This is the strangest vagabond I've met---has a powered wheelchair---saw him twice wheeling around Deming, NM. He must have some place to plug in to recharge. I regret not getting a fuller story of his lifestyle. He was scary to look at as his face was partially covered by a dirty mask. I remind myself that life is as precious to him as to any of us. He has places to go things to do--needs to meet.
You may remember this guy from an earlier post. He chatted with me beside a busy highway. He too has a life---with goals to pursue---and a dog that counts on him---and at that moment was hurring to find a culvert to settle in for the night.
Met this elegant lady in Boulder, Nv---(she really was elegant) living out of her shopping cart. She had dignity and poise--does it show in her stance? In the future we will provide a big wheeled LIFECART for people who wish to live this way--It would roll easier---have many accommodations--bed, cooking, cleaning etc---and a safe sheltered place to park for the night. It would cost society very little and make life so much richer for them. I vaguely remember that MIT once designed such a cart for the homeless. Anybody have info on that?
Met this guy in Outlaw Canyon, near Lake Havasu, Az. This is the best quick solution for comfortable, cheap mobility---If you already have a car---it can be "engineered" for comfortable living and you can right away chase your dream.
Here's a far out idea---this person apprantly rented a u-haul or stole one and ran away with it. I found him living in Outlaw canyon also.
Just one step up is a standard van with a bed in it. This is my friend Linda (previous blog entry) with her box of comfort items. She lives mostly outside at shelters and just sleeps in her van. She has lived this style for 10 years or so.
This van belongs to my friend Ryan--It is super comfortable and well designed---solar powered--standable---refrigerator equipped etc Check out his blog on www.newagenomad.blogspot.com
OOps---correction: it's www.newagenomad.com
And Oh yes----this was my style for five years---living in this stealthy cargo trailer---in many ways I miss it. Happily it is now owned by Kay---someone likely to appreciate it.
Meet Steve, He has done what so many have dreamed about---equipped a delivery van for comfortable living. He gave me a peek inside --comfortable and still a work in progress.
He gets amazing mileage. (diesel)
This gentleman traveler checks his toys. Notice, he carries a huge motorcyle and 2 ATV's in addition to his full sized trailer. Lots of folks want to take all their fun stuff with them.
RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES: What all these people-- and a million more--want--is:
FREEDOM FROM DRUDGERY
CONTROL OF THEIR TIME
TO EXPRESS THEIR CREATIVITY
EXPERIENCE THE NEW
BE SURPRISED
WE WANT ALIVENESS!!
However crudely or cleverly we seek it----that is what we want. What's more---it is what all humans want. Kudos to all of us who---so boldly--REACH FOR IT!
This might be the cart you're thinking of:
ReplyDeletehttp://edar.org/
Randy:
ReplyDeleteThough Michael's link certainly fits, because 'MIT' did not come up from a quick page search of that link, I did a general search for 'MIT cart homeless.'
What you're referring to came up as the first item on the search results page:
http://ct4ct.com/Krzysztof_Wodiczko
Thanks for getting back to what you do best.
ReplyDeleteThanks for getting back to what you do best.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shout out Randy. How ever thats not my link:)Its just www.NewAgeNomad.com
ReplyDeleteThanks Michael and John---Yes that's what I remember. It makes my point beautifully. Think how these carts could serve to bridge the idealogical differences between liberals and conservatives. Liberals want to assist the homeless and conservatives are willing IF IT CAN BE DONE CHEAPLY. This is one of the prime tenets of my philosophy. Our technology is such that no one need suffer for lack of shelter.
ReplyDeleteSo this guy has amazing rapid homeless shelter ideas, some of them cart based, some fixed. Not from MIT, but he used to work for Boeing, go figure. He also has, hands down, the best pickup truck camper shell set up I've ever seen. A couch, bed, closet,pantry, "running water", sink and stove in the bed of a pickup. Absolutely ingenious, one day I will copy it.
ReplyDeletehttp://highmileagetrikes.blogspot.com/index.html#8417092626865423862
Randy's "Big wheel lifecart" comment also reminded me of a post I saw on low tech magazine about Chinese wheelbarrow carts.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/12/the-chinese-wheelbarrow.html
These wheelbarrow carts were ingenious,and the backbone of transportation in China into the 1960's. With the large centrally placed wheel a load could be balanced perfectly, permitting the driver to only have to push and steer. Western wheel barrows with the smaller forward placed wheel requrie the operator to take half of the weight. The most ingenious thing about them though is the....sail. Seriously, why hasn't anyone else thought of that. Obviously you'd need the prevailing wind to be traveling in the right direction, but that blew me away. Of course, land-sails. Why not>