(no subject)
I wonder how often it is that someone comes to the point where they want to just say FUCK IT and go off and become an anonymous vagrant.
I think I'm kind of to that point. I actually have been quite a number of times. The tedium of dealing with life and the people in it has become so annoying that on some levels I don't even know if it's all worth the nonsense.
Someone's always trying to screw you. The government is always trying to find new and exciting ways to tax your ass bloody and then use the proceeds to do things that they don't want you to know about. Corporations want you to pay them mostly exorbitant prices for cheaply made products. The criminal element would take everything you have given the chance. Someone's always wanting something from you and make you think you are responsible to KEEP giving them your time and money.
And are they entitled to it? Not really. But it happens, anyway. Is there much you can do about it? Not really.
Or is there? What if you just gave everything up and stopped being a productive member of society? What if you went off and foraged on the edge of civilization and stopped being a cog in that machine? Think of the freedom from responsibility and the tedium of living in the grind of day-to-day life. Every day would bring new challenges and rewards as you learn to live on the fringe of society.
It could be done, too. You wouldn't have to be homeless. Find a place that no one cares about and live there. You might possibly get a job where they pay you under the table, tax-free. Lose your social security card and don't use a car. Build a bike from parts. Become proficient in getting what you want from things that no one wants any more. One man's trash is another man's treasure. And if you can't get it? Learn to do without.
That life is actually tempting right now. Most of us already survive on a day-to-day basis without much going toward our futures. It seems that the more you have, the more you owe. Just when you get your car paid off, it's going to be too old to be useful or efficient, any more. Time to get a newer car.
I can tell you right now that I am not falling into that trap again. I won't be going into hock for another car. I already see what's going on with the one I have and I see what people are going through who have "bought" cars. No thanks. I'll be saving up as soon as I can. I will have a car fund. If I can't fix the one I have I will sell it off and buy something within my means. And by "within my means" I mean "fully paid off with the cash I have right now". The only thing I will be going into hock for henceforth will be a house. Something that will improve in relative value instead of degrading. I am even tempted not to buy anything new, except for the minor items that we use every day.
I read a book once, called Karate is a thing of the spirit. lachlan should remember it. There was a group of people in that book who congregated at an old motel. You know the kind shaped somewhat like a horse-shoe, usually with a pool in the middle? Well they polled their resources and bought this motel. Each person had a room and basic necessities and they shared the kitchen, laundry and other facilities. The old fellow in the book taught a karate class in the bottom of the empty pool. There was a particularly vivid image of a man wo kiaied so hard his glass eye popped out.
Ever since I read that book I have thought it would be a wonderful idea to buy up one of those things and fix it up kind of like a commune with friends who were interested. But instead of having everyone living on top of one another, each person, couple, or unit would have their own area for privacy. There could be some dedicated to child-care/education, some dedicated to maintenance and improvement, and some dedicated to bring in the supplies necessary for living, such as food, sundries, and money for paying off utilities. There might even be someone who goes out and scavenges what is neeed by the community. There could be a kitchen, dining area, laundry, and if you want to get ritzy, maybe even a Library/TV/computer/electronics room. The entertainment/learning area, I guess.
In essence it'd be what I was talking about above on a larger family scale. You could even call yourself a clan or tribe.
The only problem I can see with my scheme is the inevitable friction between people. but then people always screw it up somehow. Throw people into an equation and you screw everything up. There's going to be someone who thinks, "I do more than others here. I bring in more. I should get more space." or "I will just lay about and live off the fruits of others' labors."
That's one reason communism doesn't work. People suck.
But that's my point. People suck and I am honestly tired of dealing with their greedy, lazy, grubbing asses. I want to go and live in such a way as I don't even have to worry about them. Being homeless would have its appeal. Who talks to the homeless guy who is muttering to himself, walking down the street? Did you ever feel guilty for ignoring a vagrant?
I don't. You know why?
Because I have a funny feeling that a lot of them WANT to be ignored! I know for a fact that there is a good portion of the homeless population who are homeless because they loathe responsibility and dealing with money, jobs, and the hassle of day-to-day living. A good measure of them want that freedom and can't even think about putting themselves back into the machine.
Like me taken a step further. That man walking down the street who smells bad and mutters to himself? That could very well have been me. Ant-stomper could have been me!
I think I have been on the verge of it my whole life. I have always been on the cusp of Fuck It Land. I am actually leaning that way now. The fact that I know of at least one person who might accompany on that crazy road just makes it more tempting. I think the only thing holding me away from it is my wife and kids.
Maybe that's a good thing. I might never know.
I think I'm kind of to that point. I actually have been quite a number of times. The tedium of dealing with life and the people in it has become so annoying that on some levels I don't even know if it's all worth the nonsense.
Someone's always trying to screw you. The government is always trying to find new and exciting ways to tax your ass bloody and then use the proceeds to do things that they don't want you to know about. Corporations want you to pay them mostly exorbitant prices for cheaply made products. The criminal element would take everything you have given the chance. Someone's always wanting something from you and make you think you are responsible to KEEP giving them your time and money.
And are they entitled to it? Not really. But it happens, anyway. Is there much you can do about it? Not really.
Or is there? What if you just gave everything up and stopped being a productive member of society? What if you went off and foraged on the edge of civilization and stopped being a cog in that machine? Think of the freedom from responsibility and the tedium of living in the grind of day-to-day life. Every day would bring new challenges and rewards as you learn to live on the fringe of society.
It could be done, too. You wouldn't have to be homeless. Find a place that no one cares about and live there. You might possibly get a job where they pay you under the table, tax-free. Lose your social security card and don't use a car. Build a bike from parts. Become proficient in getting what you want from things that no one wants any more. One man's trash is another man's treasure. And if you can't get it? Learn to do without.
That life is actually tempting right now. Most of us already survive on a day-to-day basis without much going toward our futures. It seems that the more you have, the more you owe. Just when you get your car paid off, it's going to be too old to be useful or efficient, any more. Time to get a newer car.
I can tell you right now that I am not falling into that trap again. I won't be going into hock for another car. I already see what's going on with the one I have and I see what people are going through who have "bought" cars. No thanks. I'll be saving up as soon as I can. I will have a car fund. If I can't fix the one I have I will sell it off and buy something within my means. And by "within my means" I mean "fully paid off with the cash I have right now". The only thing I will be going into hock for henceforth will be a house. Something that will improve in relative value instead of degrading. I am even tempted not to buy anything new, except for the minor items that we use every day.
I read a book once, called Karate is a thing of the spirit. lachlan should remember it. There was a group of people in that book who congregated at an old motel. You know the kind shaped somewhat like a horse-shoe, usually with a pool in the middle? Well they polled their resources and bought this motel. Each person had a room and basic necessities and they shared the kitchen, laundry and other facilities. The old fellow in the book taught a karate class in the bottom of the empty pool. There was a particularly vivid image of a man wo kiaied so hard his glass eye popped out.
Ever since I read that book I have thought it would be a wonderful idea to buy up one of those things and fix it up kind of like a commune with friends who were interested. But instead of having everyone living on top of one another, each person, couple, or unit would have their own area for privacy. There could be some dedicated to child-care/education, some dedicated to maintenance and improvement, and some dedicated to bring in the supplies necessary for living, such as food, sundries, and money for paying off utilities. There might even be someone who goes out and scavenges what is neeed by the community. There could be a kitchen, dining area, laundry, and if you want to get ritzy, maybe even a Library/TV/computer/electronics room. The entertainment/learning area, I guess.
In essence it'd be what I was talking about above on a larger family scale. You could even call yourself a clan or tribe.
The only problem I can see with my scheme is the inevitable friction between people. but then people always screw it up somehow. Throw people into an equation and you screw everything up. There's going to be someone who thinks, "I do more than others here. I bring in more. I should get more space." or "I will just lay about and live off the fruits of others' labors."
That's one reason communism doesn't work. People suck.
But that's my point. People suck and I am honestly tired of dealing with their greedy, lazy, grubbing asses. I want to go and live in such a way as I don't even have to worry about them. Being homeless would have its appeal. Who talks to the homeless guy who is muttering to himself, walking down the street? Did you ever feel guilty for ignoring a vagrant?
I don't. You know why?
Because I have a funny feeling that a lot of them WANT to be ignored! I know for a fact that there is a good portion of the homeless population who are homeless because they loathe responsibility and dealing with money, jobs, and the hassle of day-to-day living. A good measure of them want that freedom and can't even think about putting themselves back into the machine.
Like me taken a step further. That man walking down the street who smells bad and mutters to himself? That could very well have been me. Ant-stomper could have been me!
I think I have been on the verge of it my whole life. I have always been on the cusp of Fuck It Land. I am actually leaning that way now. The fact that I know of at least one person who might accompany on that crazy road just makes it more tempting. I think the only thing holding me away from it is my wife and kids.
Maybe that's a good thing. I might never know.