Ok, so I'm not actually homeless, but for 5-6 months out of each summer I do take up residence in the back of my truck. In fact, I actually do own a home. Unfortunately, I don't actually get to live in it all the time. I guess you could say that I own a vacation property.
My vacation property just happens to be a 2001 Toyota Tacoma. The camper shell on top of the truck allows me to live in it during the summer. Inside the camper shell I have my bed and all the essentials for camping out. This includes a half-shelf in the bed of my truck for storing really important items such as my climbing gear.
Many questions may arise on how one lives in the back of a truck all summer. These questions may include: what do you do for entertainment, where do you shower, and where do you go to the bathroom? Let me answer a few of these questions.
So, what do I do for entertainment while living out of the back of my truck? Of course you can't have a TV back there, but I don't even have a TV in my real home so I don't miss it too much. Sometimes I need to get on the internet to check my email, update my fbook status, or write in my "it's all about me" blog. All hotels that you go to nowadays have wireless internet, right? That's where you'll find me, parked next to some hotel in the front seat of my truck bumming internet. Sounds a bit creepy, I know, but what's a guy to do. I could just go to Starbucks because they now offer free internet but then i'd feel obligated to actually buy something. Being that I can be cheap sometimes, (there is a reason I am slightly homeless) I don't feel like buying a coffee just so I can use the internet.
Where do I take a shower? Most of the time I will just take a shower at our station. However, this can be a bit of hassle so I don't exactly take a shower everyday. Yes, I may smell a little bit sometimes but that sort of goes along with the whole homeless image. The homeless image is also enhanced by the wonderful beard I grow each summer.
What about going to the bathroom? I'm a guy, the world is my urinal. For more pressing bathroom needs I can just dig a hole, or if i'm feeling especially civilized I can use the restroom at the station or at the local Safeway. Nothing quite like the looks you get when you walk into the Safeway, use the restroom and walk straight out without so much as pretending to browse the store.
For all the downfalls of living in the back of your truck, there are some amazing advantages. For example, you go to the bar and you have too much to drink. No reason in driving out to your campsite and risking a DUI. Just crawl into the back of your truck in the bar parking lot. You're going to sleep back there anyways. There is nothing quite like waking up and crawling out of your truck in the bar parking lot a few times to make you feel like a complete dirtball. Other advantages include witnessing the great sunrises and sunsets, noticing the changes in the weather, and sleeping under a comfy down sleeping bag during the cool nights. You never really experience these things if your living in an actual house.
So, if you are looking for a little change in your life, let me suggest trying to live out of the back of your truck for a while. It's just like a very extended camping trip.
