Exploration Two from Zach Baker

Hello my name is Zach Baker. I am 18 and a second semester freshmen at The Ohio State University at Marion. I am pretty easy to spot out of a crowd due to the fact that I am 6'3" and have long dark hair. I have a wonderful family comprising of my mom Lisa and dad David and of course my older sister Kaylee, along with four cats, an old dog, and a turtle; we are one big happy family! I have been dating my girlfriend Taylor for over four years. Here is a fun fact she was my fist and only girlfriend! Some other interesting fun facts about me are that I am a music nut, especially when it is on vinyl! All music from funk to metal I enjoy it all, even the classical! My favorite composers are Sergei Prokofiev and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Never heard of them? I bet you have! Many excerpts of there compositions have been used for movies, TV shows, and commercials. My interests and hobbies are playing video games, general nerding around, and long boarding with my girlfriend. Although it is hard to find nice weather living in Ohio to skate in we make it work! 

This is my Family! My parents are located on the far left small squares of the picture. My sister Kaylee and her fiance are standing on the right side of my parents in the picture located in the middle, She has the long blonde hair and her fiance always wears a hat. Taylor and I are located on the left side of my parents and we can also be identified as the ones holding the long boards!

Depression Era Hobos

Hobos, not someone or something you hear about anymore. These people, and this lifestyle is increasingly drifting into something of the past and the classic hobo is all but obsolete. That statement has some truth in it but not completely accurate. Yes the days of being able to jump on a freight train and ride the rails might be over, the ideas and principles of the hobo still live on. As I read in our book Holding On, Maury Graham was sure to make the clear differences between a Hobo and a bum. What stuck out to me in his description is the clear and somewhat wonderful work ethic of a Hobo. A Hobo never begged for food or money, instead he went from town to town looking to work in exchange for a meal. He would work hard and earn his meal then be on his way, never tied town in one town or a single job for the rest of his life, but free to go wherever the trains may take him. What is interesting about this is that this mind set is the extreme polar opposite of today's mind set on work ethics, jobs and earnings.Today the goal is to find a job, stick with it until you retire in order to make as much money as you can so that you can live a few more years with the money you have earned and then die feeling content with living off what you have earned. Is that a life? According to today's standards it is, but to the classic hobo that is a fate worse than death. He would much rather ride the rails free to move all about the country and live his life adventurously. 

According to Hobo.com 'yes there is a hobo website' this is what defines  three groups of  people that could be riding the rails. A hobo wanders and works, a tramp wanders and dreams and a bum  neither wanders or works. Like Maury described in the book a hobo never wanted to be called a bum, that would be a false identification. A bum will only beg for food and money and can stir up trouble among other wanderers. A hobo holds himself to a much higher code. In fact here is the link to the hobo code according to hobo.com http://www.hobo.com/whatisahobo/hobocode.html . 

It is very interesting how a group of people that can be seen as free loaders and loners can have some of the most fulfilling and enjoyable lives. Even there community seems to be very tight knit even to this day. Today not only are there a few hobos that ride the rails but there are also hobos that travel the free open roads in vehicles and they are called "rubber tramps". An epicenter for hobo people and gatherings is in Britt, Iowa. This is where the Hobo Museum can be found. It is very interesting to me that what started out as a lifestyle for those who did not fit in with society and there way of living has evolved into a proud and thriving group of people and these people would rather die than give up there lives as Hobos, just like "Steam Train" Maury Graham.

"Steam Train" Maury Graham

For more info and further reading:

http://www.hobo.com/home.html