Mind_Storm

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/wutzke76.html


13 Steps To A Life of Freedom

My husband and I have lived in the desert and mountain back country of Arizona since 1988. We own no home and just about all of our possessions fit into a ‘67 VW Bus. Simplicity is our key to freedom and happiness. We consider ourselves hunters and gatherers of the modern world.

We subject ourselves to survival scrapes and take backpacking trips into areas that would rip the skin off the bare legs and arms of the city dwelling, green worshipping, fashion plated backpackers in khaki shorts who follow maintained trails through the “wilderness.” We have become experienced in the construction, usefulness, and practicality (or sometimes impracticality) of crude survival tools such as fire bows, deadfalls, and sagebrush shelters.

We have devised original, unique, and efficient means of collecting and processing wild foods by gathering and experimenting with what nature provides. Leaping the bounds of food prejudice, we dine regularly on such fine cuisine as bear roast and barrel cactus, jackrabbit with mesquite dressing and blue dicks. We have enjoyed barbecued beaver and nopales (prickly pear pads) with chocolate covered tunas (prickly pear fruits) for dessert. We have consumed just about every animal that swims, flies, runs, creeps, or crawls and is legal to hunt in Arizona. That old trickster, Mr. Coyote, is the only creature to take gastronomical revenge upon us—an experience we do not want to repeat. In addition to preparing their meats, we enjoy tanning the animals’ hides, from the discarded elk skins we scavenge during elk season to the kangaroo rats we make into silly finger puppets.

We live out of doors. We cook, eat, bathe, and sleep out beyond the walls that blind and restrain. This has allowed us to know the animals, insects, plants, ambience, and sky as few others do. A teacher true to the heart, I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with others who have similar interests. My hope is to help them progress so that they can make their own mistakes instead of plagiarizing mine. Therefore, for the past nine years, I have been recording many of our observations, experiences, adventures, misadventures, thoughts, experiments, recipes, successes, and failures in the form of journals, photographs, sketches, and collections.

It is difficult to realize how much we have learned over the past decade. It seems we have always known what we know now. It is not until I look back to my first journal that I flush with embarrassment at our ignorance. But the learning never ends. Each day presents a new puzzle or discovery so that we feel we have caught but mere glimpses of the profound cruelties, complexities, and capriciousness of Mother Nature.

In order that you may achieve your own version of freedom and happiness, you might consider the following suggestions for simplifying your life.

1. Dispose of, give away, or sell off everything that is not useful, or anything of mere sentimental (we call this semi-mental) value such as knickknacks, souvenirs, and that dearly beloved whatchamacallit. Toss out all those things you “might be able to use someday” such as wood and metal scraps, junk, old spare parts, defunct equipment, that machine whose sole purpose for the past five years has been to keep the garage floor well greased, unfinished projects, and any unnecessary books, clothes, pots, pans, dishes, and furniture.

2. Do not buy anything you cannot afford. Do not take out any loans. Cut up all of your credit cards. Close out your checking accounts and use cash or money orders for all transactions.

3. Do not keep any animals. They only tie you down and cost you money. However, if animals are a must with you, have useful animals—deadbeat pets belong in the stew pot.

4. Do not own a vehicle which has been deliberately designed to be impossible for you to maintain or repair. Do not own any piece of machinery which is smarter than you are.

5. Get rid of toys that you do not use nor enjoy nearly as much as you think you should. Bid adieu to such things as the motor bike you rarely ride or the exercise machine you use as an obstacle course to the couch. Even if you are actually using one now, it will become obsolete because exercise is the natural result of mountains, valleys, snow, open spaces, trees, and children. Sell the motor home and luxury liner you use two weeks out of the year—try a tent and a canoe or row boat and stay away from campgrounds.

6. Downsize your living quarters. You can waste your entire life away planning, building, cleaning, repairing, and adding on to a house. This not only makes you subject to government controls and hassles but also restricts your mobility. Put that time and effort into the enjoyment of your children, your spouse, the countryside, hunting and fishing, horseback riding, or whatever thrills you.

7. No one can deny that children complicate life but most people find them irresistible so I will not try to talk you out of having them. If, however, you are young, do not be overly eager to become a parent. If or when you have children, listen to and observe them. They are full of vital information such as where grandma is most ticklish and they are “simple” wise. They can tell you: A picnic in the woods is far superior to a fancy restaurant dinner. Mud pies are more interesting than statistics pies. Time is more precious than money. Egg tosses are more fun if the eggs are putrefied. Life is a continual exploration. Trails are for followers and conformists. Your butt is for sliding. Bees like to pop balloons. And one big black beetle in the hand is worth 20 television documentaries about insects.

8. Do not work a full-time job. If you presently have a great paying job, after simplifying your life and reducing your expenditures to a minimum’s minimum, you might want to work for a year or two saving every penny you can possibly save and then quit. When you need money, make things to sell for cash or barter; find odd jobs or seasonal contract work. If you do contract work, keep it simple. If after three months you have enough money to last the rest of the year, do not take another job simply because it is available. It is time to go play.

9. Stop trying to function within the system. Do not try to run a business unless it is something very minor and involves no government intervention (a virtual impossibility these days). Homeschool your children. Do not join a union. Do not work for the government, accept any government monies, or participate in any government programs. Once you buy into their game, you have to play by their rules which are anything but simple. If you think you stand to gain something by entering into partnership with the government, just ask any trapper what it has profited the animal who has taken the bait. Acting against one’s conscience is also a complicated, tangled web. The government acquires money through legalized extortion. But, unless you allow the government to determine your values, you probably still live by the old-fashioned adage that stealing is wrong. Therefore, do not let your greed convince you that it is okay to rob your neighbor simply because the government is holding the gun to his head.

10. Avoid clocks, radios, telephones and, most of all, television like the plague.

11. Never forget your own mortality. This will make every minute precious. You will feel the urgency of living each moment to its fullest, of enjoying your family rather than wasting time bickering, and of doing what you want to do now instead of some surrealistic time in the ethereal future. Your values will change and you will transform from a sedentary haver-observer to an active experiencer-doer.

12. Marry your best friend.

13. Stop trying to be someone else’s notion of success.

If much of this sounds painful, you have not come to terms with the fact that you do not own things, they own you. The proof of this is in the pain. However, when you discover how much more free time you have, how much more relaxed you are, how much more fun you are having, how much happier you are, how much more likeable you are...the list goes on, it will suddenly occur to you that you have not simplified enough. We have less than everybody we know and yet my in-laws do not give us Christmas presents because, “It is hard to buy for someone who has everything.” I do not know if they realize the profundity of their own words, but once you do, you will be giggling with delight all the way to the dumpster and... FREEDOM!

Phaenx

Hahhahahaha, someone living out of a car giving me lifestyle advice, freedom? Go away bitch, or my dog will eat you.

Hey I got one: 1. GET A JOB! hahaha!!

__________________
"I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

lurkette

I wish I had the courage to live like this, but frankly it doesn't sound like a very liveable life. There has to be some happy medium between being a robot in a cul-de-sac and going back to caveman behavior. Frankly, I'd be toast the minute my inhaler ran out. There are reasons people don't live like this any more.

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"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."

- Anatole France

ratbastid

True freedom come from accepting what's so and giving up the desire to fix or change things.

This gal wants to fix and change just about everything.

Free? Can you say "Trapped by your ideals"? Or, "Incapable of seeing fulfillment in others where their lifestyle diverges from yours"? Sounds like a one-way-ticket to miserable self-righteousness, to me.

But hey. Whatever floats her boat.

cjgallen

eBay is taking care of #1 and #5 (and it's pretty much #8)
Got #4 covered

I'll have to work on some of the other ones, and there's a couple I'll just ignore.

ziadel

I'm with you man. Doing the exact opposite of others doesnt make you free, it just makes you a poser.
this chick sounds less free than most prison inmates

Holo

There is no universal set of rules that is going to work for all ppl...we are all just too diverse. I can follow maybe 3 or 4 things in this but the whole list is just not me. Another thing to ask her: If everyone did what you did how would you get gas or get your van fixed? Diversity isn't just good in regard to color.

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I happen to like the words "fuck", "cock", "pussy", "tits", "cunt", "twat", "shit" and even "bitch". As long as I am not using them to describe you, don't go telling me whether or not I can/should use them...that is, if you want me to continue refraining from using them to describe you. ~Prince

Johnny Rotten

It's difficult to give credence to what she says, if taking her path apparently means becoming a self-righteous killjoy...

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"The idea that money doesn't buy you happiness is a lie put about by the rich, to stop the poor from killing them." -- Michael Caine

raeanna74

The basis of the list is idealistic and a good goal. It's totally unachievable in my opinion. If you were to follow the whole list you would be almost completely isolating yourself from others. We as humans need one another. There are so many studies of infants and children and how they learn and develop better when they are exposed to positive human contact. I don't think there is any sense in reducing ourselves to simply survival. By being a functioning part of society we are fulfilling our lives, encouraging, emotional growth in ourselves, and assisting others. We as humans and especially Americans need to be aware of our materialistic mindset. We strive so hard to gain more and more things, money, investments, cars, boats, toys, and bigger houses that we forget about each other. We forget to respect others in our race to keep up with the Joneses. We forget our children and let other people raise them with their values - not ours.

Working in day care I see first hand of how this materialistic mindset affects children. I had one boy who got everything he wanted. As a result he was spoiled, mean-spirited, brat. I have 3 other children from the same family - the mother only works occaisionally and tries to stay home as much as possible. They have less materially and since there are 3 of them they have to share more but those children are more happy and content and willing to share than many others I see.

It's not a matter of what you have or don't have. I think it's a matter of being thankful for what you have. I wouldn't move into a van to live - the conditions would not be as sanitary and I would not be as protected from the elements. I don't intend to work myself to the bone in pursuit of a bigger better home. We have a moderate sized 2 bedroom apartment and we are content with this. It's in a safe part of town for my daughter to play outside.

The Utopia that this woman desires is unattainable for every human. People need fulfillment in jobs or work and we need human contact. I will satisfy myself with going camping every now and then with my tent and sleeping bags.

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"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama
My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

ARTelevision

quote:
"...giggling with delight all the way to the dumpster..."

this whole diatribe is so reminiscent of the spiel Charlie Manson's dumpster diving girlfriends/murderesses dished out that it's downright eerie.

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create evolution

Spidey

/me wishes

guthmund

I think there are a lot of good ideas there. They're just trapped in the "granola content."

Getting rid of non-essential stuff is wonderful idea. Having spent most of my teenage years moving from house to house (I swear my mother is part gypsy) I can atest that moving a house full of bric-a-brac is exhausting. Since moving out on my own, I find that the less stuff you have, the less stuff you have to move and the less stuff you have to keep clean.

Likewise, I like the idea of not buying anything I can't afford. I had credit cards when I was just out of high school and that was a big mistake. My philosophy today is "If I can't afford it, I don't get it." It gives me something to look forward to and more importantly I'm not being charged interest on it.

Downsizing your place isn't a bad idea either and neither is the last one "stop trying to be someone else's notion of success."

The rest of it I am indifferent to and the one about avoiding television physically hurt me

She's got a lot of good ideas in there, but only if you care to look.

I'm sorry for interrupting....you can go on making fun of her....here I'll start.

"I got a list for ya 1-Stay off the drugs!!!! 2- Get a job welfare momma! Take a bath, silly hippie!!!! All hail the market system!!!!!!" et cetera et cetera....

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No signature. None. Seriously.

gwr_gwir

after reading through this list, I'm reminded greatly of Jack Kerouac's book "On the Road".

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Being intelligent is not a felony. But most societies evaluate it as at least a misdemeanor.
-- Robert Heinlein

rogue49

1. Nah...I like my stuff
2. Will do...slowly cleaning it up
3. Nah...I like animals
4. Check
5. Check
6. Check, just did it.
7. Nah...I love children...I am one already
8. Nah...I enjoy the stability
9. Yes, I avoid govt. involvement
10. I do when I'm off
11. Check
12. Will do
13. Check

ARTelevision

yes, it can be stated that there are some good ideas embedded within the context of nonsense.

thanks.

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create evolution

sub zero

Badass, my computer gets to stay!

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Did you Google it yet?

Join the TFP Typing team!!

Minx

Ummmm ya, but the internet is okay with you?

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You've been a naughty boy....go to my room!

Rubyee

I think that, in theory, having to live without materials would be great. But, in reality, we do. If we had never lived with these things, it would be different. But since our society was built around and has grown because of technology, nope, not gonna happen. They can move to India and be happy. Although, I am going to marry my best friend, just waiting for him to ask.

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You don't know from fun.

WhoaitsZ

i don't think my best friend would like me marrying him. i can't say i'd be happy either.

Journeyman

I can *maybe* see proposing to somebody, and then doing this whole deal with them for 2-3 years, and if I haven't cannibalized her by the end of it, marry her. That'd probably be a good way to make a marriage last forever: Pre-marital foundation, solid as a rock.

Fire

okay, so most of us around here, liberal or conservative, seem to be leery of the involvenment of the "man" in our lives- granted, I agree that I want as little gov. involvement in mi vida as possible- the downside is that this person is so hung up on "freedom" that they gave up all sembelences of a modern life- no thanks, I prefer my freedom to have comfort as well- granted, there are some good ideas, but quite a bit excessive... To me , freedom was buying my first mortgage free house.... with cash......(he who finds the loopholes is king)

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Thought the harder, Heart the bolder,
Mood the more as our might lessens

tangledweb

Nice philosophy, but not easy to take seriously as it is posted. If she was living her own philosophy, she wouldn't be sitting at a computer screen. Unless of course she was waiting on the Road-Kill Stew to be ready.

I haven't seen many vans in the AZ desert with telephone and internet service either...

Johnny Rotten

Well, I'm assuming she wrote it on papyrus with a stick dipped in berry ink and sent it via carrier pigeon to a middle-man, since it sounds like she'd sooner gnaw her own hands off rather than touch something as sinister as a laptop computer

i8one2

Within the wall of words I have read here, my freedom came from the fact that I have found the one key element that had been lacking my whole life and I will tie, tan her hide, hold and dominate her until my last breath, my subby galaxygirl.

As for Stuff, I have been without, lived in wilderness, been a bum, a drunk and smelled the wilderness.
So from my over 4 decades of living...moderation has become my motto and lifestyle of choose.
After all, why make a leather jack rabbit flogger, when you can buy one and use it right away? A Fur pelt, only takes me two hours of work to acquire, and where am I going to find the latex and satin things I need to fulfill my desires of cross dressing when it hits me? Yup! I prefer the urban jungle.

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LEATHER, LATEX and LACE "SSC"
"Nothing That Gives Pleasure is Bad"

Quality is for those who know
what they want and are at peace with what they have.

"S/M is about emotion; the erotic tension between my impulse toward something and my resistance against it."-- Virginia Barker