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Indefinite Backpack Travel

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Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#281

Post by danpalmer »

bapak wrote: post #266
danpalmer wrote: post #246

I'm all for light travel, but this being everything you own is unrealistic and not something that most people should aspire to. OP treats clothing as disposable, buying swim shorts for swimming and ditching them before moving on, buying more t-shirts when in one place and ditching them before leaving. I hope they are donating them for re-use. Between medication, toiletries, and general hygiene products I could fill n…

> My house is filled with pictures My friends know I take no material things and all I need is a picture on my phone. The occasional tiny gift is only saved until I visit my parents' home and dump it there.

Again, that's not something for others to aspire to, even if it works for you personally.

The fact that you're "dumping" gifts at your parents' home suggests a few things. It hints at a callousness regarding relationships, particularly with that choice of words, although that may be reading too far into it.

It also suggests that you do intend to return to the gifts eventually. That you see the nomadism as temporary, that you'll always have your parents' home to return to, or that you eventually intend to settle down. That's fine, maybe that's a natural change at some time in your life, but it would also suggest that this nomadism is not sustainable. It also demonstrates the privilege you have, in being able to return to somewhere, being able to have the best of both worlds. That's also not a bad thing, but it's worth recognising the privileged position you're in.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#283

Post by chrismorgan »

A few years ago, at age 30, I expected by age 40 to either be married, or of no fixed abode. (There is, of course, a lot more to the story.)

I had been planning the construction of a velomobile and trailer, with solar panels, batteries, digital piano, small fridge, more than 20L of water capacity, integrated sleeping quarters… essentially a miniature, human-powered RV (in fact very close to New Zealand’s freedom camping vehicle rules; with a few realistic changes it could be certified). Suitable for roaming Australia, only needing restocking/dumping every three or four days. Obviously much heavier than backpack travel (laden, 120–140kg, excluding rider; but at least this wasn’t my grand-piano-cycle design¹), but significantly more independent in other ways. I planned to build it, then cycle around Australia for a year (average 50km/day), then unless my situation changed, sell my house and continue indefinitely.

Well, I moved to India and got married last year instead. So my velomobile will never happen. :-)

—⁂—

¹ It calls for some pretty crazy gear ratios if you want to be able to climb any sort of slope, but I worked things out enough to be confident the concept is sound, with careful component choice (e.g. the tyres I’d otherwise prefer to use are only rated to 150kg, so either different ones will be needed, or doubling the wheels in some way). Less thoroughly imagined is the pipe-organ-cycle. Horizontal mounting honestly makes it surprisingly practical… though you might want to stop at 16′ pipes, five metres long is already getting unwieldy. Sadly I don’t think wind harvesting would be viable to drive an organ of any real size; you’d need a separate blower.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#284

Post by bloomca »

AaronAPU wrote: post #26
delichon wrote: post #10

I lived out of a backpack for two months on a Pacific Crest Trail hike. I got comfortable with it and told myself that I had overcome my materialism, and could henceforth live happily without a lot of stuff and conveniences. Not so much. Now a couple of decades later, I've got a house and garage crammed with stuff. Yesterday I had a plumber here working on a leak, and this morning I have no running water, and here I…

I think in general we fill whatever amount of space we have available. Nature abhors a vacuum.

I believe any free space we have will be taken unless you actively fight for it. And while it is hard to maintain free space, clearing up taken space is even harder -- the discussion is usually what to put instead of something.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#285

Post by Ferret7446 »

delichon wrote: post #10

I lived out of a backpack for two months on a Pacific Crest Trail hike. I got comfortable with it and told myself that I had overcome my materialism, and could henceforth live happily without a lot of stuff and conveniences. Not so much. Now a couple of decades later, I've got a house and garage crammed with stuff. Yesterday I had a plumber here working on a leak, and this morning I have no running water, and here I…

You couldn't survive with just a backpack if other people "overcame their materialism" and didn't own all of the capital that allowed you to survive, like providing you your equipment, food, knowledge, and emergency rescue if it came to it.

Criticizing "hedonism" is its own kind of hedonism, or in common parlance, a first world problem. It is a luxury that cannot be indulged by poor societies.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#286

Post by jojobas »

jhbadger wrote: post #252
porphyra wrote: post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You're constantly making and throwing away relationships. Yeah, this lifestyle basically only works as a single young adult. Once you have a significant other, it's very, very hard. Once you have a kid, it's impossible.

Paul Erdős basically lived most of the second half of his (extremely productive) adult life like this (although he lived out of a suitcase rather than a backpack so he had slightly more room). Although granted he never married and had no children. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Erd%C5%91s

Relatively few people's economic output can compare with them producing new people. If your last name is not Feynman or Curie your most valuable contribution to the society is a couple of kids.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#287

Post by Jedd »

jojobas wrote: post #286
jhbadger wrote: post #252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Paul Erdős basically lived most of the second half of his (extremely productive) adult life like this (although he lived out of a suitcase rather than a backpack so he had slightly more room). Although granted he never married and had no children. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Erd%C5%91s

Relatively few people's economic output can compare with them producing new people. If your last name is not Feynman or Curie your most valuable contribution to the society is a couple of kids.

Counterpoint - the best single thing you can do for the planet, in terms of minimising your consumption / ecological footprint, is to not spawn.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#288

Post by greggman65 »

I did something along these lines 12 years ago. For me it was a backpack and a suitcase but still. I traveled hotels and airbnb's for several years. I'm not unhappy I did it but I'm not sure I'd recommend it.

Things you can't do traveling long term.

● for many it means no hangout friends. Because you're not there. You move on in 1 to 8 weeks

● no shopping. Yea, I know, some people are doing it precisely because they want to avoid consumerism. But, most people are used to traveling for a few days to 1-2 weeks max, then coming home. For most of those people, shopping for trickets, clothing, in this far away place is a joy. But, that joy is much harder to come by when you can't go back and stash your loot. All you can do is replace something you have. Buy new shoes and throw away the old ones, etc..

● no crafting / diy / maker stuff - If you're into making things you need tools and storage for materials. Not going to have those living out of a backpack/suitcase. Even little things. In my apartment I have a shelf full of stationary stuff, paper clips, push pins, rubber bands, cellophane tape, masking tap, markers, glues of various kidns. All that is not something you can travel with so if that's your hobby or if inspiration strikes while living that way you're kind of out of luck. If all you make is digital and so all you need is a notebook/tablet/phone then this is less of a problem.

● no stability - it was strange knowing I'd be homeless if I didn't start planning something before the current rentle period was up. I'd arrive somewhere and immediately have to start looking for new hotels/airbnbs for the next stop or two.

It also got somewhat tiring to arrive, look up the sights, and find that to some degree they start to get too similar. Going to an art museum 2-3 times a year is fun. Going to one every week and, at least for me, it started to get repetative. Same with visiting yet another old building. They are all great. But, they're great twice a year, not twice a week.

It's definitely gotten easier though. 12 years ago I had to buy a sim in each location. They sucked and didn't have much data. That's much better today. Free-ish wifi is more ubiquitous than it was then too.

Personally I'd just recommend traveling more often but keeping a home base. I also found that throwing away all my stuff I think was a mistake. Those things I got rid of because they were on my shelves but I never picked them up, I only realized after I got rid of them was that their point was not to be used, their point was to remind me of times, places, and people at the point in my life when I acquired each one. With them gone there is nothing to trigger those memories.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#289

Post by procinct »

kakacik wrote: post #115
mbesto wrote: post #81

Few modifications. I would highly recommend: - Icebreaker Merino T-Shirts https://na.icebreaker.com/en-us/collections/mens-tshirts?cou... - Paka Alpaca Wool Hoodie: https://www.pakaapparel.com/products/alpaca-hoodie?variant=3... I wear those t-shirts in hot climates because of how breathable they are and the Alpaca Wool Hoodie is literally the best sweater I've ever owned. Super breathable, lightweight and I've washe…

Merino shirts are literally the only shirts I've worn through to have holes on various places. Its not that great and vastly overpriced material for many active uses, but marketing is strong with this one. To quote some mountain guides I talked about this - its a great second layer in snowy sports, ie ski touring. Wicking of sweat ain't great compared to synthetics (and thus drying takes also much longer), but when w…

Just in case you weren’t aware, you can’t use enzymatic laundry powder with merino because it will dissolve it and cause those holes. For years I thought I was going too hard on them or the holes were coming from moths, but then I read about it online. My merino gear now lasts a lot longer now that I wash it separately and with non-enzymatic powder.
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