OK, I'm reading all this shit and I'm wondering--why didn't more people split?
I got caught the first time but made it the second.
It was in running springs and I walked out in the morning through back country, hiding. I saved up candy bars, money (7 bucks!, layered some clothing. Approached the town from the back country and went into a laundromat with a big window and and ran into a mother of two. I was afraid she's report me so I told her I was deserted on a camping trip w/a friend and my folks were gone.
She asked me where I was from and said "I'm going there in 5 days to a family reunion." So for 5 days I stayed with her and babysat her two kids while she worked and kept my head down in the car and then she drove me home. She got free babysitting, I got an angel.
When I got home, I think my Dad was sympathetic, was uncomfortable with the place, and my MOM wanted me to go back and I said no way, I'm going to Haight Ashbury (having no idea what that was) to live with my friend and I'm going to school.
My Dad one-upped my mother and I never went back.
The point is, I was the most fragile girl with no balls to runaway but I did it anyway. CEDU was very motivating in that respect.
What prevented others from doing that?
Also, when you finally got to home visits, why didn't your parents keep you there? Home visits would have been my next line of exit.