Trailer

Where culture goes to die.

From a somewhat distantly removed perspective, it’s kind of sad when opinions about something like basic shelter are so obviously driven by things like image. And yet, who among us isn’t swayed by the generally poor opinion of this type of dwelling? Beyond the shallow end of that thought my biggest concern with these homes on wheels concerns basic safety; I’ve lived too long not to have been impressed many times by aerial shots of debris which had been heavily populated trailer parks just the day before. Given a selection of building materials of say straw, brick or tin well, the choice seems obvious.

I think there is a magical force field around these that keeps non- whites, non- smokers, teetotalers,Jewish people, and people who are white but Greek Orthodox or Catholic eg. you ever hear of Nikolas Sarkis or Salvatore Russo: Trailer denizen?, and Protestants above a certain socioeconomic level out.

I guess it depends on what you are referring to as a trailer. They are ok for shelter while camping. If you are talking about a trailer house in a trailer park, I would not like it for many of the same reasons I wouldn’t like living in an apartment. However if it were on acreage, some of the newer high-end manufactured homes (previously known as mobile homes) are surprisingly spacious, luxurious and well built.

Hot in the summer & cold in winter,they are far from Ideal.Unfortunately,many people who can't afford a house end up in one.AS far as an indication of character,I think Bernie Madoff,Saddam Hussein and Hitler all had magnificent dwellings.

Just like houses they run the gamut from poorly made and maintained fire traps to relatively luxurious vacation homes. They are easy fodder for jokes about rednecks, tornadoes and divorces, but just because something is a cliche, dosen't mean that it isn't true.

Why would I want to live in a tornado magnet?

As a dwelling, its fine, if that's what you've got or can afford. But there is a truism about cliche's and generalizations. They become such because there is an element of truth in them. Trailer parks are almost invariably ghettos. And ghettos are almost invariably home to much of the worst in human societies.

A fine type of home for those (and there are probably more than we think) who can't afford a regular house; they come in double-wides, single-wides, and RVs. And I don't call people who live in trailers trash, which is a very degrading and stereotypical term. Although there are some dumpy-looking mobile homes, I've seen some of them that actually look nicer than some "mainstream" homes I've seen. Any kind of shelter beats the street.

I've seen some pretty nice looking mobile homes, and I think it's pretty low class to judge somebody on where they live.

I lived in a trailer in Oklahoma. (That's right, I said it.)

There are some very nice mobile homes out there. the double wides can be as big as some houses. and are quite comfy inside. My brother and his wife live in one and it is just like a house. quite spacious. When my hubby and I first got married, we lived in a new 14by70 mobile home. it was good enough for our first years. we outgrew it when we had two kids. the worst part is we had it in a mobile home park. it was a nice enough one { not trashy} but we had to follow their rules. I understand the rules since it keeps  the big troublemakers out but you never feel like it is YOUR PlACE. and if the owners get a bee up their behind against you they can make your life hell. or neighbors who have a beef can give you grief. we did not have that experience but know of  others who did. anyway. mobile homes can be just fine to live in. Only felt nervous during a big storm when the walls and roof would shake just awful.

I ain't gonna knock it. I've installed Dish and Directv on some nicer than the average house!

Only when its hitched to the back of the truck on a camping trip.

If it's good enough for Divine and Edie, it's good enough for me.

The high end of this type of housing is surprisingly large. I have been in a service / repair industry for much of my working career and that means I have often gone to people's homes. Some of the larger double wides I have been in are larger than my dad's 3 bedroom house. Some even have shingle roofs and are built as solidly as any other type of housing. Of course living in a trailer could mean anything from luxury housing down to the back of a converted pickup truck, but the high end line of trailers is as nice a place to live as any other structure in that price range.