Did you think I would talk about “The Homeless”? That is way too controversial for this blog. I will avoid that one like the plague. Probably need to come up with another reference…the plague is too much like the Pandemic and I don’t want to go there either. Homeless in this article has to do with the displaced…like me. Of course this article has to be about me. Basically being narcissistic…how many ss are in narcissistic…that is a question for the “Power Thesaurus”. Its like spelling Albuquerque…never mind I need to get back on point. So after Kathy died I had to make a decision about our house. I reasoned that it made no sense for me to stay in that house. Too big, too many memories and the market was amazing. Simple…sell the house. Well that is done. What does that mean? It simply means that I am now homeless. The good news is that I now have 4 places to stay. Each one of our four children have made a place for me at their homes. Robert/Bobby and Theresa first…Bob works from home and he immediately moved out of his office and gave that room to me. Its awesome and has a very comfortable bed and a nice flat screen TV. Marti purchased a fifth wheel and turned it over to me. It has all the comforts. Nancy and Gary in Philadelphia have turned over Gary’s Man Cave to me. Again I am surrounded by Sports Memorabilia and a huge flat screen TV. It has a separate bathroom just for me. It is like my own apartment. Jeff and Melita also moved Jeff out of his office and gave that space to me. Not only does that have a comfortable bed but they also put a large flat screen TV in there as well. So technically I have gone from Homeless to Four Homes…instantly. This is all new to me. Kathy and I were together for over 53 years. Home was home and it was shared with Kathy and the kids until it was an empty nest with just me and Kathy. It was “Home” wherever it was. Now I don’t have that anymore and most of my “stuff” is in storage in Turlock.
Have you ever seen the George Carlin bit about him going on a trip and taking his stuff, then they go somewhere else and he has to decide what “stuff” to bring and what “stuff” to leave at his hotel. It actually is a very funny situation. I am feeling a bit like George. I have stuff, most of it comes with me but some of it stays behind. It is difficult to bring all my “stuff” wherever I go so some of it is left. Now I have stuff in Brentwood, Phoenix, Durham, Philadelphia and of course storage in Turlock . It is now a challenge to decide what “stuff” to bring and what “stuff” to leave behind. Then you acquire more “stuff”. This serves to exascerbate the entire situation. Then there is mail. I now have a new permanent address in Brentwood so that is where mail is sent. Bob is great about going over things with me as he receives them…bank accounts are easier today because you can bank on line and you can even make deposits with photographs and send them to the bank. This is amazing to me. One constant…at each location I have found a walking option that allows me to do the walk in all four places and I now know how far and where to go to get my 10,000 steps. The idea is that eventually I will decide where to live on a more permanent basis. That would mean that Bob and Jeff could reclaim their home offices, Gary could have his Man Cave back and Marti could find other uses or sell the Fifth Wheel. I am thinking that some time in 2022 I will be able to make a decision about a future home but in the meantime this homeless situation is really good. At the end of the day I don’t have to deal with, mortgages, utilities, reverse mortgages, garbage, water, home insurance, property taxes, leaf filters, roofing, landscapers or gardeners, heating and air conditioning, appliances, flooring, plumbing or home improvements of any kind. I do get to have Kaylie with me in Brentwood and Durham. Hard to travel with her to Philly or Phoenix. Once I land somewhere I will be able to have her with me all the time.
My situation is incredible. My family is incredible…the kids and the grand kids and the great grand daughter. My homeless life is full and wonderful. I miss Kathy more than I can say but, for me, our children have made my homelessness awesome.
Here are the decisions that I have to make. When to get up, when to shower and shave, when to get dressed, when to eat and where to walk, when to walk, what to watch on TV, when to Blog, where to travel, what to eat, when to eat, when to go to bed, what bills to pay, what sporting events to attend and what to do about growing and promoting the blog. What health insurance to have, what prescription drug program, what dentist, a Vet for Kaylie and a Groomer and if I am going to continue to be a member of Costco. To make sure that my laptop, phone, airpods and fitbit are charged, what music to listen to on the walk and what, if anything, I need to buy on the internet. Eventually I will deliberately complicate everything by finding a permanent place to live and all that goes with that, but for now life is pretty uncomplicated.
