Airport Lockout

I ran into my homeless buddy at the fast food joint in town this morning. He disclosed that the homeless can no longer camp at the airport. The lockout apparently went into effect several days ago. Of course, there were myriad problems prior to the lockout. Theft, loitering, and unsanitary practices are some of issues caused by the homeless campers. My homeless buddy attributes the latter issues to the homeless migrants, mostly elderly, from the mainland empire.

So, where is my homeless buddy sleeping at night? Apparently, my homeless buddy and his clan are now officially part of the street homeless population. They seem to have found a good location at the makai end of South Street in town.

My homeless buddy will spend another week on the streets before departing for his six-month vacation in Vietnam. When he returns to Hawai'i, he has vowed to purchase a homeless motorhome (read: minivan). Since he cannot obtain a driver's license, he can only purchase the vehicle by proxy. A friend of his has offered to purchase and insure the vehicle in his own name for my homeless buddy. The vehicle can be dilapidated, my homeless buddy told me, as long as it can be driven to a designated parking lot for a permanent stay.

On a related note, I now believe that I know why there has been an influx of elderly and geriatric homeless people from the mainland empire. They are fleeing from locales that no longer provide healthcare entitlements. They specifically come here for the "free" health insurance, since most of them are sickly, frail, and require myriad prescription drugs.

Geriatrics

Ever since I espied the prematurely aging Les a few weeks ago, I have been spooked. Although younger than I am, Les looked to be more like 75 years old. To be honest, I don't know what I would do if I looked like Les right now. I have also noticed a couple of other guys suffering from the same syndrome as Les. Quite appalling.

There is no shortage of senior citizens no matter where I find myself. From my observations, "quality of life" is exponentially impaired beyond 70 years of age. What's there to look forward to? Musculoskeletal deformities, organ failure, senility, dementia, defunct Vienna Sausage, chronic ailments ... the list is endless. Frankly, I don't know if I would like to survive beyond 75 years.

Medical expenses tops the list of reasons that individuals file for bankruptcy. I surmise that the majority are senior citizens. Heck, even the senior citizen medical entitlement program of empire mandates a 10-year "lookback" for "asset recovery." And, senior citizens are only allowed to have $2,000 in assets at any time. My advice to everyone is to spend every penny of savings and rely only on pensions and entitlements for survival, that is, after hiding a portion of the aforementioned assets. Then, become a "ward of the state."

Automobile

A day has passed since my purchase of the somewhat hideous Nissan® Cube. Although, I might add that the landlord really likes it. Moms had no criticism either. The automobile is small, more like a stereotypical babe's vehicle. Guys prefer big-ass pickup trucks. Well, I can't complain. It is peppy, doesn't guzzle petrol, and fits in all of the downsized parking spaces in Honolulu proper.

I am not complaining about the dinero that I had to dole out, by the way. My former Nissan® Frontier truck was about to cost me over $3,000 in expenses. There's the registration fee of $367 that would have been due next month. Lots of postponed maintenance was also in the queue ... oil change, tire rotation, radiator flush, transmission flush, and brake fluid flush. Repairs were also upcoming, including the power steering pump, disintegrating weatherstripping, and rear differential. For ten years, all I basically did was the oil change routine. It was a great truck, though.

So, I avoided paying out the $3,000 or so. In addition, the automobile dealership included a really nice set of perks. Free oil changes, free car washes, and free annual safety checks for as long as I own the vehicle. That's at least a value of $370 per year. And, I will significantly reduce the consumption of petrol and its associated expense.

All that to say ... I really like the Nissan® Cube. It's fun to drive and has some advanced technology incorporated within its unattractive shell. And, in searching for possible rental housing, I will be able to drive the vehicle to the various locations that were prohibitive with the truck. I can also choose to reside in more remote locations and commute to the nearest mass transit hub. Oh, my Cube looks exactly like the photograph featured in the "blog" of yesterday.

So, although the homeless decision has been postponed, I have determined that the best homeless motorhome is a cargo minivan. They are smaller and narrower than the passenger minivans. Unfortunately, the are no windows in rear half of the vehicle, so a roof vent must be installed. Could the Nissan® Cube be retrofited as a homeless motorhome? Yes, but it would be a tight squeeze.

Postponed, Not Mummified

My intention this morning was to acquire the homeless motorhome (read: luxury minivan). However, after nearly four hours at the automobile dealership in Kane'ohe, I ended up with a budget automobile ... the unattractive, albeit discontinued, Nissan® Cube. As with ten years ago, I had to play along with the cheesy sales theatrics. There was a lot of "hand waving," with the claim that I received $9,500 for the Nissan® Frontier truck, but I easily calculated that it was much lower than that. Total cost was $13,500 out the door.

Nissan® Cube

The Nissan® Cube is a 2014 model, the last year of production. It is a "demo" unit, so it is not exactly new. That's fine, though. I won't be so worried about it being vandalized or keeping it clean. As ugly as it is, the vehicle is fun to drive and quite peppy. It also gets really good mileage per gallon of petrol. The scary part is that it is so small. I feel quite vulnerable inside its tiny cabin. And, it will not suffice as a homeless motorhome.

So what about the homeless motorhome? Even the lowest base model was way too luxurious for my tastes. In addition, it was as large as my former pickup truck and slightly heavier. A homeless motorhome should not look that nice. So, the homeless decision has been postponed, not mummified, for a few months.

On a side note, I was taken quite aback by the circumstances of the deliberate downing of the Germanwings airliner in the Swiss Alps. I cannot even imagine the horror that swept through passenger cabin in the last few minutes of the ill-fated flight.

Pending

Terse mode continues unless a delineated discussion is necessary. Latest terse tidbits:

• Homeless decision? Still pending.
• Preparations for homelessness continue. Consumables are being depleted and useless possessions divested.
• Motor vehicle divestiture could occur as early as tomorrow morning. What will replace it? An economy automobile or a homeless motorhome (read: luxury minivan)? The choice depends upon my tenure in Waimanalo, which was previously discussed in the "blog."
• Room rental rates in shared quarters are increasing. There are large numbers of rooms renting for $1,000+ per month available in Honolulu proper, with several listings topping out at $2,000 per month.

Terse mode ... love it, or lose it!

Terse Mode

Here is a sample of the new terse mode for the "blog":

• My homeless buddy is now suffering from some kind of bladder problem. He also provided me with another lead insofar as overnight parking for the possible future homeless motorhome (read: luxury minivan).
• Homeless decision? Pending.

End terse mode.

Waste of Time

About three hours of work on the post that was supposed to appear today has disappeared. Composing the "blog" on the cheap "smartphone" has been tenuous at best. I am not going to waste more time attempting to reconstruct what disappeared. I may just mummify the "blog" right here and now. The "blog" is just a waste of time.

Mummification Mini-Update®
After further consideration, the "blog" will not be mummified yet. However, very little time will be invested in it. And, no more embedded pictures of hotties. Content in the "blog" will revert to terse mode.

Comic Relief

The days are passing quickly. I have gone through all of the logistics and contingencies associated with homelessness. In no scenario have I envisioned an ideal homeless situation. The homeless life-style is extremely difficult. The need for continuous adaptation is demanding. Yet, here I am, edging ever closer to homelessness. I have perused the on-line rental housing listings sporadically and mostly for comic relief. Yes, very comical stuff.

Well, all that's left is to purchase a homeless motorhome (read: luxury minivan). I am only holding off while I contemplate the feasibility of remaining in Waimanalo. Then, there's the issue of my current motor vehicle. Anyway, I am repeating myself yet again. The issues have been delineated upon in the "blog" previously.

Edgy

With the divestiture of the iPad® tablet computer on Saturday, I am now down to the bare minimum of possessions. Nothing except my motor vehicle is worth more than $50 or so. I am truly on-track toward homelessness. Is that a proud accomplishment, or what? To celebrate, I set up one of the cheap "smartphones" to stream my favorite house music channel on the Net.

By the way, I neglected to mention that my homeless buddy has taken a few "selfie" pictures at the airport with his homeless clan. However, he did not have his "smartphone" with him when I saw him last. He has promised to show me the pictures soon. My homeless buddy is probably the only person who seems to enjoy homelessness.

As I continue to edge toward homelessness, I have become extremely edgy. Who, except my homeless buddy, truly enjoys homelessness? Yet, there is no benefit for me to remain sheltered in expensive rental housing. I am an old codger. I could keel over at any time, and no one would even care. There is no difference between me and a typical homeless guy.

Tenure

I ran into both Maka and my homeless buddy at the gym yesterday. Maka is reconsidering the homeless motorhome (read: luxury minivan) option upon realizing that affordable rental housing is non-existent. My homeless buddy provided me with more parking options for the homeless motorhome. My main concern is the A'ala Park area, which probably has the highest crime rate on the island. My homeless buddy assured me that the criminal elements remain confined to the park itself. There are also street parking options nearby, but the legality is questionable.

The crux of the homeless decision, of course, is whether I could accept remaining in Waimanalo for several years. My perusal of the rental housing listings have proven to be disappointing. There's nothing affordable. And, shared quarters will most likely prove intolerable, much like Chaos Manor (read: rental housing). I certainly cannot fathom the idea of searching for new rental accommodations every few months because of constant incompatibility problems. As for Waimanalo, I believe that I am at the end of my residential tenure there. I have previously discussed the relevant issues in the "blog."

Speaking of Waimanalo, I have observed an increasing number of automobiles that are suspiciously parked in an open field along the back road to the landlord's farm. Homeless motorhomes? You bet! Actually, there are a lot of homeless people camping at Waimanalo beach, too.

Incidentally, I am pretty much finished with the Net. I have whittled down my list of acceptable Web sites to a handful at best. Aside from that, I only engage in monthly on-line financial transactions. The "blog" is the only demanding on-line task, nothing that the cheap "smartphones" can't handle. If I embark on a homeless journey, I will have even less access to the Net. No loss. I have wasted far too much time with the benign activity.

The daily routine remains the same. No evening outings to Kahala, though. Commuting by bus is really beginning to take its toll on the oversized cranium. Usual visits to Hawai'i Kai still continue. Moms is doing fine.

Ol' Lavahead Mini-Update®
The iPad® tablet computer has been divested at a significant loss. There will be no replacement of any technology gadgets from this point forward, unless the replacement is of the "budget" class. No more high-end luxury items for the ol' lavahead.

Changes

I ran into my homeless buddy this afternoon at the gym. He no longer believes that the homeless motorhome (read: luxury minivan) is a good idea. Instead, he told me that I should purchase a camper shell for my Nissan® Frontier truck. Or, even better, I should camp at the airport with him and his clan. My homeless buddy seems to be obsessed with living on the cheap no matter what.

Maka has seemingly abandoned plans to purchase a homeless motorhome. Instead, he has been spending money on all kinds of crap, including a new notebook computer. He also seems to be convinced that he will be able to find rental housing below $600 per month, even though his application for a rental unit in the Chinatown dormitory was rejected.

In the build-up to the homeless decision, I have been divesting useless crap left and right. I listed the iPad® tablet computer for sale on-line at a very attractive price, but there has been no interest. No one wants tablet computers anymore, thanks to the proliferation of "phablets." Nonetheless, I have completely decommissioned the device.

Home Sweet Home(less)

On Sunday, I ran into my homeless buddy at the fast food joint in town in the morning. He has extended the duration of his upcoming vacation in Vietnam to six months. He also mentioned that the security staff at the airport has become increasingly hostile to the homeless campers. The large number of inconsiderate homeless migrants from the mainland empire is allegedly the reason. In addition, many homeless services, like free meals, are being curtailed by the various sponsoring charity groups.

Now is not the time to be homeless, however. The latest fad engaged in by the "establishment" is to harass and bully the homeless. Of course, most of the homeless did not make the choice to live on the streets willingly. Thus, my foray into homelessness would be ill-timed. Unfortunately, there will never be an opportune moment to become homeless ever again. The conundrum for the authorities is, of course, how to make homelessness a crime when there are only about 600 spaces, all filled already, available in the homeless shelters on the island.

I have been fairly stressed out about the upcoming homeless decision. I could decide to remain in Waimanalo, but I would still need to commute to Hawai'i Kai by automobile. I reside on a farm in the hills, which is quite away from "downtown" Waimanalo and the nearest bus stop. Being in the "country" also means poor and limited bus service. Sadly, my motor vehicle is ten years old. Even though it has little in the way of mileage, it is still ten years old. The maintenance queue would, by my estimate, be at least $3,000 or so. I don't want to invest that kind of money in an aging vehicle.

I could purchase a new vehicle, an economy model, and still reside in Waimanalo. I would still have to commute to Hawai'i Kai by automobile. Petrol will probably return to $4.30 per gallon, so there will be no savings. And, I will be racking up about 150 miles per week on it. Not exactly viable. None of this was due to bad planning, by the way. I fully anticipated that my current vehicle would be the last one that I would own and drive. My driving tenure would have ended when my current driver's license expires in two years. However, I was not expecting moms to survive to 120 years of age. I failed to grasp the power of the belief in "eternal life."

So, that's where I stand. I can purchase the homeless motorhome (read: luxury minivan), but I am certainly not going to dole out $1,000+ per month rent for a shitty room in shared quarters at the same time. Incidentally, the only room rentals that are available in town in the sub-$700 per month range are dormitory-like settings. The square-footage of the rooms are about the same as the interior of a minivan. Between $700 and $800 per month are room rentals in locations further outside Honolulu proper than Waimanalo. Oh, did I mention that many room rentals do not include utilities? In a footnote somewhere in the listings, the shared utilities are estimated to be about $150 per person on average per month in addition to the rent payment. I am only looking for a place to sleep, for Molech's sake!

On a side note, there have been rumors that the central bank of empire is planning to raise short-term interest rates by Summer. The rate hike will be half-percent every six months (or longer). To reach the paltry goal of a measly five percent per annum would require a minimum of ten years. Let's face it, there will be several more rounds of "quantitative easing" (QE) before that happens. By then, the sun would have already gone red star and engulfed the earth. Sheesh!

Vagrancy

I have never really been a "homebody." There's just nothing to do in a "home." Well, I suppose that I could establish a "bachelor pad." I could then lay around, worship the tube like a shrine, view hurdy-gurdy video clips on the trusty tablet computer, consume alcoholic beverages, choke da chicken, and so on to my heart's content. Unfortunately, even that is not appealing. A "home" is more like a mausoleum. Coffin is more like it. The studio rental unit in Waimanalo is fairly nice, but there's nothing for me to do when I return there. There's a pre-LED tube provided, but I can't bring myself to worship it. So, I spend all of my time on the Net with my various devices. There is absolutely nothing redeeming about such an existence.

Yet, there is very little to do outside the home. The "ownership society" has made it impossible to congregate anywhere outside the usual public venues. Even then, money must be spent in order to avoid vagrancy violations. Our lives are essentially spent in consumer prisons. No money? Go home!

What if an individual is homeless? That's the big question of the moment. The homeless spend a good portion of the day, fifteen hours upward, in a urban nomadic trek to find any place that can serve as a refuge for a few hours without being hassled for loitering. And, believe me, there are very few places aside from the few remaining public venues and commercial dens of consumerism (read: shopping malls).

In my case, if I elect to become homeless (i.e., motorhomeless), I will free up at least four to five hours of time that was formerly consumed by commuting. Having a homeless motorhome (read: luxury minivan) has its advantages, though. I would not be seen with all of my worldly possessions on me. Thus, I would be covertly homeless. Even looking into the homeless motorhome would not generate any suspicions. I have so little in the way of possessions that barely anything would be visible. Compare that to the typical homeless people with vehicles. Stuff is packed all the way up to the roof, a magnet for police harassment.

Speaking of automobiles stuffed with junk, I ran into Tom, the drunkard, of Chaos Manor (read: rental housing) fame in Hawai'i Kai late this afternoon. He claimed that he had just returned from a two-month vacation in Cali. He is still alive. He's still driving the same decrepit automobile. What he should do is trade his automobile in for a minivan and join me in camping at the A'ala Park parking lot. Baha! Ha! Ha! Haaa!

Trends

The price of petrol has been rising about ten cents per gallon per week for the last two weeks. The trendline, much to my surprise, is now on a constant upward trajectory. Obviously, the price of petrol will significantly impact the homeless decision. Driving my motor vehicle from Waimanalo to Hawai'i Kai (and back) daily will soon become unsustainable.

I chatted with Maka again yesterday. He is taking the idea of the homeless motorhome (read: luxury minivan) quite seriously. Actually, he is looking for a larger cargo van that he can convert into a real motorhome. I, on the otherhand, would be using the luxury minivan as a mobile coffin ... errr, a temporary place to sleep. No conversion necessary.

Usual Hawai'i Kai visit. Moms is found fine. Nothing else to report. The usual agenda and itinerary were fulfilled. Everything seems so status quo, even though homelessness is rapidly becoming reality. Imagine, I will be the first person in my family and amongst my relatives to become a homeless derelict. All because the central bank of empire has maintained its bogus zero interest rate policy (ZIRP), now in the negative yield region, and the "quantitative easing" (QE) scam for the past seven years.

There have been rumblings in the financial circles that the central bank of empire will be raising short-term interest rates soon. Fat chance! I have discovered that the interest rate announcements are a ruse to "put the brakes" on the overinflated asset class "bubbles." The resulting minor corrections serve to make the markets look legitimate. Without the contrived corrections, all asset classes would have "gone through the roof." Don't expect interest rates to rise unless an unforseen currency crisis erupts.

To further clarify my position, I must state that homeless preparations are proceeding far ahead of schedule, including that of the homeless decision. I have already called the management office that oversees the A'ala Park parking lot to inquire about a monthly permit. I will be passing the information on to Maka. I don't know if he will be able to purchase a cheap cargo van. However, he seems to have a lot of local "connections."

Anyway, at this time, I do not see any other options. I can only fully exit the "system" until the fundamentals come into play and force a real correction on the rigged financial "system." A complete crash across all asset class "bubbles" will serve to remove the large dislocations that have accumulated over the course of seven years. Devaluation of all asset classes will also affect rental housing. Only then can I re-enter the "system" safely.

Of course, homelessness is a trend in and of itself. What I am observing in the islands is the result of the systemic collapse of the middle class of empire. Greed and fraud, all legally unregulated, has resulted in the greatest theft and wealth transfer in the history of humanity. The effects are not limited to empire. We are witnessing the broad effects internationally, which has caused great unrest and violence. The issue extends to mortality, by the way.

One has to wonder why humanity embarks on ludicrous endeavors when all life, even the universe, is finite and terminal. Only human ignorance, stupidity and arrogance can explain the phenomena. In my old age, I have wonder why I am subjected to the kind of abuse the "system" doles out. Yet, stupidity knows no bounds. Life appears to be too short for humans to acquire real knowledge and wisdom.

Preparation

The deliberations concerning the homeless decision continue to plague the ol' lavahead. Although, contingencies are being planned for the end of the month. Incidentally, I had shared the motorhomelessness plan with Maka the other day at the gym. He is currently looking to purchase a minivan for $1,000 or so. I guess that he liked the idea. Well, there may be two of us camping in the A'ala Park parking lot soon.

Well, the new cheap "smartphone" is finally operational. The bogus charge on the credit card was credited. So, I stopped in the electronics store in Hawai'i Kai and paid for a month of service there. I won't be using the Web site for payments anymore. Sheesh! Sadly, the new cheap "smartphone" is a "piece of shit." But, I digress.

I have continued to peruse the rental housing listings. I have discovered that many of the listings have been relisted continuously for the last three months, especially the rooms renting for $1,000+ per month. To really appreciate the frustration of potential renters, a quick reading of the full description of each listing is required. The sheer number of crackpots who are renting out rooms to hapless tenants is amazing. Of course, the fact that the listings are perpetual seems to indicate that few people are interested in being "ripped off" or dealing with psychotic individuals.

So, where are all the potential renters residing? My guess is that they have sought more creative solutions. They may be renting a sofa at a friend's place. Or, they may be staying with family or other relatives. Or, they may be homeless. Mind you, there are a few reasonable (i.e., less than $800 per month) room rental listings. However, all of them are much further away from town than Waimanalo. Certainly not very comforting.

Even though the final homeless decision has not been made, I am still proceeding with more divestitures of useless junk and the depletion of consumables. I have also been maintaining a high level of vigilance concerning the homeless situation. Overall, I already know that maintaining a covert and low profile is essential for success (term used loosely). Realistically, I can only share my homeless contingency plan with others who share the same plight.

In the meantime, day-to-day operations remain the same. I follow the usual agenda and itinerary. There have been increasing logistical problems, totally out of my control. Details are not necessary. Although, I will mention that my patience is being tried at every turn. The situation appears to only be worsening, which is indicative of a downward spiral. Ambient stupidity also seems to be on the rise. Very worrisome indeed.

With that said, I have transferred $11,500 from my fledgling investment accounts to my local bank in preparation for the upcoming homeless decision. I should have enough to purchase a homeless motorhome (read: luxury minivan) in cash.

Spock

The venerable Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock of "Star Trek" fame) passed on last week. He was, of course, one in a long list of famous names who have succumbed to death within the past few years, that is, names familiar to me since childhood. And, as a long-time science fiction and "Star Trek" fan, I was even more affected. Mortality is once again providing reminders or hints of what little time I have left.

In the last few weeks, I have been deliberating my fate, at least the fate that is within my control. I keep asking myself about the purpose of saving money for the future. Who knows the future? If I were to survive into old age, I could easily lose all the money because of medical expenses. Or, an untimely circumstance could bring about my demise a lot sooner. Why not just spend freely now and enjoy the splurge while it lasts? Or, why not live comfortably during the last of my "good years"?

As I have discussed previously in the "blog," my life expectancy is most likely another twenty years given family antecedents. That's not much time. So, why not live somewhat "high on the hog" for the next six to eight years? Why even entertain the idea of homelessness? On the other hand, why waste $1,000+ to rent a room in shared quarters? What is "high on the hog" about renting an overpriced 100 square-foot room and dealing with moronic housemates? That's more like wasting money on nothing, just like a "smartphone" service subscription.

Value is the bottom line. If I am spending over $1,000 per month to live in squalid conditions, then I am not living "high on the hog." Instead, I am a "sucker." Thus, in my most recent quantitative analysis, I have discovered that I cannot afford to pay rent for substandard housing and maintain a motor vehicle concurrently. Well, I can afford both, but it exceeds my arbitrary budget constraints. Thus, I must choose between substandard rental housing or a motor vehicle. That's the bottom line.

In addition, the "quantitative easing" (QE) program of the global central banks have produced extreme asset and commodities price inflation. Not only is rent for housing increasing, but so is food. My estimate is about 20 percent per year on average. Once oil prices resume an upward climb, there will be severe market dislocations. Naturally, only the rank-and-file peons will be affected. Thus, although I may be able to afford to live adequately this year, I could be significantly strapped next year. In other words, a personal crisis is inevitable.

I am expecting several more rounds of QE to keep the various "bubbles" from popping. There will not be any interest rate hike. If any of the "bubbles" show signs of deflating, there will be more QE. Nothing more, nothing less. Unfortunately, valuations cannot move upward to infinity. Thus, a major correction must occur in all "bubbles" asset classes and commodities as well. Just ask yourself, "Why is my penny stock now worth $500 per share?" Of course, the longer the correction is postponed, the worsening the resulting crisis will be.

Usual Hawai'i Kai visit. Moms is doing fine. Nothing to report otherwise. I followed the usual agenda and itinerary. No evening outing in Kahala. Instead, I procured dinner at the fast food joint. Yeah, same ol' shit until the final homeless decision is made. That decision is due very soon because of the aforementioned conditions.

Incidentally, the two cheap "smartphones" are still doorstops. There has been no resolution concerning the charge on my credit card. So, I continue to wait. Turns out, I really don't need a "smartphone" after all. I don't need the IPad® tablet computer either. Sheesh!