Facing Arizona: I live the way I live because I want to

Editor’s note: Facing Arizona is a series that will appear on KTAR.com and social media  — follow KTAR News on Instagram and Facebook for updates — highlighting unique and everyday people across our state and give you a glimpse into their lives.

People look at me and sometimes assume I am homeless.

I have actually had people give me food or money while sitting at the light rail station. It makes me angry and sad at the same time. I have a job and I have a place to live and I don’t get a hand out from the government.

I have a driver’s license, I just choose not to drive. I have a couple friends that tell me I should clean myself up and people would act differently toward me.

What does that mean exactly?

I am clean. I shower every day, wear clean clothes, brush my teeth. Because I don’t wear fancy clothes or put on makeup I’m not clean? I don’t understand people sometimes.

I have never been the person who needed a lot of stuff to be happy and I know that makes me different, but it doesn’t mean I am not happy. I don’t have a cellphone, just my home phone. People think that is very strange. They say, ‘What if someone wants to call you?’ I tell them they can leave a message if I’m not home. Then they look at me as if I were crazy. I don’t have cable TV and I think I worry a lot less than most.

I am in pretty good health and don’t have any major issues, so I think I’m doing pretty good for myself. I have never been married and I do not have any children, and this has been my choice. I read a lot. The person that finds me when I die will inherit all my books. When I am not reading or working I ride the light rail to wherever it will take me. I prefer it over the bus and wish they would add more track. I don’t mind walking so it’s not too bad but sometimes I have to catch a bus as well to get to where I am going. My parents are dead, and I have no other family that I know of so it’s just me.

I’m not sure if I would do anything differently than I have. I know my life has not been exciting enough for others, but it is just fine for me. – Margaret