on being an efficient wanderer/nomad/bum

A large chunk of my summer involved me commuting to and from school, which, when living in the suburbs of a wonderful urban-ly sprawled city like Atlanta, can make going to and from your home--without a car and with the likes of an inefficient public transit system--a real pain. From the humbling experiences of couch-hopping from night to night, I compiled this list of things to know if you ever decide to hitchhike your way through a season of your and your friends' lives. I hope it helps.


1) Pack light. A good wanderer knows how to live out of one bag feasibly. Take a good inventory of the things that you bring and make sure that they are absolutely necessary items, because the last thing that you want to do is to huff and puff wherever you go. Need: Toiletries. Neglect: Too many clothes. Which brings me to my next point....

2) Now is not a good time to think about dignity. As a wanderer there will be times when you have to solicit the help of your friends, so it is not a good time to be shy, frankly. Get up some backbone and call for help, whether you need a bed, a ride, or toothpaste. After all....

3) A friend in need is a friend indeed. You will be surprised about how many friends will come to your aid when you need them. Hopefully, the friend's generosity will inspire you to be a blessing to them, so please do everything that you can to accommodate them. Plan ahead and be considerate of those that will be helping you, because although your friend does not have to go out of their way to help you, they are. That being said, when your friends begin to make weird faces about something around them, remember...


4) It is probably you....and you stink. You know, I'm all for showering every other day to preserve water and resources, etc., but everyone has their limits. Being a wanderer gives you no excuse for being stinky. Period.
------>Corollary: Take care of yourself. Shower. Brush your hair. Brush your teeth. You will feel and look better, trust me, and maybe when you walk by people will be dazzled by your beautiful smile and not staggered by your unbelievable musk.

5) Be a proactive bum! Look up things for your future. Read about your favorite movies. Learn a new song on the guitar (by the way, depending on how hardcore of a bum you are really trying to be, a guitar can only help your image). Just. do. something.

6) Have a sense of humor! Wandering is a new and exciting field, but your initial sense of apprehension is expected. The fact is that when done right and safely, wandering is an amazing learning experience. When not racing from one place to another, when you are in a position where you must sit down and take in your surroundings, you learn so much about the world around you as well as yourself. Take some time to reflect on who you are and where you are going. Don't just breathe, LIVE!


This is what I learned. Take it as you will.