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No offense OP, but you seem more than a little bit off to me. You may enjoy your hobo life, but in today's world and specifically the USA this lifestyle is no longer feaseable and most likely is dangerous. The days when one could do this in the past are long gone, and even then those who chose this lifestyle were ridiculed and chased out of towns, and very often severely beaten by locals and law enforcement as incentive to get moving.
I can see why a person might like the idea of running away from the typical life in suburbia, but it is completely unrealistic now. If you want to get away from everything, buy a small piece of land far away from everyone and live how you want to on it. Or be a full-time RVer, many people do that with very small campers. But please do not advocate the thrills and joys of jumping trains and such...things like that could get someone killed trying it, and it is highly illegal. I just pray anyone reading your suggestions to live this way have more sense than you do.
Again, no offense...but you are suggesting a dangerous lifestyle as a wonderful way of living and in reality it is a lifestyle of last resort. I would rather live in a homeless shelter should my life sink that low.
No offense OP, but you seem more than a little bit off to me. You may enjoy your hobo life, but in today's world and specifically the USA this lifestyle is no longer feaseable and most likely is dangerous. The days when one could do this in the past are long gone, and even then those who chose this lifestyle were ridiculed and chased out of towns, and very often severely beaten by locals and law enforcement as incentive to get moving.
I can see why a person might like the idea of running away from the typical life in suburbia, but it is completely unrealistic now. If you want to get away from everything, buy a small piece of land far away from everyone and live how you want to on it. Or be a full-time RVer, many people do that with very small campers. But please do not advocate the thrills and joys of jumping trains and such...things like that could get someone killed trying it, and it is highly illegal. I just pray anyone reading your suggestions to live this way have more sense than you do.
Again, no offense...but you are suggesting a dangerous lifestyle as a wonderful way of living and in reality it is a lifestyle of last resort. I would rather live in a homeless shelter should my life sink that low.
"It's coming back. It comes back every generation," Texas said. "There's always going to be somebody with that wanderlust."
The Raw Story | Modern hobos still ride on (http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Modern_hobos_still_ride_on_07232007.html - broken link)
Probably more dangerous for women to try this. What would they be called anyway? Hoboettes?
My friend, Pam, with two 4-yr college degrees, dropped out of our wonderful society back in the 80's and has made homelessness her way of life.
For her, it's perfect. She can spend all day at the library, from opening until closing, and never get bored. And she moves around the country by weather. Summer time, she's up North, Winter time, she's down South.
She knows every in and out, the best places, the worst place to be homeless.
Sometimes, when and if she calls, if she catches me on a bad day, I have to say, it's tempting to renounce my job and possessions and join her.
I wish there were trial areas of every city for those that have always flirted with this lifestyle, like try it for a night or two.
Being a hobo is a choice mainly for the rich and very poor. But how many times have people said there's an afinity between the poor and the rich?
Freedom is their choice. But not the stuckees, the middle class!
My friend, Pam, with two 4-yr college degrees, dropped out of our wonderful society back in the 80's and has made homelessness her way of life.
For her, it's perfect. She can spend all day at the library, from opening until closing, and never get bored. And she moves around the country by weather. Summer time, she's up North, Winter time, she's down South.
She knows every in and out, the best places, the worst place to be homeless.
Sometimes, when and if she calls, if she catches me on a bad day, I have to say, it's tempting to renounce my job and possessions and join her.
I wish there were trial areas of every city for those that have always flirted with this lifestyle, like try it for a night or two.
Being a hobo is a choice mainly for the rich and very poor. But how many times have people said there's an afinity between the poor and the rich?
Freedom is their choice. But not the stuckees, the middle class!
Anyone could choose to try out being homeless - just go out and try it. There is no reason for the middle class to not choose a wandering lifestyle if they wanted to.
I've been following this thread and it seems to me that many folks are talking about a nomadic lifestyle.
Hoboes by definition have no means of livelihood (ie no pension, ss, etc) and are homeless for that reason, sometimes by choice, sometimes not.
Nomads have have some income source (small or large) and choose to scratch that wanderlust itch. I can see a retiree becoming a nomad by choice, but I can't conceive that they'd deliberately choose to live without an income source. Why would a retiree *choose* that? But if a retiree wants to spend their SS and/or any pensions, savings, wandering the earth, that's a valid lifestyle and more power to them.
Rita Golden Gelman chose to become a nomad and wrote a great book about it; she also has a website.
I've been following this thread and it seems to me that many folks are talking about a nomadic lifestyle.
Hoboes by definition have no means of livelihood (ie no pension, ss, etc) and are homeless for that reason, sometimes by choice, sometimes not.
Nomads have have some income source (small or large) and choose to scratch that wanderlust itch. I can see a retiree becoming a nomad by choice, but I can't conceive that they'd deliberately choose to live without an income source. Why would a retiree *choose* that? But if a retiree wants to spend their SS and/or any pensions, savings, wandering the earth, that's a valid lifestyle and more power to them.
Rita Golden Gelman chose to become a nomad and wrote a great book about it; she also has a website.
According to the definition offered at the beginning of the thread, a hobo does work and thus does have an income. A tramp and a bum don't work.
If one chooses this lifestyle and is not forced into it by being unable to gain a sufficient income, then there's nothing wrong with the choice as long as they don't choose to become a criminal as well. It is people who are forced into it and cannot find another way out despite being willing to work or if they are truly unable to work that deserve sympathy and help.
You sure you know hoboing. I remember the hobos when I was a kid. They bascially live off the generosity of others. They even had the homes where they could get a meal picked out .Bascially they are traveling what used to be called bums.I remember talking to them on the front porch while my mopther fixed them food.Many had been soldier during WWII and had probelms including alcoholism. Now days you couldn't trust anyone like you did then.
The bums of yesterday are not the 'homeless' of today.
The bums of yesterday are not the 'homeless' of today.
That's true. The bums of yesterday are all dead.
The bums of today are the homeless of today.
However, because someone choses not to have a permanent address does not make him a bum or homeless.
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Have a good woman friend who's homeless
