The Existential Woman (p34)

It took about an hour for Shanna to set up her tents. She had two, one for sleeping and one for lounging. The sleeping tent was meant to be a storage tent. It stood taller than her, which she liked for standing up in, and it was arched on the top. To put that tent together and up it takes a lot of patience. She put it up slowly and carefully, drinking as much water as she could in the heat to keep her cool and focused.

The other tent was made of all netting. It had come with some ridiculous heavy bars that she disposed of after seeing how useless they were. She used the net tent with rope ties so that tent could only go up with the help of trees. She found the right spot in between the trees, and up went her lounge net tent.

She was tired after getting it all set up. She sat on a pillow in the lounge tent trying to relax and enjoy what was beautiful about the spot. She looked at the trees, the grass, the sky, and breathed the fresh air. She smoked a cigarette and talked to the birds, the squirrels, and the trees. She pulled out her little 6-string guitar, which she could not play, and made up comical songs about her journey. She was satisfied. She loved how she could put up her own home in less than two hours.

It was beautiful. It had everything she needed. Cleaning was very easy, just a quick sweep or a quick removal of a small garbage bag. The Rain could be her shower. The bucket, her toilet. The nearby ice and food, her kitchen. All was well, and peace was found.

It didn't last long. She got to enjoy the spot for about another hour, but then a police car pulled up the driveway and parked behind her van. She sighed knowing already what he was going to say.

"Excuse me ma'am, you can't camp here," he said to her.

"Oh," she replied, "I'm sorry. I had camped her four years ago. I didn't know where to go. Is there a homeless shelter?"

"Downtown," he said.

Shanna nodded with a heavy sigh.

"I'll pack up. I wasn't trying to cause any trouble. I thought this area was ok for us campers. I can't find a homeless shelter."

"Downtown," he said again.

"I'll pack up," she said again.

They nodded at each other and he got back into his car and drove off. Then Shanna had to take both tents down and put everything back in her van.

She went downtown to see if she could find the "homeless shelter". The only thing downtown was a church and a police station.

She started laughing.

"Oh yeah, Jail," she said to herself, then added angrily and sarcastically, "nice homeless shelter..."