That was creepy enough - a street video, of nearly a half hour, in a major city,

revealed life on the mean streets.  The video was posted yesterday, on Senior Forums. People milling about, many living on the streets.  Saw people approaching other people - looked like business being transacted.  But what surprised me, was more than a few standing humped over - like the video description read, like zombies.  Apparently booze, drugs or both.

One of the commentors had posted: where do they get the money?  Not hard to figure.  If you're on some kind of allotment - even if it's a few hundred a month, you don't pay rent (when it's not winter) or car insurance, ConEd, and you're not buying a new sofa or throw pillows to match.  You may also qualify for food stamps. Plus, there is probably a foodbank or mission in the area, so that when hunger does manage to get your drug-fogged attention, supper is a few blocks away.

Not an easy way to live.  Lots of reprobates nearby, who'd lose no sleep, after bashing your head in, for your last $7.59.  The winters can get frigid, fall and spring wet and chilly, and summers get dog gone hot.  You can stay at the mission - maybe, but only for a limited time (about two weeks); they have rules ... can't stumble in at 3am and sleep until 11:30 am. Back out on the street, what do you do if you're not feeling well, and ... godda go right now?  What about clean clothing?  Where do you charge your phone?

There were also several tent villages ...probably inhabited by people who once had reasonably decent jobs and homes, but lost those jobs - though no fault of their own.  And by the way, good luck finding another place to live on that $9.50 an hour new job - and keeping that dingy room, after being told your hours are getting cut.