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Indefinite Backpack Travel

jeremymaluf.com

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Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#351

Post by bluebarbet »

Jedd wrote: post #287
jojobas wrote: post #286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

While true, it's functionally irrelevant. Humans are animals, animals procreate. Telling people not to do it because reasons is going to be about as effective as telling them not to eat or sleep.

What I would like to see is a norm on numbers of children. Personally, I think that having more than the replacement number - i.e. more than 2 - is straightforwardly unethical given the stress our planet is under. But by the same token, 2 or fewer is fine. And it would be nice if those who choose to have none got a little more respect for it.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#352

Post by mr_toad »

hombre_fatal wrote: post #11
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…

Yeah, when we stop moving, it's so easy to start hoarding. I lived in Mexico for 10 years with just two duffelbags of clothes and essentials. I could carry both on a plane unchecked and be anywhere with nothing left behind, and I loved it. Now I look around me in my apartment I share with my girlfriend and have things I wouldn't have even conceived of, like a gaming PC with two monitors (for what??) and a closet full…

You can’t even carry one duffel bag unchecked on a budget airline anymore, unless its a very small one. Some of the cheaper airlines even charge extra for overhead luggage.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#353

Post by mr_toad »

themadturk wrote: post #199
plastic3169 wrote: post #107

I am surprised one bag crowd seem to pack so many computing devices with them. Some have phone, laptop, ipad and kindle and pride themselves on being minimalists.

It's interesting he has an iPad in the picture of his gear, but doesn't mention it in the article. I, too, waffle on which is best for minimalism, but if I had to choose I'd still go with my MacBook Air. An iPad is nice, but it's not a substitute for a laptop. I'd want an ereader as well, but when push comes to shove, I can read on my phone just fine. My Kobo Clara BW is small and light enough to be almost unnoticeab…

E reader batteries last a lot longer than a phone. If I read on my phone I’d have to charge it constantly.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#355

Post by cmos »

chrismorgan wrote: post #283

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 camp…

I biked around the US for 1.5 years, and loved every minute of it. Initially I had a hammock (Hennessey) and then a 1 person tent. Lived at a whitewater rafting company, was invited into a music festival, and was invited into people's homes and fed 2-3 days a week. I stopped to do the family thing, but gearing up to take them on bike trips soon.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#356

Post by ImPleadThe5th »

greggman65 wrote: post #288

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…

I agree with you on all of this. The no friends and no DIY is brutal for me to be honest.

I think one thing that helps with some of this is staying in Hostels often even if they are sometimes a bit uncomfortable.I feel like people in hostels kind of speed-run friendship because they are low in time and need connection so people are very candid and open. Then instead of having to do research usually there's someone going the opposite direction to you and can recommend stuff to see.

I also 100% agree about museums and tourist attractions. This is why I often will only spend 1-2 days in a big city to get my bearings and hopefully catch some tips from a fellow traveler and go find the unique stuff in smaller towns or out in nature as soon as possible.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#357

Post by bmicraft »

techdmn wrote: post #346
Muromec wrote: post #329

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With the direction everything is moving, we will get back slavery faster than we will get robots and AGI.

Slavery never went away, it just changed its name to Prison Labor. For fun here's a pair of stories about people being held past their release dates: * https://promiseofjustice.org/news/louisianans-illegally-kept... * https://www.corrections1.com/law-and-legislation/articles/re...

For a lot of countries, it did go away.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#358

Post by adastra22 »

falcor84 wrote: post #311
Ferret7446 wrote: post #285

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

There might be some version of a future where robots take care of managing the industry for our benefit in a post-scarcity setting, allowing us humans to live as simple a life as we want, knowing that when a material need arises the robots will be willing and able to quickly fulfill it for us. I don't think that's where we're headed, but I like imagining.

But… why? What you describe sounds like a dystopic vision, but you seem enthusiastic about it? Why?

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#359

Post by adastra22 »

bmicraft wrote: post #357
techdmn wrote: post #346

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Slavery never went away, it just changed its name to Prison Labor. For fun here's a pair of stories about people being held past their release dates: * https://promiseofjustice.org/news/louisianans-illegally-kept... * https://www.corrections1.com/law-and-legislation/articles/re...

For a lot of countries, it did go away.

It may have been made illegal, but it hasn’t gone away.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#360

Post by adastra22 »

holoduke wrote: post #188
jimbokun wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Retirement just means Fuck You money. Can work for money or not, but if you are and your employer creates unacceptable or undesirable conditions you can immediately say Fuck You and just go do something else without worrying about covering the necessities of life.

Nah. That's not how it works. I could retire, but choose to keep working. The idea that you can simply step out is based on the idea that you don't need work.cbut in my case I need it for its social aspects and to stay motivated to do things. I still have the same issues as other people where in the mornings I just want to stay in bed. But I still go to work. Because I know it's ultimately a better choice.

You are saying the same thing.
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