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Meet the American Nomads of Walmart's Plentiful Parking Lots

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Re: Meet the American Nomads of Walmart's Plentiful Parking Lots

#21

Post by ufseagull »

recuter wrote: post #7
austenallred wrote: post #3

I lived in my car for three months this summer in Palo Alto as we were getting a startup off the ground, then when I headed back toward the Valley a few weeks ago for startup school I decided to relive it all again - from sleeping in my car to showering at the YMCA. On the drive over from Utah I stopped in Elko, Nevada to sleep for the night, and as I had before I found my "spot" in Palo Alto, I drove off into a less…

I'm not from the US but I plan on doing a cross country adventure at some point. Let me ask you this; If my vehicle of choice was a delivery van of recent vintage with an artistic decal of a well known soda brand, would that help with avoiding such encounters? At worst I could claim to be an Andy Warhol fan, would that fly?

most cops or security guards will do is to tell you to move on, or harass you. my dad lived out of his car in LA for a while, and he said that you need to pick the areas in which you stay carefully - camping in the parking spot of Ralphs in Encino? Not a good idea, too many rich people around, means the cops are diligent.

Camping out in Walmart or in the back of strip mall carparks - not such a big deal.

WORD OF WARNING - you are to an extent at the mercy of whichever asshole in a uniform shows up - DO NOT HAVE DRUGS IN YOUR POSESSION. THis can make a "lets roust this johnny-live-frugal out of the neighbourhood" to "cuff him and book him".

My advice if travelling cross country - great to have a sleeper, but also buy a propane stove, some good camping gear, some fold up camp chairs and half a pound of sticky and make the most of the incredible national and state parks. There are many, and they are cheap.

Re: Meet the American Nomads of Walmart's Plentiful Parking Lots

#22

Post by aioprisan »

clarebear wrote: post #15

Some people love to hate Walmart (and poor labor practices give good reason). However, providing a space to sleep and not get arrested is an example of something that is probably good for the nation's poor (as well as RV enthusiasts). Apparently Walmart is also one of the first places that half-way house parolees can get a pass to go. If Walmart is acting a portal for transitional people to rejoin or create there own…

I'm taking the cynical route here and think that it's more of a ploy to get even more customers into their stores. What does it take them to keep the lots open/secured? Is that more than the money they would get from those people who will have to get water, food and other supplies in the morning? Most definitely. Would it cost them to kick out people and possibly turn this into a negative media campaign? Absolutely.

Re: Meet the American Nomads of Walmart's Plentiful Parking Lots

#23

Post by qq66 »

ExpiredLink wrote: post #4

> "€œWe sold everything we have and decided to find, as we put it, our American dream," says Josiane Simpson. She, Jared Holfeltz, and their son Gabriel are currently living out of their car. The American dream is a delusion that makes people pursue wrong objectives.

Notice that she said "our American dream," not "the American dream." She's not talking about a picket fence and a dog, she's talking about writing her own life's story.

Re: Meet the American Nomads of Walmart's Plentiful Parking Lots

#24

Post by mistermann »

ufseagull wrote: post #21
recuter wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not from the US but I plan on doing a cross country adventure at some point. Let me ask you this; If my vehicle of choice was a delivery van of recent vintage with an artistic decal of a well known soda brand, would that help with avoiding such encounters? At worst I could claim to be an Andy Warhol fan, would that fly?

most cops or security guards will do is to tell you to move on, or harass you. my dad lived out of his car in LA for a while, and he said that you need to pick the areas in which you stay carefully - camping in the parking spot of Ralphs in Encino? Not a good idea, too many rich people around, means the cops are diligent. Camping out in Walmart or in the back of strip mall carparks - not such a big deal. WORD OF WARN…

half a pound of sticky?

Re: Meet the American Nomads of Walmart's Plentiful Parking Lots

#26

Post by eli_gottlieb »

ExpiredLink wrote: post #4

> "€œWe sold everything we have and decided to find, as we put it, our American dream," says Josiane Simpson. She, Jared Holfeltz, and their son Gabriel are currently living out of their car. The American dream is a delusion that makes people pursue wrong objectives.

I don't think it's the people living out of their car who're delusional.

Re: Meet the American Nomads of Walmart's Plentiful Parking Lots

#27

Post by mistermann »

aioprisan wrote: post #22
clarebear wrote: post #15

Some people love to hate Walmart (and poor labor practices give good reason). However, providing a space to sleep and not get arrested is an example of something that is probably good for the nation's poor (as well as RV enthusiasts). Apparently Walmart is also one of the first places that half-way house parolees can get a pass to go. If Walmart is acting a portal for transitional people to rejoin or create there own…

I'm taking the cynical route here and think that it's more of a ploy to get even more customers into their stores. What does it take them to keep the lots open/secured? Is that more than the money they would get from those people who will have to get water, food and other supplies in the morning? Most definitely. Would it cost them to kick out people and possibly turn this into a negative media campaign? Absolutely.

ploy noun 1. a cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage.

cunning adjective 1. having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion.

Does Walmart have to be considered evil in literally every action? I'd fully expect they're hoping they will make some additional sales from overnight campers, I can't imagine this wouldn't be fairly obvious to any non-cynical observer of the situation. And why shouldn't they - they make a profit from regular non-camping customers, so I can't understand how making the same profit from people who just received a free place to camp out for the night could somehow be considered worse. Seems like a classic win-win situation to me.

Re: Meet the American Nomads of Walmart's Plentiful Parking Lots

#28

Post by error54 »

mistermann wrote: post #24
ufseagull wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

most cops or security guards will do is to tell you to move on, or harass you. my dad lived out of his car in LA for a while, and he said that you need to pick the areas in which you stay carefully - camping in the parking spot of Ralphs in Encino? Not a good idea, too many rich people around, means the cops are diligent. Camping out in Walmart or in the back of strip mall carparks - not such a big deal. WORD OF WARN…

half a pound of sticky?

Marijuana.

Re: Meet the American Nomads of Walmart's Plentiful Parking Lots

#29

Post by aioprisan »

mistermann wrote: post #27
aioprisan wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm taking the cynical route here and think that it's more of a ploy to get even more customers into their stores. What does it take them to keep the lots open/secured? Is that more than the money they would get from those people who will have to get water, food and other supplies in the morning? Most definitely. Would it cost them to kick out people and possibly turn this into a negative media campaign? Absolutely.

ploy noun 1. a cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage. cunning adjective 1. having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion. Does Walmart have to be considered evil in literally every action? I'd fully expect they're hoping they will make some additional sales from overnight campers, I can't imagine this wouldn't be fairly obvious to any non-cynical observer of…

Oh I wasn't saying that it's not a win-win situation, just that some of the comments were saying how Walmart was being generous and good, while a pretty simple benefit analysis tells us that Walmart is making real money off of this, which in the case of such a big player and their history as an employer, self-interest is the only driver that counts.

Re: Meet the American Nomads of Walmart's Plentiful Parking Lots

#30

Post by rsl7 »

protomyth wrote: post #16
rjbond3rd wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> many of which would otherwise be on welfare I get what you're saying, but Walmart employment is (alas) very compatible with being a welfare recipient, and rather than preventing welfare, Walmart is actually subsidized by it (at least according to a recently popular theory).

The local Walmart pays better than the local grocery store or any of the small businesses on main street. There is a reason that so many apply.

better.. if they let you work full time.
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