Meaning, then, that if I get sent to some snowy place, I could hitchhike or catch a Greyhound just as soon as I could afford it, to some other locale of my choice?
Do we get to choose what time of year we begin our Kahs-wan?
I would choose June or July, so if I get sent to, say, Seattle, I would have a few comfortable months time to hie myself to Miami or Honolulu for the winter.
I get the point that the rules of the OP are trying to create a truly homeless and down-and-out situation for a year (thus, no dipping into your retirement fund, for example). Some homeless people have pets. Can I take a pet with me? Can I have a pet sehlat?
If that is really the point, then here’s a real probable deal-breaker: Most truly homeless people lose everything they ever had before (or when) they go homeless. But the OP seems to imply that at the end of the year, you can go back to everything you had before: Home, family, bank accounts. (and job?)
Will the billionaire take care of my estate for me while I’m away (pay the rent or mortgage, keep the family fed, etc.)? Or do I lose everything and have to start over with my $10M. If I call it quits early and only get the $10G, do I have to start all over with just that?
Absolutely not.
Even knowing that the situation would only last a year, and with a reward at the end, I’d not do it. Were I forced to, I’d probably just commit suicide on day one.
After reading Skald’s responses in the thread, do you honestly think the handler wouldn’t report this to the billionaire, who would then pull the plug?
I’d do it if you change one tiny little thing, namely the billionaire provides a time wormhole so that at the end of the year I reappear back in my life having never appeared to be missing.
I’m not willing for my children to have no mother for a year even for 10 million dollars. (I would skip out on my husband, parents and friends, though hopefully I’d be allowed to make explanations)
As long as that’s taken care of I’m in!
From the list of US cities, looks like I’m starting in Houston. If I got dropped off somewhere unspeakably wintry I just start hitchhiking south.
The security aspect makes all the difference to me. As a woman there’s a lot I don’t do that I’d like to for fear of being attacked. Take that away and it sounds like a lot of fun! I’d spend a lot of time in the woods.
I hadn’t even thought of busking until it was mentioned upthread. I can juggle, drum and sing (at least to my mind). I might do that just to feed my inner attention whore and any money that came out of it is bonus.
You bet I’d do it, but the billionairre would be grossly overpaying at $10M. He could probably get me for $500K, after taxes, if I could do it somewhere like Miami or Houston where it doesn’t get too cold.
From the OP’s strictures, this would put me in New York. There’s a colossal homeless culture there. I’m pretty sure I could stick it out for a year, but I’d much rather do it where it’s warm.
ETA: On reflection, I have enough connections in NYC for it to count as “close friends”. That would put me in LA, a city I’m not fond of but where it doesn’t get cold. Count me in!
Yeah, I would do it for less than $10M. My plan is to fill the duffel with warm clothes, boots, thermal underwear, gloves, hats, etc. Since most cities have a McDonalds, I would head to the nearest one. If they have the coupon calendar, I would get as many as possible. (In Austin, every McDonalds I’ve been to lets you have a 2012 coupon calendar for free if you buy a gift card) The coupons give you free food with no purchase necessary, so that’s going to take care of my food needs along with using the gift card balances. I can switch it up and go to other places with a dollar menu and still not starve.
I would make friends with librarians and explain my situation to them, hoping they’ll let me use the internet and wash up in the restroom.
How do you plan on making friends with librarians? Aren’t they constantly bombarded with homeless doing the exact same thing? Why not just seek out a day shelter for weekly showers, soup kitchens for daily meals, clothing pantries for seasonal clothing and use your money on the occasional $10 shitty hotel room or hot meal?
I’ don’t think the billionaire cares about transitional housing. I’m saying the handler might be annoyed because transitional housing is a limited resource, and by taking a spot you are dicking a genuine, non-voluntary homeless person out of it. You can go back to your old life at will, after all.
Since an actual, unwilling homeless person could do this if she or he could raise the money (by begging or hooking or whatnot), I’m sure you could.
Well, of course.
How do you get to Honolulu by bus?
I’m not sure where you get this sehlat, but pets are acceptable if you’re willing to risk them.
I’m going to rule that the billionaire will hire someone to take care of your belongings & money while you are down & out, so that you’re no worse off at the end of the period than you were before even if you punk out in month 4.
Sorry, but this isn’t an Supervillain!Skald thread. Which is good, because Villain!Skald would be actively out to screw you for yuks.
I think busking is close enough to day labor to count. I’ve known at least one homeless busker.
I would demand a strict list of what I can not do as a “homeless” person and what the other person CAN do as a minder. If the minder breaks his part of the agreement, I immediately get $20,000,000.
I don’t need to play “Well, it doesn’t say I CAN’T…” games. “It doesn’t say I CAN’T call the police on you for sleeping in that doorway.” “It doesn’t say I CAN’T tell people you beg for money that you’re not really homeless.”, etc.
I, too, think that the 10 mil reward is way too high for there to be any kind of question here. That’s enough money to cover any material needs and desires of mine and my loved ones forever after, all for one year of lonely hardship. At my age, crummy years and great years alike just fly by (I’m 34, and is it Christmas again?), and I pay to go on extended camping trips as it is. Just the bag provided in the OP, filled to the brim with quality camping gear would cushion the blow mightily. 100 dollars of cash per month on top of that, and one wouldn’t even need to dumpster-dive or scavenge roadkill for sustenance. Knowing the date of re-entry into normal (super-rich) life and counting days, gritting teeth and staying cool would be that much easier, just like in the army.
Would you still be willing to undertake the challenge if transitional housing and dipping into savings were disallowed in the same way that regular employment is?
I’m confused about the role of the minder. Is he just there to protect me and defend the integrity of the bet? Or is he incentivized to nit-pick me into failing?
Overall, if a way were found whereby the Celtling wouldn’t suffer (i.e. terms starts the same day she leaves for college) I would be happy to. I am fortunate enough to have some dear friends in New York, so it’s off to LA. Does the “Care for an elderly person in return for room and board” scenario work? Because if so that’s just easy as pie.
I think Jophiel is right; the minder should only act to protect you and defend the integrity of the challenge.
You make me think that part of the conditions should have been “may not sleep in under the same roof more than two nights in row.” But yes, as long as the elderly woman isn’t giving you anything other than food & shelter, you’re good.
With some sort of assurance that I’m not going to end up raped or dead, I’m all over this. I would be for a lot less than ten million, too. Someone mentioned $500,000, that’s about what the cutoff would be for me as well.
If I understand your rules correctly, I’m allowed to access any resources that are normally available to homeless people, such as soup kitchens and shelters. Given that I’m not crazy/violent/addicted, I could probably volunteer to help and get some extra benefits in return for that. For jobs I’m assuming you basically mean nothing that will require a W2. (Tax registration, for non-US types.) I’d try to look for a regular arrangement (such as doing chores for a local business), but could probably do okay even if that’s not allowed. I like the busking idea, I play the flute pretty well.
Yeah. The personal bodyguard and guaranteed return to riches (or at least normality if I bail early) make this an entirely different proposition than real homelessness.