prathmann

He was hardly self-sufficient considering that when he ran out of clean clothes he'd gather up the dirty ones and walk from his cabin on Walden pond to his mother's house so she could do his laundry.

SpeshulEd 

He pretty much did exactly what you had originally posted about. I mean, he did start with something, but he certainly works only enough to fund what he really loves.

These days, I believe all of his instagram advertising probably generates enough money to allow him to travel constantly.

It's definitely something I'd consider doing if I was single.

Anyway, it's a great article, and his instagram is fun to follow too.

John Prolly, who created The Radavist, has a similar story. He started photoblogging about fixed gears, now the guy seems to spend all day riding bikes and taking photos across the south west.

And Bicycle Nomad too, who is one of the nicest guys I've ever met.
https://iambicyclenomad.com/

Sharpshin

Sounds like you don't need our advice. But starting with food, you forage wild stuff, grow it, earn it, or accept charity, I dunno where your examples fell along that continuum.

BigAura

If you're under thirty and don't have kids or any serious mental illness, I say go-for-it. It'll probably be an amazingly enlightening experience OR a horrible one. Either way you'll learn something. I recommend keeping a journal or posting online your experiences. Best of luck to ya!

pdlamb

Rather than toss out everything I've earned since high school, I could build on it:


Arrange for time off from my job.
Gather camping and cycling equipment.
Tune up one of my bikes.
Go out for a tour.
Enjoy myself.
Eat, ride, camp or check in at a motel using a credit card or savings.
No need to stop and work to earn money for food, or clothes, or replacement equipment..
Instead, stop and enjoy what interests me, what I find on the road, without worrying about the inherent limitations of being "free."
Go back home at the end of the tour, tell friends, family, and co-workers about my adventure.
Enjoy life while saving up more leave time for the next adventure.
Watch the antics of youngsters who've just discovered "Walden."

shelbyfv

But even then, starting 4 threads a day on BF is possible!!

Sharpshin

So essentially, Thoreau weren't too far away from being the Nineteenth Century equivalent of blogging out of his mom's basement.

Machka 

I gave you the better solution in my very first post.

Get a job ... make money ... live frugally ... save money.

Rollfast

+1000 It takes lots of money to live on nothing.

lightspree

Thanks for sharing that perspective with us.

There are additional perspectives as well.

(And I don't mean that in a sarcastic way.)

Squeezebox

But are any of the other perspectives functional, physically healthy, or mentally healthy?

lightspree

Thanks for this perspective as well. It would be true in some cases. In others, not so much.

I've lived on very little at times. It wasn't expensive to do so, and wasn't particularly bad. I've known others who've done it as well. It really depends on how it's done, and what you make of it.

saddlesores

forget those losers. we all know the lightspree can do it better.

so show us. now.
dump yer stuff. now.
leave. now.

lightspree

Some are...why not? Some are probably more so. Surely you don't see that as the only way?

Machka 

And this is another perspective ...

Harvest Trail ? Backpacker & Seasonal Worker Guide
https://jobsearch.gov.au/harvest


But you'd have to have the money to get to the first job.


Incidentally, do you also go by the name tandempower?

lightspree

Alexander Supertramp knew how to challenge himself with adventures, until he made a blunder at the end. Up to that point, he had some wonderful adventures.

Sean Penn, Jon Krakauer, and .any others were captivated. And not just by the ending or dying. The living also.

RIP Christopher McCandless.

And Whitman's writings also strike a real chord. There is something there, in both....

lightspree

(not tandempower, though have toured on a tandem)

jon c. 

Don't it always seem to go,
That you don't know what you've got
‘Til it's gone

Machka 

If you're not him .... you and he would get on very well.

DropBarFan

Heh, I'm sort of surprised by the negative responses. With an able body & gift of gab it seems possible. Plenty of folks start from zero money & make their way ahead honestly.

Machka 

For example ... ??

Happy Feet

These types of discussions kinda bug me. For all the posturing and pontificating they just seem to be no risk, no effort,intellectual navel gazing laziness because the op really has no intention of doing what they are talking about. Blah blah lofty ideals blah blah. It's the same as squeezy's goings on about the greatness of custom bicycles he will never buy.

Give me someone who talks about a week long supported tour on a cheap bike any day. At least it's based on something they really did or intend to do.

However humble the effort, I can respect the doing far more than the talking about the doing of others.

79pmooney

Leave from Portland, OR. Nudity is not illegal. Obscenity yes, but nudity no. The naked bike ride is entirely legal. So are the nude bystanders. First job in a strip club?

Ben

Machka 

+1!


And as for my suggestions (see my first post here) ... Rowan and I have actually done that. Voice of Experience.

Siu Blue Wind

Is this really necessary?