ABSTRACT
This chapter establishes a measure of distance from the single-room occupancy (SRO) world. It considers some of the natural history of the SRO world. For an upper, middle or working class person, moving is usually an uncomfortable experience. People report a feeling of disassociation while all of their belongings are packed away or otherwise unavailable. While some of the anxiety experienced may reflect a concern about the security of one's possessions, other more significant factors are in operation. Factors such as the relationship between material possessions and social identity are important in understanding some of the differences which separate the SROer from others. Most have made a commitment, albeit a passive one, to SRO living and because of it, look primarily to this small social world to fulfill their needs. Through this commitment people necessarily share a similar Weltanschauung.
