- Joined
- Apr 23, 2015
- Messages
- 929
In the Army I learned about the "field expedient method,' that is, you do with what you have, however to get the job done. I worked at a ski resort near Vail, Colorado over the Winter and operations were shut down March 14th. My rent was paid for the month but after that I had to move out of employee housing. Hmmm, where to go? I don't have a "home" anymore since giving the house to the ex in the divorce 7 years ago so my kids wouldn't have to move. A PA resident since birth, with over 2000 prisoners released in NJ and NY and the heavy covid19 cases I went to Salt Lake City and slept in my brothers unheated garage for 10 days. Was offered a job in NJ so I drove 2600 miles in 2 days, only to be told the company had their contract suspended due to drivers wrecking equipment. Now where? I drove to Ocean City, MD because April was the time to go to the beach get apartments and line up jobs for the summer, so I kept moving. Got to OC and they shut down the town; no jobs allowed to hire or apartment rented, plus, a Police officer told me they were shutting down the bridges that night. Spent a week in a hotel in Dover, DE then went back to PA to visit my kids and condense my 2 storage units into 1. Slept in my car for 3 weeks and ate canned food; field expedient method. Finally I figured Gov Wolfe would make PA one of that last states to open and went back to Ocean City, MD. A lady called me from there and illegally rented me her beach condo for "May only," (she had summer rentals already booked). So, for the month of May, my ultimate "shelter in place" was just on the other side of the dunes with the pre-season chill, rain and wind, by myself. I cooked all my food and ate well, had a chance to think and even though the beach was officially closed, battled my demons and the wind to go for pre-dawn walks on the beach away from the eyes of usurpers! Sunrises became alive for me again, not from the parking lot of work or the ski bus driving up the mountain (although I missed that)! "Shelter in place;" a respite from space and time. In June, I took a job at the beach north of OC and the traffic has become "insane" people escaping from cabin fever, but not conducive to inner peace and for the space in my mind, it's a bit much. Missing the chill of the Colorado mountains I realized I needed and appreciate a bit of personal space, and driving a beach bus especially in today's climate is not what I seek. This morning I took a job (closer to my daughters in PA) driving an ice truck. Like many, not going to the gyms has diffused me a bit. I figured spending the summer "slinging ice" will bring back the old days (1980's for me), when muscle was toned at work and built in the gym. The best part, it will be over $700 more per week and I'll be back with my kids in time for Father's Day! Happy Father's Day! I hope you all have a "Shelter in place,' a "Dad's quarter, "Man's Cave," or space to unwind; to renew, build your fortitude and strategize your formation! On the road again...
