strong text
Huh? Not sure what you’re getting at.
I have no idea what happened with the OP, but I shall continue.
I’m 64 now, and after a ‘falling out’ with my daughter and the grandkids back in April, I have been homeless.
At first I headed off to SE Asia (had some dental work booked there anyway), stayed another month in Thailand and all because I’d raided my superannuation fund for $$ and it was cheaper for me to live there per month than here in Aus per WEEK.
I’m now back in Aus trying to acclimatise to the weather. And I have a grand friend who has decked out a shed with all my basic needs for which I am truly appreciative of.
But it’s not home. I don’t know where home is anymore. And it’s the weirdest feeling, being older now, and always the capable one of the family to organise housing, transport, health care etc. I feel lost, even though I have a comfortable place to be in the interim, but it’s not my place or space. And I am grateful.
Where from here, I don’t know. I am 55km away from the nearest town so the little car I bought will not be doing too many trips to the big smoke. I need to be in a city with medical services (various ailments) that the country towns around here don’t service.
BUT, despite being technically homeless, I am eternally grateful for my BFF for putting me up…last time I approached a housing service in FNq, they suggested I buy a tent and camp in the bush. Fuck that.
I assume you removed the content, because only the words (in bold) “strong text” remain.
I am currently homeless, I live in my car or tent or backpackers.
I strongly reccomend the autobiographical book, “Down and Out in Paris and London” by George Orwell. It is a masterpiece of describing the struggle, albeit a century before. A genius in my opinion, the suffering is dealt with light humour to downplay the bad times. It is free to download here, on Project Gutenberg
May I ask–what is FNq?
I presume it’s this?
Geez, dude, is that by choice or circumstances? Homeless in Cape Town is not great.
Yes scudsucker, you seem like a nice guy! I’ve liked your stories about making a Halloween costume for your family member, your banana-flavored condom story and others as well. If I were your neighbor, I’d be pulling for you.
Unfortunate circumstances. Divorce cost me my house, a brain disease* cost me my job.
* Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Yeah, heavy alcohol use leading up to and post divorce has not treated me kindly.
Oh, I’m so sorry.
Well, for both of you.
Is there no housing services, mens shelters near either of you?
Do you qualify for something with previous military service?
In America, if you have some management skills you can often get work managing apartment buildings and usually an apartment. Pay is crap.
I believe Straight Dope allows GoFundme type requests for regular longtime posters in dire circumstances. These have to be approved by the mods before posting–so contact them about it. You might expect to raise $1,000 to $2,000 dollars or so.
I have to watch my thiamine. I take B injections weekly. Because of dialysis.
I know the feeling and scariness of the confusion it causes.
I hope you stay well and eat properly.
Yep, FNQ is FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND, tropical, full of bitey things (like crocodiles and midgies) but also AirBnB central, so rents for your average schlub like me are totally unaffordable. Actually, rents all over Australia are unaffordable unless you want to live in a tin shack in the middle of the desert.
I’m OK, I don’t need a go fund me page. I have a few $$ in savings (which will bloody halve in the next few weeks because I need a lesion removed from my neck, and a laser thingy on my eye and NEITHER of the docs bulk bill (claim just Medicare fees) so I will be out of pocket at least $1000. But I’m OK. Donate to your local homeless mob so they can help more people in your town.
Still, the agoraphobia persists. I did buy a little car to scoot around, but with my vision issues, not really game enough to travel to the ‘big’ town about 55km from here. I DID do it the other day, but in retrospect, I prolly shouldn’t have. 
I rarely leave my ‘room’. My BFF thinks I have the shits with him, but it’s just easier to hang out alone. He’s a bit of a loner too, and is happy to potter about in his shed doing shit (no idea what) thus so far we have a fairly amicable arrangement happening.
If you’re living couch to couch, or in your car, you have my deepest sympathies. I really can’t complain too much, I have a roof, a bed, a bathroom and some basic cooking stuff, so I’m living it up on the homeless scale of deprivation.
But I’ve lived my 64 years being capable, proactive, sourcing any sort of advantage or help (single mum, 4 x kids) and now I feel so lost. BUT, I’ll get there! And in a few weeks/months/years I’ll return to this thread to boast about having decent housing, all my health issues dealt with, AND having joined a fucking line-dancing group or something equally gasp-worthy.
Sorry to hear that, man. I know even working people have a tough time getting a place round here.
Take care, and do make full use of the resources available to people in your situation.
I remember your thread about the teeth issue. Going overseas to have it done.
Did that turn out well?
You’ll both be in my thoughts. My best wishes to each of you for health, stability, security, and happiness.
May all of your tomorrows be better than any of your yesterdays.
Sorry to hear about your situation @kambuckta. I did a bit
of research and it looks like the Australian pension system
doesn’t start until age 67. Can you apply before that age but
get a reduced amount? Here in the USA you can apply as
early as age 62 but you only get 70% of your pension, this
amount increases year by year until age 67 when you get 100%.
I don’t understand your medical expenses - I thought you
had socialized medicine in Australia. Be glad you don’t have
a system like we have here in the USA - your bills would probably
be much higher.
Hope things improve for you soon. The best of luck to you.
Well that sucks, @kambuckta. I’m sorry to hear that. Wishing you well from Southern California.
Not going to do this as a point of pride. I got myself into this horrible situation. I will get myself out.
I have had a fantastic week. First, I had my eye lasered on Wednesday so now I can actually see to drive again. Long and complicated story, think I’ve spoken of my eye issues over the years (22 now!!) so I won’t bore you with more details.
But just this afternoon, I got offered a villa-unit in a complex (that includes aged care facilities) but the offer was for an independent living facility, at a cost I can afford and away from the ‘Mosquito Capital of the World’ where I am currently staying.
So WOOOOTZERS, I am over the bloody moon. A one-bedroom unit, close to all conveniences (here I am 50km away from the nearest supermarket :P) and I just cannot wait to pack my suitcase, jump in my car (I can drive again now as I can SEE) and head on up the highway to the new digs.
Damn, I’m feeling blessed today. Not invoking gods, just some lovely news all round.