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UER Forum > Archived US: South > When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn (Viewed 1213 times)
Bustedknuckle 


Location: The Lone Star State
Gender: Male


"I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints"

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When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
< on 12/28/2008 6:25 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
On Christmas eve, I was at the Galleria doing some last minute gift buying and I noticed that my old condominium complex was abandoned. My Grandparents owned my place and one other in the complex, they bought in when the complex was built in the 80s and sold it when I moved out in 2005. My Aunt lived here for about 10 years so I kinda grew up here too, made some crazy memories when I lived here as well. Real sad to see it like this.

Boring I know but I thought I would share.





Here was the living room



WAY too many drinks were poured here



My bedroom



Damnit! This was my favorite bathroom.



This is what really hit home. After watching Dead Poets Society I wrote Carpe Diem (Seize the Day) on the top of the front door frame. I repainted the place with a couple of coats when I moved out. I found it had bled through the paint.


[last edit 12/28/2008 6:31 AM by Bustedknuckle - edited 3 times]

"It's not a fanny pack, it's an exploring pouch!"
-"Yes it is, it has fanny written all over it"
shellyl 


Location: Lenoir NC
Gender: Female


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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 1 on 12/28/2008 11:30 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
How cool but sad. The place was trashed pretty quick.

I have been able to see 2 places that I lived in but they don't count. My younger brother bought one and the other is now a bed and breakfast.

A mirage is not an optical illusion. It is a real phenomenon, and one can take photographs of it. The interpretation of the image, however, is up to the fantasy of the human mind.

Raticus 

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Location: Tyler
Gender: Male


Ratus exploricus abandonae

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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 2 on 12/28/2008 2:35 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Not boring at all. In fact, the personal touch really adds a different dimension to it. Maybe because I know you, I don't know. But definitely not boring. Thanks for sharing those.

Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools speak because they have to say something.
PhotoSeeker 


Location: Sudbury
Gender: Male


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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 3 on 12/28/2008 3:44 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
This place has a meaning that speaks to you on a very deep level. It evokes something in you that, unfortunately, is almost impossible to convey to anyone who doesn't share the memories you have of the place.

Had you put up these pictures without a word, some folks might have said, "interesting find" and moved on. Most wouldn't. But having tried as best you could to share the memories and meaning of this place to you, you've breathed life into it that wouldn't have otherwise existed for any of us.

So, while we'll never feel about it what you did, we have felt more than we would have otherwise. You've done your job.

Thanks for sharing!

Lots of Urban Exploration goodness at https://urbexobsession.com
Wiccan 


Location: Hamilton Ontario
Gender: Female




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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 4 on 12/29/2008 1:42 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Must be quite surreal,exploring a place that was this personal to you,thanks for sharing.

Happiedaze 


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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 5 on 12/29/2008 7:11 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Growing up I had a different childhood than most... we moved around constantly. In fact, before I was 12, I think the longest we ever lived somewhere was MAYBE 3 months. When we did move, we just left everything behind... and only took what would fit in our car.

Sometimes when I explore an abandoned house or apartment complex like this one, and sometimes I see so much stuff left behind... it really hits something deep inside me. I wonder what THEIR circumstances were. I know sometimes people move and just leave behind junk they didn't want, or didn't feel like moving... but when you see toys that were surly a kids favorite toy... or clothes that are like new... you wonder what happened. Sometimes, I can put pieces together from mail or papers I find.

I guess my point is, this isn't lame or boring or stupid at all for you to post these pictures of this place. These kind of explorations are my favorite. The ones that have history that tell a story. And not always the kind of story you can look up online or hear from a town local. The kind of story that only that particular family knows, or maybe a little girl that doesn't know where she's going or why they have to leave behind her favorite toys... or why they even have to leave... again.

I know MY story as to why our stuff was always left behind... and sometimes wonder if any explorers out there ever came across it and wondered what our story was. You know YOUR story to this place. I think that's awesome.

Thanks for sharing.... I think this is what exploring is all about.

'Our plans are all laid out,
take all these unmarked roads,
we blaze the trails to places no one goes, yeah!' -Rise Against
Wiccan 


Location: Hamilton Ontario
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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 6 on 12/29/2008 7:36 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Happiedaze,I am officially depressed now.

My mother lost our house when we were kids. With her being single,and having a new Trans Am yet a forfeit on the house,we were quite the talk.

A ton of our stuff ws left behind then as well,and after we left,my Mom realized that she forgot some jewellery there.

Upon returning,we found half the neighbourhood sifting through our things in the house and taking things for themselves. The jewellery,of course,was 'found' by our perpetually nosy neighbour,she pulled it out of her pocket when my Mom asked for it.

I never forgot what that felt like,and similar things have run through my mind upon discovering an abandoned home full of stuff.

*In a fun turn of events though,I was able to explore the nosy jewellery swiping neighbour's home,years later. It wasn't full of junk,but it was delightfully filthy.

http://www.uer.ca/...ow.asp?locid=25071
[last edit 12/29/2008 7:39 PM by Wiccan - edited 1 times]

Happiedaze 


Location: Galveston Area, TX
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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 7 on 12/29/2008 7:53 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Wiccan
Happiedaze,I am officially depressed now.

My mother lost our house when we were kids. With her being single,and having a new Trans Am yet a forfeit on the house,we were quite the talk.

A ton of our stuff ws left behind then as well,and after we left,my Mom realized that she forgot some jewellery there.

Upon returning,we found half the neighbourhood sifting through our things in the house and taking things for themselves. The jewellery,of course,was 'found' by our perpetually nosy neighbour,she pulled it out of her pocket when my Mom asked for it.

I never forgot what that felt like,and similar things have run through my mind upon discovering an abandoned home full of stuff.

*In a fun turn of events though,I was able to explore the nosy jewellery swiping neighbour's home,years later. It wasn't full of junk,but it was delightfully filthy.

http://www.uer.ca/...ow.asp?locid=25071


Aww, I didn't mean to depress anyone. While we moved around a lot, and yes I left a lot of things behind I always wanted to take, I wouldn't trade my childhood for anything in the world. I turned out pretty well if I do say so myself... my sister on the other hand... is a whole other story.

I think everything that has happened has made me who I am today. I am now a very stable person and structure and stability are 2 of the most important things that I provide my own children.

That sucks about your moms house. I can't imagine what it would be like to go through that with children involved. At least the neighbor gave the jewelry back when it was asked for, but I think I'd go off on some people who were going through my personal stuff, though.



'Our plans are all laid out,
take all these unmarked roads,
we blaze the trails to places no one goes, yeah!' -Rise Against
yokes 


Location: Toronto
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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 8 on 12/29/2008 8:03 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 

When my parents sold the family home (of 33 years), I went through a photographed it the night before it was to be turned over to its new owners. I tried to imagine that I had no personal connection to the place, and photographed it as an abandonment. I can't imagine it ever actually being abandoned, like yours was, and going through it again.

"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." - Richard Nickel
Bustedknuckle 


Location: The Lone Star State
Gender: Male


"I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints"

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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 9 on 12/29/2008 11:02 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Wow thanks for all the nice comments yall. I was a bit torn even going in there, there were very very many personal memories with this place some I didnt want to remember but in retrospect Im glad I did it. Kinda want to go back now.

To add a real before and after effect I dug out some photos I had of the place.

Compare this to #1 just facing West instead of East.
*bonus Texas snow*


This is the wall in #3



Overall view with the bar thats in #4



Wall thats in #5



Note the top of the door frame



Thanks again everyone....now Im going to go clean up the pile of pictures I sifted through.


"It's not a fanny pack, it's an exploring pouch!"
-"Yes it is, it has fanny written all over it"
Raticus 

Moderator


Location: Tyler
Gender: Male


Ratus exploricus abandonae

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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 10 on 12/29/2008 11:12 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Wow. Now that really adds to this whole thread. Thanks for sharing those. Really nice to see the comparisons.

Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools speak because they have to say something.
Barry Kooda 


Location: The Cliff
Gender: Male


Trees

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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 11 on 12/30/2008 12:50 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
It gets me when I see places from my past that are now abandoned and I think "Jeeze! I was just there. What happened?" and then realize that "...just there..." was 30 years ago.
I agree with HD about wondering about things left behind. I think that's a common feeling amongst explorers. Part of the charm is trying to read the stories from the long forgotten things left behind.

I'm a blatant waste of time and resources.
Imbroglio 


Location: DFW
Gender: Male


The glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 12 on 12/30/2008 5:28 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
This is very cool BK...I think the words bleeding through the paint is really intriguing too.

Several years ago I drove through Killeen on my way to Austin; I had lived there for several years as a kid. I went to see the last house we lived in there (my favorite), and when I turned the corner onto the street, I saw a vacant lot in the middle of an otherwise still fully populated busy neighborhood. I spoke to the next door neighbor (same old couple!), and they said the house had burned down several years before. I was kinda sad.

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Wiccan 


Location: Hamilton Ontario
Gender: Female




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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 13 on 12/30/2008 6:27 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Raticus
Wow. Now that really adds to this whole thread. Thanks for sharing those. Really nice to see the comparisons.


What Raticus said. How cool!



The Photomat 






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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 14 on 12/31/2008 6:09 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Here's an old thread I started on this topic:
http://www.uer.ca/...urrpage=1&pp#post0


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CaryW 


Gender: Male




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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 15 on 1/3/2009 7:24 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I have been wondering about this sort of thing with all the real estate problems going on.

Since condo's are owned by individuals, but overseen by associations, how does one of the complexes get completely abandoned/empty? Are some of the last few owners forced to sell out? If no one wants it and the association lets it fall into disrepair do you just walk away?

Do developers just go and buy everyone out individually if they want that property?

I wonder cause my buddy got stuck in one of the new construction bankruptcies in FL on a condo. Now all he has is a claim in BR court.

BTW those last pics really added a lot.





BugPowder 


Location: Dallas
Gender: Male




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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 16 on 1/4/2009 5:16 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Really great post.

A couple of years ago, I went by the apartment complex I lived in before buying the house I'm in now. I was there from '95 to '98. It was a 2 bedroom for about $600/month, and that time frame happened to span four job changes, which is a lot for me.

But I was shocked to find them bulldozed. It was just a patch of dirt.

It took a while to realize why I felt like a part of me had died when I saw it, because things are better for me now than they were when I lived there. But I finally figured out it was because I had gone through some tough times there and survived them.

I guess it doesn't matter whether you enjoy good times or survive bad ones, the space you occupied during that time has meaning. And seeing it change, or vanish brings back those memories.

So as you can see RobertB, it's not boring. Most everyone has former homes, and personal experience with them. Glad you didn't think it was too boring to post!

Bustedknuckle 


Location: The Lone Star State
Gender: Male


"I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints"

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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 17 on 1/4/2009 1:33 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I made this thread not Robert B.
[last edit 1/4/2009 1:33 PM by Bustedknuckle - edited 1 times]

"It's not a fanny pack, it's an exploring pouch!"
-"Yes it is, it has fanny written all over it"
RobertB 


Location: Skeeterville, TX
Gender: Male


Maybe I shouldn't be using my real name...

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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 18 on 1/4/2009 2:30 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Yeah... I had that thread about the cheap (but still active) apartments that we talked about at the meetup. Or at least, that's what I thought you meant, BP, sorry!

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La voici: "Mon Dieu, rendez nos ennemis bien ridicules!"
Dieu m'a exaucé.
cdevon 


Location: west county
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Re: When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn
<Reply # 19 on 1/5/2009 2:00 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
unrelated to this thread... i found out last week that my job is closing in late feb or sooner, upon giving this info to my brandy new "gf" she says it may not be the best time to get involved. when her and i had "our" second date i told my "other" thing in st. pete that it was over... so i spent the day today exploring a fav spot in clearwater (fl) so yeah, sometimes it is personal.
cdevon1200

When I say I'm 'clean and sober', it means I've showered and I'm headed to the liquor store.
UER Forum > Archived US: South > When Exploration Takes a Personal Turn (Viewed 1213 times)
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