Chicago Divers?

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Permalink Reply by HolisticHealthDetective on April 30, 2012 at 2:56pm

Mary Elizabeth---don't dive alone! I wouldn't do it. I don't recommend diving solo unless you're super comfortable with it or you know the store/workers where you dive.

You're probably going to find the Whole Foods all have compactors, as well. = (

We live in Wheaton, which is not nearby, but we could always arrange something!

Tania

Permalink Reply by Mary Elizabeth on April 30, 2012 at 3:31pm

Why do you say that? For my safety? or because of the workers? I don't understand. TThanks for the tip on Whole Foods. Also, I'd love to dive with someone, especially someone experienced. Unfortunately, I am in a tough financial situation and need food, so I am going to go tonight (I'm in a very affluent community and the trader joe's is nearby). Thank you for the concern and tips though. Always appreciated! :)

Permalink Reply by HolisticHealthDetective on April 30, 2012 at 5:05pm

Well, hey, I tip my hat off anytime to a tough sister!! = )

I'd answer it this way:

What personally holds me back from doing it alone is a little of what you mentioned before, like safety and such: driving into back alleys at night, or leaning in too far into the bin and not having someone to watch my back, give me a boost, help me in or out, etc. If someone did come out, I'd feel better knowing I was part of a team that had each other's back. Those are my own personal reasons, I guess, but then I have never dived without the little girls in the backseat, so I'm probably just being a mama bear, but I do maintain that it seems like the thing to do with someone at first, given the hour and secluded location of most bins.

And ya know, going alone is not something I am opposed to, though I definitely feel cautious about it. And I told my partner once the same thing I told you--not to go alone and wait to go with me. But he's done it a few times anyway and come home with tons of stuff, and he said it was easy and he even got spotted by a worker who just kind of nodded at him and went back inside.

If I had to dive alone, I'd do it--but my personal preference would be as it's still light outside, either late hours before dark, or early hours in the morning.

Some of those affluent neighborhoods in Chicago are very tame. I've been to a few where it felt like an area you could leave your doors unlocked, they were so peaceful. Hoping this is an area you'll be in tonight and wishing you the best!

Also, there should be Food Not Bombs in the area for buddies to go with. I have a friend in Chicago who dives fearlessly at all hours and could probably connect you, if you want me to look into it a bit. No reason most of your produce can't come from regular dives. I met a vegan girl in Naperville who dives alone almost everyday, after work, and pretty much lives off it.

And lastly yet most sincerely, my heart goes out to you being in a tough financial struggle! = (

Isn't it such a downer? At every turn, getting hit with yet another area in life forcing your hand to produce more money you don't have, just chipping away at you. Rent, bills, repairs, etc all demanding more of your wallet. They almost seem like an abstract interruption from the way life's really meant to be lived.

Such a woeful burden on the human spirit. My heart aches for this; I'm sending you love and light for a turn-around soon!

Permalink Reply by Mary Elizabeth on April 30, 2012 at 6:57pm

Hi!

Thanks for the Mama-bear support! I went alone and just got back. Hit 2 whole foods, 1 TJ's, 2 Jewels. All in 2.5 hours form my door and back... not bad. However, both Jewels had compactors, one Whole Foods (I could not find their dumpsters or they are inside (it's a multi-story building with parking on 2nd and 3rd levels, so there may be garbage in there somewhere) and I also couldn't find the bins for Tj's (I wen through some bins, which I figured were theirs, but it was nothing but waste- not to mention a lot of cardboard boxes that SHOULD have been recycled!!!). At the 1 Whole Foods I found 4 dumpsters of trash with some food bags mixed in. There was a huge bag of body wash/lotions and stuff. I left some and took some for my roommates who use that stuff. Also, there was a huge bag of vitamins and supplements- which I don't use, but I grabbed a couple of kid's and adult's vitamins. There are plenty of homeless people I pass that could perhaps use them. It's not much, but perhaps it can help. I am going to give away whatever lotions and such on Freecycle after my roommates take their pick. I also found some fancy Belgian beer -which I brought home for my roommates. 1 can was messed up. Also, I found some Vegennaise (still cold)- which I brought home for my roommate who loves it.

All in all, it kind of sucked. It was rainy and soggy and not any produce, like I expected. Also, the stuff I found, I had to DIG DEEP for. Kind of yucky, but whatever.I saw a locked dumpster, which I pried the lid open and dug a bit. It was all regular garbage from what I could see. Perhaps that's where their produce and such is though... hmmm... maybe during the day I can go back and check.

It's nice to find things for my roommates, but I NEED to fin food. I found a 1lb. bag of quinoa, which I MAY use for food if I have to. Otherwise, my roommates will eat it.

It wasn't scary, except for at first. I cleaned up the site and it looked pretty good when I left. I am really tired though and I need a good shower.

If you could hook me up with your friend, that'd be awesome! I looked on meetup.com and didn't find any divers, but I am hoping to make some money to start a group or perhaps check craigslist.

Thanks again for the tips!