HOW TO FIND THE BOTTOM OF A CITY

FOLLOW A VAGRANT TO HIS "HOME."

Saw that guy pushing a shopping cart---grabbed my camera and decided to follow him to his lair. 

It wasn't easy--he moved rather swiftly---leaning on his cart and scooting along faster than I walk. (plus he had a good wind behind him) 

 I actually lost sight of him but found the place his cart left the pavement----a well traversed path as you can see.

 

 

 There he is! I recognized the hat. I tried to talk to him--but he would not---simply pointed to a fellow vagrant nearby--I gathered he couldn't speak English.

 

 I quickly snapped a shot of his dwelling.

 

 Then engaged his companion--who got up from his chair with a knife in his hand. Using my poor Spanish I told him I was just checking on him.  Asked if he had food and water.  He relaxed---said he was ok. Asked me if I wanted him to move (vamos)--I said no: (esta bien)

 

 Then I went back to check out a fork I noticed in the trail.

 

Followed it to its end point here.  Wondered why.

 

It lead to this hole in the ground----nothing in it now.  I puzzled awhile till the truth dawned on me: This is a cold weather sleeping hole---shelter from bitter winter winds. 

 Searched the area for other shelters.  This one also likely an abandoned winter quarters.

 

 

 

 This one still being used.

 This, a fairly substantial shelter---a black tarp covered frame secured by rope.

Moved cautiously to it's entrance---said a loud hello.  No response. Went to the door but did not look in.

 put my camera in the entrance and took this fuzzy shot.  IMAGINE MY SURPRISE A FEW MINUTES AGO WHEN I LOADED THESE SHOTS INTO MY COMPUTER AND NOTICED THAT BODY.  (As in the movie "Blow Up" when a photographer discovers on developing his film he has captured the image of a body).  Look carefully and you can see the person--bare armed--lying on his right side.  I have no notion whether he is dead or alive---he did not answer my hello---And I'm now 50 miles away in another city.  Oh well. 

 

 RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  This is the bottom of the city---I daresay every sizable town has a similar one.  To find it--follow a vagrant. Granted it is a low order of existence---but with just a few tiny services it could upgrade to a shanty town---and I approve of shanty towns.  One can live comfortably in a shanty---can design it yourself---make it cozy and serviceable.  It's HUGE advantage is that it avoids rent---a major enslaver of humanity. (average American spends 47% of take home pay for housing)  Every city should set aside free land for shanty towns.  Portland Oregon has made a stab at it with Dignity Village.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dignity_Village