Public parks with water fountains are rad for freely filling up large jugs at odd hours. Many supermarkets have water vending machines that are relatively cheap if other clean water sources are hard to find. Generally, it is a good practice to map out areas that have been helpful for survival (e.g.: pin these locations on Google Maps for future reference).

Since it is a bummer to wear dirty clothes after showering, similar considerations can be applied to laundry. Some use little handcranked or pedal-powered washing machines, or make one out of two industrial buckets and a sink plunger. To be honest, I find a lot of that impractical. A small washboard and a large bowl for holding wash water is good if you can manage it. Where to ring out and hang?

Availability of showers and laundromats is variable for me. I rely heavily on disinfectant wipes to keep fresh, shampooing and brushing whenever I can refill my water bottle. I also regularly spray down my clothes with antibacterial laundry spray and let them air out. If I have enough water while out in the desert, I will sometimes wash things by hand or in a small zipper bag too.

I have never had to take care of a pet out in the wild/on the streets, but that adds other factors to it. The portable shower might help to keep Ella clean too. I did hear about one guy using his food money to regularly buy things that both he and his dog could eat rather than buying separate food for them both. These little ideas sometimes go a long way in helping one to save money over time.

...Anyhoo, you are probably already familiar with all of this. If it is not helpful, let me know and I will shut up. A lot of the worry and stress that I had when homelessness was suddenly thrust upon me would have been lessened if someone had shown me how to find reliable ways of meeting our basic needs. I always try to do the same. Take care.

LLT - definitely appreciate the thought, consideration, and share. Right now, it's mostly a financial obstacle to getting a lot of that sort of thing in place. I'm managing alright, for the time being. Not saying it's not a struggle, but I've got other things to prioritize. Also, I don't wanna settle into homeless life too much, a little discomfort is good motivator!

It’s just me rambling about my fucked up life but thanks lol!

@ppaaiinnttkkiilleerr i was mostly talking about the interface since i haven

*havent read about ur stuff yet ldsfjsdlkj

I'll try to flood the newsfeed timeline less and invest updates and energy into legit website updates, sorrry gang, just gttin' my bearings.

I gave up on 12+ years of veganism because I felt like I was dying with how little I ate for how much I have to move and carry. Mostly live off of canned spagetti, tuna packets, and old discounted bakery bread. Plain Greek yogurt, granola, and salad kits when they are on sale. Canned beans and veg every now and then. Powdered milk and breakfast shakes when I need extra vitamins and can afford it.

Dumpster diving and skimming trash cans doesn't always yield edible food around here, but I am grateful for the times that it did. If you can manage it somehow, being able to cook opens a lot more options. The less of a trace that you can leave, the better. Example: https://youtu.be/SF993dqT2v4 Be careful trying to use electric hotplates on random outlets. "Theft of utility services".

Whatever happens, don't get discouraged. Continue to take care of yourself (e.g.: hygiene, sobriety, stress management and other forms of self-care, etc.). Have constructive goals to work towards. And always remember that the kindness that you sincerely give will eventually be returned to you. At the moment, my means are limited, but if there is something I can do to help, reach out.