Thinking about becoming one of portlands homeless - need advice (Astoria: home, buying)

[alexxiz]

Originally Posted by resident14

I am a 22 year old male living on Long Island NY. I used to live with both my parents in an apartment. 2 years ago my dad died in a car accident. Last month my mother died of lung cancer. I moved into my aunts house. Now she is selling her house and moving to virginia (where some of our family lives). I have been to Virginia and I don't like it and wouldn't wish to live there if I had a choice but right now I have no other options. I have no college degree, I do have a few years of retail work experience. Basically I have no idea what direction to go in with my life right now. I want to live on my own somewhere and I have been researching different places and Portland seems like a cool place to settle down. Of course my problem with moving there is that I have no money. I came up with idea of flying to Portland with little money and being homeless at first and attempting to get a job and get a place to live from scratch, starting off with nothing. I realize this is a very far fetched idea that's why I want the opinion of some portland natives. Basically I wanna know if my idea just sounds insane and impossible or could it work?

any input is greatly appreciated.

I know people who went to Portland without a dime (by hopping trains too, so they didn't have to pay for plane tickets)... they lived in tents, in local woods, in summer.... left Portland when rains started...well being homeless in rainy and cold climate sucks big time and there're very few jobs in Portland, especially retail/non-professional stuff. If you just want an adventure, sure you can hop the train and see Portland (I hate Virginia, btw). I heard there're lots of oil-related jobs in South Dakota now, you perhaps could go there to save up some money for the start...

[Sprightly]

Originally Posted by alexxiz

If all listened to "Parental protector", America would never have been discovered.

Of course there should be a balance between responsibility/caution and seeking/adventure. But consider that the "parental protector" inside of those responsible for the Mayflower made sure they had enough food on the ship, that the ship was seaworthy and unlikely to sink, and that they had enough supplies to help them when they got where they were going. Maybe their parental protector side of themselves thought to bring oranges so they wouldn't get scurvy. Stuff like that sure sounds boring compared to Adventure(tm) but without it practical things don't get done and unnecessary bad stuff happens.

[alexxiz]

I wouldn't call basic self-preservation instinct a "parental protector"... I mean an average cat, dog or mouse can manage these affairs without even using logic.

[Sprightly]

Originally Posted by alexxiz

I wouldn't call basic self-preservation instinct a "parental protector"... I mean an average cat, dog or mouse can manage these affairs without even using logic.

But the OP is clearly showing a serious lack of basic self-preservation instinct. He's setting himself up to have a very real chance of being homeless. If his natural self-protection instincts were in order he wouldn't even consider it.

[alexxiz]

Originally Posted by Sprightly

But the OP is clearly showing a serious lack of basic self-preservation instinct. He's setting himself up to have a very real chance of being homeless. If his natural self-protection instincts were in order he wouldn't even consider it.

May be being homeless is not so bad... may be being stuck with rent, mortgage, insurance, HOA, etc is worse. A lot of people on the streets believe this. May be times spent living in a tent will be the best time of life to remember..

[PinkString]

I would recommend the OP moving to Virginia with his Aunt. Getting some work, save enough for a few years of living expenses, and then move to Portland if he really wants to by then.
A place cannot make you unhappy. It's a state of mind. Good luck whatever you decide to do Resident14.

[MaryleeII]

You don't decide to become homeless, its something that happens. I tell my kids (ages 14 & 15), never become poor, its eay to slide down, but almost impossible to come back out.

What's so awful about Virginia?I think its living with your aunt that is bothering you, not the state. At your age, 22, its only reasonalbe to want to get out, and be on your own, but do so with a plan, don't just plan to be poor.



Also, on the practical side, homeless anywhere have a difficult time finding work. Any employer, from MCD on up, have high selection procedures (have you checked out the work & employment thread?). They expect you to have a local address at least get a cell phone. Google Homeless + job seeking, you will find a lot about problems the homeless face finding employment. Just a place to wash up, to be presentable for an interview, is a problem. You will need transportation, you can't get everywhere by bus.

My advice---stay with the aunt, save up your money, perhaps visit places first before you think you'd like to live there, make it an educated choice, not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Oh, BTW, you might pick up some credentials while staying with Aunt, perhaps a degree, or at least a 2-year degree, and/or some professional certifications, etc---good luck to you!

[MaryleeII]

Originally Posted by alexxiz

I know people who went to Portland without a dime (by hopping trains too, so they didn't have to pay for plane tickets)... they lived in tents, in local woods, in summer.... left Portland when rains started...well being homeless in rainy and cold climate sucks big time and there're very few jobs in Portland, especially retail/non-professional stuff. If you just want an adventure, sure you can hop the train and see Portland (I hate Virginia, btw). I heard there're lots of oil-related jobs in South Dakota now, you perhaps could go there to save up some money for the start...

My grandfather hopped a train from PA to Detroit, he managed to sneak into the cattle car. With no place to sit, he sat on top of a mule. The conductor discovered him and said you can't ride the train without a ticket. Grandpa replies "I'm not riding the train, I'm riding the mule" conductor gave up and left him alone!

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by alexxiz

May be being homeless is not so bad... may be being stuck with rent, mortgage, insurance, HOA, etc is worse. A lot of people on the streets believe this. May be times spent living in a tent will be the best time of life to remember..

You mentioned that any average cat or dog (or mouse) can "manage these affairs" without using much logic. Not entirely what you were referencing there, but most homeless dogs and cats don't live long and usually come to pretty terrible ends.

To the OP...you want out of where you live, that's understandable, but there are better ways to do this. Look up coolworks.com on the internet and apply for resort jobs; there are plenty of them in retail. Most of them offer employee housing. That will give you a chance to get some money saved that you can move somewhere without having to live on the streets. Best of luck to you.

[alexxiz]

Originally Posted by maryleeii

my grandfather hopped a train from pa to detroit, he managed to sneak into the cattle car. With no place to sit, he sat on top of a mule. The conductor discovered him and said you can't ride the train without a ticket. Grandpa replies "i'm not riding the train, i'm riding the mule" conductor gave up and left him alone!

lol