Get a Job 'Ya Bum

“Get a job ‘ya bum.” That’s the single comment on the article from the News Review in Oregon. Check out the article here.

I haven’t had a comment like this since a couple weeks before leaving. Of course there were a few people who seemed to be joking about it, but they may have been serious. I’ve had a few negative comments, but I wanted to address this on specifically. Being called a bum bothers me a little. Not that it gets me down, if anything it’s motivation. But here’s how I look at it…

Yes, I do have a job. I have the greatest job in the country. Sure you could say I’m unemployed and homeless. But, am I really? I’m not employed by a big corporation trying to make big bucks. I’m employed by fellow Americans all across the country who have given me support and shown their faith in what I’m doing. I’m working for these people. And I’m not taking in any income. When you really look at it I’m working 12-16 hours a day, seven days a week, taking in new information, learning about the country, sharing my experience, photographing, journaling, documenting and remembering as much as possible as I meet dozens of people in each state. My job is to turn out content that people want to read, produce something that people can live through and enjoy. And believe me, there have been a lot of people giving me support.

As for homeless… not at all. If home is where the heart is, and I leave a piece of my heart in every state (which I really have so far), then I have a home in every state. This country is my home, everywhere I go I find a piece of home. It’s amazing. And I can say with great confidence that I’ve left a little something with most, if not all, of the people I’ve stayed with.

This is the most work I’ve ever done. I’m not making a dime and I feel I’m turning out an amazing project with great content. Pro athletes and corporate CEOs make millions in a year and don’t turn out something like this. I try to raise a few thousand to turn out the project of a lifetime. A bum? Not the way I see it. I’m ecstatic to be working for dozens of different people who have employed me through donations. Once again, I’ve got the best job in the country.