spend $4.50 to go look for my dinghy with another highly competent sailor.

I unlock the boat. Get back inside. Stuff out of pockets. I'm beat. Lay down. Shoot a text to dude with the work about being sick, not wanting to bring this crud to him, still having to do a couple maintenance things, gonna hang here for a few more days. A little reddit. Out cold.

I woke up after the sun was down. Barely any light left in the sky. Get up. Anchor Light on. Interior lights on. Start this post.

Got a message from dude, 'All good.' Kicked heater on to get the chill out of the boat. I didn't eat all day, and I know I'm not generating body heat correctly. Still kinda miserable so I'm gonna be as comfortable as possible. Powdered jelly donughts from the church/Publix for dinner. 😆

This is a pretty good example of the way things sometimes go living on a boat. You plan the day before to get some things done, and the next day is completely different.

I don't mind at all. I'm happy to have closure on the dinghy. I have plenty of food, smokes, coffee, and water. Music playing in the background. The gentle movement of the boat. The soft sound of water flowing past the hull. Boat stuff can wait another day.

Shared friend of me and TB was a bum ride, shit happens. TB has another friend that confirmed the ride.

We'll hit the tims for the last time (rn) tomorrow morning. TB is anxious abt it, im anxious to leave lol

Tonight is simple, we hangout with our homebums, get a good sleep, tomorrow we start moving

Hopping cargo trains sounds like an incredible way to see the world! I’d love if you could tell me your most memorable train hopping stories!

I woke up on the old floating apartment this morning feeling a little better. Still with some pretty bad body aches. Took the last two Tylenol I had, and promptly fell back asleep. Woke up about an hour later. 'It's the one day the church here feeds. And they have a shower truck. I need a shower in the worst way. That would be awesome!' Take a look out the companionway door over to my friend's boat.

There's a sport fishing boat pulled up really close to his. I see him on deck, something getting passed to him. 'Well, it doesn't look like he made it to the trial again.' Shoot him a text, "Hey." I know he'll get back to me when he's got a minute. One thing about living on a boat... Sometimes we're busy dealing with boat stuff. I'm not stopping in the middle of something like say water pouring in for some unknown reason, to answer a text or a phone call. Boat first. Outside people when I have the boat secured, coffee made, whatever I'm currently doing. We both know this. It ain't a thing. When you're on boat time nothing happens fast.

I haven't had the energy to do anything but not die. I need to get these dishes done. They're pretty gross. I string my pot and pan up and toss them over the side. Tie them to a cleat. Better to let nature deal with that first.

I left the boat in what was pretty much an emergency. No food. No water. For two days. No working dinghy. Too far to swim. My friend's dinghy out of commission. I called the sheriff, FWC, and Coast Guard for a rescue. Explained my situation They all told me to go fuck myself. Fuck those assholes. No love from me.

Rant over.

"Yo. VHF" Since this phone has limited minutes and data, the VHF radio we all have onboard is the way to communicate. "Hey man watcha up to?" "That dude just came by and gave me a diesel heater for my boat." "Nice!" "I don't know where I'm gonna put it. I really don't want to cut a hole in my deck either." "Yeah with your layout I wouldn't know where to put it either. If you're gonna hit the church later I'd love to tag along. I can hook you up with some propane to cover your cost on that a little." "Yeah I'm getting ready to leave here shortly. I'll shoot you a text." "Cool. I'll get my act together. Out."

I drag a comb through my sickness slicked hair, grab what's left of my Winstons, lighter, wallet, shades, hoodie, boat lock, keys. I'm really looking forward to a good meal and a nice hot shower. Text, "Omw."

He doesn't mean he's closing the boat down, getting in the dinghy, and heading my way. I look out the door, his dinghy has left his boat headed my way. Answering this text is futile. I don't bother. Double check I've got everything, open a couple portlights for ventilation, out of the boat, companionway hatch shut and latched, door closed and locked. He pulls up on the port side of my boat two minutes later. Trash bag in his bow, me and my hoodie in his dinghy.

He takes off slowly as I'm going for a seat. He only does this because he knows I'm not gonna lose my balance. It's not a dick move. I'm so used to working, standing, walking, and moving stuff from boat to boat in bouncy conditions. It ain't no thing. It's dead calm.

Some chatting about his fucked up family, a little about the new leak I've got that doesn't make a lot of sense to either of us. It seems a lot of boats both in the river and on the other side of the causeway, either ran aground on shore or sank in that storm my dinghy left in.

Both our boats... Perfectly ok. But we don't fuck around with our ground tackle. We've both spent whatever it took to get that straight. Me back in the early days. He's caught up on a couple things to where I'm at right before the back to back hurricanes that hit before I left.

You ever spend $135 on a 35 foot rope? Hashtag Boatlife! 😆 I got to buy a 100 foot rope. It gets a little cheaper if you order online, but not much. And if you need one in a hurry you're paying $4-$5 a foot at the local boat supply shop. Very specific types of rope. Has to handle several thousand pounds of force. Mine has a break strength of 31,000 pounds.

We both have full size backup anchors ready to go on the bow. Run through our bow rollers and cleated off. Just toss it over, after you make your way up there on a bouncing boat in a storm, and pray it grabs. Or at least slows you down enough for your primary anchor to reset. We've both got two different but very sticky anchors onboard each boat.

We hit the docks on the pier. I go to tie off his bow rope. "I'll get that. Everyone wants to help and that's the only time things go wrong." "Oh I know, but it's me." "You're right. Sorry man." He gives me a look that says, 'I have complete faith in you, I'm just not used to you being here.' "No worries. I don't trust anybody's knots but my own either." We laugh knowingly.

Trash out of boat, in trash can. We head down the pier cathing up. Him, "I never got to bilging your boat out. Right after I got the rundown of how to do it on your boat from you that storm came up and blew for days. Then it got fucking cold here." " No worries." I can understand that. It really hadn't rained much while I was gone. That was my only real concern. And in hindsight maybe him catching the new leak, but it appears it might stabilize on it's own, and didn't start until I got back.

Off to the church. I'm pretty happy to not be bumming smokes off him. There was two or three months before I left where I was completely flat broke with an unusable dinghy that I couldn't fix. He really went out of his way a lot to keep me alive out here.

No shower truck at church. (I have a shower on the boat, but I used the bucket I put my shower pump in to keep my backpack out of the water when I left. I'll figure something else out. Part of boat life is sometimes working with what you got.) New people have taken over. Inside. Usual prayer before we eat. Self service for food. Chicken enchiladas, baked Mac 'n Cheese, a killer salad, salsa, sour cream, beef chilli, bread, rice crispy treats... All home made! Some other various deserts, coffee with a few different creamers and sugar, tea if you're into that, bottled waters. Plenty for everyone to eat as much as they want.

It's a pretty good group that goes to this place. We're in a decent area of this broke county, and all of the usual nightmare homeless won't make the trek this far from downtown. Lots of friendly greetings, a few 'We tried looking for your boat to see if it was ok after the storm', a few questions about the trip. I tear this wonderful food up and thoroughly enjoy a couple cups of coffee. It ain't quite as strong as boat coffee, but I'm very grateful to be sitting in a chair comfortably drinking it at my leisure. That meal was exactly what I needed.

Me and friend bail out for a smoke. Some more chatting. I can feel our friendship going right back to normal. Back inside. They start calling names to run down the line picking out food pantry items to take with us. I don't have refrigeration yet on the boat so I usually stick to some bakery deliciousness from Publix. I always grab a thing of meat for my friend.

Another boater we know comes over talking about a little construction work he's got coming up, wants me to get in on it. This guy tends to party like we don't. Keeps it under raps for the most part, but I'll believe it when I see it. I tell him I'm bailing real soon for some work. Give him my number.

We're out. Back to the pier. Food in dinghy. Friend's got some business to tend to. We hang out. More catching up.

The reason he's using one pound propane cans on his dinghy motor is because he has old aluminum twenty pound tanks which are good on boats, but the hose that came with the motor doesn't fit right and leaks. He's got a bad freeze burn on his hand from attempting to hook one of his tanks up when he got the motor.

Him, "Hey do you mind if we try that hose on your propane tank and see if it leaks?" "Yeah man of course." I go use the bathroom at the library. Come back. "Hey if you're cool with it, and that hose works, you mind running me down to go see if my dinghy is still there and towing it back to the boat? We'll use my twenty pound tank. I'd much rather fix mine than buy a new one, especially with my current net worth." "Yeah we can do that." "Cool."

Of course, everything takes five times longer if there's a boat involved. The sun sets before he gets his stuff handled. Neither of us is gonna go out in the dark for what is a solid two hour dinghy ride to go hopefully get my dinghy.

Back down the pier. Into his dinghy. Out to his boat to get adapter hose. Over to my boat. Tank out of cockpit, up on deck. Hose attached. Valve open...

No leak! Success!

"As soon as you got time let's go see about my dinghy." "I got this trial, etc." "Yeah I get it. I'll put off work for a day, maybe two. But if it comes down to it I'm gonna blow that dinghy off and go make money." "Yeah..." "Let me know as soon as you can run me down there." "Yeah man. Will do." "Cool. Thanks man!" "You're welcome." Off he goes back to his boat.

This is the first day since the flu hit that I can move anymore than bathroom breaks and eating ready to eat food. I still feel like shit, but I can remain upright for a while.

I open the boat up. Head down below. 'Musty in here.' Open hatches. The wind is dead calm. The water's been glass pretty much all week. 'You know what? I've got a freshly filled propane tank, and a heater in here. Fuck it. It's time to toast this boat and get some air circulating in here. Take tent light into cockpit. Hook twenty foot propane hose up to tank. I already had the other end hooked to the heater from when I hit the boat, just never finished the execution. I try to get the heater going. Pilot flame is small, won't stay lit after usual twenty second hold. Several tries later, 'Maybe some percussive maintenance will help. Where's that hammer? Right where it should be. Just the way I like it. 😁'

Holding knob down in pilot position, lightly tapping bottom of heater. Well, not too lightly. Just lightly enough to not damage it. Flame gets bigger with each solid tap and drops back down again. A few minutes of this it starts to stay big enough to heat the thermocouple that let's the gas flow to the burner. Pilot now staying lit on it's own. Everything goes out when I switch to heat mode. 'Hmmm thermocouple is probably stuck.' Grab screw driver. Get pilot going. Reach screwdriver through grate. Tap thermocouple a bunch of times. Turn knob. Hear gas, but pilot is still not as big as it should be to get heater going...

Woooosh! Heater fires up. 'Might've lost a few hairs on that one. 😆' Heater burns off general salt funk from fire brick. Operates flawlessly. It's done this thing where it will run great for about twenty minutes and then make squealing noises and shut down. I've learned how to tear it apart and clean it out and get it running good again. I'm hoping having an actually full twenty pound tank, instead of the fifteen you get when you swap one out will force this thing to act right. I haven't fired it up since last winter.

All was well. I shut it off after about an hour and a half. It's not actually cold in the boat, but it was nice to be toasty for a while and relax.

Got all my hodgepodge self wired lights going in the boat. Solar system seems to be doing a good job still. Got some tunes going. 'Bout to burn one of my last few Winstons...

Hopefully boat checks, battery maintenance, and leak cause determination tomorrow.

And, if I'm really lucky, getting my dinghy back in the next day or two...

Just fired the heater back up for a test. Works like the day I bought it.

looking for a friend.!

So this is something that I have thought about for a while now but circumstances have made it seem like the best option for me. I'm about to break up with my girlfriend because we have both grown apart and it is a bigger burden on our mental state living together than seperating. I don't really have anywhere else I can go and I don't want to spend the ridiculous amounts of money required to rent even a small apartment. Especially since I don't want to live where I'm at and I have no idea where I would. So I have a car that is in great shape and payed off as well as well as the financial stability to where I won't have to really worry about money. I am a college student and I have about a year left and it's all online so that wouldn't be difficult to manage. With all of that being said, I plan on moving the majority of my things into a storage unit and what I can't I will leave at a buddies place. I plan on taking with me clothes I would need for whatever weather and things to sleep in my car with. I also play the guitar and am pretty good at playing and singing so I figured since I can't live without that I might as well try busking every now and then. I don't have a particular place I'd go just a cardinal direction. I just want to experience and learn to get in touch with myself again because I feel like I have lost sight of myself these past two years. It's the most depressed I've been since getting out of the military. Traveling and meeting people both good and bad is what I live for. Any advice, questions, or critiques would be appreciated.

Wait one minute and I'll bring you a package out back. don't be a bitch and peel out in the lot while I have your fee food. Gall

So I finally get around to going to the Jesus House. They serve breakfast and lunch. Substantial, filling meals. You can take a white box with you with an entire meal to go as well.

No preaching. Prayer, if you're there early enough. It's not required and it's short.

....

Ate my first breakfast there this AM.

Best coffee ever (tastes like Cuban Coffee!!)

Orange juice.

Cereal.

Breakfast sandwich similar to McDs. (McMuffins w/egg and cheese).

Hash browns.

Wow!!

....

Went back for lunch.

Apparently someone has been putting empty alcohol bottles in the port-o-let.

Big speech upcoming.

I'm prepared to roll my eyes.

Battering of the battered incoming.

NOPE!

......

It was pure love. The preacher/head (I'm not sure who he is, but he's in charge and it's his ministry) tells everyone how much he loves them. How he appreciates us being there. What a blessing it is to have us. No self-aggrandizing going on.

None.

He recognizes the fact that nobody will catch this person.

A simple request.

If you see needles or alcohol in the port-o-let, please let staff know.

Then someone from the staff will retrieve it out of the toilet.

If not, the people who pay for the toilet won't do it anymore (not sure if it's because of extra charges or potential refusal of service).

This man compassionately states that in order to serve meals inside, there must be a restroom available. If not the meals will have to be served outside. If that happens, they will still feed, but not on extremely cold or rainy days. (Kind of the same days I wouldn't be eating outside anyways.)

I was simply amazed by his genuine love for his sheep (I'm not sure what to call us.)

So when they went thru the simple prayer, I almost teared up.

I saw him and two volunteers near where the drinks were passed out. I spoke to both of the volunteers, but couldn't bring myself to thank him for his kindness and tenderness. I was still choked up.

....

I've never seen anything like this before.

He didn't berate the beaten down.

He just loved us and explained the facts.

He didn't want anything from us, but a little heads up before the port-o-let guy finds something else.

If you're ever in Odessa, TX and need a substantial meal, the Jesus House delivers. In more ways than one.

My last trip was all Machu Picchu, Peruvian coca leaves, and unfathomably beautiful Latinas with gorgeous personalities. Where to next? I have slummed in Madagascar and Afghanistan. I have lived the high life in New York, London, and Dubai. I'm poor and know how to do whatever I want. Where to next?

I was looking in r/runaways and I saw a post and I got curious now im wondering the same thing is it possible to trainsurf from Florida to Chicago how if not then what are other cheap ways

The trains don't seem great out here. Figured I'd make a post before thumbing it. Any fellow tramps headin out west?

A homebum girl gave this to me the day I got back for bumming her a cigarette.

Long time lurker here. I love reading everyone's posts. It has become part of my daily wind down routine. Your individual stories are intriguing and leave me with more questions than answers. Maybe that's why I keep coming back.

I respect your lifestyles, but it's difficult for me to relate because I have been extremely fortunate to have been provided and eventually earn stable food and shelter throughout my life.

Don't get me wrong. There are days where I feel like my head will explode at my corporate job. After all.. we didn't evolve to work behind a computer. That's why I take regular sabbaticals to complete extensive through hikes around the country. Again I realize I'm very fortunate to have the ability to take time off and hike in the woods for an extended time.

But I still have to wonder...

How did folks end up here?

The stories I read are motivating and most seem like bright individuals, but I feel like most of what I read on here is superficial. I mean god damn I crave being outside and love the experience of a 2 week backpacking trip in the Mountains... but at the end of the day most of the time is physically unpleasant and uncomfortable...however the accomplishment and mental grind feels

I think it would be more meaningful if folks open up talk about hardships in the present and past. I would love to have an understanding of your traumas that lead to your current situations.

There was a time that I would look down on someone living a life like yours. However, things have changed in the past year 2 years. My partner was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, and the horrors I have witnessed/ abuses I have been subject to have altered the way I view the world.

Now I see a stranger walk by and wonder if they are carrying and unseen burden like me.

What's yours?

Passing through LA in a few days from San Diego. Last time I stayed there I ended up sleeping between some trees and somebody's backyard fence by a hwy overpass but there was lots of tweakers and aggressive ppl around. If anyone knows any areas that would be chill for me to camp w my motorcycle (stashed in the bushes or something), that would be tight. Also I'm not really familiar w LA so if there's any areas I should avoid I'd appreciate a heads up

Thought I was going to be homeless after this week. But turns out there is a small condo not being used and I've been lucky enough to be given access. I am now good through February, but march remains a mystery. There's a chance I could stay, and a chance someone else will be taking it over.

End of march is the main goal. I will be hitting the road asoon as it warms up. Gear is ready and the only thing holding me back is the winter. I will be living an entirely different lifestyle and I'm smart enough to know that doing it during winter in Canada is a foolish decision.

The place itself it nice. Very small place not that that means anything. I am here in a high rise and happier then I pig in shit. I'm very grateful and was not expecting this. Kinda came out of the blue. To me this is luxury living. There is a small pool, sauna, gym and even a pool table. This is a hell of alot different then I expected to happen this week. But here we are.

I definitely went to the sauna and pool tonight. Absolutely awesome. I also now have somewhere I can breath. It's been nothing but drama and hate at the last place I was at. I really needed this!