Round pegs and square holes

Those who live differently than the average person have some difficulties. In this world of standardized forms, being outside the box can be interesting. Recently I was watching a Youtube of someone who lives in their RV crossing from the US to Canada. Simple questions like “where do you live?” or “what do you do for work?” can trip you up. Saying you live in the RV and work on-line isn't what they are looking for.

Personally, I run into problems because I don't have a real job and don't pay taxes. Great fun if you want to get a loan or something like that.

A good friend of mine, who's self employed, was trying to buy a small house. The banks were giving him an amazing go around. He'd been successfully making his living that way for many years, yet they treated him like a panhandler. In the end, he didn't get the house. His wife got the house. She had a “real” job with a location, regular hours, and all the proper paperwork. They just dropped him out of the equation and went with the wife's income alone. It was enough, but made my friend feel a bit out of sorts.

Another friend was trying to buy a new tractor for his farm. They guy had no bills and had never bought anything on credit. As far as the bank was concerned, he didn't exist. They asked him if his dad could co-sign, but he pointed out his dad was even more of ghost than he was. Dad was even further off the grid.

The world is full of gatekeepers of one sort or another. They bar your access to everything from freedom of travel, access to financial services, education, medical services, and just everything else you need to live. Sometimes the only thing to do is to provide enough of a paper trail to get past the roadblocks. In a world of black and white, you might have to be a bit gray.

-Sixbears