You can tell from his thick Boston accent, and his ever-present Red Sox cap, that Buddy McArdle is a Massachusetts man. Born in Lowell, Buddy has lived on both sides of the country. A year ago Buddy moved back to Seattle, a place where, on a whim, he decided to move to in 1996.
When I asked him why he chose Seattle, he told me, "I don't know, it just seemed to make sense to me."
Since his return, Buddy has struggled to find work. While searching for a job this past year, Buddy has been selling Real Change. Now, he told me, "every day is the same, I work when I want, I quit when I feel like it, Real Change gives me that flexibility to do other things as well."
The extra time that Buddy has from selling Real Change has allowed him to look for stable housing. He lamented the fact that being homeless now, "is a full-time job just trying to maintain your existence. Everything is a waiting game."
Whether it's waiting for a shower at Urban Rest Stop, getting food at a mission, or finding a place to sleep, everything is contingent upon how long you are willing to wait. It can take upwards of five hours a day just to shower, eat, and find a place to sleep at night. There's little time left to find a job or explore other options, he said.
Selling the newspaper offers an alternative to the waiting game, Buddy said.
"Real Change allows me the opportunity to be somewhat self-sufficient without depending so much on resources that exist in Seattle. Selling the paper allows me to buy a sandwich when I want; it affords me the opportunity to do laundry at a laundromat instead of having to wait."
Buddy has aspirations. He would like to start his own business and, if he has time, write a book. The idea behind the book is a student's perspective on Penikese Island, an island off the coast of Massachusetts that served as a school for juvenile delinquents. Buddy spent six months there as a kid. It helped him grow up and taught him a lot, he said.
"I still think of that experience to this very day," he said.
On the subject of his customers, Buddy said, "I want to thank my customers for being educated enough to understand the concept of Real Change, for what the paper is about, and for supporting me. Real Change is nothing without the support of the people."