Being a HOBO?

mystical woodsman

mystical woodsman

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Ok, so my time is coming close. I plan to leave Florida soon, and right now, I don’t have anywhere to go so I am going to have to rough it. I know some of you will think I am nuts, stupid or something else I will not say… Whatever. I feel being on this peninsula WTSHTF, and/or martial law is declared for some ungodly reason; it will get real ugly here. For one thing, it is heavily populated all over pretty much and there is not enough wildlife to sustain the amount of flesh that is presently occupying this region. I plan to travel up North, perhaps to Vermont.

I chose Vermont because 77% of the land is wilderness and they have NO law against CC without a permit, so even if you did have one, it still wouldn’t matter because you’re allowed to carry regardless, just like Alaska (the ONLY two states in America that are like that).

I have been looking on Goggle Earth, and I saw a nice patch of land about one mile East of Barre, Vermont. Don’t ask me why I am considering that area, as I don’t really know myself.

I heard on the survival blog (www.survivalblog.com) that Rawles suggested any city on the East cost is a bad idea as a place to either set up a “retreat” or basically to just rough it in case of any major event. I don’t know how to feel about that… The reasons for my journey are complicated so I won’t go into detail, but I do naturally wonder, how the Hell can I be inconspicuous with a huge ALICE pack, sleeping bag with Thermarest and butt-pack strapped to my skinny butt? I’ve seen a few hobo’s before, and I always wonder, they have got to have some gear. They have got to have some extra clothes and what have you for those cold nights when they can’t find a shelter. What do they do with it? Do they just hide it? How do some of them look clean? I guess there is a big difference between a rural hobo and a city rat, if you know what I mean. But how would one get by, homeless and live near mountainous woodlands?

How do they get by in the winter? Do they travel South for a spell? I bought a straight razor and some hygiene “tools” in that department so I don’t have to depend on always buying mach 3’s, but what about food? I do have a handgun in case I come across some nutcase in the woods, and of course for the occasional four legged critter that looks at me with a twitch in its eye, but I can only imagine what would happen if I am caught on someone’s property with it, and much less caught in the middle of skinning a rabbit or something on their land. I am sure they more than likely would just tell me to get the HECK off their property, but what if they try to hold me at gunpoint while they call the Law? I know what I would do, but it just sucks considering the fact that you really can’t just live free anymore without being on someone’s land anymore these days and getting in trouble for it.

Again, I know some of you will think I am a crackpot or utopia daydreamer, but whatever. Does anyone else think this stuff? Is anyone else prepared as I am to up and leave at a moments notice with your “bug-out bag?” Are you prepared and/or have a plan? How would one do this other than the obvious? God, I can just see it now. People will look at me walking down the road trail and think, “look at that crazy looking guy… he sure looks dangerous.” People would automatically know by looking at my gear that I am prepared to sleep in the woods, and if I am near their property, I am sure I will have quite a few eyeballs on me most of the time perhaps. Without having a secure place to stay or keep my gear, rest and shower, I would really have to “rough it.”

When I moved down here a few years ago, I tried to hitch hike. I wasn’t dressed all Rambo-like, but I did have my ALICE pack by my feet and I literally stood at the same place for four hours until it got dark. NOBODY dared pick me up, and that is understandable to a degree, but WOW. The times we live in, eh? Nobody trusts anyone anymore. You could live for years being a few feet from the next house and not even know the names of your neighbors or what they do for a living. How’s that for a concept?

Anyways, I am just rambling. What do you think?
 
Are you going to do odd jobs? Are you just the type who has wanderlust and can only settle in an area for a short time? Hmmm, this is very interesting to me....I'm sure to have more questions.
 
I'm paraphrasing, but I remember a quote that someone once said: "to have adventure, you have to put yourself where you can find it".

Good luck on your walkabout MW!
 
It is illegal to live off the land anymore and you are crazy for trying but I wish I had the nuts to do it myself sometimes. The idea of breaking away from the daily crap that ties one to a certain spot is a fun fantasy for many of us. A while back someone had asked about bugging out in a shtf situation and someone else replied with the question of why wait for the world to fall apart? If you want to go off grid, go. Seemed like good advice. If you are in a situation where you can break away, then go for it. Keep in mind it will NOT be as fun as we all dream especially when you are fishing for food and a game warden asks to see your fishing license or when you need to explain why you have two deer hanging instead of the 1 allowed by the game laws. Personally I am starting to come to the conclusion that while possible, an end of the world as we know it situation just isn't gonna happen. Too many rich,powerful types out there that are dependant on the rest of us doing the same ole same ole and they will do whatever it takes to keep the stores open and the highways moving. Heck true survival is actually an easy concept but staying employable throughout one's lifetime.....now THAT takes skill. Today most "civilized" folks have been too far seperated from daily suffering to ever allow life as it used to be to return. Course I am in the middle somewhere. I like the idea of being able to do it all on my own but then again,ice cubes in summer are nice too :) I believe that in a SHTF situation it will be strong communities that survive not strong individuals. Same as what you see today. Now if you can find say a friendly farmer in Vermont to let you squat on an unused corner of land near water or such you just may be able to pull off your plan. Try gaining some skills that you can barter as you move around too. Even without "stuff", skills are valuable :) Be willing to work a few days on a farm and most folks would let you set up camp for a few. Also check with local churches. They would be a good source for finding friendlies. As to my own family being prepared to leave....I think we are. About 14 years ago my wife and I moved from NY to Oregon with what we could fit inside a Chevy S10 with a cap and about $600 cash and no credit cards. We had the basics but no furniture or heaps of electronics. That exoperiance gave us the power/experiance of starting with basically nothing and still making a good run at it. If circumstances dictated that we had to do it again, I think her and I would be strong enough to do it again :) To tell the truth I would probably take LESS stuff the 2nd time around. It would be a helluva garage sale before leaving though as we made a good move way back when :)
 
Christopher McCandless: Happiness only real when shared.

but good luck on your quest, i have a friend that has been slumming it, living off of dumpster nuts etc here in canada for the last 4 years!

I'm just wondering about your sanity. have you been in the woods, BY YOURSELF, for a prolonged time? it is int as easy as it looks...

i solomley believe that mankind needs comradary to survive. but if your okay with it then go nuts man. i just don't want to hear on the news about another Chris mccandles...
 
Yeah but unlike mccandles he will actually know what hes doing.
Some find happiness in solitude but yes I dont think I could be along for long without atleast a dog.
 
I think your idea is great, but I think your location should be reconsidered. Your going to encounter a lot less opposition in a place like Montana or Idaho squatting in millions of acres of national forest/blm land. As attractive as Vermont might seem its still in the east and about the size of a western county. My .02.
 
I gave you some of this advice before, but it bears repeating.
I did exactly this when I was young. I didn't know what I wanted to do, and basically hated large populations.

My first advice is to decide what you REALLY want. From the sounds of it, by wanting to go to a certain place, you're not so much a hobo as a tramp.

DEFINITIONS:
HOBO: one who moves from place to place, does work to pay his own way.
TRAMP: one who does not move around, but works to pay his own way
BUM: one who neither moves around nor works.

I guess you could call the rural tramp a "mountainman".

I'd recommend squatting somewhere near a large-ish town, and near one of the outer bus stops. Either take temp jobs (temp factory work is usually unskilled labor,a nd not hard to find), or work day labor. Use that to buy food, toiletries, etc. You don't have to work 40 hrs a week every week. Your expenses will be quite low. I used to work a temp job or day labor until I had as much money as I wanted, and then some, then took some time to enjoy what there was to enjoy in the area, then take the rest of the cash and move on.

Dress nice. I don't mean a suit and tie. But wear Carhartts/Dockers, etc. I.E. look like a middle class hiker/college student. You'll get a much better reception. I used to wear Carhartt pants and work shirts (they are buttoned-down and have pockets. They look nice and are tough as hell, good for work), and when people wondered what someone "like me" was doing out and about with an old Army pack (I used a Lg ALICE as well), my story was that I was a social sciences major in college and was doing research for my thesis paper on the "road man" phenonenon. The college student cover was good as it explained the nice-ish clothes that mommy and daddy probably bought me and the surplus pack which was probably all I could afford.

Be clean and neat. Not looking like a bum makes people give you a much better reception. Even if all you can do is wash with a gallon jug of water and some soap (and a shave), it's better than an unkempt beard and stinking. A note on beards. A mustache/beard/goatee that is well groomed is actually a plus because people realize that it takes a lot of work to properly maintain a neat looking one. It's also a morale boost to keep yourself neat and clean.

I can't emphasise how good it is to have some cash on you. If people pick you up for a ride or whatnot, take some money out and offer them some for gas. It's a good gesture in these days and further reinforces that you're not a bum. Plus it gives you laundry money, and money to buy food (don't be a freeloader). Often churches or shelters will let you come in once a day and shower. It helps to attend the church.

Between going to church and working part time, I satisfied my need for human contact. Don't underestimate this need. As much as I get bitey-scratchy if I'm around people too long, I still need some contact.

Don't overlook busses for travel. Modern hobos (there's even a club that has a yearly rendezvous for modern hobos) don't train-hop much anymore, nor do they hitchhike too much. Ever ride a Greyhound from city to city and see the people with backpacks? They may be older yuppy-ish looking, or young kids with an iPod earphones permanently attached to their head. You might be surprised at how many are modern hobos.

Have valid ID. An unexpired driver's license, social security card and a VISA checkcard or something really smoothes things along should you need to produce ID (and you will, like it or not). It also makes things a little easier than when I was a wanderer. You can go into just about any library and get internet access. If you have your checkcard, you can order gear over the 'net. Go into a UPS store and rent a box (that gives you a "street address") for a short time, order your stuff, and you're there. Much easier than trying to find something local that will work.

I really don't think it's possible to live like a mountainman from the 1800s anymore. But you can live a lifestyle that doesn't have you tied down, you can see a lot of the country, meet a lot of interesting people, etc.

There's some downsides. Loniness for one. It's a hard life for another. Also expect to be considered dangerous if people find out you're homeless. Unfortunately many who do what you're doing are on drugs and/or mentally unstable, and ARE dangerous. You will be seen as dangerous by the sheeple and the police. Then there are those that prey on the homeless because basically no one cares about you, and they don't look too hard into it if something happens to you. Be prepared to be treated like a third class citizen. It was remarkable when I did it people usually couln't tell I was homeless because I kept clean, had cash, etc. But when they found out, even those that were "friends" all of a sudden distanced themselves.
 
Vermont might be a good idea, but remember, despite the hangings on of some of the quant gun laws of the past, it is the playground of liberals. Look before you leap, as far as the politics go. But this is not the political forum, and I will stay within the scope of your question. The Long trail runs from Canada, all the way to the southern border. It takes about a month to hike. The southern half of the long trail is part of the Appalachian trail system. It is common to see people in Backpacks all along the trail, so you may not seem that out of place. In the summer, picking up jobs is not too hard, and you might luck out and land a job at a ski resort in the winter. Ski Bum jobs don't pay much, but they put a warm roof over your head and you can network for summer jobs. If you are smart and just a little thrifty, you can do quite well and make enough to get you through the summer especially if you primarily want to live off the land. Although you can still easily get away from people in vermont, they are really never all that far away. One thing to look out for on the trail though, is Illegals. Hikers are being hassled by Rangers and the like because the Long Trail is being used to traffic refugees. You might be stopped and searched.
 
I was with you up until the point you started talking about being on someone elses land with clear disregard for it being private property.

Anyhow - I have to really respece someone that had the stones to try something like that. It's something most people secretly dream about and never ever do. Take me for instance, I just want to move to a different state, but then you start thinking about family, work, etc. It just makes it seem like more work then it is worth in the long run. Is it possible.. YES, will we do it... probably never. Why? I have no effin clue.

So I guess through my rambling I'm really saying I envy you and good luck my friend.
 
Bill Siegle said:
It is illegal to live off the land anymore and you are crazy for trying but I wish I had the nuts to do it myself sometimes. The idea of breaking away from the daily crap that ties one to a certain spot is a fun fantasy for many of us. A while back someone had asked about bugging out in a shtf situation and someone else replied with the question of why wait for the world to fall apart? If you want to go off grid, go. Seemed like good advice. If you are in a situation where you can break away, then go for it. Keep in mind it will NOT be as fun as we all dream especially when you are fishing for food and a game warden asks to see your fishing license or when you need to explain why you have two deer hanging instead of the 1 allowed by the game laws. Personally I am starting to come to the conclusion that while possible, an end of the world as we know it situation just isn't gonna happen. Too many rich,powerful types out there that are dependant on the rest of us doing the same ole same ole and they will do whatever it takes to keep the stores open and the highways moving. Heck true survival is actually an easy concept but staying employable throughout one's lifetime.....now THAT takes skill. Today most "civilized" folks have been too far seperated from daily suffering to ever allow life as it used to be to return. Course I am in the middle somewhere. I like the idea of being able to do it all on my own but then again,ice cubes in summer are nice too :) I believe that in a SHTF situation it will be strong communities that survive not strong individuals. Same as what you see today. Now if you can find say a friendly farmer in Vermont to let you squat on an unused corner of land near water or such you just may be able to pull off your plan. Try gaining some skills that you can barter as you move around too. Even without "stuff", skills are valuable :) Be willing to work a few days on a farm and most folks would let you set up camp for a few. Also check with local churches. They would be a good source for finding friendlies. As to my own family being prepared to leave....I think we are. About 14 years ago my wife and I moved from NY to Oregon with what we could fit inside a Chevy S10 with a cap and about $600 cash and no credit cards. We had the basics but no furniture or heaps of electronics. That exoperiance gave us the power/experiance of starting with basically nothing and still making a good run at it. If circumstances dictated that we had to do it again, I think her and I would be strong enough to do it again :) To tell the truth I would probably take LESS stuff the 2nd time around. It would be a helluva garage sale before leaving though as we made a good move way back when :)
Click to expand...

I"m jealous.
 
I guess I have been a Semi Hobo for most of my life. For the last 40 years I have had no regular job. I have been a Handi-man, Fishing and Hunting guide, sold sporting goods from home and a dozen other part time tasks. I can't handle time clocks or hordes of people. However I have a small farm in the boonies of the Dakota's. That gives me a place that I can always go if TSHTF. You make choices in life, I never got rich but other than my family, there have never been many strings attached. If you make a choice like I did or like you are considering, you will have to live with the results. There are up and down sides to everything.
 
My cousin moved to Northern Vermont. She built a house out of dirt bricks (took a class on how to do it), and lived a couple years in the middle of nowhere... The only person she would see was a guy that would show up out of the woods now and than, dressed in buckskins and carrying a musket (my kind of guy!)..
 
Well Cpl Punisment, and Bill Segal went over it pretty good, I would listen to what they have to say.

I would like to comment on Private property however.

If I were you I would go to town hall(?) and find out were all the property lines are and public areas in the area you plan on spending the most time. If you plan on staying in a public wilderness area that is bordered by 3 or 4 large properties, take note, and find out were the houses are on the property.

Then, simply ask for permission. If you present yourself well, perhaps before you start your hobo lifestyle, the property owners will likely have no problem giving you permission. You could give them the college story, or just tell them the truth, promise to keep a clean camp when you are on there property, and make note that you won't be permanently camping on there property, but simply passing through from time to time in the far corners of there property.

Try to get written permission, this will help if you are questioned by authority, an unknowing relative, or if ownership of the property changes hands. If they agree you could also ask for additional permission to hunt on there property during the proper seasons. Make sure to tell them that you would only take whatever you need and no more, and that you will stay within the hunting laws and seasons.

I think you will be surprised at how easy it will be to get permission from rural folk. Especially if you are dressed well, smell good, and promise to go unnoticed. If you keep with your promise, and create a good relationship with the landowners, it will help you in the future to get a recommendation/reference for other property you hope to get permission to pass through. It wouldn't hurt to stop by and offer a gift of thanks for the use of there property every few months or so.

P.S. Good luck and I hope it goes well for you, that is something I've always dreamed of doing, and probably would if I weren't married.
 
Wow, thanks for all the replies! I will come back tonight and post some clarifications. Also, nice to see you again Cpl Punishment! A lot of you gave some interesting information to consider. Again, I will reply later tonight.
 
I think you could learn a lot from the Rainbow Family. Before you say WTF, I have hung with small groups of these folks in two different National Forests whilst they travel from one gathering to the other. Many migrate with the seasons for weather and/or seasonal work. However, some hardly ever work as we know it, but barter for necessasities. They are fairly efficient and make the most of relatively nothing and do so with no formal leadership. They know what the limit of use they can get away with on public land too (typically national forests). They travel by sharing rides, hitch-hike, and/or walk; they also communicate through the internet via public library computers, word of mouth, etc.

Everyone is welcome at the gatherings, I suggest you start there as you could learn about this lifestyle even if you are into the Peace, Love, and Joy aspect. Regardless of what you think of them, they live a rather care free life - no mortgage, no boss, no bills, no debt, can alway go to the soup line or emergency room, etc. And as what was stated earlier about McCandless, "it has to be shared," is something you will find out to be true.

Welcome Home Brother! :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Family

http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/sites/annual-site.html

http://welcomehere.org/2008/ (scroll down for past NF Locations)
 
Quiet Bear said:
no bills, no debt, can alway go to the soup line or emergency room, etc. And as what was stated earlier about McCandless, "it has to be shared," is something you will find out to be true.
Click to expand...

Because they choose to depend on producers, whom they often meanwhile decry. They opt to get medical services/food/transportation, as paid for by you and me.

I'm not talking about those who have unfortunate situations that preclude them from paying for basic, life-supporting services, I'm talking about those who choose their situation and abuse 'the system'.
 
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