Roughing It: FOR REAL

Reading. Reading is good. Pelican shakespeare. Winston Churchill's History of the English speaking people. Moby Dick. Shelby Footes's Civil War. The Age of Faith by Will Durant. Bleak House by Dickens. Henry Miller, Sexus, Nexus & Plexus. Crime & Punishment, Doestoyevsky. Buyllfinch's Mythology, the Alan Eckhart novels about the frontier. etc. If there is even a mediocre library within a days walk, you will always have that purpose and benefit.
 
Fox Creek said:
Reading. Reading is good. Pelican shakespeare. Winston Churchill's History of the English speaking people. Moby Dick. Shelby Footes's Civil War. The Age of Faith by Will Durant. Bleak House by Dickens. Henry Miller, Sexus, Nexus & Plexus. Crime & Punishment, Doestoyevsky. Buyllfinch's Mythology, the Alan Eckhart novels about the frontier. etc. If there is even a mediocre library within a days walk, you will always have that purpose and benefit.
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Well Brother I do intend on doing a lot of reading. But I have so many NON-Fiction type books to read that I just will not have any time to read fiction books. I have 12 books on the subject of "SHARPENING". I have 8 books on the subject of "cordage & Knots". I have books on wild edibles. I have many books on SURVIVAL and all kinds of subjects dealing directly and indirectly with survival. Trust me I've built up quite a library ;)

I do plan on taking up the hobby of whitling. I'm also planning on taking Hickory or some other wood down there and making staffs and walking sticks. I've read quite a few articles in the Backwoodsman on those subjects.

I may not be 100% ready for this but I'm at least 70% ready for it.
 
Take some fiction.

Trust me, you'll get burnt out on survival skills and such after a while and want an escape.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Take some fiction.

Trust me, you'll get burnt out on survival skills and such after a while and want an escape.
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Hey "Cpl P" :) I deeply appreciate your input. But truly I do find "how to" books and educational books dealing with subjects I'm interested in quite stimulating.

I group of books I do want to share with all of you are the PathFinder Publications. The authors name is Don Paul and he has written some of the very best survival books I've ever read. His website where he sells his books is www.survival-books.com

His book "Everybody's Knife Bible" is truly a MUST READ.
 
jfn said:
Bring a copy of the SAS survival guide.

Best of luck
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The one survival book I have found that really covers all the bases for me has been one entitled "Dare To Prepare" by Holly Deyo. You can find her stuff at www.standeyo.com. But I do have others I like as well. I haven't read this one you are recommending but I will look into it.

Holly Deyo's book literally covers the entire gamut. But again I will look into this SAS Survival Guide you just recommended. Just 2 more days I am will be heading out. JD
 
Brothers, I was laid off in Jan and still looking, but at 56 its not so easy - the banks are all over me like a rash, with talk of bankruptcy, needless to say no medical or dental insurance, etc, etc, and then I read these posts about JD and he inspired me. Not into living in the woods but to do what I did in my younger days, which was to start my own business again - what have I got to lose - I have already lost it! But what I do have are friends that will support me to start again.
JD is the sort of American that this country was founded on, he is a leader who has embraced fear by over coming it and who knows, his survival book may become THE book of the future.
Thank you JD, your inspiration and true American spirit has given me what I needed, and yes I am one of those on Prozac too - but not for long.
Good luck and God bless you!
 
I just read thru this thread and found it most inspiring. Truly smiling in the face of adversity is never that easy. I with the op well and hope to hear from him soon. The ecperience will bring him back a changed man for sure.
Hopefully, he is cataloguing his "adventure" as was suggested in the beginning, who knows, getting it published could certainly get him backon his feet.
Falcor. very sorr yto hear about the situation you're in. Good luck to you on the business venture.
Hopefully we hear from JD soon.
 
riz_aaroni said:
So whats the dealio? How have things been going?
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Well to be quite honest I'm still here in the City ( KCMO) for just another week or so. I've been selling the stuff in my storage unit with some modest success so I'll have a little bit of seed money when I take to the Ozarks.

I"ve been using the local library for my internet access as well as the McDonalds down the street from me. But when I hit the timber I won't come back barring a quality job offer>> but I'm not holding my breath on that one :rolleyes:

I"ve been trying to learn about this leather craft stuff because a really good brother here on BF sent me a plethora of leather working tools and now I'm truly interested in it and want to learn it.

What's really burning my gourd more than anything is that Spyderco has some super new stuff out and my lack of employment has kept me from buying some of it. Yep I'm going through "Spyder-Withdrawl" :o for the past month and it's brutal let me tell you :D

I've been reading this great book on Survival Kits by a former Marine Corp guy named John McCann. I highly recommend it to everyone here. He touches on a lot of areas I hadn't given much thought on. I'm pretty much set to go when I get my other obligations in order. I know it's not going to be a stay at the Marriott. But I already know that.
 
Some Yeats;


I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee;
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core
 
JD Spydo said:
Well to be quite honest I'm still here in the City ( KCMO) for just another week or so. I've been selling the stuff in my storage unit with some modest success so I'll have a little bit of seed money when I take to the Ozarks.

I"ve been using the local library for my internet access as well as the McDonalds down the street from me. But when I hit the timber I won't come back barring a quality job offer>> but I'm not holding my breath on that one :rolleyes:

I"ve been trying to learn about this leather craft stuff because a really good brother here on BF sent me a plethora of leather working tools and now I'm truly interested in it and want to learn it.

What's really burning my gourd more than anything is that Spyderco has some super new stuff out and my lack of employment has kept me from buying some of it. Yep I'm going through "Spyder-Withdrawl" :o for the past month and it's brutal let me tell you :D

I've been reading this great book on Survival Kits by a former Marine Corp guy named John McCann. I highly recommend it to everyone here. He touches on a lot of areas I hadn't given much thought on. I'm pretty much set to go when I get my other obligations in order. I know it's not going to be a stay at the Marriott. But I already know that.
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The leather craft should be fun. I love the leather pouches and gear that you see people have with the tins filled with flint and steel and jute cord. Something like this http://www.flickr.com/photos/spirituscanis/4104253022/ Should be fun if you have all the right tools and material.

The new spyderco products do look great and it definitely sucks to not be able to but them lol. My job is up in a couple of months or so, so spending a lot of money, or any really, right now is a no go. Then again, I have way more knives than I actually need already lol.

The weather is warming up, so at the very least you won't have to worry about freezing. Plus you can forage for wild edibles which should be a good way to kill time and stay healthy.

In need of any gear before you venture out?
 
This might sound odd but since you will be sitting around waiting for things to happen while you are staying busy, borrow or buy a musical instrument or even a song book if you can read music. Music passed the time and kept alot of people sane and even made their brains work better. Your poor sound wont bother the neighbors and you can pick up a good habit along the way. I would say take a banjo. learn a few songs including a couple of common patriotic ones, that can always pull in a few bucks, a bit of busking. And remember you are not walking into a survivalist fantasy zombie apocalypse, you are just going out to a hunting cabin to live for awhile.
 
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Want a roommate out there?
I've lived that way before and I miss it so dearly.
Somehow I've been stuck in the city for 11 years now.
I'm trying to get blacklisted from my trade so I'll have a legitimate reason to leave, but no luck so far.
Please, put in a bad word for me at my job... my bad words ain't enough, apparently.
My advice is to get a large bag of lentils, rice... whatever (dirt cheap food) - something that'll stay good for months or years and stash it in something that critters can't invade. When the goin' gets rough you're okay if you can stay dry, warm, watered and fed.
Also, a lot of alone time is a great way to learn all kinds of trick knots and crafts.
Books help to keep the sanity.
It could be a great time to learn about the stars, as well. You should be able to find one of these for the price of a hotdog - http://www.answers.com/topic/planisphere.
Good luck.
 
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sorry to hear about your situation... losing the hope to getting a job is really bad...

at least you have a place to go... a nice one i might add... hope you enjoy your stay there...
 
jackknife said:
So JD, look at this way; you're going to be doing for free what some people pay big money to go do!:D

A snug cabin, quiet secluded surroundings, all priceless to some people.
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That'll cost a few grand a month down this way ;)

Snag some information on meditation.The rains begin soon.
 
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