Chatting with the Homeless
@DeborahDiane (40288)
Laguna Woods, California
March 25, 2016 12:58am CST
As I have mentioned, my walking friend and I spend so much time strolling around Laguna Beach that we have gotten to know some of the homeless people who live there.
Today, one of my friends and I had conversations with two of them.
The first one is an old guy who wears a trench coat the year around, no matter how hot it is. He showed us a broken gold "coin" that he found. He was very excited about it. He let me hold it and it felt like plastic or cheap "pot metal" to me, but he was very pleased with the engraving on his "discovery." He thought the engravings had some special meaning, but I didn't understand quite what he thought they meant.
The second guy we chatted with is the man in the photo above. He sets up his chair on an oriental rug on this hillside every day. If there are leaves around, he rakes them away from his space. Sometimes he sets out flowers, which I think are the leftover flowers that are thrown out by our local Presbyterian church each week.
Today, my friend and I ran into this man in a shop. He was buying used books ... one on Asian art, one on succulent plants, and one was a biography of a World War II pilot. He showed me the books he was buying and talked about how the succulent plants growing on the cliffs in San Clemente are not native, so they are destroying the cliff. He is probably right, but I thought it was interesting that he knew that. It made me wonder what his background is.
When I walk in Laguna Beach with my husband, he likes to stop and chat with the artists who are always there, painting the ocean.
What about you? Do you ever talk to street artists, the homeless or other strangers on your walks? 
24 people like this
26 responses
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
26 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane It sounds as if the homeless are well taken care of in Laguna Beach.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Mar 16
@jaboUK - Yes, the homeless have fairly tranquil lives here in Laguna ... although that is not true in most parts of the U.S.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 Mar 16
Yes,there are two homeless shelters in Laguna Beach. One is for people who want stay semi-permanently, if they are interested in getting jobs, getting off the streets, and eventually getting their own apartments. The other is for people who are happy to spend their days at the beach. They are given free bus rides every night to the other shelter where they get dinner, can take showers, and have a warm, dry place to sleep. The next morning, they are given food for breakfast and a ride back to the beach, where they can spend the day. They are also given other services, including medical care and assistance with medications. I think a lot of them are mentally ill.
2 people like this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
31 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane I can see how people would be more open and friendly. There is just something about being on the beach that does that do you.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 Mar 16
There is something about being at the beach that makes people very open and friendly. I enjoy chatting with them, when they are friendly.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Apr 16
@simone10 - Yes, there is something about being at the beach that makes everyone a little more friendly and social!
1 person likes this
@mammots (3209)
• Philippines
26 Mar 16
When we go out jogging early in the morning we pass by two homeless persons one male and one female sleeping on the sidewalk. I feel its not safe yet to talk with any of them but i'm planning to give one of them a chance to earn a little bit of money by asking one of them to clean or sweep our street.
1 person likes this
@mammots (3209)
• Philippines
26 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane Thats what i'm afraid of also. I doubt their capacity to do any work but i will try to approach them and make an offer. I will let you know if they are able to do work.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Mar 16
@mammots - It will be interesting to know what happens when you offer work to the homeless in your area.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 Mar 16
You'll have to let us know if they want to do any work for you. Sometimes, people are homeless because they don't want to work. Other times, that is not the case.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
25 Mar 16
Not usually around here my friend. We are in the close proximity of inner city.
It is not safe to do so here.
I think it is great that the homeless are able to live as they do where you are.
It is a lovely photo you took there.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
26 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane Yes I can see..it is good Deborah..they hassle them so much here. Its bad for them.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 Mar 16
I think our homeless live a fairly tranquil life, with few hassles.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Mar 16
@TiarasOceanView - Hassling the homeless does not make life better for anyone. The homeless still exist and they are just more miserable. People need to find better solutions.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471337)
• Switzerland
26 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane We are a very small country and it's easier to take care of the homeless. I have never seen one, but I know that there are shelters for the homeless, so I suppose that there is an organization that take care of them.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Mar 16
@LadyDuck - I'm glad to know there are shelters for the homeless in Switzerland, since the winters can be so cold. I believe that the homeless need to be treated with compassion.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 Mar 16
I don't ever remember seeing any homeless in Switzerland. Perhaps the Swiss know how to deal with the problem better than the Americans do.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
25 Mar 16
I am usually by myself, so I only talk to strangers when I am in a safe setting. It would not be wise speaking to a strange man on the street, whether he was homeless or not.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Mar 16
@ElizabethWallace - Yes, even I behave differently when I am walking alone. I feel a little more reserved.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 Mar 16
True! I only speak to the few homeless that I see on a regular basis. It is a very public place, usually with lifeguards nearby. I am also typically with my walking buddy.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
26 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane Life is very different for people who are often alone. when they are out and about.
1 person likes this
@MGjhaud (23240)
• Philippines
25 Mar 16
i used to have a friend, a kid, who was living on the street. i met him outside Mcdo, it was where he used to hang out. he was trying to get my attention outside the glass wall and when i ignored him, he started making funny faces that made me smile. so when i got out, i gave him my fries. it all started there, whenever i eat at Mcdo, i order an extra fries for him.
i wonder wheres he now.. or if Mcdonalds is still there.
1 person likes this
@MGjhaud (23240)
• Philippines
27 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane i hope he's in school. or at least a home..
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Mar 16
I'm so glad you were kind to him. I hope he received a helping hand from other people, too, and that he is doing well today.
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
28 Mar 16
@MGjhaud - I hope that boy is in school or a home, too.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
26 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane
Some people have just fallen on hard times and need a boost up to help them back into mainstream of society.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Mar 16
@Marcyaz - I like the fact that our community has two homeless shelters. One is for people who do not want to change. Then, there is another one for people who would like to stop being homeless. They are given a semi-permanent home, help finding a job, and help finding an apartment to rent, once they are ready. People who have just fallen on hard times and need a boost can find it at that shelter.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 Mar 16
I agree. Sometimes, the more I talk to them, the more curious I am about them.
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@dodo19 (47317)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
27 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane it makes sense. Thanks for the advice.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Mar 16
It is smart to go slow and observe them for a while before you do.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 Mar 16
It is always wise to be cautious of strangers, especially if you are alone.
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@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
25 Mar 16
i used to love visitin' with those folks 'n tryin' to imagine their lives 'forehand. many're like the elderly'n've great stories 'n wisdom. some'r like the first fella ya mention 'n their poor souls seem so lost that it hurts the heart.
's fer those plants 'round california? many're those brought in by humans, some've taken o'er. i love seein' photos from 'round here back'n the late 1800's, 'fore farmin' first began. would love to travel back'n time 'n witness the tall prairie grasses first hand!
we've no street artists that i'm 'ware'f'n these parts. i'm prone to startin' conversations with strangers though'n the rare times i venture into town.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 Mar 16
I have always believed that everyone has a story to tell. Sometimes, I wonder how these people ended up in these circumstances. Often it is because of addictions or mental illnesses.
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@DianneN (247186)
• United States
25 Mar 16
When I walk, I walk, and fast, too. Since I'm exercising, I want to keep my heart rate up. The people I meet are likeminded, so we wave or share brief greetings. I do walk and talk with my friends. When I stroll with friends or my hubby, we do stop to chat, but never to homeless people, since none live in my area. We especially enjoyed chatting with local folks, New Yorkers, and artists in Paris, Maui, and Hong Kong. My hubby has the gift of gab, and is curious about everything.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 Mar 16
My husband loves to talk with artists wherever he goes, too. He does a little painting on the side, himself. We have also chatted with artists on the various islands of Hawaii. Sometimes, when in a new place, we love to ask questions of the local people ... waitresses, shop keepers and people like that. You can get some interesting insights into a place that way.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Mar 16
@DianneN - Yes, we usually have dinner reservations made in advance, especially for the better known restaurants. However, sometimes our favorite memories are of restaurants we were directed to by a local person. Once, in Paris, we asked the concierge at our hotel to recommend a restaurant. He suggested an Italian restaurant in the neighborhood and it was, without a doubt, the best Italian restaurant we have ever enjoyed. Who would have thought we would have found it in Paris? I can easily believe you have found some super places in Scotland, Denmark and Hong Kong.
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@DianneN (247186)
• United States
26 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane Same for us, especially when we travel. Our favorite thing to do is ask locals for good restaurants, although we always book a great one online before we leave. Found some super ones in Scotland, Denmark, and Hong Kong, would you believe.
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@WriterMichelle (20)
• Calgary, Alberta
25 Mar 16
I was homeless once when I was much younger and I know from experience that many homeless people are not there by choice, but rather by circumstance. I get very annoyed when I see people look right through the homeless as if they don't exist.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Mar 16
@WriterMichelle - I agree that the homeless situation is not handled well in the vast majority of places. Pretending they don't exist does not help the homeless and does not solve the problem. Treating them like crap just makes their lives miserable and still does not solve the problem. There are far better ways to help them.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 Mar 16
I have to admit that I don't engage in a conversation with every single homeless person I encounter, every single day. However, when I do encounter one, I tend to be polite and respectful. I know that they are humans, too. That is why the article about the tiny homes in Los Angeles, that I wrote for The Daily Voice News, was so important to me.
1 person likes this
@WriterMichelle (20)
• Calgary, Alberta
26 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane Yes you handled the subject with compassion I thought. There is a big difference though between talking to everyone you see and pretending they don't exist. That's the problem I have is that the general public either treat them like crap or pretend they don't exist at all.
1 person likes this
@LindaCPearson (2240)
• United States
26 Mar 16
Nice photo. I think we'd be amazed at some of the stories, backgrounds, knowledge and experiences many of the homeless have lived to tell. The only homeless I've seen in my area in CT are panhandlers, which I admit I try to ignore.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Mar 16
It is very rare to see the homeless in our area panhandling. I don't hand hand out money very often to the homeless, although I do occasionally. I agree that we might be amazed if we had a chance to hear the stories that the homeless have to share.
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Mar 16
It is very rare to see the homeless in our area panhandling. I don't hand out money very often to the homeless, although I do occasionally. I agree that we might be amazed if we had a chance to hear the stories that the homeless have to share.
@WriterMichelle (20)
• Calgary, Alberta
27 Mar 16
I know a large number of them are veterans and I've definitely met many in southern California that had neat stories to tell. There are some that are there by choice, but most are victims of circumstance and it makes us better people to acknowledge they are human beings. Sometimes just a smile and nod is all it takes to brighten their whole day.
@snowy22315 (180452)
• United States
25 Mar 16
I don't see any of the above in this area.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 Mar 16
Many communities keep the homeless away. Sometimes, they even give them bus tickets to big cities.
@LdeL0318 (6400)
• Philippines
27 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane That's true. I usually go to church not during the mass then outside you'll see a lot of homeless children. I would talk to them for a moment while I buy something to share and eat with them.
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Mar 16
We can learn a lot from everyone ... if we are only willing to listen.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51098)
• Canada
25 Mar 16
We live in a small rural village and there aren't any homeless here, but in the town near to us there probably are. I don't go into that area of town enough to say for sure. When I'm out and about walking, in our village, I always greet those that I meet, as they usually want to stop and chat for a while.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 Mar 16
I grew up in a small town, so I understand what you mean. We always spoke to everyone in the town where I grew up.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Mar 16
It seems to me that most small towns do not have many homeless. They tend to congregate in large cities where there are more facilities for them.
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@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 Mar 16
Yes, the homeless have a much different life experience than mine.
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Mar 16
You make a good point. Many homeless people go to libraries and other places and are able to get online.
1 person likes this
@AkoPinay (11542)
• Philippines
27 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane yes and they also buy/sell books on amazon :)
