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katydid
Jan 9, 2003, 11:29 PM
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Erm, that would be me who made the comment Bill's referring to. After venting my frustration to my husband, he's willing to be my belay b!tch 7 days a week (he doesn't climb) and is encouraging me to get my master's in education so I can get summers off and roadtrip to my heart's content. Hopefully this long-term plan cures my dirtbag dreams, but I'll still be having them in the meantime, I'm sure. After I'm actually teaching, we'll have to see. Kate
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epic_ed
Jan 9, 2003, 11:37 PM
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Dear God, YES I want to chuck it all and roll. I even made some serious plans to do it last year, but it didn't quite work out. The urge always happens when I start making vactions plans to head to Yosemite. There always seems to be some major vehicle repair that needs to be done, or some other gear I need to buy that I couldn't possibly afford on a road trip, or some other crap. It's always the financial stuff that holds me back. I'm not lucky enough to make it without auto/health insurance, so that's always a factor. Heck, if I found a way to get an IT job near the Valley, I'd consdier it a compromise and move in a heartbeat. Back to the drawing board...there's gotta be a way. Ed [ This Message was edited by: up2top on 2003-01-09 15:41 ]
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wallrat
Jan 9, 2003, 11:38 PM
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NOT ME, BUDDY...I have a fatal attachment to my depressing, monotonous, soulless job, my BMW, my cell phone and my mortgage. I live so that I can be seen at the health club one more time, and be admired for my faux social standing. NOT! Actually I'm taking my VW bus, cranking up the Deads 'Box of Rain' and going to the Tree next Friday. I'll be the one with the big grim (comes from a lack of grinding responsibilities). Hope to see some of you guys there!
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hangdoggypound
Jan 9, 2003, 11:43 PM
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My God.....I'm single, I rent, I make good money, don't have kids, don't even have a dog, and I still feel like I have too many friggin responsibilities. Maybe I'm better off being a dirtbag. That must be my calling. See you on the road
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xinh
Jan 9, 2003, 11:46 PM
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Oooh oooh me me! But the really strange thing, is that I CAN do it, but I just haven't taken the plunge yet. I'm still a bit leery, generally because I all too often take actions without thinking them through, and sometimes live to regret (othertimes, it's the experience of a lifetime). I have the time, and a little bit of money (probably about $700/month set aside for climbing related play money), but I'm by no means wealthy, and probably make less than most of you. I am single and without children, so there's nothing holding me back in that regard. Someone help me become a climbing bum! I need some solid partners. How exactly do you get started? Just jump in your car with your gear and go? It seems most people (I'm sure this will sound familiar) are stuck in the 9-5 grind and can't climb weekdays. I have an awesome job as a writer (I fell into it entirely by accident). I just need to meet a monthly deadline, and my work takes me an entire 3 days out of every month. Pity me huh? I have a laptop, so I could take it to the road and live just about anywhere I want. I'd just need a landline to hook up to the internet now and then. My car isn't the most reliable, but I refuse to invest in a new one until all hell breaks loose (if it ain't broke, don't fix it). I am by no means independently wealthy, and wouldn't have a lot to spend, but then I don't think I need to explain the climbing bum experience to any of you. It's a very non-materialist involved lifestyle. I wouldn't give up my residence (as I need someplace to come back to), nor my health insurance, which is too important to give up. And I'm sure it can get pretty damn lonely without some good friends around you. I don't mind being alone and camping out now and then. But, there's so little daylight during the winter, and I wouldn't know what to do with myself after a 5:30 sunset in the wilderness. It would get old real fast. Plus, I like nice hot showers and hair that I can put a comb through (the troll look was never in). Anyone have a clue what the daily expenses of a climbing bum are? Any other "cons" to the experience? Or even "pros"? What is the day-to-day living environment like? Since I can do it, should I go for it? Anyone in the Western region want to partner up with me? Marilyn
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arsenalcrater
Jan 10, 2003, 12:11 AM
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Over the last few years I have taken six months out of life at one point to travel and climb in Australia and I plan on going back as soon as possible. My other recent adventure was six weeks in Patagonia. I would love to take on the vagabond lifesyle more often, but it is really hard when your son is missing you. The guilt factor is huge. I hope my son takes to climbing a little more with me over the next few years...then I'll take him with me.
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markd
Jan 10, 2003, 12:25 AM
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Traveling and doing anything is a great way to spend your time. I've crossed the country 8 times in the last 16 months looking for rocks that Rock N Road promises are there. I'm actually on my way home now from my latest cross. Stopped in Yosemite 2 days ago and climbed in my t-shirt. Though it can't last forever, as nothing can, you can hope to squeeze it out as long as possible. You can find out alot about yourself on the road, you just have to go and look.
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climbsomething
Jan 10, 2003, 12:34 AM
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Well, I am hopelessly irresponsible anyway, so I don't need to consider that. And what I want, and others do too, is so fantastic that it'll probly never be realized. I want to be an independently wealthy "dirtbag," who can get medical care and food any time, who can replace all worn gear immediately, and who won't live in the dirt. No sirree, I want a cherry fully-outfitted tour bus or at least a swank RV... with a chauffer/belay bunny behind the wheel, of course And my dog and 2 kats will enjoy the high life with me. In fact, I'll even have my feisty little feline Zeus as a crag cat, on a leash and everything. Now now, I don't have my sights set on being some travelling diva. I just like to live in comfort, with a no-limit platinum American express card
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knuckles
Jan 10, 2003, 12:34 AM
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Registered: Nov 26, 2002
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Those times are gone (sigh) for me now but I still consider it often... Any of you out there in high school reading this? Do yourself a favor and go. Defer for a year or go after college but make sure you carve out some purely selfish road time for yourselves... the road will come back and bite you on the butt if you don't, I promise.
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eric
Jan 10, 2003, 12:35 AM
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Anybody who wants to join me is more than welcome. First stop Italy for no good reason. I leave in 11 days. Responsibilities: none Time limit: none Financial restrictions: manageable (but no rv for me) Na na na! [ This Message was edited by: khanom on 2003-01-09 16:38 ]
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moabbeth
Jan 10, 2003, 12:54 AM
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I think I subliminally keep my life one or two steps away from being able to be a homeless dirtbag climber. Don't have the hubby, kids, own my own house, all the things women my age have. Mostly out of a selfish love of freedom in my life. Cause unlike people with those lives, I'm free to up and leave LA at any point if I want. The only thing keeping me here is my job (and a decent paycheck with benefits and 401K so it makes it worth sticking around) and the fact that I have great climate and great climbing spots by living here in Lala-land. But there have been many a day that I have wanted to say screw it all, terminate my lease and live out of my car climbing for a couple years. Or just move back to Moab full time and work in a coffee shop and climb. That life sounds really good to me many a day.
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ultraorange
Jan 10, 2003, 1:01 AM
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i would, but mom says i have to go to skool
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col_sanderz
Jan 10, 2003, 1:03 AM
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Registered: May 20, 2002
Posts: 138
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If I didn't love school so much, hell ya I would. I was thinking about doing so after I graduate in 3 or so years but then ill have damn loans to pay off. So while I yearn everyday to do so, its not too much of a reality for me at the moment. Who knows what the future holds for me though! For know ill have to stick to weekend and sometimes week long stints of dirtbagging. Somewhere other than this crumby Duluth bouldering would be nice though all you north shore punks know what im talkin about. Later
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climbsomething
Jan 10, 2003, 1:04 AM
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So, reading my post again, and then reading another post I just made in community, I guess the real answer is, no, I don't want to be a dirtbag, to quibble over semantics. Nah, I would rather be a cleanbag (c) A totally irresponsible loafer, with a phat crib with a well-stocked pantry.
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gymclimbfreak
Jan 10, 2003, 1:24 AM
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Registered: Dec 2, 2002
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I guess that I've never really thought about it a whole lot being young, dumb, single, and have almost zero responsibilties.. I guess in a way I do dirtbag.. I guess I'd love to run away for a while and do nothing but climb. Do a number of things that I like doing anyways..camp and climb, and try to mooch food off someone (who could easily be compared to parents ) I think it'd be fun. I'll have to do that before I get OLD Tim
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number7
Jan 10, 2003, 1:33 AM
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Registered: Oct 4, 2001
Posts: 175
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Isn't there a poor country somewhere that could use your help more than your selfishness can?! Of course it would have to have plenty of nearby crags Just think, it's poor to begin with so you'll fit right in. And you $$ will last a whole lot longer!
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moeman
Jan 10, 2003, 1:35 AM
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Registered: Nov 1, 2002
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I am a freshman in high school and have every intention of taking a year or two off before colege. I'm counting the days
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jt512
Jan 10, 2003, 2:11 AM
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Climbsomething wrote: Quote: Nah, I would rather be a cleanbag (c) A totally irresponsible loafer, with a phat crib with a well-stocked pantry. I think what you want to be is a JAP. One of us wants to be a... -Jay
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pancaketom
Jan 10, 2003, 2:44 AM
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Registered: Dec 9, 2002
Posts: 391
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I've wondered if this site needs a dirtbag forum. well, I feel I have some knowledge of this subject since a while ago I was wanting to take a roadtrip... well to make the story short, I lost my girlfriend and job, so when the lease ran out I hit the road. I mean, how could you ignore those signs. I had been living 80% dirtbag in that I am stingy as hell, so when I went full time I had some money saved up. That was 1999, and I am still going. I figure about 300$ a month, but I could be off by a few hundred. I actually spend very little money when I am not travelling (free camping, cheap food). In the winters I have spent at least a month couch surfing at friends and relatives (cat sitting at my brother's in Flagstaff now), it just gets so darn dark and cold out there. But at J-tree, Potrero, etc. there are communities of like minded people to hang out with. Actually my biggest fear was finding people to hang out with, and for the most part if you stick to "the circuit" of "destination" sites it isn't too hard to find partners. I have certainly been able to do many many things that I wouldn't have been able to do had I not hit the road. I can't say what life would have been like had I not done so, but I have had plenty of "trips of a lifetime" in the last few years. my advice, DO IT.
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richardaiken
Jan 10, 2003, 4:32 AM
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Registered: Aug 15, 2002
Posts: 49
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I've been a traveler since finishing grad school. I've spent more than 11 years on the road, traveled in more than 100 countries (and 46 of the U.S.A. states). I'm at the end of a 5 month U.S. trip on which I've been rock climbing, paragliding and flying on trapezes (and I'm already planning my next trip, which should start in about a month). I meet people everywhere I go but am comfortable being alone without getting lonely. I have no car, house or spouse. Traveling 'round-the-world can be done comfortably for $10,000 per year including international flights. I don't "slum it" but I rarely splurge, either. How to do it? Make this lifestyle a priority! If money and material possessions are important to you, this life is not for you. I have what I need to eat, be sheltered and go from place to place. Even if I get married and have kids, I intend to continue this life. If you don't travel when you are young, you'll never be able to when you are old. I am very happy with my life-I envy no one. But, I recognize my lifestyle is not suitable for most people. I have never worked for anyone else and doubt that I could. I have nothing to escape from, just activities and places to enjoy. I am always open to meeting fellow travelers, and even wanna-be's. Carpe diem-sieze the day. Live for today, don't let the past bug you, don't worry about the future. Make every day worthwhile. [ This Message was edited by: richardaiken on 2003-01-09 20:39 ]
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easysteve
Jan 10, 2003, 5:26 AM
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Registered: Nov 27, 2002
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I wish I could just ditch my girlfriend for life on the road and love the life. It's all cruel intentions, but none uncommon. I'm too lazy.
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blackstripe
Jan 10, 2003, 5:47 AM
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Registered: Nov 18, 2002
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Im a soph in high school and have wanted to live the dirtbag life since I was 9(when I first started climbing),ok maybe I didn't know what it was but I thought it sounded cool),I dont get it just cause my parents think I'm small, a girl and again small I can't handle myself outdoors and need a protector or some exscuse! [ This Message was edited by: blackstripe on 2003-01-09 21:48 ] [ This Message was edited by: blackstripe on 2003-01-09 21:50 ]
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apollodorus
Jan 10, 2003, 5:49 AM
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Registered: Feb 18, 2002
Posts: 2157
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A resourceful DB/PB in Yosemite Valley can live off the 5 cent deposit bottles and cans, and get free coffee at Curry Village every morning. The biggest challenge is to avoid the camping fees and the rangers who want to enforce them.
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enigma
Jan 10, 2003, 5:54 AM
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Posts: 2279
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I will say its very different being on the road, my longest time is only 4 months. Its very soothing to the soul, little responsibility,new friends,lots of campfires, climbing day in an day out,coffee klatches,talking endlessly, being dirty and smelly, not caring,not worrying, feeling like a the "flintstones",being strong,part of the earth,romantic liasons,seeing the sunsets ,sunrises, always feeling a little bit like "peter pan", and wondering why and how anyone would live any other way. On the downside it sucks having the flu outside, chilled,sick and feeling horrible. I hate the toliets,no showers and not much of a place to rest especially in bad weather. I truly believe everyone should take a long roadtrip,and if you want to you will, and there's always excuses too.Try it you might like it!!! [ This Message was edited by: enigma on 2003-01-09 21:57 ]
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peripatetic
Jan 10, 2003, 6:19 AM
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Registered: Dec 8, 2002
Posts: 36
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Every day, during every boring lecture, every time that I deal with an angry customer.... oh yes, everyday.
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