Here’s the third and final part of the series on what of what to pack in your backpack to live anywhere in the world. Shashi also discusses the problems of monkeys in India and warns about them. Also check out your local REI store, she purchased a lot of her light weight stuff there.
Coming Soon – Part 3
by Adventurer Shashi Harrie
Video by Paulie Hunt
Photos by Julie Webster
Shashi’s Latest and Famous Backpack
Contents of Sashi’s Backpack.
Our dear friend Shashi was just about to leave for another travel adventure. She had been globe-trotting for over 20 years, living simply and mostly out of her back pack and a rolly suitcase. She has been almost everywhere, including Tibet and Latin America. This trip was to go back to India, seeking wisdom at her favorite Ashram.
Before she left we persuaded her to meet at a friend’s apartment and go through her entire backpack kit. Over the years she had refined the things she carried to get the lightest items, but also the strongest and long lasting items. I know that one of her favorite places was REI in Santa Monica for excellent camping gear. She agreed to share her experience and go through the items that she has found to be a necessity for extended travel and adventure. She caries a water filter, a rice cooker, and a device to grind nuts and seeds, because she will be eating mostly things she prepares and finds in even small villages, including rice, beans and fresh veggies.. Being on the road can be expensive if you travel like a rich tourist and stay in hotels and have all meals in restaurants. Shashi prefers to be on foot or bus and find a really cheap place to stay or camp and cook her own food. This savings allows her to travel constantly on a very small fixed income. She also works a little along the way, or trades services with businesses. She has fixed computers, done bookkeeping, is a licensed acupuncturist, a trained karate security guard, and many other talents.
Please enjoy the video below and following that some photos we took of her equipment. Notice that to keep organized, things are kept in cloth or vinyl waterproof bags and little pouches. For instance, the first aid kit is in one bag, toiletries in another, food prep stuff in another. That keeps everything organized in her backpack.
Note: The video below is only 16 minutes. We will upload the entire 50 minute version soon.
Shashi Harri (L) and Julie Webster
Big Fun Videographer Paulie with Shashi Harri
I am very sad to say that our dear friend passed away on her last trip in early 2019, due to being caught in a dreadful storm and getting pneumonia. We will certainly miss her calm disposition and great knowledge. This is her last gift to those who live out of their backpacks, by choice or by chance and hard times. She was so happy to share this information with everyone at gypsycool. Rest In Peace dear Shashi Harrie.
Sleeping is Now a Crime
By Eric Peters
Eric Peters Autos
March 9, 2019
It’s become one of those self-evident truths Massa Tom once wrote about to state that government has become overtly punitive – as opposed to keeping the peace, its sole legitimate function.
There are many examples. Here is the latest.
Virginia’s Roanoke County has hurled a fatwa (news story here) making it a crime to sleep in your own car – even if that car is parked on your own property.
Which nicely delineates the true ownership of “your” property.
“Violators” are subject to arrest – and a $250 fine. Also a possible Hut! Hut! Hutting! – since the fatwa endows armed government workers with the legal power to come onto private property, rap their knuckles or flashlights on private property (the vehicle, its windows) and demand ID and so on from someone not harming anyone.
If the person questions, is the least bit recalcitrant . . . Hut! Hut! Hut! Bash the window in and drag the victim out.
Keep in mind: The law not only permit but specifically empowers the AGWs to perform these operations . . . even on private property.
I am test driving the 2020 Mercedes GLE450 this week (review will be posted soon). It comes with massaging seats, which I happen to not have inside my house. And so I have been spending time in the Benz – which is parked on my driveway. The one I am forced to pay taxes on, for the privilege of being allowed to use – and the fiction that I own.
Doubled-down on by this fatwa.
Armed government thugs – what else are they? – who notice me snoozing in the Benz, parked on my driveway, in front of my garage – now have the power to trespass onto my property (I did not invite them, do not want them) and physically accost me.
If I “resist” – i.e., tell them to fuck off and get off my property – it’s time for the Hut! Hut! Hut! routine.
It is obscene.
Even more obscene, the bullies responsible for this outrage have been trying to gaslight their victims. When a local news affiliate questioned the Board of Supervisors, it received the following:
“The purpose of the ordinance is to enable our staff to intervene in serious cases where people are using their automobiles for an extended period of time as sleeping quarters, in place of a residence, hotel or other accommodations. Most importantly, our concern is for the health and safety of the person living in this type of situation, particularly during the cold winter months. Enforcement of the ordinance will be complaint-driven, and individuals in need will be provided with information regarding resources to aid them in their situation. The ordinance does not prohibit short-term napping in vehicles.”
Italics added.
The “health and safety” of the person… who is now to be Hut! Hut! Hutted!
And they will be subject to the Hut! Hut! Hutting! because . . . it is “healthier” and “safer”to sleep exposed to the cold and rain and whatever else is outside than to shelter inside a warm car.
And the caveat about the ordinance not “…prohibit(ing) short-term napping in vehicles”?
Who will decide what constitutes “short term” and “nap”? Why, the armed government worker on scene; it will be at his discretion.
What was it The Church Lady used t say? Isn’t that special!
Even assuming an AGW who isn’t looking for a reason to hassle someone, the plain fact is the law empowers him to hassle anyone he likes.
The person napping – or sleeping – can no longer tell the AGW to go away. Well, no longer has any legal power to demand the AGW go away.
In his own car – even if parked on his property. Or – and this is just as important – property owned by someone else, who is not complaining about it.
This ugly business is, however, to be expected – and expanded. In many states, it has been illegal for years to sleep it off in your car. The once-upon-a-time responsible thing to do after having one too many has become the legal equivalent of the irresponsiblething; the “violator” may be charged with drunk driving . . . even though no driving has taken place.
Thus encouraging drunks to drive.
Why not, after all? At least you’ll be a moving target – and you’ll probably make it home without killing anyone (as opposed to certainlynot killing anyone if you were left in peace to sleep it off).
Both sleeping it off – and just sleeping (or even just napping) have in common the thing which used to be relevant insofar as the law was concerned but no longer is:
No harm done.
Because the law now concerns itself with being the cause of harm. It began a long time ago, with little things – seatbelt laws, for instance – that set the precedent for more (and bigger) things.
I’ve tried, for many years, to get across the point that precedent become practice. That if X is permitted, Y will follow – if the two are based on the same general principle.
Thus:
If a person who has long ago paid the bank in full for his home is forced to continue paying the government what amounts to rent in order to be allowed to live in “his” home, then why not also pass a law making it illegal for him to nap – or sleep – in “his” car, even if it is parked on “his” driveway – and in front of “his” home?
Precisely.
Every Friday 6:30-8 pm the New Friends puts on a dinner for homeless and disadvantaged folks at the United Methodist Church, 5650 Shoup Ave., Woodland Hills. Phone (818) 346-1617 for more information.
by Judy
I volunteered today at feed the homeless in Encino. It is a very impressive place.
Every tues night 6:30 to 8:00pm and every sunday late afternoon 3:00pm to 4:pm
anyone in need is welcome for a free hot meal and dessert
Location St Nicholas Episcopal Church – fellowship hall, 17114 ventura blvd, encino, ca 91316
The meals are served as a sit down dinner with entertainment. The people are served like they were eating at a restaurant.
Los Angeles is fast earning the reputation as the homeless capitol of America. Because of skyrocketing apartment rents, the millions of folks who were thrown out of their homes by the bankers during the mortgage melt-down now have nowhere to go. Thousands of families are living in their RVs, vans and even cars. This includes thousands of children. Even if the family gets a “chit” to stay in a motel for a couple of weeks, imagine the impact on the kids. It is an intolerable situation.
This new documentary focuses on several families, their daily struggle to make ends meet, living with their kids on the street, in motels, in vehicles. It is a heart-wrenching documentary that is a call to action for society to do something to help this situation. There are many helpful solutions to these problems, we just need to marshal our society to tackle them
The fundraiser was held on September 29th at the Peace Center in Culver City. The goal was to get enough money to pay for post production costs for the film, so that it could get released. The trailer is done. Gypsy Cool’s friends were at the event, with video cameras to record the highlights of the event. Please, anyone who can help with a few bucks, go to www.invisiblechildrenofla.org and make a donation to the film through Film Independent.
Much more coming on this, click below to view the trailer. The documentary film is in progress. Marryanna Palmer is the Producer, the film is in the final editing stage now.
Photo by Paul Hunt
This dude even carries his own tree with him, as well as comfy matresses and many blankets for those chilly nights in Hollywood.