homeless pilots

[zuka]

You live in a crash pad and are probably only going to only be there for a little while longer because you are moving onto a better job soon.


No sense investing in furniture because you will have to do something with it when you move, so disposable plastic lawn furniture works fine for now.


You do online banking and online billing or get everything forwarded through a family member or a P.O. Box somewhere else because you don’t want to go through the hassle of changing your mailing address every time you move to chase a job across the country or change crashpads.


Your car is registered in a different state, along with your driver’s license, and insurance.

What do other people do about the car situation? You are supposed to change your license and registration after 30 days, and car insurance is void after so long if the car is not parked in the state there it’s registered. I know a lot of pilots with no car insurance or just say it’s garaged in a different state. This only works for so long.


I know a handful of other guys living like this so I know it's not just me.


Anybody have any good tips for this type of transitional situation without turning this into a whining and complaining thread? Any good stories?

 

[Heyya]

Hey,

Have you been following me around!

[font=&quot]I’ve known guys who just live in a 5th wheel. A home away from home, you could say. That’s about what I did, It’s just part of paying your dues.[/font]

 

[NuGuy]

Hey,

Back in the day, you were considered to be "tied down" if you couldn't pack everything you owned in your car and be on the road in 30 minutes.

I also knew a guy that lived in his RV in the airport parking lot...sounds great if you're into it, but gets a bit old after you turn 25.

Nu

 

[Vik]

If you need a great mail forwarding service based out of Oregon, let me know. They do a great job forwarding mail for around $55/6 months + postage. No extra service fees.

 

[V-STALL]

Your family puts any "NEW" address and PH# in pencil in their phone book, because they are tired of crossing your info out and taking up the whole page of 'V's"

 

[Redtailer]

Hey Zuka, that was some funny stuff.. I lived half of that.


In regards to the car question, I had so many addresses in so many states my forwarded mail had 2 or 3 yellow stickers on it by the time I received it.

I kept my original address, that of a family member, along with the driver's license and insurance. Whenever I was asked about it I told them I was a pilot with multiple residencies. No questions asked.

 

[GravityHater]

I know a guy that lives in a plywood (1/4", not the good stuff) shack in an open T hangar. The room is 8x8' (the size the plywood comes in) with nothing but a cot and some boxes of airplane mags, parts for his plane, a few clothes. His girlfriend couldn't stand it and left him last year. He is living next to his (135) plane so he is "happy". He lives from rare charter to charter.
It is very pitiful. He shaves and potties in the FBO. Not sure if/where he showers. Probably uses the laundromat monthly whether he needs it or not.

 

[AAslag]

I still have a collection of unpaid parking tickets (I mean receipts!) from my days at my NJ crash pad.

There was only room for one car in the drive of this miserable place, so we had to rotate cars to the street, which was forbidden. No seniority system at the pad, we all shared in the frustration.

Lots of Ramen, Mac & Cheese, plenty of beer, good friends (except for the dude that went to AA: Sorry, couldnt resist) and memories.

20 years ago

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

Someone who knows me is probably laughing hysterically at this point.

But even when I've been flush with money, I've been the same way. Seriously, why buy a bed? I have a sleeping bag, and that money could easily be put to better use (like donating to charity, there are people who can't afford to eat you know, why should I have a mattress when there are people within a few miles of me who are cold, hungry and scared?)

I can't beleive that you would think that any of these are bad things. I like knowing that I can fit my "life" into the cab of my pickup (and I don't have an extra cab).

Perhaps I need to start a website to teach others how to do it. I'm a pro! And only gonna get better...

Dan

PS-for the record, a New Mexico plate looks pretty out of place in Alaska.