Getting By

I watch the debate in Europe over bailing out Greece, a country whose economy and economic system has fallen into a debt hole far too large for it ever to be able to climb out. The rich countries of Europe through the European central Bank want Greece to impose wage cuts and price increases on the people to avoid giving investors in Greek bonds "haircuts" which is to say the investors are pitting their influence against the desire of the people of Greece to see who loses. So far the people riot and the government balks and Germany grows impatient.In Key West where such esoterica pass almost unnoticed life goes on much as ever it did. People throw stuff out that my scavenging dog thinks are entirely too edible to pass up. After years of living on a chain Cheyenne is well off the chain and enjoying life as only a scavenger could. I watch her antics and laugh, but there is as usual a kernel of wisdom in her ability to make do.Fishing is always held out as the last resort in times of hardship and visitors love to come to key West, rent expensive accommodations and a bicycle and head out to the waterfront to try their luck. It worked in the Depression of the 20th century, they tell us. But if you read Hemingway's descriptions of life in Key West in that period it was not too terribly romantic, speaking as one who likes his middle class perquisites.In the Great Depression a government job was a modest buffer against starvation and now in this era of renewed Depression our leaders ask us to give up everything so bankers and their investors can avoid giving up anything and my neighbors, not a historian among them, cheer on the plan of self denuding deprivation. I wonder why it seems better that we should all starve genteelly rather than attempting to convince our leaders that we all deserve the bare minimum of a job and social security. But the crowds bay for their own blood so we must all give it.The population in Key West that is variously known as the residentially challenged, local subjects or bums has never struck me as a particularly desirable way to live. The lack of privacy, the boredom and lack of direction, the lack of a place in the social ladder, be it ever so low, puts the street life style outside the orbit of my desires. I traveled as a youth on my motorcycles and lived sleeping rough as I had no money and I saw from far too close the life that for some is a lifestyle. I wonder if they have room in their ranks for a few million more hobos?Historic Tours of America made headlines a few years back cutting benefits in response to the crisis of 2008. These jobs had always been viewed as decent pay for hard work and it is or was possible to make a career out driving a tour vehicle.The feral cats of Key West have their supporters who put out food around town for the beggars who live by their wits and who have made no choice at all to live on the streets. Indeed I wouldn't have a dog if it weren't for the pound for I should never and I have never bought a dog from a breeder of pet overpopulation and misery. I look at Cheyenne and wonder who could it be that threw her out for being too old, the ultimate crime in our sex obsessed, looks driven culture.They come, they drink, they attain oblivion on the sidewalks of Key West. Someone has to sweep up after them. A shadowy figure in a t shirt, the Key West uniform, trails along after them with a broom. I worked years ago as the janitor in an arts theater in Santa Cruz and when one of the managers protested at how messy people were the owner said they've paid for a ticket they get to throw popcorn where they want. Which rationale I suppose was reasonable and kept me in work (and free movies) but I wondered at people who needed to strew popcorn to release their stress and enjoy a movie. I wonder what they are scattering these days to release the stress of endless unemployment.