When you feel down and out.... davidk14: . Homeless Man Lives in a Grave for 15 Years FEB 20 2013 17 by Elysia McMahan Do you find yourself constantly complaining about the cost of living? What if you could live for free? Taking into consideration the intersection of poverty, sometimes the world’s poorest are made to live in unlikely living environments. The International Business Times reports that a 43-year-old homeless man from Serbia has been doing just that for the last 15 years – in a cemetery. Bratislav Stojanovic, a former construction worker, decided to take up residency among the dead after getting robbed on numerous occasions by others living on the streets. How does someone who lives in a cemetery all alone spend their time? In a place with minimal interference or distractions, Stojanovic spends his days scavenging for candles and food scraps in the garbage. The candles enable him to stay warm on cold nights and he is happy that he has a place to rest where nobody bothers him, not even the police. “I had a friend who also lived at the cemetery, but he left as his grave was damp,” he told the International Business Times. “I had a girlfriend, also homeless, but she’s gone. She died, but it is nicer to say that she’s gone,” he was quoted. What appears to be a dark and lonely existence has become the norm for Stojanovic. “I was afraid in the beginning, but I got used to it in time. Now I am more afraid of the living than of the dead,” he told Reuters. After so many years living as an outsider on the burial grounds, starving worries him more than anything. He feeds on scraps he finds in the city’s dumpsters, which apparently isn’t all that bad. “It’s amazing what people throw away,” Stojanovic says. Living with the dead may seem like quite the lifestyle adjustment, but Stojanovic is not the first one to make his home in a cemetery. Last year, Oddity Central reported about an Argentinian woman who moved into her deceased husband’s mausoleum because she couldn’t bear not being without him. And in Manila, there are nearly 10,000 homeless people living as cemetery dwellers. The population has become so large, that’s it’s almost a small village within itself. http://firsttoknow.com/homeless-man-lives-in-a-grave-for-15-years/?utm_source=o_fo&utm_campaign=homeless-man-lives-in-a--23666 .  pinkphenomenon: There's hope for human kindness though towards the homeless just read this.... Suspended Coffee: We enter a little coffeehouse with a friend of mine and give our order. While we’re approaching our table two people come in and they go to the counter: ‘Five coffees, please. Two of them for us and three suspended’ They pay for their order, take the two and leave. I ask my friend: “What are those ‘suspended’ coffees?” My friend: “Wait for it and you will see.” Some more people enter. Two girls ask for one coffee each, pay and go. The next order was for seven coffees and it was made by three lawyers - three for them and four ‘suspended’. While I still wonder what’s the deal with those ‘suspended’ coffees I enjoy the sunny weather and the beautiful view towards the square infront of the café. Suddenly a man dressed in shabby clothes who looks like a beggar comes in throught the door and kindly asks ‘Do you have a suspended coffee ?’ It’s simple - people pay in advance for a coffee meant for someone who can not afford a warm bevarage. The tradition with the suspended coffees started in Naples, but it has spread all over the world and in some places you can order not only a suspended coffee, but also a sandwitch or a whole meal. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have such cafés or even grocery stores in every town where the less fortunate will find hope and support ? If you own a business why don’t you offer it to your clients… I am sure many of them will like it. ** I just saw this and thought it would be incredible to share this so maybe it could catch on where ever you may live.. ** Pay it forward!! ** For more info check out suspended coffee on Facebook x (Edited by pinkphenomenon)  fairgojustsaying: I enjoyed reading both posts which gave a small insight into the lifestyles of people living on the fringes of society and have to say I prefer to chat with people who have done the hard yards rather than what society calls normal lifestyle type people. The coffee/food idea is great and it is pleasantly surprising what people would do to help. pinkphenomenon: Everyone has a story to tell but I feel, when talking to a genuine homeless person or less unfortunate there is no bullshit in their words, just honesty, sadness and a deep darkness in their eyes that lures you in to their troubled reality... You take what you need from people.. they have someone to talk to, you for once are listening. You are actually being brought back down to earth where someone shows you what the term "having a bad day" really means.  OCD_OCD: This suspension trend is awesome! I participate at Christmas in the secret Santa trend of going to Target or Walmart and paying off the balance of a family Christmas layaway. The store then calls that family and tells them that their purchases have been paid for by an anonymous secret Santa. It makes the family happy, but I think I actually get more enjoyment from it, so in a way it is a way to be selfish and not feel any guilt. LOL David, have you ever read anything about people who live in the ornate above-ground crypts in the cemetery in New Orleans. Some of the crypts there are amazingly beautiful. pinkphenomenon: That is awesome! Theres cards on xmas trees in shopping centres over here with names and ages of children,you pick one then buy presents from santa for that child. OCD_OCD: People as a whole can be very giving. It is when the fraudsters get involved that people become disgusted with being taken advantage of and quit giving. That is why what I give goes directly to who I want. pinkphenomenon: thats a good point. But st vincent de paul chariry is the one that runs the xmas tree cards, they are the only ones I trust solely in looking after the homeless in ireland aswell as the simon community OCD_OCD: http://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/02/us/new-orleans-cemeteries-besieged-by-crime-wave.html You might find this old article interesting. What I was actually looking for was some photos of some of the people who frequent the cemeteries, but ran across this. The tombs are fabulous, but I have no desire to actually go inside. What I've seen from the outside is good enough for me. 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