The hostel, beginning of the month, largely empty. Steve, bunkmate these last couple of weeks (amongst others) last night decided he'd had enough, announced that he was off to stay with his sister in Kelowna. And spent until 3:00 AM light on packing - me, after 9 hours of work just trying to fall asleep, lights on, always, always on the cusp, and then he makes some noise and I realize I haven't slipped away...
I'm half sad to see him go, only half, I'll save a bundle on cigarettes, for a guy who'd quit he still had a taste, and his mental health - increasingly frail, he would over 4 or 5 hours on a sunny or at least not rainy day go down to the street and sell 30 of his chapter books, enough to pay up the Hostel fees for a couple more days. But the rest of the time, lying in the bunk, earbuds in, just there - 5 hours on the street, 16 or 18 hours in the bunk.
And rainy days he wouldn't leave at all.
Me, I'm up, about, first for coffee, then to grab my bags, do some writing, other things, study menu, then shower, off to work, home at 12:00 or 1:00, other residents here often never leave their rooms.
So, yes, his mental resources were exhausted, he had tried to keep a cheery outlook but it was becoming increasingly tough in view of the Vaccine requirements, in view of the weather, in view of his diminishing well-being.
***
No one left in the Hostel - most, the long term people, found permanent digs for December 1st. The others moved on to other travels. So - you would think it would be quiet, go to the common area, and write, but it never is, it's the Hostile Hostel, those few residents that remain, the fewer new ones that have arrived, they play their games louder, converse louder, play their blues louder, fill the space with themselves - louder, and East Indian Gentleman, earbuds in on loud Skype calls, perpetually, overly loud, doing tech-support or something, he doesn't need a microphone, he's speaking loud enough in that thickened accent that his clients can hear him wherever they are in the world, and - the upside of an empty hostel, fewer to no bunkmates, are countered by the increasingly verbose and loud guests.
***
To the Vancouver Public Library, a 7 minute walk away, 5th floor, quiet area, here I can do some thinking. Here it is quiet. And here there is nothing else to focus on but the work in front of me. I'm slowly but surely acquiring some good habits.