I've always wanted to just leave. I live in a small town in the desert of the southwest, and I've lived here for my entire life. It's not that I hate it here, but ever since I was born I've had this wanderlust, this need to just explore, to just walk the country. For a few years now I've been taking rather long hikes every Sunday, through the expanse of desert that exists around the place I live, so my legs are strong and I do pretty well out in that environment. Now, I know being a drifter is dangerous, I understand it's not looked at as a good thing, and I'm aware it may even be a stupid idea. But the thing is that I just don't care, this feels like something I NEED to do. I hate the idea of someone controlling me, the idea of being stuck in a job that I hate for my whole life, living day to day, just like my parents. I'm going to turn 19 this year, and if I don't do something soon I'll be out on the street anyway. I just want to know, is it normal for me to feel this way? Do other people feel like this?
P.S. I can get by, you know. It's dangerous, but I know how to protect myself. I can get money by taking up odd jobs in each town I move through. I'm confident I won't end up dead, and even if I did, I'll have died not being controlled by the system we live in, and that's a damn good alternative I'd say.
If that is how you want to live your life, I don't blame you. Society puts so many pressures on us in so many ways through school, advertising, politics, etc. If you want to live your life as a drifter, to explore the great expanse of the world then go for it. There is no incorrect way to live your life - despite what others may suggest.
If that is how you want to live your life, I don't blame you. Society puts so many pressures on us in so many ways through school, advertising, politics, etc. If you want to live your life as a drifter, to explore the great expanse of the world then go for it. There is no incorrect way to live your life - despite what others may suggest.
Thanks man, nobody seems to understand, they call me selfish, stupid, a "dreamer", but you seem to understand. That helps, it really does.
I think _Gaia _ was spot on in the illustrating the errors in the fantasy. I am reminded of the late Chris McCandeless who had the same ambitions and ideals, note the "late," he died in Alaska whist making a living out in bush. Multiple factors contributed to his death including starvation, exhaustion, poison from berries, and the overall brutal climate. There have been adaptions on Chris' adventure across the United States including a full motion picture but I find these to a romanticization of the man. He was generally selfish and irresponsible in the end, he had a great future ahead of him being an impeccable student in college but was too obsessed with the wild that took off. His biggest criticizers (most of which being Alaskans) cite him as imbecile as he barely knew any survival techniques in the first place.
Now, Chris' adventure occurred in early 90's which was an incredibly different time than it is today. Back then someone like Chris could easily get an odd job however in today's environment, as _Gaia_ described, it isn't so easy. Employers want your cellphone number, email, and address, not to mention they would probably be weary of your hygiene. If you are dead set on a nomad lifestyle, by all means go ahead but you have to look into the responsibilities and restrictions that are associated with it.
I think _Gaia _ was spot on in the illustrating the errors in the fantasy. I am reminded of the late Chris McCandeless who had the same ambitions and ideals, note the "late," he died in Alaska whist making a living out in bush. Multiple factors contributed to his death including starvation, exhaustion, poison from berries, and the overall brutal climate. There have been adaptions on Chris' adventure across the United States including a full motion picture but I find these to a romanticization of the man. He was generally selfish and irresponsible in the end, he had a great future ahead of him being an impeccable student in college but was too obsessed with the wild that took off. His biggest criticizers (most of which being Alaskans) cite him as imbecile as he barely knew any survival techniques in the first place.
Now, Chris' adventure occurred in early 90's which was an incredibly different time than it is today. Back then someone like Chris could easily get an odd job however in today's environment, as _Gaia_ described, it isn't so easy. Employers want your cellphone number, email, and address, not to mention they would probably be weary of your hygiene. If you are dead set on a nomad lifestyle, by all means go ahead but you have to look into the responsibilities and restrictions that are associated with it.
It's not like I have no experience and that the only part I've thought through is the 'becoming a drifter' part. I've thought through the logistics of it all. I already know how I'll keep clean, fed, and sheltered. It's not a fantasy, I know the reality. I'm not some 'Into the Wild" freak, and I won't be living out in the desert, forest or any "wild" environments, I plan to stay in civilized areas, you know, in civilization.
Also, you guys are only looking at the jobs that require me to be on the grid, but I could go freelance either way and still make money to live. Come on, guys, use your head.
Seems like a bit of a far fetched idea. The fact that you think you "NEED" to do something about it is completely ludicrous.
Actually I do need to do something about it, becuase if I don't either get a job or do something like this, I will most definitely end up on the street. I'm afraid my living situation is temporary at the moment.
I've made my decision, and I'm doing it. Those who gave support, thank you. Also, thank you for doubting me, losers, I've had enough of that, see you never, I'm going to start living life for me.
Quote from _Gaia_jump
It's not doubting you, it's being realistic. In the 0.0001% chance that this is a serious post and you're actually gone you won't see this, but hopefully I can discourage other idiots from trying the same thing.
When you do something like this, you commit to it. There is no off-switch. You can't just switch back to civilisation once you're bored, cold, wet, hungry, and alone. Which you will be.
The fact that you think you can waltz into any homeless shelter you like shows that you're not prepared for this. Why do you think there are homeless people on the street if that's the case? Because homeless shelters get full, and they don't accept just anyone who turns up. In fact, many homeless shelters segregate by gender, with many more only allowing women than allowing both. Not only do you have to find a homeless shelter, you have to find a homeless shelter that will accept young males. Also, homeless shelters are paid for via taxes. You're willingly choosing to not pay taxes when you easily could, yet you still want the benefits given from those that do. That's why you're selfish.
Yes, civilization, where there are muggers, robbers, prostitutes, gang-bangers, and general psychopaths. It doesn't matter how experienced you are, if someone puts a bullet in your head while you're sleeping, you're dead.
"Yeah, but it'll never happen to me." If I've guessed your answers right, you won't last very long.
You could, yes. You could also stay in civilisation and get a good paying job that gives you a house and a car and a wife. Homeless man with no address, no bank, no phone, and quite clearly no reason to not take money and take off? Why would I not hire him?
And what if you find yourself somewhere that doesn't fit that category? You know it's not a hotel, right? They can and will kick you out. Then what?
I advise, if you really want to commit to this, to do it for a limited time at first. Tell everyone you know - because I haven't even began to mention the heartbreak you'll cause to your family - that you're going "on vacation" for a month. Use that month to live on the streets, and do what you want to do. If you seriously think that going from 19 years of comfort to a lifetime of homelessness is going to be a good experience, you're not brave, clever, or a dreamer. You're an idiot. Most homeless people are not homeless for more than a month. Those that are often have severe mental disabilities. You know why? Because it sucks.
Whatever, rant over, I don't care. If you want to switch from a life most people would beg to have into a life most people would dread to have, knock yourself out. In fact, a better and more realistic phrase would be go get yourself killed. It'll just give me another news article to use when someone else makes a similar post.
I didn't read that, mostly because I don't care what you have to say, you are a slave to this world just like everybody else.
Okay, I'm starting a new thread, if you want to check it out. Seriously, you are more level-headed than me either way. I just need help with a few more things.
So let me ask you this. When you say "I need help with a few more things", do you mean "Tell me what you know." or do you mean "Tell me what I want to hear."? Because you started this thread asking for advice, with no intention of listening to anything other than "What a fantastic idea!".
I was just trying to make you stop, because you feel the need to "help" me by crushing my dreams. You say that I would most certainly die out there, however people just like me, my age, my level of skill, my level of experience and training, even the exact same gear I have, have done this EXACT SAME THING and survived, thrived, and even made it back into society exactly as they had been. (No "off-switch", huh?). well, it won't work, and I'm doing it, so can you please stop helping?
All I want is help from people who will actually help me do this, not stay a slave to your kind of boring life, okay? I need things like "Don't go to this town, after dark, it will be dangerous", or "The distances between towns in the southwest are pretty vast, better bring more supplies on those walks". Instead of things like "You can't do it, give up on your dreams". Get off your high horse and stop crushing dreams when I CAN, IN FACT, DO THIS. If you're going to "help", give me tips, don't tell me I can't do it.
Here's the difference, yeah. If you want to run away for a month, you'll probably do fine.
If you want to run away forever, having no prior experience of homelessness, you won't. Your other thread, you say you need advice for your journey. If it's just that - a journey - you'll have a great time and I'd be happy to help you. If you never plan on coming back, it's not a journey.
You're 19 now. Do you plan on being homeless when you're 50? 60? You won't be as fit, and you'll be more prone to disease.
The thing that makes me seriously doubt your ability is your attitude. In this thread, and just in general. You say you want to run away because you don't want to get a job you hate. Do you not think a better solution is to, I don't know, get a job you don't hate?
First of all, I plan to stay out as long as 2 years, but probably more like a year and 6 months. Just like those other people that did this, except that one guy who's been doing it for 7 years.
Second of all, yes, I am 19 now. If I was 50 or 60 and still living as a drifter, just like many others do (I'm not talking about the homeless people who can't get food because they spend all their money on booze and crack) I would be more physically fit and healthier than any other person my age, because I would have been physically active every day for my whole life thus far. Also, because I will have been out in the elements, exposed to more disease, my immune system will also be way, way stronger.
Well, because of the place in which I live, everyone that I've ever met has been unsuccessful in getting a job they actually don't want to claw their eyes out at. You see, I live in a terrible place. We all do, because in of all the places I've been to, this rule still applies. So my plan was to leave here to set out for a place I'd actually enjoy living in, where I could find a job I didn't hate, something that doesn't require me to live as a part of the system, which is corrupt, and stupid, and produces morons and terrible people.
So it is very possible, if I never found a place that I want to stay, that I could wander forever. And I would be fantastic at this. The question is, though, if this has nothing to do with you, why do you even care whether or not I do?
I believe in myself. Maybe you don't want me to go because you know if you tried it, you wouldn't be able to make it.
They aren't just like you though. They're better than you. Your training consists of walking. You said it yourself.
I'm not saying it's impossible. I'm saying it's impossible, specifically, for you. And you're still here, so at the moment you aren't proving me wrong.
Well, they didn't all have the same training, out of the three examples I put in that post, one guy trained by walking 12 miles once a week for about a year (just like me), that girl did that and weight training (wait, actually more like me, if you remember that weight training I talked about) and that last guy didn't have any training at all, and he's the one still doing it to this day. I don't need training, it just helps.
I don't need you to worry for me cause I'm alright
I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home
I don't care what you say anymore this is my life
Go ahead with your own life leave me alone
I am doing this either way. I don't get why you're trying to stop me still. Read my other thread, and then give advice if you want, but I'm not going to feed the flames any more.
Also, I remembered your unfortunate lack of knowledge about certain fantastic music from the various golden ages. Here are a few good songs you've never heard, you know, as a solution to your lack of culture and general boring life.
P.S. I can get by, you know. It's dangerous, but I know how to protect myself. I can get money by taking up odd jobs in each town I move through. I'm confident I won't end up dead, and even if I did, I'll have died not being controlled by the system we live in, and that's a damn good alternative I'd say.
Thanks man, nobody seems to understand, they call me selfish, stupid, a "dreamer", but you seem to understand. That helps, it really does.
Now, Chris' adventure occurred in early 90's which was an incredibly different time than it is today. Back then someone like Chris could easily get an odd job however in today's environment, as _Gaia_ described, it isn't so easy. Employers want your cellphone number, email, and address, not to mention they would probably be weary of your hygiene. If you are dead set on a nomad lifestyle, by all means go ahead but you have to look into the responsibilities and restrictions that are associated with it.
It's not like I have no experience and that the only part I've thought through is the 'becoming a drifter' part. I've thought through the logistics of it all. I already know how I'll keep clean, fed, and sheltered. It's not a fantasy, I know the reality. I'm not some 'Into the Wild" freak, and I won't be living out in the desert, forest or any "wild" environments, I plan to stay in civilized areas, you know, in civilization.
Also, you guys are only looking at the jobs that require me to be on the grid, but I could go freelance either way and still make money to live. Come on, guys, use your head.
Actually I do need to do something about it, becuase if I don't either get a job or do something like this, I will most definitely end up on the street. I'm afraid my living situation is temporary at the moment.
I didn't read that, mostly because I don't care what you have to say, you are a slave to this world just like everybody else.
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Okay, I'm starting a new thread, if you want to check it out. Seriously, you are more level-headed than me either way. I just need help with a few more things.
I was just trying to make you stop, because you feel the need to "help" me by crushing my dreams. You say that I would most certainly die out there, however people just like me, my age, my level of skill, my level of experience and training, even the exact same gear I have, have done this EXACT SAME THING and survived, thrived, and even made it back into society exactly as they had been. (No "off-switch", huh?). well, it won't work, and I'm doing it, so can you please stop helping?
All I want is help from people who will actually help me do this, not stay a slave to your kind of boring life, okay? I need things like "Don't go to this town, after dark, it will be dangerous", or "The distances between towns in the southwest are pretty vast, better bring more supplies on those walks". Instead of things like "You can't do it, give up on your dreams". Get off your high horse and stop crushing dreams when I CAN, IN FACT, DO THIS. If you're going to "help", give me tips, don't tell me I can't do it.
First of all, I plan to stay out as long as 2 years, but probably more like a year and 6 months. Just like those other people that did this, except that one guy who's been doing it for 7 years.
Second of all, yes, I am 19 now. If I was 50 or 60 and still living as a drifter, just like many others do (I'm not talking about the homeless people who can't get food because they spend all their money on booze and crack) I would be more physically fit and healthier than any other person my age, because I would have been physically active every day for my whole life thus far. Also, because I will have been out in the elements, exposed to more disease, my immune system will also be way, way stronger.
Well, because of the place in which I live, everyone that I've ever met has been unsuccessful in getting a job they actually don't want to claw their eyes out at. You see, I live in a terrible place. We all do, because in of all the places I've been to, this rule still applies. So my plan was to leave here to set out for a place I'd actually enjoy living in, where I could find a job I didn't hate, something that doesn't require me to live as a part of the system, which is corrupt, and stupid, and produces morons and terrible people.
So it is very possible, if I never found a place that I want to stay, that I could wander forever. And I would be fantastic at this. The question is, though, if this has nothing to do with you, why do you even care whether or not I do?
I believe in myself. Maybe you don't want me to go because you know if you tried it, you wouldn't be able to make it.
Well, they didn't all have the same training, out of the three examples I put in that post, one guy trained by walking 12 miles once a week for about a year (just like me), that girl did that and weight training (wait, actually more like me, if you remember that weight training I talked about) and that last guy didn't have any training at all, and he's the one still doing it to this day. I don't need training, it just helps.
I don't need you to worry for me cause I'm alright
I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home
I don't care what you say anymore this is my life
Go ahead with your own life leave me alone
Would you like to know more?