posted
Actually this has been around for quite a long time. There are actually books about it, and many of the local radio stations have spoken about it in the past. The article mentions the book "Beneath the Neon." If you are fascinated by this sort of thing you should really read it. It goes through some of the history of the tunnels as well as the community down there.
It is kind of funny that you bring it up though. Last week a local radio station had a guy named Greg on that is currently a tunnel dweller. He lost his kids and wife in a car accident and hit rock bottom. He said that at one point in his life he did do drugs to cope, but had been sober for 10 years now. (Poor guy, I can't imagine losing your entire family)
Greg began living in tunnels in the 1990's and has been there ever since. He said it is the best way to live. He said that he has his own tunnel he lives in. He has a queen size bed with a pillow top mattress, a dresser, mirrors, electricity from some car batteries and a generator, and even carpet. He uses a couple of ten gallon buckets to do his business in.
The radio station was very very respectful to him, as were all of the callers. Greg is just a normal guy that loves living in the tunnels. He said he pays no taxes, but works for a living. He doesn't ask anyone for money and will often do odd jobs to buy food. He did say that at times he will walk through casinos and get tickets that people leave on the machines. Most of the time they may only have a few cents on them, but he has found some in the past that have over a hundred dollars. It looks like the couple mentioned in the article found an even bigger one.
One positive thing is that the guy on the radio says that he very rarely sees families with children, and if they do show up the family is usually gone within a week, as there are multiple charities (Help of Nevada is one of them) that send some of their workers into the tunnels to assist families that are struggling.
He said the other thing is that the people are very respectful of each other and that they truly have a sense of community.
It looks like that article covers most of what Greg describes. I agree that it is sad and awesome at the same time.
Posts: 1937 | Registered: Nov 2006
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posted
The hour of the corridor that runs behind the hollow wall, the opening of a little door, the unexpected chair-- where the same old madness lingers in the conduit and ductwork in the stale air and the horror of spaces inside spaces, in the places where we lie.
Posts: 1154 | Registered: Dec 2001
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So see, there's this blind guy--really blind--and he's waiting at the bus stop, eastbound, all dressed for a little trip to his meeting downtown, and he's got his long white cane with the red stripes sort of standing there with him, like spear on its end, just waiting for action too. The road runs east-west, and the blazing sun's setting perfectly along this very same meridian, just blazing in that sheer late autumn glory that's not so glorious if you're driving into it, but otherwise casting an incredible golden, saturated light over the traffic jam. The blind guy's not in the bus shelter, he's just standing there really close to the road, almost too close for the speed of normal traffic, except there's been and accident somewhere ahead. He's just standing there staring straight into the sun. He's even got his free hand above his brow to focus every stray beam straight into his wide open, white white eyes; just standing there, warming his blind eyeballs in the light.
Posts: 1154 | Registered: Dec 2001
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Yeah, I'm not so sure about the zombie one.
I started living in NYC a few months ago, and am still awed by the fact that I live in a city with secret dungeons underneath it.
Posts: 4136 | Registered: Aug 2008
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Here in Phoenix the homeless mostly live in the canals, all the nastiness of sewers and tunnels plus heat-stroke and minus the fascination factor of Dungeons & Subways.
If there isnt a table top rpg with that name yet there should be.
Posts: 2302 | Registered: Aug 2008
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That is NOT a good place to ride out the zombie apocalypse. You want height, with good vision, not trapped in tunnels underground.
My friends have some property about an hour outside of Birmingham, AL. There is a ridge for good sniper coverage of the area. The cabin requires a 4 wheel drive to get there - it's very steep and would be difficult for zombies to make the climb. There is a fresh water supply and a stocked pond with plenty of fish. An old blacksmith shop is also on the property with plenty of metal tools and equipment.
That's where my family is headed when things break out. We've already discussed it.
How extremly frightening that we have put so much thought into it. Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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