Hooverville
I walked through the woods on my way home, an out-of-the-way jaunt I haven't done since I stopped running. There was significant tree damage blocking the main path, and an occupied tent site set up on the alternative path.
I would have thought it was just fun camping, except there was a shopping cart and a bunch of empty milk jugs for hauling water. There was also a lot more trash than I would have expected from people camping and it wasn't secured against bears. Could it seriously be homeless people setting up a camp on public land? That's vanishingly rare around here.
But the other evidence I had that it was homeless people was that I was NOT able to find any returnable bottles. Usually I pick up half a dozen beer bottles and cans on this trip. Nope. Nothing but Fruit2O bottles and tea cans that are "no deposit please recycle". I picked them up to recycle.
Generally I'm the only person who stoops to pick up returnable bottles while out on my walks. (I carry a bag just for this.) I also pick up trash as I go. One time I picked up a small trash bag and, as I was sorting it into my own trash I pulled out refundable bottles and bunches of overdue bills, including ones for cellphone and cable service in excess of what we think we can afford. (Judging from the overdue notices, more than THEY can afford, too.) I was wryly amused that they were throwing away nickels.
But, hey, we're out of beer. I take a load of the bottles and cans I've collected to the packy and return them for a credit on my next case. It works for me.
I would have thought it was just fun camping, except there was a shopping cart and a bunch of empty milk jugs for hauling water. There was also a lot more trash than I would have expected from people camping and it wasn't secured against bears. Could it seriously be homeless people setting up a camp on public land? That's vanishingly rare around here.
But the other evidence I had that it was homeless people was that I was NOT able to find any returnable bottles. Usually I pick up half a dozen beer bottles and cans on this trip. Nope. Nothing but Fruit2O bottles and tea cans that are "no deposit please recycle". I picked them up to recycle.
Generally I'm the only person who stoops to pick up returnable bottles while out on my walks. (I carry a bag just for this.) I also pick up trash as I go. One time I picked up a small trash bag and, as I was sorting it into my own trash I pulled out refundable bottles and bunches of overdue bills, including ones for cellphone and cable service in excess of what we think we can afford. (Judging from the overdue notices, more than THEY can afford, too.) I was wryly amused that they were throwing away nickels.
But, hey, we're out of beer. I take a load of the bottles and cans I've collected to the packy and return them for a credit on my next case. It works for me.