Mine migrated south for the winter. I’m sure I’ve bought more than I own.
Anyway, to the OP- don’t start feeling bad for getting help, thinking you ‘don’t count as homeless’ because you have a couch to sleep on; it’s not a long term situation, and you don’t need to be literally living on the streets to qualify for help.
I’m very glad things seem to be looking up for you at the moment though!
Read your posts and good luck with your venture, but it might behoove you to put your scenario in context. Trying to make it living out of your car with limited resources no matter how brave and necessary you think that is is a monumentally foolish thing to do if you expect to be able to climb out of your present situation. Your cousin is being friendly now but that is likely to have a limited shelf life if you do not make some very concrete progress.
You see yourself as being “abused” but in fairness you have burned up a lot of resources and good will with those who have extended themselves for you. The situation with your aunt and uncle may have been a bitchfest at the end, but they put you up for over 2 years and helped support you which is way more than many relatives would have done with an adult man in his late 20’s with serious mental issues. You don’t seem to really grasp how grateful you should be for them doing that for a grown man with mental issues. They were your lifeline on multiple levels and you regard them like a teenager would his annoying, oppressive parents.
You need to seize this respite and make some concrete moves to get a basic job. I think you have now grasped just how insanely hard that would be if you are sleeping in your car and showering in the gym. You need to focus 100% of your effort on this. Fairly or not people’s hospitality will turn to hostility on a dime if they feel you are wallowing in your dysfunction.
Based on your current scenario and your history all I can tell you is do not get comfortable, you need to get moving. Based on what you laid out I understand perfectly why your uncle is furious with you and you do not seem to grasp this in any way, shape or form. It seems to be a big mystery to you and you continue to see yourself as a victim. People have extraordinarily patient with you, you need to develop a more mature attitude re self responsibility and move past that victimology context.
If you do not you will ultimately be back in the street or living with people who are insanely irritated with you. Neither is good scenario. Do not “settle in” to your current situation. You need to get scrambling to get a job, any job, as soon as possible. You had just the most minor taste of what being homeless is like, it can get much much worse.
It sounds to me like your cousin is good at dealing with dysfunctional family members, and with hysterical individuals in general. I advise that you learn from him – it’s a useful skill whether or not you’re dealing with family, as I’m sure you’re aware.
Glad you have temporary shelter and don’t have to be out in the cold this week. Good luck with the job hunting!
I have to say, astro, I do not understand why his uncle is furious with him. I agree that he needs to move forward but it seems to me he’s doing that. I don’t think we know enough about the past to say that he’s “burned up a lot of resources and good will.”
I just wanted to say, Strain of Thought, that I’m glad you’ve gotten this far. I did something similar – although much less scary! – a few years ago when I finally decided I’d had it with my family. It’s terrifying and bewildering at first, but it does get easier, when you start noticing that you’re out of the awful fighting pit, and hey, you’re not actually dead like they told you you’d be without them.
It sounds like your cousin knows EXACTLY why you lit out. He did grow up with the pair of them, no? None of my relatives had that kind of insight, but a few long-time friends did.
If you find yourself in possession of any other useless trinkets that remind you of the unpleasant past, I suggest you huck them into the nearest large body of water. There are a couple of house keys at the bottom of the Charles River now, reminding me that I never have to go back to people who are bad for my mental health.
Still alive, still dead tired. Still at my cousin’s, still sleeping on his couch. Things seem to be continuing to get more stable. I’m just going to go sleep now and try to catch up on all my lost sleep, and maybe tomorrow I can write more, more coherently. I continue to be unable to thank you all sufficiently for your encouragement. Goodnight.
A free alternative to PO box is General Delivery. It looks less “professional” to a potential employer, but it’s a great in-the-meantime step. And most employers don’t need to mail you stuff. Your main Post Office will hold your mail up to 30 days for you:
Best wishes.
I’m super impressed by your spirit and gumption. Stay strong — you can do this. Wishing you all the best.
Here’s me, hoping that things are going well.
Hey SoT, this is the first I’ve seen this thread. Walking away sounds like the best way to save yourself. Contact your caseworker and see what you can do about getting your meds, shelter and another change of clothes. Best of luck and willpower to you. You can do this.
Waitaminute, are you sure you’re you? This post doesn’t sound like it came from a relative of overlyverbose! 
Glad you’re doing better, kudos to horseshoe, Scribble and your cousin. One of the cool things about having a job is that it can lead to more work.
Hey Strain, how are things now?
We exchanged a few texts not last weekend but the weekend before, and he’d confirmed that he’s still bunking with the cousin (I was concerned about him being back to sleeping in the car since we’ve been getting some serious winter weather) fwiw.
I was just thinking the same thing. (I’m in the DFW area too.) Hope he’s staying warm. We’ve had some very cold nights as of late.