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ApollosCrow120 karma

Lived off-grid a bit myself, and plan to again. I definitely agree that it can do good things for a person's character and perspective.

How are you living now? Do you find that you are drawn to modern conveniences a lot now, or are you still more attracted to the simpler, wilder life?

ApollosCrow88 karma

No, it's a pretty logical step. Most people stop eating animals for what they perceive as ethical violation to personal or social morality.

Knowledge leads to change. Food politics have become a lot more present in the public conscious, and there are a lot more options for consumers as a consequence. For example I know many people who only eat local, free-range meat, and even that only occasionally. I'd call it common knowledge at this point that western cultures consume too much meat, to the detriment of our health, our environment, and our moral duty as self-imposed manipulators of the planet. It doesn't mean everyone should be vegetarian, but it does bear some thought.

This is not about labeling yourself or setting rules - it's about making decisions based on information. We make large and small choices everyday that have wider affects than we understand. I would even say that going veg or vegan should not be considered a "solution" - after all, corn and soy agriculture are certainly not ecologically sound either. All anyone can do is self-educate, explore alternatives, and live the best life one can.

ApollosCrow17 karma

Yeah but with a publisher you get an advance, which for a great many authors is what enables them to turn their passion into a career. You also get plugged into a culture and ecosystem which generates exposure and distribution. Self-publishing is one way to go, but it has its downsides, and traditional publishing has its strengths.

ApollosCrow12 karma

Amen to this.

ApollosCrow9 karma

It's funny, half of my friends have lived some version of this at one time or another, as have I, yet it seems like every other day there's an AMA by someone 'on the road', like it was some rare species of exotic adventurer. As OP will surely testify, livin' free in America is easier and more common than folks know. This country has an abundance of space, glut, and opportunity.

Personally I think everyone should experience some kind of road living for a time. It gives perspective. Of course, forethought is also a good thing. Realize that your life is always changing. I traveled for several years, swearing off a career and the mundanity of conventional life. Then when it came time to get a good job, or buy a piece of property, or start a family, I had a real tough time "catching up."

I s'pose my question is, do you ever worry about that? Changing directions as you get older, and finding that you have to start from scratch? Also, what is the point/focus of the doc? Is it to advocate the traveler lifestyle, warn against it, neither/both?