Survival, we toot our horns, but.........

B

Bushman5

Joined
Oct 31, 2007
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Survival.......we post up regularly how we survived in the woods or in a disaster, but lets wake up for a minute. sure, we went out and had a situation, or we go out and practice, we persevered and triumphed, and now we are sitting warm and cozy next to the fireplace, our tummies fat with hot food, a bottle of beer or glass of scotch in our hands, maybe a cigar,and fluffy & bowwow curled up on our feet.

Pretty tough ain't we? we conquered! we took on Momma nature and emerged triumphant. We post up our experiences for all to read and reply to. We wax poetic how this steel cut better than that steel, or which fire tinder works best, or what knife we are going to buy next. Pretty rich life we lead when we such choice and opportunity.

we WS&S'ers pale in comparison to some people that REALLY "survive", not because they are practicing, but because life sometimes goes the other way for some people.

This is a story about Jim, a local homeless man sleeping on a single sheet of cardboard not even 300 feet from me. Born with FAS and beaten as a kid/teen/adult as result of his slow learning skills, and unemployable, Jim turned to booze. First it was beers then hard liqour, then he did'nt care anymore what he drank, solvent, listerien, rice wine, it did'nt matter. Anything to numb the pain, the cold, the misery. Night after night of sleeping on the ground, summers were good, a stolen constroctupon tarp and his Union Gospel Mission sleeping bag/clothing handouts worked fine for the summer. Its the winters here that slowly kill him. Night after night of lying on warmth sapping cement, a single blanket or tattered sleeping bag covering him. Bitter numbing cold saps his strength, he wears all his worn and filthy clothes to try and keep warm. Jim chooses to not go to the local shelters, and i dont blame him. yes they are warm/dry, you get fed a hot meal, but you also risk being stabbed, or having your stuff stolen, or getting "shelter cough" as he calls it, or getting lice or bedbugs. Jim takes his chances on the street. 20+ years now if trying to stay alive on the streets.

I talked briefly with Jim tonight, aftter removing his hand that was frozen to the cement. Jim was drunk and had passed out, his hand freezing to the cement, stuck in his own frozen piss. I got cardboard from the bins out back and got him to lie on them instead of the cement. Temps were - 6 celcuis , and the wind was picking up. The ground felt colder than the air.

I went home, got an old sleeping bag i never use , some old insulated work shirts, wool mitts and a toque and threw them into the dryer to heat them up. stuffed them into an insulated bag and went back up to where Jim sleeps. Tried to get him to sit up to put on the insulated shirt but he wasn't about to move, to do so risks losing any heat he has, he says to me. So i cover him with the jacket, then the sleeping bag and leave the hat and toque under the jacket so they wont get nicked by other streeters. Jim says thank you and god bless from under his blankets.

we got it pretty damn easy in comparison. we get to go out and practice our skills in the woods for fun, some of us use those skills in a real situation sometimes, but there are those that need to survive everyday. So if you got old gear, gloves, wool socks, sleeping bags or blankets, or maybe an hour to take a thermos of hot chocolate to a homeless person and chat with them , please do. Not only during Christmas, but anytime during the year. Not because it feels good, but because a fellow man/woman is in desperate need. The next shiny purchase can wait a few moments.

Just a rambling moment. God Bless.

edit: if this is off topic or in the wrong place, please move it. I didn't know where else to post it, and I felt it was survival related, albeit urban homeless survival, and since the weather is brutal right now. :(
 
Thanks for the post. I think it is a very appropriate topic. There is a great deal of hardship in the world, a lot of it right under our noses. In the US, many of these guys are veterans.

Maybe there is something we can do as a community.

Suggestions?
 
Good post. Part of the reason I am getting rid of stuff-I have too much right now. Definitely given me fuel for thought.
 
Right on! I'm working on selling a canoe to help with a local homeless youth women's shelter. Thanks for being willing to help.
 
We are our brother keeper. In my mind there is no question about the big guy looks on this subject. It can't be administrated through the government when we see this happen we are the only ones who may be able to help. Just how to help is aways the toughest part One guy might praise you for the help and there is a chance that one kind act at the right time can make a difference. The next guy might sue you for butting in.

Not to get preachy but I believe Jesus said that whatever you do for the least of my brother, you do for me. In some cases maybe thats all you can do.
 
udtjim said:
We are our brother keeper. In my mind there is no question about the big guy looks on this subject. It can't be administrated through the government when we see this happen we are the only ones who may be able to help. Just how to help is aways the toughest part One guy might praise you for the help and there is a chance that one kind act at the right time can make a difference. The next guy might sue you for butting in.

Not to get preachy but I believe Jesus said that whatever you do for the least of my brother, you do for me. In some cases maybe thats all you can do.
Click to expand...

Well said.

Many thanks for sharing that Bushman5. It definitley is fuel for thought.
 
Bush man great thought and a great thing you did. Grampa he is 94 years young.
here he is Kathy took this pic a few months back.
005-2.jpg


Grampa tells the story of back in the 30s when the guys hopping off the trains in Diller Ne. and comming and looking for work or even a place to sleep. Grampa's mom, even it was midnite would get up and feed those hungry men because it might be an angel. that came to visit and see if I was acting Christ like she would say.
We well I have not seen any since I have lived here but if I ever do I already got the soup ready to serve. kathy and I have helped out strangers when we are out and about but so far have not had any come this way as of yet.

Good thread

Bryan

Bryan
 
That's a great thing ya did bro and some good points you raise !

I do have to add one thing though, and I'm not talkin about all the homeless just some, and that is that some don't do anything to help themselves.
Not everyone is dealt a great hand in life but it is what you then do with that hand that matters, some just give up trying and feel like the world owes them a living and some get up off their butts and decide that they are going to make things change. I'm sure that many on this forum have at times been dealt crappy hands, I do know that a fellow forum member on the Scrapyard was at one time homeless on the streets of Vancouver !
The other day I said to my son why don't ya go round the streets asking if anyone wants their drives clearing of snow for $3, I said do 10 houses and ya have $30 ! Anyway I took Maisy for a quick walk and when I got back home my son was layed on the couch in front of the fire. I said didn't you go round the streets and ask ? He said " Yeah but the first drive I cleared gave me $20 so I'm callin it a day !". Now my sons only 12 yrs old so I couldn't blame him but $20 for one drive ?????? Even a down and out with FAS etc could manage stuff like that if they really put their mind to it !!!!
 
I hear ya Pitdog, i have offered cash to homeless guys to help out when i tree cut, and most of them would rather beg for change in the intersections at Main & Terminal.

there are many different classes of homeless:

- mentally ill
- dual diagnose (mental illness + addiction)
- working poor
- lifestyle homeless (i'm talking about young employable male/woman who abuse the good nature of society and beg for change and then go to the bar, all the while having a roof and good living over their heads. we have about 60 people in vancouver that do this with regularity) :mad:
- etc etc etc etc

------------

by Survival, i meant the homeless that regularly sleep in the city can be pretty clever. Insulated box shelters with free found materials, etc etc etc . Although a lot succumb to their addictions (like Jim passing out in the cold, and freezing his hand to the ground) and fail to use such street survival skills

I guess i was trying to say that no matter what Survival we put ourselves thru in the woods, there are those that have to survive in a lot worse.
 
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good points... I do alot to help out the local homeless population..but keep in mind, in our world having a job, a home, and legal tender is a survival skill, in and probably me much more of a viable one than fire starting...(at least till the asteroid hits) ...but it's always nice to try and help and learn from others that need it and can teach.
 
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Very good post, Bushman5. Emotionally appealing stories often forget one thing: the most important survival skill is the skill of avoiding getting into survival situations in the first place. Many tough spots are avoidable. But obviously, not all.

Some of us get dealt a poorer hand at birth than others. There's very little anyone can do about that. And it sucks, like a lot of things in life. Back where I live, there are few homeless persons, and practically all of them are that by choice. That is one way to organize a society: for the state to tax the people and then provide for those who cannot provide for themselves, some kind of a roof upon their heads, a decent healthcare and something to eat and drink. It is expensive, but the other option is having the jims of the world lying out on the streets, freezing to death, and occasionally attacking those who seemed to have better luck in life. For those who are interested in seeing how dark life is for some unfortunate people, a good place to visit is any large Russian city, like St. Petersburg. It is sometimes pretty amazing to see what people do to survive. There is a lot of skill there. On the other hand, a lot of that skill is the kind that I wouldn't want to use. Survival isn't always a good thing. There are things that I, at least, wouldn't want to survive. The dead have no worries.
 
I donate to the Salvation Army with donations of stuff, cash, and purchases. I'm not sure what the Goodwill does. The Salvation Army seems to be at the disasters etc. Give money to street people directly at times. When my son was age 8, he saw me give some money to someone that was down and out. He said that it could be a scam to get free money. I told him that it doesn't matter. It was what I felt I needed to do and did that matters. He now gives from the heart. Small lesson made him a better man. Pass it on. It might be that getting someone thru the day could be the break they needed.
 
Let me just say that every day is Thanksgiving in my world. I'm very aware that I've been blessed far beyond what I probably deserve.

JT -- formerly known as GibsonFan
 
It's so easy to ignore or say that people get what they deserve. The harsh reality is that several people are just dealt a bad hand of cards to play with and although the opportunities are there, they seldom get the chance to take advantage. I was always taught to look after the young, the old, the lame and the poor. What you did Bushman is what separates most of us humans from the animals...as harsh and unforgiving as any wilderness truly is our own urban jungles are much, much worse. I always pray that even a simple gesture will help someone pull themselves out of the street.

Yesterday, I had the typical scammer hit me in a Taco Bell parking lot (had to take a quick lunch). He had the same old story of broken down car/out of gas, etc...asking for a few dollars to get him home. I knew it was scam and before I handed him a $5 dollar bill, I told him that it was coming out of my son's Christmas stocking and if he spent it on booze or something worse, God wouldn't be too pleased; Christmas morning, my son would know that his $5 bill was helping somebody get home or have a hot meal..."don't disappoint him!". He almost didn't take the $5 bucks, but I truly hope it sunk in...all I can do is hope. Tis the season to be hopeful and thankful.

You're a Saint in my book Bushman!

ROCK6
 
Bushman5, I was touched by your compassion and your acts of kindness. Just talking to him and finding out about his situation is more than most people are willing to do. It's also more difficult than just throwing money at a situation. I appreciate that there are people out there like you and hope that you inspire many others.
 
I know I am blessed far more than I deserve and most of my Extra stuff lying around unused is donated to my local thrift shops etc. and I never ask for a tax deduction form. I am donating it to help others..I should not be paid back from the goverment.. I always donate food to the local food drives or to families in my town who have less than I or the single parent with to many kids down the street,I help when I can....always have.
 
Hey man, BTDT.

Had my legs kicked out from under me and had no choice but to do the hobo thing. Had to live hard and work 3 jobs for a while to get back into it, but I made it out.

But, take it from someone who's been on that side of the fence: a good 90% of the people there are there because they want to be, NOT because they are mentally ill or dealt a bad hand. I include addicts in the "want to be" category. The most common response I got when I asked people why they didn't have a job like me and work their way out was:" Why would I want to do that? I work, I have to pay taxes. This way I'm free, I don't have to pay taxes, I get food and clothes for free. Why should I work?"

To me, those kind are the scum of the earth. They're also the kind that will rob other homeless people. I had 3 try to rob me at once, and I had to survive if you know what I mean.

They hated guys like me because we made money, and spent it on things like haircuts and laundry. I even learned which shelters to go to during the day (didn't sleep there) that let you come in at certain times to take a shower. I kept clean and neat, and the people I worked with didn't even know I was homeless until afterward when they asked why I was so happy to move into a cheap apartment. The scumbags of the homeless population thought I was too clean and neat, so i must be having too easy a time, and felt they needed to make it harder from time to time.

That's why I tend to be hard ont he guys that seem to want "the end of the world as we know it" to happen. I HAD all of civilized society's safety nets to fall on and it still sucked hind tit, and these guys think they'll have a cake walk with none of that? Stupid.

No thank you, I'd rather go camping and practice skills knowing I have a heated/air conditioned home with a warm shower and hot food waiting.
 
IMO, and I stress IMO, I believe what you did stands for all that is right with people in this world. My hat is off to you bro.

Homeless. Bum. Addict. Whino. Begger. They all have labels. Some are bad and made bad decisions. Some had no choice, some did. Its a subject that can be very touchy. I would not help to hesitate to help somebody, no matter what the circumstances. What you did was right. However, help from me doesnt come from money, it comes from help. A hot meal, cup of coffee, and some warm clothes and/or a blanket. I also dont trust anyone enogh to let my guard down with them. They are potentially danegerous, and Mr Colt will be cocked and locked on my hip. Its impossable to pick out the rapists molesters and murderers from the others. So.....I just got to have faith in god, that who I am helping is one who deserves the help.

Nice job man, this time of year, I expected no less from a WSS man.
 
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