For over a decade now, a collection of vagabond airline workers has made a parking lot near LAX their home between long stretches of travel.
Years ago, LAX officials noticed employees were camping out in RVs throughout the airport’s many parking lots, so they decided to band them all together. As a result, dozens of RVs are gathered in one lot, forming a unique Los Angeles community. They have rules of conduct, residency requirements, and even an unofficial mayor according to a 2009 Los Angeles Times profile.
Student filmmaker Lance Oppenheimer recently stumbled upon this RV neighborhood and documented the story of a few of its residents for the New York Times. The result is heartbreaking and oddly uplifting, a testament to the human ability to adapt to difficult situations and the sacrifices made to live outside the confines of a normal lifestyle.
"A house is just a dwelling, that's how I look at it, and right now I can dwell in pretty much anything," says one of the residents.
The video is a must-watch.
- Home Is Where the Parking Lot Is [New York Times]
- LAX parking lot is home away from home for airline workers [LA Times]
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