Ever read "Into The Wild"? I am thinking about becoming homeless.

I think you need to read the ending again, it's not pleasant. Go on a hike, maybe a week long hike, but to go live in the wild, abandon your family and love ones, to pursue a calling is called irresponsible. Grow up.

it's all cute and romantic until you realize how unforgiving nature really is. Do you have any wilderness experience?

great book. great movie. great lessons to be learned. learn from him.

Eat the berries, all of the berries. Don't worry about bears, you can always run away from them.

I'm currently reading the book & all I want to know is how he hitch hiked all over the country & never got busted from the cops?

say what wrote:

I think you need to read the ending again, it's not pleasant. Go on a hike, maybe a week long hike, but to go live in the wild, abandon your family and love ones, to pursue a calling is called irresponsible. Grow up.

Yeah. Through hike the Appalachian Trail. If you still want to be homeless, then go for it. The book (movie) had a good message, but it's a tough way to live (obviously).

And an even tougher way to die.

If you do become homeless, do the honorable thing and refuse all government handouts.

Also, when you die in the "wilderness" please do it in a convenient location so people don't have to waste time looking for you.

TIA

I definitely associate with Chris' wanderlust. Reading books like into the wild/zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance make me want to explore, on my own two feet, completely alone.

Because of this I really enjoy fastpacking alone, and running ultra-marathons. But the knowledge that when I come home it will be to family and friends that love me, gives me the will to pursue my wanderlust.

\"If you do become homeless, do the honorable thing and refuse all government handouts.

Also, when you die in the \"wilderness\" please do it in a convenient location so people don\'t have to waste time looking for you.\"

-post of the day by far. coming from someone who was homeless and penniless for almost a full year, you want no part of it. it sounds all cute and romantic, but i can almost tell you that you are some upper middle class kid who will find himself in trouble really, really fast.

Care to share how you ended up homeless and broke? Just interested to hear since I have been really close but never ended up totally broke.

ngong hills wrote:

"If you do become homeless, do the honorable thing and refuse all government handouts.

Also, when you die in the "wilderness" please do it in a convenient location so people don't have to waste time looking for you."

-post of the day by far. coming from someone who was homeless and penniless for almost a full year, you want no part of it. it sounds all cute and romantic, but i can almost tell you that you are some upper middle class kid who will find himself in trouble really, really fast.

Its better to be homeless in an urban area. At least you won't starve to death.

G&R wrote:

I am college educated, and really identify with Chris. Anyone have experience with this? Any suggestions?

When I think of the people in this world who are homeless and hope to someday have a roof over their heads and a warm place to sleep, then I read a post like yours, I am absolutely stunned by your immaturity.

Oh, and Chris died a lonely painful death.

don't worry about it. my gut tells me his college degree is a lie. he has no friends. sleeps on a bench in central park all night after begging for scraps from successful people all day. he just heard someone talking about into the wild and decided to try to justify his sorry existance before going to beat off to kids in the park again

Rainy Day wrote:

say what wrote:

I think you need to read the ending again, it's not pleasant. Go on a hike, maybe a week long hike, but to go live in the wild, abandon your family and love ones, to pursue a calling is called irresponsible. Grow up.

Yeah. Through hike the Appalachian Trail. If you still want to be homeless, then go for it. The book (movie) had a good message, but it's a tough way to live (obviously).

Agreed...Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, if you have experience. If not, learn through reading, clubs and experience, then do some overnight trips before attempting something like the Colorado Trail, as it's "only" ~500 miles.

G&R wrote:

I am college educated, and really identify with Chris. Anyone have experience with this? Any suggestions?

By all means, go live in the wilderness for a while AS AN EXPERIMENT... but don't be a retard like that guy and burn all your money, etc... in the interest of survival, you'll want a fallback in case things go awry.

Plus, if you really want to get rid of all your stuff, be a dude and give it to some people in need. Don't be a dick and destroy it all.

i think not, my friend. have you seen the 2008 NCAA Division I NE Regional pictures thread? he transferred and now runs for Harvard, picture 212: http://www.trackshark.com/photos/2008/08nexc.php

First off, don't mess with Chas.

Secondly, I agree with the poster who finds this offensive. Well, if not offensive, at least hollow. When I was your age I felt the same way-- wanted to give being homeless a try, thought it would be a novel thing to do.

Then I realized that it is offensive because in reality if you are doing it as a 'choice' and an 'experiment', you can stop at any time, and revert to the resources you have available to you. In other words, it is a game.

Not only will you not be having an authentic experience--because it will be diluted by your above mentioned safety parachute (whether deployed or not), but you will be essentially role playing something that is very real and debilitating to lots of people...it is the equivalent of saying 'I think I'll go around in a wheelchair for awhile.'

Now, if you want to take a hard look at your life and, in doing so, come to realize you don't need a whole bunch of useless crap cluttering up your life, great! But don't 'play homeless'.

I spent two winters homeless in Upstate NY.

It was a lot warmer than many parts of Alaska. Plus there were people and buildings around. Genuinely going "into the wild" would certainly have been a death sentence.

I feel like the whole thrust of civilization is toward people's getting away from being cold and wet. Homelessness is 0 for 2. I don't recommend it.