Bob and I are a married couple in our " golden years"...although what's golden about it, I'm not so sure!,,,who have picked up and moved from our 3/2 pool home in Rockledge, Fl. into our new travel trailer: all 300 sq. ft. Of it. I must add that we have included our two Chihweenies, Molly and LuLu and our adopted cat, Oscar. So when we aren't stumbling over one another, we are stumbling over one of them. We are in very close quarters, folks! I honestly did not realize how damned small this trailer is until I started trying to store our belongings in various cubby holes and tiny cupboards on board. We both tend to wear the same clothes two or three days in a row ( we do daily sniff checks to make sure there are no offending bodily odors wafting from ourselves and we do changeovers at least once every third day and underwear is a must- change daily!) there are two laundry mats on the property, each containing three washers and three dryers. But more often than not, a disgruntled camper will empty your still wet clothes on the wooden table meant for folding so that he/she can use the machine. Or the dryer...today my still damp clothes were piled up on said table while the three dryers twirled merrily around. Said owner of clothes sat nonchalantly at an outdoor picnic table, reading her Kindle and thumbing her I-phone. And no, I didn't confront her because I saw her hubby from a distance and he looked more like a Grizzly Bear than a person. So I waited.
But the other day, I did confront the largest woman I have seen in a long time...I nicknamed her Big Bertha. She'd dumped our clothes out of the washing machine while it was still running, put hers in, therefore taking hostage of our dirty wash water AND our quarters. I did confront her...but I was unbelievably nice to her.
" Are you the one taking the clothes out of the washers?" I asked pleasantly , as if talking to a two year old.
" Eh-eh" she mumbled, looking all the world like a Neanderthal woman. "Ain't me. Eh eh".
Okay, then. I took a deep Breath of the hot, humid, laundry mat air.
" Hmmmm." I looked around. The only clothes in the washers were hers. But she denied removing mine. She left, waddling back to her tent...yes, tent ( she was one of several homeless families that stay in the park for a month or two each year). Her kids ran around outside with some of the dirtiest faces and hands I'd seen in my life. Eventually she removed her clothes from the washers, dumped some poor unsuspecting campers' things onto the table, and loaded her own into the dryers. I just shook my head, refilled the washer and deposited my two dollars worth of quarters in the slots. And then I sat down and waited. I'd be damned if Big Bertha was gonna' have her way with my clothes again!
There are several homeless families living in the park. One in particular tugs at my heart strings. Dad doesn't have a job and mom is the sole source of income. There are three kids...two boys and a girl. They live in two tents. I imagine they get most of their groceries from the local Sharing Center. They take the bus or walk where they have to go. Shaded picnic tables are where they take their meals or do homework. One boy, aged nine, proudly displayed a book he was reading. While I waited for my laundry, his dad came over to make sure he was doing his homework. He was. He appeared to be a good kid.
I never thought about homeless kids living in recreational park areas but now I know they do. Other homeless folks do too. There is 24/7 security and park rangers here which gives,one a sense of security. But for the most part, I'd say there is nothing to worry about. Even the young hitch hiking couple who camped across the street from us the other night were polite and appeared well fed as were their two dogs. They were heading to the Keys and,oh, how it wanted to tell them that was a mistake because it is so expensive there. If I were them, I'd head west to St. Petersburg or Clearwater or maybe,over to Tampa. There would be nothing but heartache for them in the Keys.
I've got to seep up and clean the kitchen and get the dogs out for a walk. Today is Social Security pay day so we're going out to eat ( more than likely, Outback). Our little fridge is loaded down with hot dogs, hamburgers, peanut butter and jelly. And water and cold cuts and fruit. That's about all it will hold. But we're both looking forward to a good steak and baked potato. And maybe, cheesecake for dessert.
Wonder what the homeless families will be eating. If anything at all.
