The river

 

The most obvious reason that people experiencing homelessness stay near a river is because it's human nature, and we instinctively choose to live close to a water supply.

In the year 2010, the General Assembly, along with the United Nations, gave us all the right to water for drinking and sanitation. These rights are for all people, regardless of their living situation.

People who are experiencing homelessness use the river for the very reasons given to us by rights, and so much more. We use the water so that we can bathe. We collect the water to do our laundry. The river water can be boiled and then filtered, making it safe for drinking and cooking.

We utilize the water to extinguish our campfires before we set out on our day's journey. We can submerge ourselves in the slow-moving current to escape the sweltering summer heat.

The river also provides a great opportunity to obtain food. We can collect indigenous fruits, nuts, berries, and mushrooms that grow along the riverbanks. This makes for perfect, vitamin-filled, and nutritious snacking.

With nothing more than a line and hook, a decent meal can be caught from the river. Roasted frog legs over a campfire are also a great tasty option.

We can sit along the banks of the river and admire its power. We can draw from the energy that the river provides us. We are able to release some of our intrusive thoughts and painful memories into the river so they can be swept far, far away.

We are able to watch the deer play and dance on the opposite bank. We can see an eagle flying just feet above the water, searching for its next meal. We watch as a turkey or two fly from state to state, looking for that perfect nesting place. As the fish flop, the birds sing, and the beavers build their dams, we can become part of that river.

This gives us a temporary escape. It allows us to experience relaxation and even feel like we are free. Even though it's for a temporary moment, we get to escape the incredibly hard life of experiencing homelessness. We are allowed to dream.

The river provides us with security and safety. This is something we may have never felt in our lives. The river will always be here and available. The river will never abandon us, as many of us have experienced in hard lifetimes.

The ugly stigma and stereotypes placed on us by society can be escaped at the river. We can go deeper into the woods and hide from it. We can hide from our abusers, our molesters, or those who mistreated and neglected us. We are able to feel safe.

The river is also useful when it's time for us to go to sleep. We can crawl in our tent or sleeping bags and listen as the water ripples over the rocks. We can hear the leaves rustling in the gentle breeze, the songs of the crickets and the frogs, and the occasional hooting of an owl. These things are sure to lull you to sleep.

These are definitely some of the reasons that I feel we choose to stay near a river. A river goes way beyond a place where we can utilize our right to water. It is almost as if it can be a place that we can call our temporary home.