Welcome back to “As I See It”.

Prior to moving back to Sonoma County in June of 2021, I had never seen this type of community. People whose homes are in their RVs or campers.

The reason that I say that writing on this subject is out of my box is because, like my entertainment choices, I prefer my writing and photography to be light hearted and/or beautiful. This subject matter is neither.

These photos were taken on Morris St. in Sebastopol. This is just one such community amongst too many here in Sonoma County, and I as understand, in communities in the Bay Area. I would imagine that such communities exist far and wide.

Sebastopol is a well to do city in Sonoma County. Sonoma County is the northern most county in the San Francisco Bay Area, approximately an hour drive from San Francisco. Of course that drive can easily be doubled during weekdays.

According to Redfin.com, as of December 2021, the median home price in Sebastopol is $1,300,000. I made no mistake there. All of the commas are in the right place.

Morris St. borders The Barlow, an outdoor shopping center, with clothing stores, wine tasting, and restaurants. Lots of restaurants. If you want to have a $125 steak, The Barlow is the place. And I made no mistake there either. $125. 

The one time that I had lunch at that restaurant, I had to ask the server if they had dropped a decimal point on the price. When he said no, I asked him if it came with a side of sex, cause you know for $125….

$100,000 Teslas and $150,000 Porsches can be found in the parking lots. 

Out the Morris St. driveway is where one can find this homeless community. Within mere yards of each other one can see the disparity in our society. I think this is what strikes me the most. To see it in such a way. A micro scene of a macro problem.

I know of the imbalance in the division of wealth. It’s nothing new.  Bernie is my rockstar. But to see it like this I find painfully profound.

I don’t know how long this community has been here. When I moved to Vermont nine years prior, it was not there. I read an article the other day in which a man who lived there for six years was being interviewed. From talking to folks about it, there seemed to have been an increase in people there after the fires of 2017.

The city has provided a dumpster, two port a potties, and a hand washing station, like you might find at a music festival. It seems the community is increasing, and some people in the housed community are voicing their unhappiness. 

The city had found a place to relocate this community, but there is a growing outcry against that. 

I don’t know the answer to this situation, especially in our capitalist society. What I do know is that it breaks my heart.

Not just for those parked on Morris St., but for all who can’t get a leg up to enjoy the “freedom” that this country supposedly provides.

Till next time,

Be Well