Mark is one of our more recognizable characters in Frederick, and one of the most coherent to talk to.

Since leaving a children's home at 17 he has been homeless for 50 years, originally in Montgomery County and the last 35-40 years in Frederick County, at least for the summer, most winters he has spent in Florida. He's an interesting person, this has been his choice to live outside, eschewing shelters and the drama that often accompanies that community.

Doesn't drink, despises drugs, in many ways he is like an Indian, these days with his various aches, pains and ailments he sticks close to town but in his younger years lived off what he could forage in the woods. Where we might view his life with pity, he has the same towards ours, he views that he lives in complete freedom, it's an interesting perspective.

The morning he came up to have his picture taken unfortunately someone had stolen his small backpack - bizarre as it only contains his razor and toothbrush, but he was already amused as a woman had stopped him to take a picture of his hair wanting the exact shade of silver blonde to show her stylist .

Have a chat with him, he's very coherent and with many stories of the States, having seen more of the country that most of us might in our lifetimes.

I asked him what advice he would give to someone looking to follow his path and make the choice to live free - "Don't go to Cleveland !"

Coffee preference - black :-)