Being Homeless Is Now Illegal

 People caught out by Trumps executive order making it illegal to be homeless are scrambling to hide and it makes me feel sick. The house search is still ongoing and I pray we don't end up homeless ourselves. If you don't mind a badly worn out house in need of major renovation there are plenty. If you want to afford something move in ready under 200k you’d have to move to the northern parts of the tri-state area towards Canada. I have no problem with that idea but it’s an all day drive to and from to go to a showing. In another few weeks we will wind down our search as colder weather creeps closer. The one thing we don’t want to do is move in the middle of winter, but anything is possible. 

It’s unbelievable we are nearing the end of the summer season, it all went so fast. My husband is clearly ready to retire but is trying to hold off until we move. The whole thing is a scary thought for numerous reasons but what we are doing is well thought out and we have spent the last ten years in preparation. There is the obvious income decrease along with losing medical insurance with ours being tied to his employer for starters. I think he should retire while he has good health and as in our past we will get through whatever comes. The political upheaval here in the states only adds to the anxiety. A few years ago my adult children were busy living their lives, now I have one working and living in his truck, another living here, and another on the verge of the same with children. Never in my life did I ever expect to live long enough to see the United States be flushed down the toilet and homelessness be called “illegal.” 

 

Trying to distract myself, I picked up my cameras and have been giving them a good cleaning. There are three and they are dated like me. I discovered photography by chance many years ago in 2011. When I got my first camera phone it fascinated me I could capture and preserve moments in life. I’ve also always been an avid artist so maybe that added to my photography passion. Life is such a short window how can I not search out and capture the beauty of it. Autumn is the season I am both most physically active and out snapping photos of the brilliant colors, you have been warned. Our end of September trip back to camp for four days of fall foliage and quiet time we are both very much looking forward to. 

The before mentioned topics aside, I have yet to fill the uncomfortable daily gap of not working outside the home. I clean more, I cook more, and my mind wanders as I try to stay busy. There is also a bit of a weight gain shift I need to be mindful of daily. I’ve been staving off a feeling of low self worth and depression that stands at the ready to take over if I’m not vigilant. Seeing my children struggling these last months hurts my heart and I feel guilty as both a mother and wife. Now that I’m not at work it’s left me with zero people to talk to, something I didn’t think would impact me much but it obviously is doing so. Outside of our jobs my husband and I keep to ourselves. We have always been content with doing our socializing at work, I have no doubt once my husband retires he’s going to struggle not seeing his friends of over a decade. Growing old is scary as hell to put it politely. 

I’m sitting here feeling as if I am babbling on, but I like to keep my transparency. If that makes me boring so be it. The daily family dynamic here has also been a challenge. My son is finding it difficult living at home and voices he is a failure, though I try to tell him it’s much to do with current economics. My husband understandably isn’t finding it pleasing either but he understands why there are three of us here. It’s sad how western culture tosses out family members and the aging population like unwanted trash. My culture being partly Hispanic you don’t do such things. Generations of family in some form will live together not only for financial reasons but also to care for each other. 

The current political administration in America is having an impact on everyone and anxiety amongst residents living here is a new normal. The next few years can’t go by fast enough. For now we will keep our head down and try to get through the constant political and economic fallout. The holiday week we spent away at camp in our own off grid cabin unplugged was pure bliss because there was no tv, nothing digital, no news. I’d give anything to be able to afford to buy a large similar property and move us and our loved ones into a family community setting. A larger home or similar smaller ones on a plot of land would be ideal. Of all the money spent by this country, nobody should be homeless nor kicked while down because they end up that way.