Well, to get started, let me give you some background. I've been living in my camper, known as Dolphin Manor, since October 2010. It is now April 2012, so as of this writing it has been one year, seven months. Mostly, I've been "going rogue" - living for free on the streets around Mountain View, CA.
Mountain View has been pretty congenial. During the day, I've been parked on the block where I've been working (I work at the DMV as an Examiner for Commercial Truck Drivers). At night, I move the camper to a slightly more industrial neighborhood about two miles away. One main advantage to this spot is free high speed internet: one of the businesses there has an unprotected linksys wireless router that I've been able to nick.
The general neighborhood has been great. Whole Foods (with free WiFi and electrical outlets), Trader Joes, 24 Hr Fitness, Target, Walmart, my bank branch, all within a block, all in a clean, wooded and safe area. The police have left me alone, although at one point I was afraid they where staking me out.
The morning after my very first night sleeping in the camper I popped out of the side door to see a cop sitting in his patrol car just across the way. I was afraid that the next night there would be a major raid because at the time there were about 5 campers parked in the area. So that next night I moved to a different neighborhood. On my way to work the following day, I saw a patrol car sitting in the same place. I then realized that they were in a perfect - yet hidden - vantage point to observe cars as they rolled through a 4 way stop sign at the corner. They really had no interest in the campers - they just wanted to ticket the drivers. I guess it's all about the revenue.... and since they wouldn't make much on me (or the other gypsies) they have let me be. This may also be due to the fact that I try to maintain a low profile.
So much for background.
I am now in the process of moving to Sacramento. I've accepted a new position with the DMV to become a trainer and will be working out of DMV headquarters in Sacramento. My first trip to Sac did not turn up much in the way of Gypsy Communities - whereas Mountain View seems to have an active band of gypsies just around every corner, all living off the grid. The only place I could detect people living in RV's in Sac was a depressing little spot under the freeway. There seemed to be about four or five campers huddled together, but nowhere else could I find fellow gypsies. I did find a couple of spots where there did not seem to be any parking limitations/regulations and have chosen one spot to try out this weekend, just north of the city near Arden Blvd . What I like about this spot is that it seems to be centrally located near my favorite haunts: Whole Foods, 24 Hr Fitness and Trader Joe's. Plus it is not too far from work, about 15mins. But... without any other RVs on the street I wonder if Sac police enforcing "no living in vehicles" ordinances or what.
I made it through the first night without incident but am missing the free WiFi that I had down in Mtn View. I did, however, have a bit of a run in with security at the local 24 Hr Fitness. I pulled into their parking lot my first night in town, just to check out the facility. A couple of overly uniformed too straight macho boys who probably didn't make the cut at the local police academy were patrolling the lot and snapped a picture of Dolphin Manor, presumably to use as evidence if I parked there too long. Jerks. Oh well, I guess it comes with the territory.
Now on to explore Sac for the rest of the day....
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