The honorable hobo

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The title sounds more interesting than this post might suggest, but what I mean by that title is: Have you ever had the desire to just say "Screw it! I'm out!" and just go on the road? To travel the country, meet all sorts of people, not have to worry about money or getting a college degree, or even have to worry about living up to society's social standards. It sounds incredible to me, it's really hard to resist that urge, that's all I feel that I want to do with my life, I don't want a 9-5 job, I want to roam freely, to help others when I can. It could be incredibly meditative. They say that you have to lose yourself, in order to find yourself, how else is better to get lost than to just pick a direction and start walking? You could gain SO MUCH knowledge in terms of cultures and people, how to survive and live off what is available. In our modern society, most people would hate me for saying this but, it's what I really want to do. Is this wrong of me? Is it abnormal? I mean, I'm already everything society hates, but is this really that out of the ordinary? Has anyone else had thoughts like this?

OP, why can't you do what you want? Why not it the road and see what happens? What is holding you back?

With the direction I am heading, I wouldn't be surprised if that is where I end up. I think I would be more survivalist than riding the rails, but who knows. I hang in there and do well at times, but some people just aren't meant to fit into society over the long haul. So much what people do is incredibly boring and frustratingly confusing to me that I wonder why I insist on being part of it all.

I felt like doing that when I was a kid & had bed meltdowns with my parents over school

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_6TBTP-EJI[/youtube]
Never wanted to stab thou

Why don't you just "kinda" do it? Take a break from all of your pressures and successes and just travel for a while, you'll be richer for it.....well, maybe not financially.

I meant just do it for a while. As for finances, it's not as expensive as people think to travel. Where would you like to go?

first impression: Christopher McCandless

Check out MidAmerica Shows. It's a large carnival outfit and you can get a job there, and travel all you want. They have a website. Also you could check out some smaller carnivals.

There used to be a publication called the AB (Amusement Business) but it went out of business. There may be something else along those lines now. I don't know.

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I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
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The link to the forum is http://www.rightplanet.proboards.com

Well, if you want to head out on your own without something like a carnival to work for, the first thing you need to do is figure out how you are going to support yourself out there. Are you going to go from place to place and do odd jobs, or work at those temporary day labor places? Is there something you could do anywhere like build websites or something and take your laptop to a place that has wireless to do that? Figure out how you will live and what you will live on is number one. Also make sure you have enough money for food, gas/bus fare, shelter when needed for about a month. Take that with you when you go.

Decide on transportation. Will you be taking your own car or the bus, or do you plan to hitch hike? Decide on your means of getting from place to place. Have that set up.

Where will you sleep? Are you going to stay in cheap hotels, shelters, a tent in some parts of the country, or on the street? Line those things up as well.

Pack for the area you are going to. Just a backpack. Take three changes of clothing and underwear. Hygeine products including something to wash your clothes with in a bathroom sink if need be.

Get a good physical checkup first to make sure you are up to it healthwise. You probably are, but the last thing you need on the road is health complications.

Make sure you have a cellphone with nationwide service so you can keep in touch with family and they can reach you in an emergency. Make sure you tell them the general direction you are going in.

That's what to do if you are going by yourself. Just a few of the basics.

I'd still recommend the carnival. It's very easy to get hired, the work is easy and if you do it well the pay is good. It's an adventure for sure. You see a lot of places and meet a lot of people.

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I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
My forum is still there and everyone is welcome to come join as well. There is a private women only subforum there if anyone is interested. Also, there is no CAPTCHA.

The link to the forum is http://www.rightplanet.proboards.com

Another suggestion would be to hook up with one of the Rainbow Family groups that travel. You would definately be roughing it with them because they usually stay in tents in the woods. However, they are a very fun and welcoming bunch. Rainbow Family has a website with listings of their scheduled gatherings all over the country. Look for one near you and just show up. That's all you do. Anybody can be Rainbow and go with them.

_________________
I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
My forum is still there and everyone is welcome to come join as well. There is a private women only subforum there if anyone is interested. Also, there is no CAPTCHA.

The link to the forum is http://www.rightplanet.proboards.com

Yes! I wanna go to Lisbon (I've been there twice) with nothing except a knapsack with stuff and a katana and hike to Hong Kong, doing good deeds along the way.