It's been five years.... 2011 I took my family to Sebastopol in hopes to settle and build a life... we played music at Ace in the Hole, Hopmonk and busked around town. We were young "hippies" living a freelance style, much like some of you were back in the day. I was an artist, making fiber weavings and jewelry to sell. I thought I had come back home.
See, I grew up at my Grandmas, up on Bloomfield road. My Brothers graduated from Analy High. We used to go there for the fourth of July celebration when I was small. How excited I was to go to community events like the 60's dance and see other likeminded and chill neighbors.
Unfortunately Sebastopol policy is no living in RVs or school busses... and we were happy in our school bus. We had two children, they lived with us too. A cozy tiny house on wheels. A little wood stove, a little kitchen, and cozy beds.
Too bad that the police were hassling us all the time, and never we could get rest at night. Banging on the doors, illegal camping tickets, no parking here, there or anywhere. We couldn't really afford the expense of a campground park, never hooked up with anyone who would let us park on their property for work trade or such... so getting fed up with the hassle, and not wanting to move out of our cozy bus for a more conventional lifestyle... we were forced to move on.... and move on, and on, and on. Further away from the chill attitudes of hip people, and the music which sustained us... until we had to leave california completely.
I would have liked to never leave Sebtown... I grew up there. The gentrification was too great. Sad to say, our bus broke down, we lost it, and the state of Washington took out children away. No home, no children... and the pain and tragedy all started when we encountered the ruthless rules of no RV (or bus) living (just about everywhere!). If we lived in the bushes, that was ok, but to have a vehicle was not? I ask the community to reconsider, to have a little mercy for travelers and folks in vehicles, a little comfort for the road. Xenophobia is dangerous, it tears families apart.
It's been five years.... since i've been able to even see my children. I may not be perfect, but I didn't deserve the mistreatment and condemnation of a criminal, just for following the love of my gypsy heart. People who live in busses are people too. Peace.