Waikiki Update - 1

The mobile senior citizen mobile command center (read: Nissan® Quest minivan) has been stripped of its status, albeit prematurely. Everything, including the small safe, has been removed from the vehicle and placed in the studio mausoleum at the “old folks home” in Waikiki. The vehicle will remain parked at the Waikiki Banyan for six (out of seven) days per week.

Typical Mausoleum

The divestiture of the minivan has been stalled by the stupidity of the driver’s license renewal fiasco. Until the new license arrives, there is no way to utilize vehicle rental or sharing services. The temporary paper license will not suffice.

The experience in Waikiki becomes more surreal in old age. What was once exciting just a few years ago is now nauseatingly blasé. The “old folks home” in Waikiki is no different from the one in Makiki or anywhere else for that matter. There are myriad decrepit senior citizens residing there. Ambulances are frequently sighted outside the facility. It is the first stopover before death. For some, it’s the final stop. The homeless motorhome (read: cargo van camper conversion) is looking more attractive all the time.

The two medium-rise towers of the “old folks home” in Waikiki are surrounded by a hodgepodge of old walk-up apartments and older high-rise condominiums. At best, the area is similar to Makiki ... a ghetto.There is, of course, no escape from the waste disposal trucks. The OSHA beeping reverse alarms are heard echoing through the slum continuously from 6am daily.

The laundry rooms in the new tower of the “old folks home” have no washers or dryers. Occupancy commenced in August, but there are still no sign of the necessary appliances in December. The protocol now involves lugging dirty laundry to the old tower and requesting access from the resident manager.

A new gym bag was procured last night at Ross® in order to organize and store personal “junks.” Plastic bag storage is a “done deal.” No effort is being made to store anything in the closets or cabinets of the studio mausoleum. At this point in time, motorhomelessness is becoming a very viable option.