At nineteen, I was a punk activist living in a squatting community in the North of England. It was a vibrant radical community, of artists, healers, and musicians. Noteworthy is Chumbawamba, of 'Tubthumping' fame, they lived in a mansion-sized squat and were an integral part of our community. Our squats were the antithesis of the rats and squalor; some folks conjure when they hear the word. We were nationally organized and an intelligent solution to the housing crisis of the time. Our houses, gardens, and community well looked after.

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