I totally forgot to give a little "review" on the book I got from Shari and Bill, Nomadland by Jessica Bruder (THANK YOU! Not yelling, of course ...) Well, it´s actually a reference to how we lived on our travels throughout Australia, and how we live in Germany.
Some things really shocked me, I nearly cried just reading the foreword.
Like "Would you rather have food or dental work?". In Germany no one would ask you this.
This is about a "low-cost labour pool", made of older adults.
We lived in cars, cause we choose to, we wanted to be free, that´s all. Slept for free on rest-areas or in side roads. Bought food at the grocery, cooked and I brought home so much money, my parents, who presented me with this six-months journey, couldn´t believe it (and gave me the rest for a second, 7-months-trip).
I am a spoiled brat. They assumed we´ll live in youth hostels and such. But it was (cold) public showers etc of course instead, all for free.
The book says there is a "wheel estate". The people are not home-, "just" houseless, they try to stay proud. Telling themselves, "something better will come".
Work conditions are better in Germany, too, if women still in some places get less money for the same job than a man.
They make everything a habit, even working 11+ hours and 1 1/2 hours of driving.
They build "Earthships", walls give electricity etc, they say connect with the planet, not leave it, oh, yes.
Amazon now makes TV-ads here and Ingo said I cannot compare the work here for them to America, where the staff is called "camperforce", it´s "a shadow economy".
Amazon offers free pain killers for the hard work there.
Amazon hires older workers "because they bring good work ethic" - well, that might be true, just don´t ask for the reasons.
The Nomads say, "home is where the hug is", a nice saying. They work till they can no more.
There is a reference to German statesman von Bismarck who created the world´s first age insurance in 1889 (which likely we will not see much of. Here retirees collect recycle-bottles to add to their pension!).
Monopoly had a square "poorhouse", later "free parking space". It´s a "wheel estate".
I read on the balcony, but looked it just up... They either are ironic or really just try to make the best of it, you are greeted with "Welcome to the Best Times of Your Life."
Amazon tracks time and tells you off if you´re too slow, they choose "disposable people" versa loyal employees (hello, new boss kicked me out after 17 years).
In summer that living is "OK", but in winter...
They have "Springbreak for seniors" ... better than "Poor man´s Palm Springs"...
A woman named Chere ate only half a Hamburger to give the other to her dog.
In the "Amazoo" they all help each other, share books on how to make a better life.
"The plan is there is no plan."
Police helps, luckily (happened to us, too).
Some more good vibes, "Thriving, not surviving", "Feel like a kid again!"
They care as a "vanily", they share wisdom, jokes, campfires & coffee".
At the end is a longer list of help-sites.
This is good. And sad.
This book is titled by the New Yorker as "A remarkable book".
He is mad at how so many people, who worked already all their lifes, are not allowed to enjoy their older age... If he could... he would build them steady homes. Homes, with which you can easily travel. I saw docus on that.
It was a remarkable book for sure.
