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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Roughing It: FOR REAL
- Thread starter JD Spydo
- Start date
not2sharp
Platinum Member
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- Jun 29, 1999
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- 20,453
Take a pair of binoculars, or a small scope with you; along with a compass and a planisphere (be sure to ask for the one for your latitude). Also, Peterson field guides Stars and Planets is easy to find, compact, and very informative reference. The night sky can be amazingly entertaining and beautiful, and you can only really appreciate that when you are far away from the blazing city lights. What better way to put everything into perspective then by studing things so massive, distant and grand, that they will forever be beyond real human comprehension.
If you plan to take a computer with you, be sure to download a copy of Stellarium at Stellarium.org. It is an astronomy freeware that creates a full real-time 3-D simulation of the sky overhead. It is a great help in locatings many thousands of astronomical objects.
n2s
If you plan to take a computer with you, be sure to download a copy of Stellarium at Stellarium.org. It is an astronomy freeware that creates a full real-time 3-D simulation of the sky overhead. It is a great help in locatings many thousands of astronomical objects.
n2s
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2005
- Messages
- 2,938
Most libraries nowadays have internet but they also have those pesky (immoral) internet filters.
This is simple to get around just set up a proxy server before you leave or use a pre-existing one and you cna access whatever info you want from and computer heres you go : http://www.peacefire.org/
Use for great justice
Hey BRother I know you meant well and your point is well taken. Personally I like to work and I like doing things with my hands and I love jobs that have produce satisfying results. I love doing quality work. Because I feel that the way this entire nation is heading downward is because we as a nation have indeed lost our way.
It was hard work that built this nation. And it will take a hard effort to get this nation back on track too.
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- Sep 28, 2007
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- 91
I would think most important is to plan on leaving the place in better shape than you found it.
A lot of wisdom in that advice. :thumbup:
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2006
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- 7,021
Best of luck, JD. It can be a truly rewarding experience, and I agree with previous posters - keep an extensive journal. Even if you aren't concerned about commercial aspects, the day will come when you will really appreciate it.
Doc
Doc
Are any of your knives suitable for carving? Carving-in-the-round and relief carving are great hobbies and fun to learn. Hiking sticks, chess boards and pieces, tool handles, tableware, log furniture, etc.
Axes, saws, gauges, whittling knives, etc can provide endless fun.
Great opportunity to learn a musical instrument as well. A few books on music notation, on the instrument, tuning pipe, and some blank notation paper in case you want to compose. Fun, therapeutic, and exercises a different part of your brain.
You keep talking, and you're going to get a lot of roommates from here
Take care.
Axes, saws, gauges, whittling knives, etc can provide endless fun.
Great opportunity to learn a musical instrument as well. A few books on music notation, on the instrument, tuning pipe, and some blank notation paper in case you want to compose. Fun, therapeutic, and exercises a different part of your brain.
You keep talking, and you're going to get a lot of roommates from here
Take care.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2010
- Messages
- 70
Just remember, "if you're roughing it, you're doing it wrong!" Have a great time, keep safe and best of luck!
Have a great time, keep safe and best of luck! One item I'm going to concentrate on learning this spring is in the area of "wild edibles". I've been listening to a really sharp lady named Linda Runyon whose website is www.ofthefield.com She is a regular guest on the George Whitehurst Berry Show on GCN Live network.
I've also learned a lot about Wild Edibles from a guy who writes a lot for Wilderness Way magazine named Christopher Nyerges.
I've gotten 2 books on Missouri Wild edibles and I'm really wanting to learn as much as I can about that subject.
Most people don't know that dandelions have 5 times the nutritional value as the spinach you buy at the grocery store. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
I've also learned a lot about Wild Edibles from a guy who writes a lot for Wilderness Way magazine named Christopher Nyerges.
I've gotten 2 books on Missouri Wild edibles and I'm really wanting to learn as much as I can about that subject.
Most people don't know that dandelions have 5 times the nutritional value as the spinach you buy at the grocery store. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2006
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- 7,021
You also want to get your hands on a few good books on poisonous plants for your area. In fact, I would say concentrate on those first. Into The Wild's already been done
As far as wild edibles go, I'd recommend several not two. I have some books that say such and such plant is edible, others that say it's toxic. The more books to cross-reference, the better (read safer).
Best rule to follow: When in doubt, leave it out.
Also keep in mind, just because a wild plant is considered edible, doesn't mean it's edible for you. You might be allergic to it. A guy I met developed anaphalaxis from eating Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum). Luckily his wife was a nurse, recognized what was happening and rushed him to the doctor.
And also, learning wild plants for technological uses is very rewarding - cordage, tinder, fish poisons, dyes,.........
Anyway, good luck,
Doc
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2009
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jd
if ya wanna pick up a used(free!) mtn bike, let me know. i can hook ya up from kc. great tool for those miles of dirt roads in the ozarks, along with many off road trails. good way to get to town too, if ya wanna conserve on fuel/$. pm me and i'll get something together for ya. how tall are you? do you have any idea what size mtn bike you ride? inseam length?
if ya wanna pick up a used(free!) mtn bike, let me know. i can hook ya up from kc. great tool for those miles of dirt roads in the ozarks, along with many off road trails. good way to get to town too, if ya wanna conserve on fuel/$. pm me and i'll get something together for ya. how tall are you? do you have any idea what size mtn bike you ride? inseam length?
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2008
- Messages
- 2,012
as mentioned with carving for boredom, how bout for dollars.
Nicely carved walking sticks and staves with burl etc go for good coin. Walk into lee valley and see what they charge.
Blend your hobbies with something saleable.
Nicely carved walking sticks and staves with burl etc go for good coin. Walk into lee valley and see what they charge.
Blend your hobbies with something saleable.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2006
- Messages
- 7,035
Man, I'm real sorry to hear about your job.
After two years of working balls to the wall, our factory laid off half the people. I survived this cut, but maybe not the next.
I'll be honest here, none of my usual BSing: I've done what you're doing before. First when I was a kid, son of a construction worker, layoffs happened a lot. I grew up without electricity and TV until I was 11 or 12. Didn't know I was missing anything. I know my parents were real worried about how I felt about it, and they about died laughing when I shouted out "It's cool! We get to life like Davy Crockett and the frontiersmen!"
The second time was in the mid 90s. That time I lost everything and did the hobo thing. I clawed my way back to the "top of the world" and between my family screwing me out of most of what was valuable to me a couple years ago and the looming employment disaster, I stand to lose everything again.
If it happens again, I'm not going to bother coming back. I'll go back to the "frontier" life and anyone who doesn't like it can bite me. I'm single, no kids, so I'm not dragging anyone down with me.
That being said, you've got an adventure ahead. Your biggest discomfort at first will be the lack of water-on-demand, but you'll get used to that soon enough. You're going to find out that you have to do a lot more work in day-to-day life, but you're going to feel like you're wasting less time. I look at my rat race days and ask "WTF did I even accomplish?" I didn't have that question when I lived hard.
Now, for some advice: with the impending legislation to allow the government to encourage, and then demand that 401(k) funds be partially or totally invested in treasuries, take the 10% hit and take your money out NOW. They've already made it so you can't withdraw your money, even with the penalty, unless you leave your job. Invest it yourself. There's plenty of investments, that while not making huge gains pay 9-11% dividends. Better than any of my 401(k) investments lately.
If you can, scrape up the cash to buy a netbook and a solar charger. Many places like McDonalds, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, many restaurants, etc have Wi-Fi, and a netbook can hop right on that. You can get a decent one for $300 or so. You don't need subscriptions like for a cell phone.
Buy a couple of Write in the Rain Fieldbooks and their waterproof pens. Keep these with you to write down the stuff you learn about skills and plants and whatnot. You'll have a permanent record. Buy as many journals, or spiral notebooks or just reams of paper, a bunch of pens or pencils and such. Two things that kept me sane (ish) was reading and writing. Write everything, it's like having a conversation with yourself. A lot of hobos make "'Zines" -- essentially several sheets of stories, notes, doodles, etc, that they sell to people for a dollar or two. They get a little money and keep themselves sane, and people get adventure stories about doing things they can only dream of. So, although you may not try to sell them, they will be good memories later, and give you something to do for entertainment.
I don't know how far from a town you will be, but you may consider something that worked for me. I'd go to churches. Now, they are used to beggers. What I'd do is ask if they knew of any jobs available, and if not, I'd leave them some info on me and stop by now and again to see if any of their members would pay me to do some odd jobs and such. I'd also ask for food, but tell them I'm not looking for charity, and ask if I could rake the church lawn, trim the hedges, vacuum the floor, or something. This always got me a much more favorable response. This does a few things for you: makes getting some supplies easier, gives you contact with other people (you do need this), networks you with others, and helps find jobs and such. If nothing else, you can attend services, and enjoy heat/AC every now and then. Some churches also have showers they'll let you use, and some have "fellowship meals" where everyone comes, sits around and eats and talks. It's way better than dinner at the Salvation Army or other shelters.
Speaking of shelters, they'll usually have a time of day that people can come in and take a shower for free, and often have a day or two they'll let you do your laundry for free. You can check into that.
Sign up for unemployment and food stamps. They take money out of your pay for unemployment and taxes for food stamps. Get 'em if you can. If you can, hold on to them. You might not need them, but they may save your bacon down the road.
Feel free to email me or whatnot if I can help you out.
After two years of working balls to the wall, our factory laid off half the people. I survived this cut, but maybe not the next.
I'll be honest here, none of my usual BSing: I've done what you're doing before. First when I was a kid, son of a construction worker, layoffs happened a lot. I grew up without electricity and TV until I was 11 or 12. Didn't know I was missing anything. I know my parents were real worried about how I felt about it, and they about died laughing when I shouted out "It's cool! We get to life like Davy Crockett and the frontiersmen!"
The second time was in the mid 90s. That time I lost everything and did the hobo thing. I clawed my way back to the "top of the world" and between my family screwing me out of most of what was valuable to me a couple years ago and the looming employment disaster, I stand to lose everything again.
If it happens again, I'm not going to bother coming back. I'll go back to the "frontier" life and anyone who doesn't like it can bite me. I'm single, no kids, so I'm not dragging anyone down with me.
That being said, you've got an adventure ahead. Your biggest discomfort at first will be the lack of water-on-demand, but you'll get used to that soon enough. You're going to find out that you have to do a lot more work in day-to-day life, but you're going to feel like you're wasting less time. I look at my rat race days and ask "WTF did I even accomplish?" I didn't have that question when I lived hard.
Now, for some advice: with the impending legislation to allow the government to encourage, and then demand that 401(k) funds be partially or totally invested in treasuries, take the 10% hit and take your money out NOW. They've already made it so you can't withdraw your money, even with the penalty, unless you leave your job. Invest it yourself. There's plenty of investments, that while not making huge gains pay 9-11% dividends. Better than any of my 401(k) investments lately.
If you can, scrape up the cash to buy a netbook and a solar charger. Many places like McDonalds, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, many restaurants, etc have Wi-Fi, and a netbook can hop right on that. You can get a decent one for $300 or so. You don't need subscriptions like for a cell phone.
Buy a couple of Write in the Rain Fieldbooks and their waterproof pens. Keep these with you to write down the stuff you learn about skills and plants and whatnot. You'll have a permanent record. Buy as many journals, or spiral notebooks or just reams of paper, a bunch of pens or pencils and such. Two things that kept me sane (ish) was reading and writing. Write everything, it's like having a conversation with yourself. A lot of hobos make "'Zines" -- essentially several sheets of stories, notes, doodles, etc, that they sell to people for a dollar or two. They get a little money and keep themselves sane, and people get adventure stories about doing things they can only dream of. So, although you may not try to sell them, they will be good memories later, and give you something to do for entertainment.
I don't know how far from a town you will be, but you may consider something that worked for me. I'd go to churches. Now, they are used to beggers. What I'd do is ask if they knew of any jobs available, and if not, I'd leave them some info on me and stop by now and again to see if any of their members would pay me to do some odd jobs and such. I'd also ask for food, but tell them I'm not looking for charity, and ask if I could rake the church lawn, trim the hedges, vacuum the floor, or something. This always got me a much more favorable response. This does a few things for you: makes getting some supplies easier, gives you contact with other people (you do need this), networks you with others, and helps find jobs and such. If nothing else, you can attend services, and enjoy heat/AC every now and then. Some churches also have showers they'll let you use, and some have "fellowship meals" where everyone comes, sits around and eats and talks. It's way better than dinner at the Salvation Army or other shelters.
Speaking of shelters, they'll usually have a time of day that people can come in and take a shower for free, and often have a day or two they'll let you do your laundry for free. You can check into that.
Sign up for unemployment and food stamps. They take money out of your pay for unemployment and taxes for food stamps. Get 'em if you can. If you can, hold on to them. You might not need them, but they may save your bacon down the road.
Feel free to email me or whatnot if I can help you out.
Hey SAdie Jane that would be a GOD-Send. Because the place where I'm going has a lot of trails and old gravel roads and that would be an excellent way for me to navigate around the acreage. I would sure try to compensate you for it somehow. I could even ride it to work if I get a job at one of those truckstops. I'm not sure what size I would require. I'm 5 ft 9 inches tall and weigh about 190. I did send you an e-mail through the Bladeforums system. But you or any of you guys/gals here at Bladeforums are more than welcome to e-mail me at >> joespyder@sbcglobal.net <<
I use to race bikes when I was younger. Years ago I had a 12 speed Takara with all Suntour equipment on it in my younger days. I loved riding bikes and still do. I haven't had one in quite some time but I have ridden a friends Cannondale Mtn Bike before and it really rode good. I actually like the ride of a Mtn Bike more than I did the racer I had. Yeah that sounds like a good idea. This may be one heck of an adventure. Maybe I could sell this journal I'm going to write to Hollywood and have Jack Nicholson play me
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2008
- Messages
- 1,397
Positive attitude is #1. If yoiu have 401k money, the fees are 10% plus state and fed taxes. I thought about pullind out around $17K to refi my house and the penalty would end up 6% Missouri state tax, 15 or so fed tax and 10% penalty. so out of my 17 thou I would end up around 11K and it would have taken my $3900 tax refund, can you afford that?
I glad you hear you have tools and skills to get by, but I would try to get any job to get by with because any money is helpful to get by with, Gas, staples, basics. and you may have been meant for something better. keep looking.
Pat
I glad you hear you have tools and skills to get by, but I would try to get any job to get by with because any money is helpful to get by with, Gas, staples, basics. and you may have been meant for something better. keep looking.
Pat