In modern society it is expected of every citizen to have and maintain a regular work schedule as well as a panoply of organized events which can range from exercise routines, hobby and pragmatic practices to cultural traditions such as celebrating holidays. When stripped of the stability that conforming to time provides, many people transition into a baffled and confused state, rendered helpless to the ambiguity that exists in life outside of routines and schedules.
Personally, I am wildly enamored with and have vehement passion for Chris Mccandless’ philosophy of life: “The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” I believe that the innate nature of humans and their direct roots to animals makes them intrinsically inclined towards a capricious lifestyle, which when forcibly broken down into structure, redundancy and obligation has incredibly devastating effects such as dissatisfaction with life and hopelessness, both of which can manifest as mental illnesses such as depression. When repeatedly bombarded with the prospect of perpetual redundancy day in and day out, people are inevitably going to develop psychological problems.
No animal was biologically engineered to fulfill relentless and repetitious expectations – that’s what computers and robots are conditioned for – not humans or any form of life. Humans were meant to live a lifestyle free of any expectations, predictability or precise ideas of what will happen in the future, that is what true freedom is and every human was born with the intrinsic desire to live a truly free life. This desire is pounded into the ground and manipulated by culture and society until it is merely a small longing that is socially unacceptable to address. It’s actually incredibly sad for me to think about.
I wish to live free of these aspects of modern life as well as free of the comfort and stability that are provided by amenities but at the cost of personal autonomy. Debt, relationships, possessions, permanent residency, all of those are tethers which render you at their mercy, which in itself is a damnation I would like nothing more than to shed myself of. Being reliant on objects, people, circumstances, anything that is outside of the realm of your control is a curse which more than likely will cripple you. Being dependant on such is not necessarily a bad thing either, as deriving substantial benefits from those can be the objective of a person’s life. In fact, it is intrinsic in human nature for a person to found their life on those things, an example being the materialistic culture that exists almost ubiquitously in the world of the bourgeoisie and the tenacious loyalty that resides within a family.
The solution that I’ve envisioned to fulfill this (visceral I will admit) desire of mine is to retreat from my pampered life of comfort (which I feel terribly guilty and unworthy of) and to force myself to live a life of abnegating acquired privileges. I wish to do this by physically abandoning my residency and taking with me only the sheer basics to sustain my health, happiness and obligations. I have no specified destination in mind but the ambiguity of that leaves me with a sense of eagerness. This is all in theory of course and I have much contemplation, planning and organization to do before executing a task/journey of this magnitude.
I can only imagine what it must feel to wake up every day to a different atmosphere and environment, to feel the thrill of wandering and imbibing the beauty of the Earth in all its naked beauty, denuded by the lack of limitations and felt in personal, vulnerable solitude. I’ve been on numerous camping trips before and nothing is as exhilarating as the soulful, passionate connection one feels when exploring the mystic unknown of nature. Soaking in the awesome wonders of an animated forest, embellished with thick curls of coarse boulders and carpeted with rubbery dirt, surrounded by the crisp air and the pulsating warmth of the sun, it’s absolutely beautiful.
I can’t emphasize enough the clarity I feel and the fact that I don’t believe I am oblivious to the dangers that accompany this type of lifestyle. I have little to lose and unfortunately possess a moronic and pompous mindset. Unfortunately I’m the type of person that can only effectively learn a lesson once the consequences of my actions have ensued, akin to lacking the sense to not touch a hot stove, only learning not to after I’ve placed my hand on it. I have nothing to lose and this shall act as my final attempt to live my life “to the fullest” regardless of the risks. What other option do I have? Live within the comfortable circumstances I’ve existed in for my entire life? What sort of existence is that? It’s that very fact that has inclined be towards suicide actually.
I’m a bat shit crazy hippy, who knows.
9 comments
live your life the way you want. dont let anyone stop you. and whats wrong with being a hippy? 🙂
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being miles away from concrete, other people, or anything man-made (minus whatever gear you’re carrying).
I would definitely recommend building a “survival kit,” of the smallest possible mass. There are web resources dedicated to such pursuits.
I’ve always had trouble adapting to the modern society that is filled with schedules and routines that are repeated over and over again for almost no reason. It just really isn’t for me. But to become a vagabond? I don’t know, sounds so lonely. Though if you don’t need people around you, at least not the same ones, then it can work I guess.
I like routines, but hate schedules… or rather, the obligation to adhere to a schedule, versus the consequences of being even slightly tardy, more than once or twice. I mean, fuck, we’re human, having to deal with all kinds of shit on a regular basis, including other problematic humans… shit happens, sometimes you just CAN’T get to work, or whatever, on time. I mean, understand “business,” but there is absolutely no justification for people being so harshly punished for being late to something that isn’t even important, especially when it is not their own fault, but is due to something they were unable to control.
If i were able to control everything around me so well… i wouldn’t Need anyone else to grant me the privilege of minimum-allowable-wage employment. If i could control everything so well, i would simply control myself and others into creating an enormous fortune, and then NEVER submit to ANYONE’S demands for me to abide by their “schedule.”
And i’m about to segue into how much i hate being commanded to shave, and threatened with termination if i don’t comply… and by people who will only offer the minimum legally allowable, gov’t regulate wage, in return for my time, upon which they make outrageous demands, and expect me to be “grateful” for the “privilege…” so i’ll stop here.
Live within the comfortable (but sad) circumstances i’ve existed in for my entire life? What sort of existence is that?
I’ve thought that so many times, that’s not fascinating anymore.
I wish you to have the hope and energy to go through this journey. It’s absolutely stupid to live a life that makes you feel sad, it’s basic istinct to get your stuff and go away..
What do you have to lose? What do i have? What anybody has?
I think i’ll never go away and this is probably the worst decision i’ll ever make.
Look, if you want a place to stay for a couple of days, come to Europe!
I don’t know, your post makes me actually think deeply about my life. It’s all fucking wrong..but then again, how would you survive instead? I heard that hunger is far more painful than sadness, but at least, looking backwards (the only possible way) you can accept yourself, accept your existence
I like your idea, just make sure to finish school first (you’ll always regret this if you don’t), and try going on ‘practice’ trips first, maybe with some other people, so that you can establish some grounding.
It’s a cool dream, but be certain to consider all the details.
Isn’t that a lifestyle that many founders of many religions and faiths follow? To not be burdened by material possessions on the path to spiritual awakening. I like your idea!
Someone’s been at the Skooma again…
Hell, if you throw some Skooma in this mix…hmm it doesn’t sound half bad. Beats sleeping in the snow with a crusty uniform and smelly Bravo No. 2 Gunner eating your lollies (I’ll get you one day you prick…) all while shivering in your booties.
Close country ie “forests” are visually pleasing and enthralling to experience but are a fuckin nightmare to navigate through. Seriously, you’d lose an entire Section within treading 100 metres in. But damned if it don’t feel warry creeping up on the enem-eye while he creeps on you…as birds whistle, leaves rustle and sporadic small arms fire twists this everglade into a broken dream.
I onced questioned the authority of a superior due to their severe lack of…hygiene shall we say. Proud to say, I held that artillery shell over my head with pride, even if my arms were jelly afterwards. Mistakes will be made. Only because I don’t bother reading the fine print.
…and what’s to say you don’t take an arrow to the knee along the way? Erm, well you know what I mean. But yeah, just another adventure I suppose. Anyway, this was a great read, probably even sobered me up a bit. For that, you have my thanks.
i just read this entire thing with such enthusiasm running through my head, “wow did i actually just find someone who shares the same dreams as i do?” when i saw you comment on my post i was delighted and after reading this i see how you are, too. I abosolutely love just taking out my kayak and chilling out on the water. I’ve been planning and researching how to build cabins and cure meat and things like that. i absolutely hate the fact that we are forced into school, that we are forced to eat chemically engineered food, i hate the police force and i hate the corrupt polticians. I take for granted that i live so comfortably, but honestly with a few books, good company, music and a pen and paper, i honestly feel like living the “caveman” life would make me such a happier person. Everyday i dream of packing my things up and going hitchhiking, but no one’s crazy enough to come with me……. ah im so excited, and if everything i just said describes how you feel, then damn i wanna go adventuring with you