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Many older Americans are living a desperate, nomadic life
Marketwatch.com ^ | March 10. 2018 | Richard Eisenberg

Posted on 03/10/2018 7:11:58 PM PST by ilovesarah2012

In her powerful new book, “Nomadland,” award-winning journalist Jessica Bruder reveals the dark, depressing and sometimes physically painful life of a tribe of men and women in their 50s and 60s who are — as the subtitle says — “surviving America in the twenty-first century.” Not quite homeless, they are “houseless,” living in secondhand RVs, trailers and vans and driving from one location to another to pick up seasonal low-wage jobs, if they can get them, with little or no benefits.

(Excerpt) Read more at tiny.iavian.net ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: elderly
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To: vpintheak

I’m not going anywhere soon...my husband is 6 yrs on oxygen 24/7, COPD among other things. We did have RV 14-15 yrs ago. However, I would NOT tow anything or drive anything above a Class B now. We have Truck that I hate to drive, and small car. Any travel will be down the road, sometime, God willing.

Thanks for faith in me...lol


81 posted on 03/10/2018 10:50:37 PM PST by Ambrosia (Southern born... NC, and have lived in PA, NY,WV,SC, NM, FL, NC....Love USA!)
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To: entropy12

That’s why family is so important, and by that, I mean an extended family who are there for financial as well as support for other things in life.


82 posted on 03/10/2018 11:01:39 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: Ambrosia
We do both. We have a Victorian era money pit.

We also have a couple of Mercedes Benz Unimogs set up for overland travel. This winter we have been doing our off road exploring on our Skidoo Expedition.

Combination of staying put and nomadic.

When we go full nomad at times it's to the REAL boonies where you see very few people if any.

Search by Unimog and camper or motorhome. We have a radio van 404 and a Zeppelin NATO radio shelter on a U1300L.

The negative writer and a few others are totally clueless, and I hope they stay that way as we don't need morons like them in the boonies.

83 posted on 03/10/2018 11:14:19 PM PST by Mogger
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To: waterhill

What was the company? Sounds interesting :)


84 posted on 03/10/2018 11:43:57 PM PST by Freedom56v2 (#KATE'SWALL Build it Now)
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To: Hodar

Sounds like my in-laws NOMADS = Nice Old Methodists Avoiding Deep Snow.


85 posted on 03/10/2018 11:45:57 PM PST by Valpal1 (I am grown weary.)
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To: Mogger

ROFL... I got that, and I live in the Boonies now. I will look Unimogs up, thanks. If you have any more advice, let me know.


86 posted on 03/10/2018 11:53:28 PM PST by Ambrosia (Southern born... NC, and have lived in PA, NY,WV,SC, NM, FL, NC....Love USA!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

It’s all a matter of perspective.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9zdQL6dvOI


I was intrigued by this video as I would like to do a tour of US lower 48 in a RV.

However, With all due respect, as a lifestyle choice, they only lasted 14 months before moving into a condo in Portland. So sadly, the video they initially posted really is very misleading.

Really was rooting for them.


87 posted on 03/11/2018 12:34:54 AM PST by Freedom56v2 (#KATE'SWALL Build it Now)
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To: Freedom56v2

http://www.holderconstruction.com/

I just looked them up. Looks like they are still running strong.

Hmmm...


88 posted on 03/11/2018 12:40:00 AM PST by waterhill (I Shall Remain, in spite of __________.)
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To: ilovesarah2012

I have a friend who has no savings.
I worry about him.

He lives in an RV park, works 2 day a week there to get his fees waived, and some odd jobs for cash.
He’s happy but no cushion if something goes wrong, which seems inevitable as he gets older.
The RV park life looks pretty good to me, but I don’t have a lot of insight to how it really is.


89 posted on 03/11/2018 3:37:27 AM PDT by Mount Athos (A Giant luxury mega-mansion for Gore, a Government Green EcoShack made of poo for you)
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To: WilliamCooper1

Quit blaming the homeless.

Federal Reserve POVERTY
No Tariff, “Free Trade” POVERTY

Thomas Jefferson:

“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up HOMELESS on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people.

D


90 posted on 03/11/2018 4:10:06 AM PDT by TheNext
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To: vette6387

Oh, I hear ya. And to make it worse, the Feds cover pensions that private companies couldn’t cover via the government backed Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.


91 posted on 03/11/2018 4:23:55 AM PDT by neefer (We're walking real proud and we're talking real loud again.)
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To: caver

Another story about people making poor life choices.

This is an elitist book, written by an elitist woman, for the elites, to tell everyone how bad it is for the seniors living in what they believe is abject poverty.
If one is an avid camper you will meet those who do this not because they have to, but because they want to. I know friends who have been all over the country working small jobs to pay their way. Picking fruit, doing odd jobs to park their camper for free and make a few bucks along the way. Once again the liberal has gone and cherry picked a few who do this because they have to not because they want to.


92 posted on 03/11/2018 5:02:07 AM PDT by lucky american (Progressives are attac Iking our rights and y'all will sit there and take it.)
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To: rlmorel; ripnbang

// Comes around every time a non-Democrat is elected President. //

Yes, it does, as well as the interpretation that it is a bad thing vs (for some, at least) a positive. For some this lifestyle is desirable, they use it to help others with various projects, and there are books & blogs devoted to the “How to.” I can see why.


93 posted on 03/11/2018 5:07:26 AM PDT by cyn
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To: caver

Poor in what way?


94 posted on 03/11/2018 5:29:04 AM PDT by John 3_19-21 (New Media creed: "This story is so perfect, no need to verify it!".)
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To: cyn

RUBBERTRAMP...

coined in the movie;

INTO THE WILD


95 posted on 03/11/2018 5:30:30 AM PDT by Big Red Badger (UNSCANABLE in an IDIOCRACY!)
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To: Blood of Tyrants

Just like a crooked Midwest based electronics recycling and resell outfit that I wound up in. See the wun’s economy.


96 posted on 03/11/2018 5:33:17 AM PDT by wally_bert (I didn't get where I am today by selling ice cream tasting of bookends, pumice stone & West Germany)
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To: caver

After reading the article I agree somewhat with our post. The article is filled mostly with Amazon-hating liberal dogma. Some of us seniors however are over the whole buy,buy,buy, more, more, more, lifestyle and are looking to return to the “nomad” lifestyle we enjoyed in the 60’s& 70’s.


97 posted on 03/11/2018 5:59:02 AM PDT by John 3_19-21 (New Media creed: "This story is so perfect, no need to verify it!".)
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To: elcid1970

When my dad died, in 1987, he left my mom very well provided for. She lived on her own until right before her 90th birthday when she decided that she needed assisted living. She has spent 10 years there and now needs nursing home care. She has spent nearly every dime paying for the assisted living facility which is almost $10,000 a month. Fortunately, she doesn’t realize that there is essentially no money left.
You can plan well in advance but you had better plan on living to 100!


98 posted on 03/11/2018 6:02:56 AM PDT by surrey
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To: KC_for_Freedom

.
New stuff can have big surprises.

Long time ago (1976) we were parked overnight at Wild Rose campground in Death Valley in our 65 Dodge PU with camper shell. the guy next to us had a new Oldsmobile, and a new 18’ travel trailor.

He chided me about traveling in such an old rig.

He left the camp shortly later, but we stayed long enough to have breakfast, then set out to see the lime kilns which were southwest of there on a long rough road.

About 1/2 hour down that road we encountered the Olds and trailor stuck in a wash that the road ran through. I pulled by him and chained up to the front of the Olds and pulled him up on the top, car trailor and all, and then unhooked and continued on to the kilns.

On the way out there he was again at the wash, trailor stuck, car on top, but transmission toasted from trying to pull the trailor out.

I hooked up again and pulled them out and then continued pulling then to the ranger station on the highway. No ranger in sight, and public phone out of order.

I ended up towing them all the way to Indian wells before we found a working phone (IOW up the steep grade at the east side of the valley).

I couldn’t resist asking him what he thought of old Dodge pickups now.
.


99 posted on 03/11/2018 11:03:58 AM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: editor-surveyor

Yeah,

I did learn to drive on an Olds 88. (Fast and powerful) but there is more to driving to haul a trailer. Good story. Shows how folks on the road help one another. BTW we pulled with a Ford pick up. Last one was a diesel. It could haul anything, and our trailer was over 10,000 lbs. So I know.


100 posted on 03/11/2018 1:12:30 PM PDT by KC_for_Freedom (Trump, one good idea after the other.)
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