u/DanceByTheLight

Hi. This fall I will be attending Tacoma Community College and I will be living in my car. I need advice on where to park and sleep that is safe in the Tacoma, Washington area. I see there is a Winco and a place called Tacoma Boys - both of which are off I-5. There is a rest stop on I-5 north going towards Seattle but that's a bit far away. There is also a hospital close to campus.

Are there places that are safe to park and sleep in Tacoma, Washington? Is there a place I should avoid at all costs in the area? Thank you in advance!

https://preview.redd.it/szo6apz4cy8h1.jpg?width=918&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3b78ce337c5240b87e01b80321ea8d8bcf82e484

I went to Puyallup, WA to attend SummerCon 2026. I have never done cosplay before but I decided this was the year to start! I was Poe Dameron. I made the costume from clothes from my second job at a thrift store and a cardboard box for the vest. The helmet I bought at SasquatchCon in April in Port Angeles, WA.

The con was amazing! There were so many epic cosplays. There was a droid builder enthusiast group with the coolest droids. I got so many pictures. I went to the Andor panel too, among others.

I hope everyone is having a good week. May the force be with you.

https://preview.redd.it/szo6apz4cy8h1.jpg?width=918&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3b78ce337c5240b87e01b80321ea8d8bcf82e484

I went to Puyallup, WA to attend SummerCon 2026. I have never done cosplay before but I decided this was the year to start! I was Poe Dameron. I made the costume from clothes from my second job at a thrift store and a cardboard box for the vest. The helmet I bought at SasquatchCon in April in Port Angeles, WA.

The con was amazing! There were so many epic cosplays. There was a droid builder enthusiast group with the coolest droids. I got so many pictures. I went to the Andor panel too, among others.

I hope everyone is having a good week. May the force be with you.

I was thinking about getting a canopy with four metal legs like you see at festivals or at the beach. I want something for shade. However many of them are poorly made, don't stand up to wind and can get sun bleached and fall apart. Unless you're willing to spend over $100 there is not much worth buying.

On the other hand I can always hang a tarp with line to trees and such. However my concern is that there won't be suitable trees or roots to tie it to or that the ground will be too hard for a stake.

Do you have advice on which type of shelter (tarp or canopy) is the better way to go?

I will be heading to Gifford Pinochet National Park in Washington State later this month. There are lots and lots of forest service roads where one can camp/boondock for free. Has anyone ever camped there on a forest service road? Do you have one that you liked or one that you didn't like? Just looking for recommendations.