Camp Time
Mike presents his first improvised dwelling, a "camp" site created to accommodate his overnight stays in the Clintonville district of Columbus, Ohio.
This is Mike George coming at you live on assignment — or really, “on location” at camp. I’m coming at you from a little dwelling I made for myself in an undisclosed location in Columbus, Ohio, or thereabouts.
A big part of me always wanted to achieve building a camp as a milestone during this sabbatical I’m spending “on tour.” Some people might call these 'homeless camps' or 'homeless shelters,' but I call it my dressing room!
Originally, I had a rule that I didn't want a dwelling to worry about maintaining, because that becomes a liability. I didn’t want to throw away the freedom I stumbled upon when I became “homeless” — the freedom to go wherever you want and just drift, without reporting back to a wife, kids, or anyone else.
However, the grass is always greener on the other side… Nowadays, I find myself craving the boring, professional mundanity that I used to hate 6 years ago.
Exercising My Market Elasticity
It’s presently the dog days of summer, about 25 degrees (80°F) with decent humidity. Honestly, why even bother finding a place right now? I’m riding the market and playing 'Mr. Stingy Consumer' until housing prices go down, using my 'market elasticity' — which is basically me not giving a f*** about sleeping on the streets if it means I don't have to pay $1,800 a month!
I was doing some mental math on how much rent I’ve saved over the last 20 to 24 months. My former place in Olde Towne East on Oak Street was $1,500 per month for a 2-bedroom, which was a bargain for downtown. You won't find that these days. I’m essentially getting the same brick walls I paid for back then - but for free, complete with overgrown vines!
Tour of the Space
"I have to keep my voice down because I am located right behind a business, and it's after 18:00. I’m proud of this spot, even though it was accidental. I’m not trying to set up a permanent camp. If I had a partner or a 'gang of minions' to rotate responsibilities for watching the stuff, I’d have more freedom to run errands or work without worrying about leaving my “home” unattended.
Welcome to my beautiful McMansion! I love this space. I’ve only been here for about 24-48 hours, and I haven't seen any indication that anyone has noticed me.
Oh shit — a car just pulled right up! Let’s see if we catch any exciting shit for the kids. I’m technically trespassing on this business’s property, and I don’t want to give away details because 'KAREN' might be watching.
You can’t trust KAREN. Once in Natchez, Mississippi, a hotel manager found my live broadcast from a suite I’d broken into and told me never to come back.
There is no running water, plumbing, or electricity here, which is ironic because we are right next to an electrical substation, just behind a dumpster. I’m usually not here during high-traffic periods; I mostly use this locale for overnights. I’ve lined the space with old magazines and newspapers to create a lining.
Free Resources for Those on the Streets
"I’m embracing these temporary 'popup homes,' though it takes a lot of energy to do this repeatedly while still trying to get my 'day shit' done.
If you want to see more, check out my video library, “Open Mike" LIVE” on my website. I also have a link available for the Street-SMART app. It’s a geocaching-style tool where users share useful spots like free wi-fi hotspots, public restrooms, free meals throughout the community, and microwaves available for general use.
Microwaves are a big one. It’s one thing to get a free lasagna from a food pantry, but it’s another to find a place to cook it! Convenience stores aren’t always an option; they can be stingy if they spot you as “homeless."
Shoutout to Angela! I love these red glasses; they're yours, baby! I fall in love with anything in red.
I’m going to go get some food now. I hope wherever you are camped out, the sun is shining on you. This upcoming weekend should be chill compared to the prior onslaught of activity from Pride, the 4th of July, and the Columbus Jazz & Ribs Festival.
Take care of yourselves and each other. Remember to always respect the land you live on, whether it’s stolen land from the natives or stolen land from a shisha place in Clintonville!
