Evicted

The Eviction

I was out, givin downtown Sydney another go, exploring art galleries.  Was dissapointed by the exhibits, but still in a good mood.  I came back to the suburbs and stopped by the cafe for a cup of esspresso and a free sandwich, and chatting with the rad barista girl.

I asked her if she wanted to go drinking Thursday, she said she'd come over to my place after work to hangou and because she wanted "to take pictures of the place before it all implodes". I was feeling great and made my way back to the squat.  The whole walk back I thought about how great it was that the property owner is an American living in the USA with no intent of renting the place out.  

When i got home, everyone was sitting around in the bar, a dark cloud hanging over the group.  I said hello and checked in.  After a few pleasantries they broke it to me: "The cops came by and evicted us.  We have to be out by Friday."

"what????"

They explained:

The pigs came by with a real estate agent who was bein paid by the property owner to check on the place.  Apparently, said realator hadn't noticed people living here for he last 6 months.

The cops took everyones IDs and walked through the house.  They said the owner had no intention of using the property at all, but we had to leave..  They said they would be back Saturday morning and we had to all be out.

The story shook me up. 

Everyone was somber.  You could read it on their faces- 'not again'.  They had finally felt a sense of home.  For six months they had been unopposed in this residence.  Now it was time to pack up and move again.  

It obviously effected me less than everyone else.  I already had my ticket to leave the country on Saturday.  Besides, I'm a full time traveller; I am used to living out of a backpack and being ready to load up and move out in mere minutes.  The people I had been staying with were very different.  They are looking for a more permanent situation.  They want a home.

A meeting was scheduled between members of this house and the next door neighbors, also squatters who had the same property owner and thus- situation.  They wanted to keep the community that has developed and build upon it.  

I went out for the night, cashing in on the luxury of being a vagrant.  

This morning, the mood was still dreary.  The sunshine and beautiful day didn't help at all.  As I made breakfast, people came with dollies and moved out the stand-up freezer and started breaking down the kitchen.  

The squatters talked about their dreams of somewhere to live;

 "I wish I had a van I could live in, then this wouldn't be a problem. Even just a car, some roof that I could always sleep under."

"I just got to get my tent fixed, then I'll be ok."

"yeah, I reckon I'll be camping for a bit"

A few new buildings had been opened in the night and some of the people were moving in there. Others were looking at where to move their stuff as they would be living on the streets for a while.

The move began, packing and transporting, mending clothes, sleeping bags and tents.