When you get “The Knock”

For those of you that do not know “the knock” is a person knocking on your door usually in the middle of the night telling you it is a no parking zone.

Wednesday I was parked at a Walmart. Someplace I have parked many times before. It was about 1 am. I had been asleep probably for a couple of hours. The first thing I noticed was a light trying to shine into the van. My curtains do a very good job at keeping people from seeing in. Right away I get up and start searching for my pants. At this point I am not sure if it is someone thinking about breaking in or someone telling me to move. But I have stayed here before with no issue. So with heart pounding I find my pants and just as I do there is a knock.

Gathering my wits I say hello. He says security!! Shit! Really! I open the door and there is a young man standing there with a bullet proof vest on.

Security guy: You can not park here it is private property!

Me: Oh I am sorry it is a Walmart! I thought it was ok! Security guy: No that is only in the States! Me thinking….ummm nope it was here last week.

Me: Oh ok! Sorry.

Security guy: Are you here alone?

Me: Am I going to die if I say Yes??

Security guy laughs… no. Stay here tonight but just so you know there is no overnight parking here.

Me: Ok thank you! There had been no signs posted. I am pretty good at not staying where I am not supposed to. I never stay anywhere more than 2 nights in a row when I am boondocking. I do not arrive until dark and leave first thing in the morning! Usually because I am going to work. Lol! I also leave no trace. I am very careful. Unfortunately others are not the same! Which ruins it for all of us that are.

Is it scary??? Haha! Yup! You do not know who is out there. Its usually in the middle of the night and you are awoken from a sound sleep. Your heart is pounding as you unlock the door. Is it a nice security guy? Is it a psycho? This is the first knock I have had in the middle of the night. After 3 years of doing this I am thinking that’s pretty good! I have been told in the evening once I could not stay by a police officer but I was in a cemetery. But I was in a cemetery once and told me I could stay if i moved to the middle so people could see my van! Hahaha! They were having vandalism and felt my presence would deter them. Maybe it did because there was no incidents that night. And yes I slept beautifully in the graveyard! Boondocking is a roll of the dice sometimes.

I am very aware of private property and would never want to stay where I am not allowed. It makes for a very crappy nights sleep. I am sad that Walmart and its property management feel they need to take the privilege away of overnight parking but I do understand. I have gone into some Walmarts and people are living there. There is garbage that they have left. Some people pull out lawn chairs and camp! They have abused the privilege and ruined it for the rest of us! It is sad for this Solo woman for it was a safe place for me to lay my head and sleep! Good thing I have few other places up my sleeve!! 😊

Thanks for coming along on my Chipmunk Adventure! See you next time!

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