Nothing Day
7 hours ago
Saturday, August 12, 2017
How do you go back to the real world?
Do you ever wonder what happens to people when the adventure ends? What does a person do after they've hiked the Appalachian Trail, lived on a boat, or traveled the country in a van? What is the rest of their story like?
Most of them have a really hard time adjusting to “real” life. Take the hikers for example. Some find ways to keep hiking. They may work six months of the year, then hike the next six months. Often the next hike they want to do is the Pacific Coast Trail. A few try to do a balance of work/hiking. They end up moving to an area where they can do a lot of day and overnight hikes. I have known a few who got stuck in the 9 to 5 world, but they were depressed alcoholics.
In the boating world, when someone moves off a boat back onto land it's called, “swallowing the anchor.” Boaters have such colorful terms for everything. Some go back to living in the real world, but darn few look happy about it. Often they look for other adventures. Some go traveling in an RV, have motorcycle adventures in Europe, or find some other adventure. One guy I knew went from being captain of a classic schooner to being a full time wilderness canoe guide. He felt canoes were a lot less work and responsibility.
As for myself, I haven't had a real job since 1993. The idea of going to an office and wearing a tie appalls me. Working full time for someone else is a horror thought. I'm willing to do a lot of creative things to avoid a normal regular life. As I see it, modern normal life isn't normal. Okay, maybe it is for some people, but not for me. Even my last “real” job, firefighter, wasn't normal. Running into burning buildings that the rats are trying to leave isn't normal.
If you've got the adventure gene it's tough to fit in. Maybe if you've never done any long term adventure, the gene can remain dormant. Once it's woken up, there's no hope for it. Just accept that you've got to do something different. Eventually age or illness catches up with all of us and we have to dial things back. However, some people die before they've ever really lived.
-Sixbears
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I always said that I started to die the day I left the woods. 25 years later, I still feel that way, and I'm terribly old for my age, if you get what I mean.
ReplyDeleteYes I get you, Gorges. Too often we end up doing what we think we should do rather than what we want to do.
DeleteHi 6bears,
ReplyDeleteFunny thing you should mention that! "Boat's," "Wood's," the list goes on but those are "Biggie's!!" Well, i got ta' thinkin'.. ya' see, I'm an "Old Skydiver!!" The "Adventure" starts when ya' turn off the main road into the entrance to the "Airport!!" Once ya' get "Hooked" by the "Sport" when ya' enter the "Airport," ya' don't want to leave!!!! If yer' not "independently wealthy" ya' lurk a job on the airport and set up "Camp" somewhere!! Out in So. Cal. at a couple of the "HOT!!" DZ's the "DZ People" organized a "Trailer Park" across the road and appropriately nic-named "The Ghetto!!" The life of a "Sport Parachute Bum!!!" I usedta' say," If I got lucky and found a pile of money, I'd quit my 'Day job,' buy a trailer, move to the 'Ghetto,' 'SKYDIVE' and when it came to 'FOOD!!!' I'd just have my Pizza's Delivered!!! Where there is a Will, there is "A Way!!!"
Blue Skies, Black Death!!!,
skybill, "SCR-2034"-out
PS 'Lurk the "Hist. & Trivia" Forum on www.dropzone.com and find "steve1" post "Scary storys fro the old days" it is 60+pages long now over several "Years!!" also lurk www.airtrash.com for more "insight!!!!!!!!"
That has got to be one heck of a rush. Skydiving was never too big around here. I knew a couple of stunt pilots who used to like to see if I'd lose my lunch. Fun guys.
DeleteThanks for the links!
Ahh Dizzy! You are an old soul.
ReplyDeleteI meant to say Gorges. I've got Dizzy's hair on my mind.
ReplyDeleteWhen I stay home for a long length of time I'm not happy. Maybe that's why I take at least two trips a year even if they're only for a few days in the next state.
ReplyDeleteSometimes you just have to do something about those itchy feet.
DeleteSo true, so true. Some just put it off until it is too late.
ReplyDeleteSo who wants to be 'normal'? There are more 'normal' people in mental institutions than out, percentage wise.
ReplyDeleteJust because you worked 9-5 doesn't mean you have to give them your soul. You are a resource, like a piece of paper. When you are used up or no longer needed you will be discarded. Once you understand that, you are free.
Good point Judy. Too many people define their lives by the job they do. If you keep in focus it's about the money, not identity, you are ahead of the game.
DeleteAs I've stated before. After traveling seven years on the sailboat. We went back to camping again.
ReplyDeleteNext month starts our annual month long tent camp for Archery hunting. Tho the camp we leave set up until March for weekend use during the gun seasons.
Hopefully , project motorhome will be done and we will hit the endless highway.
I keep telling Jim out in Elko to save us an area on his lot lol.
I can see you and Jim, of the fantastic hair, having a great time chewing the fat.
DeleteGlad to see you are up to archery hunting again. I know you've had a long road to recovery.
Would love to hear more about your motorhome.
Yeah I'm much better now , though I suppose I'll never be as I was. Are any of us ? Gonna give it a go tho. Been flinging at least twenty arrows a day.At 25 yards been putting em in a six inch group , not great but adequate at that range. To think that before my accident I could do that at fifty yards !
DeleteTakes a lot of back and abdominal muscles to shoot consistent. Getting there.
Yeah , the motor home...got it just before getting messed up... it's a 76 American Clipper class c, all molded fiberglass construction. Only 23 foot yet has a freaking 440 Mopar engine !
Slowly gutting and replacing all interior woodwork, electrics and plumbing. I likely won't start on it again until the summer heat goes away.
I get in and out archery. Haven't shot lately. You are right about it building up your muscles.
DeleteSounds like the motor home will be great. Looks like they didn't scrimp on the fiberglass. 23 foot gets you into a lot of places bigger RVs cannot go.