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Health & Fitness

There's No Place Like Home: Part 1

Can you imagine what it would feel like if you were homeless?
What about if you were about to be homeless *again*?...

 As of October of 2006, I had been living on the streets for a third of my life.

 At first, I was homeless by choice. (I had left home to see for myself what it was like out there in the world.)

 Then, I was homeless by circumstance. (In 2004, I had been hospitalized and (subsequently) lost my income, my home and custody of my child.)

 After years of "failed attempts at normalcy", I had finally come to a conclusion:
 I was just not meant to have a stable home of my own.
 Not indoors, not outdoors. Not anywhere.

 In the place where I was living at that time (People's Park, in Berkeley), theft was rampant. Everything that I had (except my earrings and nose-ring), I had owned for less than six months.

 It was one of the many eras in Berkeley history, when both the City and University Police Departments were seemingly only willing to assign bullies to patrol their streets.
 All of the more tenured officers, with whom I had historically enjoyed friendly and healthy working relationships, had been promoted to desk jobs.

 And, I was being harassed... relentlessly.

 Then, one day it occurred to me: A few of my wisest friends (who also didn't care for being harassed) lived down by the waterfront. Maybe they were on to something...

 So, with hopes of finding somewhere to live in peace, I moved to the Albany Bulb.

 Here, Nature has helped me heal.

 Here, I have helped Nature heal.

 Here, the Albany Police treat the "homeless" Albany citizens like people. They don't treat you like a criminal just for being "homeless".

 Here, I fall asleep to the sound of wind, and I wake-up to the sound of birds.

 Here, I was adopted by a cat who has never lived in the city, and who would be heartbroken if (after 5 1/2 years) she came home: only to find that her "Home" wasn't here anymore.

Here, I am accepted: for who I am and for how I look.

 Here, my life is stable enough that I can receive much needed medical care (at West Berkeley Family Practice). Stable enough that I was able to make it to the appointments necessary for me to apply for, and receive SSI.

 Here, my partner and I have my fixed income carefully budgeted to last us through the entire month.

 Here, I found peace, health and happiness.

 Here, I grew comfortable in the assurance that (despite laws stating otherwise) I was safe and secure in my Home on the Albany Bulb.

 When talking with my therapist and describing my living situation and lifestyle on the Bulb, she declared to me: "It sounds like you've found your niche."

 And, at my appointment with my psychiatrist, upon hearing of the impending eviction, he was visibly disappointed. And voiced his understanding of my anxiety over the fact that I was facing the loss of my "stable home".

 Why would these mental health professionals support my choice of lifestyle?
Because, they see that I am happier and healthier due to my stability: At Home on the Albany Bulb.

 Finally, I have a Home.

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