One of my facebook friends posted this, and I feel I may use one of these without realizing I should translate. And so:
Credit: Facebook Hazel B.
DIRTY KID: A “dirty kid” is synonymous for homeless traveler. It doesn’t matter if they travel by freight train, hitchhiking, or by vehicle. Among each method of travel is a seperate set of terms. Some people like being called a “dirty kid” while many others cringe at the word. They’d rather just be called a “traveler” or not have any label.
ROAD DOG: Your human traveling companion. If you are getting rides and hopping trains together, you are road dogs. A road dog is not your pet dog.
THE ROAD: If you are “on the road”, you are currently a homeless traveler. If you are hitting the road you are getting ready to travel.
GREEN or GREENHORN: Someone who is very new to the road. They have yet to learn all the ropes to surviving outside. They may seem naive at times, but many have a positive attitude as they seek adventure.
RUBBER TRAMPER: A homeless person who travels by vehicle.
HOUSED UP: When someone allows you to stay in their home. You can be housed up for days, weeks, and even months. If you’re housed up for years, you aren’t a homeless traveler anymore. Consider yourself an ex-traveler.
BANDO: An abandon building chosen to be the sleep spot.
FOODIES: Food stamps. Contrary to the popular belief, most homeless travelers are not receiving any government assistance. If one person in the crew is getting foodies, he is sharing them with the whole group.
GEAR: What you have in your possession that is necessary to survive outside. You backpack, sleeping bag, tarps, boots would be considered your gear. If it’s an uncommon luxury, like a laptop, I wouldn’t consider this gear.
UPPER CRUST: Basically a higher class homeless person. An upper crust may have great gear, a nice car, van or a nicer rv. Typically they may have a superiority complex and an emergency fund.
TRUSTIE: A traveler who receives a substantial amount of money from family members. This doesn’t necessarily mean they receive an actual trust fund. They probably just grew up in a weathy home and get more help from family than most other travelers.
HOUSIE: A person who lives in a house.
YUPPIE: Typically a yuppie is a middle-upper class person who is snobby and prefers fancy things. Many university students have a yuppie personality. Some travelers will call any housies a yuppie, but this is incorrect.
HOMEBUM: A homeless person who doesn’t travel. Stereotypically, a homebum is older and panhandles at the same spot for hours a day. If you are a traveler and you’ve been hanging in the same city for over a month, you are considered “homebumming it” in that city.
BUM FEED: A free meal provided by either a church, shelter or non-profit organization.
KICKDOWN: A kick down can refer to practically anything given to you. This includes money, food, pet food, coats, etc.
SPANGING: Actively trying to get kickdowns. This is short for spare changing.
>>GAS JUGGING: Asking someone at the
gas pump for gas.
>>FLYING A SIGN: holding up cardboard.
>>BUSKING: Playing an instrument. This is
considered the more genuine and socially
acceptable way to spange. However, it’s
illogical to assume every traveler should
haul around an instrument.
>>CRACK SPANGING: Asking someone
directly for help with food or money.
HONEYHOLE: A very generous area that gave many kick downs. Although you may want to tell your friends about this place, it should be kept a secret or it will no longer be a honeyhole.
BLOWING UP THE SPOT: When a crew of 3 or more shows up to one area and everyone spanges at the same time. Any size group overstaying their welcome in the same area is another form of blowing up the spot. This makes it harder for other travelers to seek help when they arrive there in the future.
BUM BAG: A kicked down bag that has random hygiene products. It may also include a small amount of cash or gift card, a snack, and a pocket bible. This bag is pre-made by either a church or individual and intended to give to any homeless person seen.
SCHOOLING (YOUR PET): Disciplining your pet in order to correct poor behavior.
WESTIE: Western Union money order.
HOTIE: Hotel or motel
RAINBOW: A group of hippie type travelers that set up a date and gather in the national forest for a couple weeks. You don’t have to be part of the hippie culture because all are welcome. Many different kitchens and camps are set up outside. Rainbow itself has a whole different set of commonly used terms.
WHITE BOX: Someone’s leftovers from a restaurant. You always want to be eerie of your white box because you’re taking a chance. For instance, if you get a white box that is lukewarm seafood, you probably shouldn’t eat it.
AGRO: A person who is acting hostile towards others and trying to start a fight or argument.
SCHWILLY: Being schwilly is being really drunk. Getting schwilly means you are drinking to try and get drunk. A schwilly person drinks all the time and sometimes can’t handle their alcohol.
If you are as bored as I am, feel free to add to the list in the comments.
Matilda the Bugus 