Part of childhood was spent living in cars. We would find a rest stop each night. Most would have public bathrooms. Paper towels and few squirts of soap, soak the paper towels under faucet… quick French bath. We’d go to the dumpsters in back of grocery stores, grab soiled boxes, put boxes in the well between back seat and front seat… instead bed space, 2 people could sleep in back seat. Truck stops were a godsend, some had showers. I remember eating a LOT of Vienna sausages straight from the can.

We’d go hit up random laundromats if traveling to new city, look in the dryers to steal clothes, sheets. Parent would park in front of a store, turn to my little brother and I, telling us what to go in and steal. We had special jackets with the lining ripped out, to hide stolen stuff in. And no one’s going to expect a tiny quiet 7 year old to run a bait and switch scam, go into dressing room, and expertly hide 3 pairs of jeans tucked under their shirt, and walk out professionally, calmly. I got darn good at shoplifting. Quite an experience.