There have been many reactions to my recent article in the L.A. Weekly, running the gamut from vitriolic to exultant. Because Editor-in-Chief Sarah Fenske agreed to expand this into a feature piece, including a photo spread and twice as much text, this piece has gotten significantly more attention than my October 2013 article in the same publication. Before Thursday’s print release, the online article had over 1,000 Facebook likes/shares and scores of comments and reactions. While my bid to humanize those involved in the home-free “movement” may have debatable consequences, the expanded visibility of the viewpoint has been pleasing.

With that visibility, however, has come some opinions, both on my personal choices and the larger themes of the home-free lifestyle. These opinions have been voiced in comment sections on the online article, on my website, and on Facebook, as well as through personal messages to me. I’d like to give a little time to some of those opinions expressed by the public here, focusing on those posited on both the article’s page and on L.A. Weekly’s lively Facebook page (their post is dated July 29, for those keeping score at home).

A few general thoughts before I dive in. Foremost, I am flattered and impressed with how this article has been received. I take that not as a personal compliment, but rather as a willingness of large sample size of people to hear out a rarely voiced side of a familiar but misunderstood story. Most feedback has been constructive, thoughtful, and productive. For online, public comments fora, the input has been largely civil. Above all, I respect people’s right to opinion–even when it’s wrong;)–as long as it is done in a respectful manner. I’m delighted that we have that here.

That said, there are some serious detractors to the home-free lifestyle out there. I don’t see that as a bad thing. Winston Churchill put it best: “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

Let’s see what folks had to say:

1) From “tyrannosaur” on Ashley…
I would probably opt for a vehicle with a less-garish, lower-profile exterior. Mind you, the artwork on the fence in the first photo is just as bad, and that won’t drive away. Sooo, you are quietly hoping Ashley will ask you to move in?

First of all, that featured photo L.A. Weekly used in my article is not my truck. I asked for (and they respected) my desire to conceal my identity and the exterior appearance of my truck in order to maintain my anonymity. While I’m grateful for this decision, that photo is a bit misleading. Trust that my vehicle is kept clean and innocuous. Okay, whew!

No, Ashley won’t be asking me to move in:) While she is extremely supportive and we do enjoy each other’s company, neither of our lives are poised for that kind of commitment now. What’s funny is that I’ve written about my ex-girlfriend, Shani, asking me to move in with her in the year leading up to moving into the office, but I declined. Moving in with a lover should be the consequence of romantic imperatives, not financial ones. Fair question though!

2) A few comments regarding relocation…

a. from “biker”
I lived in a 1k apt from hell  in LA myself and lived in my car there, I sold my smashed car after some guy ran me off the road and moved a few states over. Cheap rent, you can find work and life’s better. I admire what your doing, but when you leave LA, you’ll find that you don’t have to live in your vehicle and be able to afford rent and find work. I left LA in 08 and have a nice inexpensive place to live since and the same job for 4 years now. Which I could never accomplish living in LA for 15 years. I was always broke, hungry and homeless. I may not be in the city with all its noise, sirens, garbage, traffic, like I came to know living there, I now have quiet, peace of mind, nature. I wish you the best of luck.

b. from “peisley”
If it’s a lifestyle choice as in this author’s case, then you can make other choices than live in your car.  Get roommates, live in a room in a house, have a space in exchange for providing caretaking, etc.  If you can be industrious with all your faculties intact, then there are alternatives.  Too  many homeless are mentally ill and need help.  Their welfare should be the top priority of any city, state or federal ordinances or laws.  I am not a home owner, but I do respect their rights.  They are the ones paying taxes to keep the neighborhoods as crime free, attractive and clean as possible.  You are not their neighbor just because you park on their street overnight.  If the rents are too high, then the city is probably not the one for you.  I hate the rise in rents as much as anybody, but when I can no longer afford a reasonably comfortable life here, or find that it’s just not worth the struggle anymore, then I’ll leave.

c. from Gabriel Olguin
People just need to live where they can afford not where they want.

d. from Jay Marcos M
I’m all for it… One shouldn’t have to relocate to undesirable areas because of the bullshit high cost for basic necessities

I’m in entertainment; I can’t sell scripts in Des Moines. Remote exceptions aside, Los Angeles is where I need to be to fulfill my ambitions. Biker, your point about choice is poignant, but doesn’t really apply to my career choices. Should one day I choose a different life for myself, you’re absolutely right.Peisley, you bring up a good point about how we define “neighbor”. Merriam-Webster defines this first as “one living or located near another”. Their second definition is “fellow man”. In these definitions, you are categorically wrong. I doubt you could argue that I am not living, nor could you say I am not located in a given place. Even less could you argue that I am not a fellow man. So what is it that makes me less of a neighbor?

What it sounds like–and this is strongly implied by Gabriel’s corroboration as well–is that you’re placing a different value judgment me versus a homeowner. That’s a dangerous proposition. Is a landowner more of a person than someone living in his vehicle? Is his opinion worth more than mine? I’m on public property. I’m acting respectfully, not breaking any laws. I do pay taxes, on my vehicle, on my income, on my food. And when I one day do own property and a home, I certainly won’t begrudge folks doing the same as I once did, on public property like I once did, because they’re not so fortunate as me to own a permanent structure with a door and some windows.

I agree that the welfare of those who are mentally ill need a whole lot more help than they’re getting now. I would fight passionately alongside you to achieve that. I don’t agree with your suggestions on how I should live. While there’s nothing wrong with folks who make those choices, for my personal preferences as protected by law, I happen to think your suggestions are lesser ways of living than the lifestyle I’m leading at the moment. That we can agree to disagree on. There are plenty of innovators, entertainers, and celebrities who lived without a home for some time. Would you compromise their contribution to our society because you’d have preferred them to live in your preferred way?

3) From Kenny J. Guzmán on… something…
parking tix

Um, yeah. Totes suck.

4) Two comments regarding the nomadic lifestyle…

a. from Mary Montoya Catt…
As long as you are happy there is nothing wrong in being a ‘Nomad”. I personally love camping and if they need fits you can rent a room for a good nights sleep and shower, and travel as you see fit. I admire your lifestyle and wish you well… stay safe out there.

b. from Briana J. Castaneda…
^in my opinion not everyone can handle this lifestyle. So very unlikely everyone would. As for me a nomadic lifestyle is liberating.

This lifestyle is most definitely not for everyone! There were some absurdists questioning if everyone decided to live like this. That’s hilarious. What if I decided to go to school for accounting and work 90 hour weeks during tax season? That’d be perfectly fine. But I wouldn’t be happy. This lifestyle provides me the flexibility I need at this point in my life. If it does for you too, great. If not, that’s great, too. Champion individuality. That’s where innovation is born.

5) Four comments regarding… molestation? Okay…

a. from John Meadows…
No. This doesn’t not (make sense to me). This is an annoying new trend. Filling neighborhoods with vans, RVs and other is wrong. My neighborhood is filling with these because of the parking laws. I cannot tell who the “regular” people are and who the potential “child molesters” are.

b. from Diana Langlume…
Why would u think just because someone is living in their car, van, motor home..that they might be a child molestor? Maybe they just can’t afford the out of control rents and housing prices. A child molestor, a sexual predator can be living INSIDE a home of their own, right in your neighborhood.

c. from Amy Lynn…
Not all child molesters or rapists live in vans and RV’S. Download an app that shows you all the sexual predators in your hood. Educate yourself before you judge. Im considering living in a van myself to save money but mostly because I want mobility and choice. Being stuck in sky high rent in Los Angeles? Forget it. I’ll take a van any day.

d. from Chris Hind…
john I hope they’re all child
molesters with your attitude

This is both hilarious and frightening. Unsightly vehicles effecting your property value is one thing, but child molestation? You obviously don’t know that 90% of children are molested by people they know (source). Not by Chris Farley’s SNL character. Please educate yourself before making broad statements like that. It waters down the productive discussion on this.

6) From Joseph Griffith on who’s really classless…
Parked piece of junk rvs parked in my neighborhood get their tires slashed and fuel syphoned 🙂

I only place this here to remind readers how dangerous ignorance is. Regardless of how you feel about your fellow humans, please treat them with respect. Joseph, for all you know we could be family friends and former business partners. Think about that.

7) A few simply flattering comments…
a. from Mychal Bohart…
I think its smart if you’re single and on your grind. Get a gym membership to shower and workout. Smart!

b. from Sally Miller…
Fantastic article! I would love to meet you in person. I’m totally fascinated and want to hear more!
Momos Cheeskos you have got to read this!

c. from Lisa Marie Mendez…
I love a man with minimalist ideas. Better than the guy caught in the rat race of having the most toys, and the biggest toy chest.

Watch out, ladies, I’m a heartbreaker. But seriously, thank you for expressing your support in this way. Many people never pursue their desires out of fear of lack of acceptance. Keep dispelling those myths!

8) From Jase Mack on efficiency…
Depending on your art, I would suggest living where you can actually afford a studio to develop your art. That way you’re not wasting most of your day on trivial bullshit.

Thank you for addressing this, Jase. As I continue to work through handling the trivial bullshit, I will consider the value of renting a studio. For now, my budget is tight and couldn’t handle such a luxury. That could change. I’m working very hard to change that. If and when it does, I’d take some kind of rented workspace into consideration. Until then, I’ll manage through my library and back-of-truck workspace areas:)

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I’ll consider adding to this as the issue continues to get attention. I appreciate everyone expressing their opinions in public. Even if we don’t agree it provides an opportunity to learn from one another. Thank you for taking an interest in this lifestyle and in my work.

–TOH

http://www.laweekly.com/informer/2014/07/29/i-choose-to-live-in-my-car-in-la