I was in Garfield, NJ, and I saw an auto yard with no evident working office anymore. The cars were packed from fence to fence with nearly a few centimeters in between them. I had a feeling, so I walked around the side of the yard, and, sure enough, there was a big ol' hole cut in the fence. There was a path between the cars. I followed it, checking all the vehicles along the way. I had to be careful to avoid drawing attention from the business across the road. At the end of the path, there was a nice van that had been left unlocked. I was looking for traveling gear, since I had lost mine. There was stuff in there that seemed to have been there for over 50 years. I found a few munitions belt, some Russian and Greek books, a lot of military issue boxers, a a few army green shirt, some jackets, a deceptively cold sleeping bag, a wool drug rug, and, my favorite, a 1930's issue container of vodka.
I took the vodka, and drank it. I had some pot, and I put it in the container; two days later, I drank it, reveling in the chi that was in there, and the flavor, which was like chocolate.
Another time, I was in Asheville, NC, with my friend before he married and had kids. We were sitting in the opening in front of an abandoned store. He had this great big red rosary around his neck, and was smelling pretty heavily of sandalwood and patchouli. We had a piece of card board, and he drew a lion on it. It was really great. So I don't care if nobody has any money. I'm enjoying his company, and he seems to like me. I ask for change from people anyway, though.
This one lady comes along, and I ask her kind of in jest if she could hook me up with a banjo; I was a banjo player, but I lost mine.
She takes us down to the pawn shop and buys a nice $300 banjo totally at random. She seems to expect nothing from us. I was very excited, and when I told her she had my gratitude, she seemed disappointed, but nice, and left.
Another time, I was between Hardeeville, SC, and Savannah, GA, and I found a weathered bronze fish hook that looked like it had come from a bronze age exhibit in a museum, or a ship wreck, lying on a manhole. It had several long, serrated barb along the inner curve, which were almost decorative, and led me to believe that it was as old as 500 years or more.
