u/Fit-Rhubarb-7820

I’m truly blessed: but I do not believe in god, unless you consider that Money is actually god: both are abstract tools to measure the worth of something, or someone, with or without context. That’s my observation. The singular god ideal has corrupted humanity by pressing biases into the
Cultural identity of people, and it’s wrecking our adaptability as a species of obligated tool users and generalists.

That’s to say: I do very well being “homeless” because I learned to use money as a tool, and do not find pleasure in using it: for I do not want what’s offered to me. I only eat to sustain myself, not for pleasure.

I bring this up cause I finally talked to my 90yr old grandpa. In another country, as an adult. Last time we met, I was 5 and this was before 911. I’m in my early 30’s now.

He just told me not to beat my dad and to work my life away because God, and money is all-powerful.

I don’t worry about money, not because I’m rich, but because most of my animalistic human needs are met, without using money: because I’m that competent at living. This means I’m either an animal or a godly person.

It just hurts my heart a bit. That my entire family is greedy, from my perspective. That I’m Not worthy of reproducing a family of my own, because I’m smart but not a millionaire. It’s a source of personal shame, to my dad, who abused me often, that I’m currently nomadic, he has me promise to NOT tell my broader family, his family.

He’s gotten reprimanded for abusing me, mishandlingly me growing up, and sabotaging my growth. Once I flew the coup, I literally leveled up 100x and then it all came crashing down; and that didn’t even register as unfortunate: it’s just another chapter in my good moods, inspiration for poetry.

But this? Maybe it’s cause I got nervous and couldn’t wish my grandpa a happy birthday with my singing and ukulele. Maybe it’s that he said “don’t beat your dad, stand by him now that he’s sick” or that my mom poisoned me and my dad against each other, or that my sister (with him now, who visits often) told everyone the gossip that I had an argument with our dad.

Or maybe, just maybe, I feel shame and worthless. It could be that, too. I feel no pride, in any given day.

I was told (growing up) that (unless I work at the NASDAQ) I’d be a worthless man.

Basically, I Bike Pack a lot: and I usually bring a pool foam Noodle to show the cars behind me how Wide/Far I am: which really helps them gauge distance accurately, at speed. I’d hope most cars aren’t homicidal people who hate anyone on a bicycle.

The foam noodle is great! But it’s only one stick: and it’s a foam noodle, so I can only bend it back and around.

I have this concept in my head: a tube balloon (like the kind used for balloon animals) x3 to form a triangle: like a Slow Vehicle Caution triangle. And, it’s got 3 chambers to inflate: so it can fold up even smaller than the foam noodle can bend back.

The idea is: I need it, so I grab it from my frame bag. One or all 3 tubes. They click-together. Or have toggles. Doesn’t matter. I then inflate the thing and strap it to the bike.

So what material technology could I look at, to make something like this?

PVC and Heat welding? TPU and chemical welding? Should I go DIy and get actual balloons for balloon animals, keep them straight and cover them with duck tape, pop and add an inflation valve and button parts?

Long story short, I was about 7 when I realized that I could become homeless. My parents lied to me about it, and a lot of adults simply didn’t entertain my questioning, with such heavy topics. I saw the writing on the wall, and was able to infer contextual historical evidence, of how common exile is for human beings: we are stuck using tools, and housing is a tool, so is money.

Thankfully, I did not follow blindly when the adults said “just go to college and make money” which seemed absolutely stupid, to me, as a child: and when I was in Hs, for-profit accreditation college scandals really came out. I’m 31, so definitely saw my older generational peers get screwed over.

Since the age of 7, I started looking into philosophy. I applied several principles of living to my own life, carefully trying out ideals and testing them in real life, slowly. By the age of 8, I was drawn to the outdoors more, and formally began to plan out the animal I wanted to become, without human context: aka while homeless.

I realized as a child: I have no power, rights or freedom, but I do have time and imaginative abilities. I can learn things faster. I used this to my full advantage. It was nearly 20 years before I became homeless, mastering the craft of my default lifestyle.

And then, it happened! I was basically dealt a bad hand, politically, grew up in poverty, and was told I should chase money and greed or be worth less to my immediate family. I chose to question that, and bought my freedom.

So when it did happen, I had everything crashing down on me. Debt piling up, bad house mates being horrible people and using violence to coerce me. Losing my housing, obviously. I also lost my two jobs, friends, family and stability.

This all happened in the “Saturn return” years, for those familiar with classical/vedic astrology.

When it actually happened: I was fine :)

17 years of PRACTICE really paid off: I had a formula that was generating superb results, minimizing my effort while maximizing my gain, and every tangent skill I set out to master years prior, was at the level of MASTER.

Coincidentally, I literally became a master of learning something new. That’s a very important skill. We aren’t taught this skill, or shown the possibilities. I’ve always been a pragmatist, so some people aren’t capable of this level of skill.

So what do I do? Well, I generate income by performing one specific service, which is easy and cheap for me to manage, operate and fund: and I get paid well for it: not enough to get housing, because of the HCoL. I also travel within my area, and abroad, with a bicycle: which carries 98% of my equipment, which is about 65L of volume, maximum, for 4-seasons of nomadic living. The 65L is split over 3 main bags: a duffel bag up front, a smaller backpack on the main rear rack, and a frame bag, as well as some
Other bags, like a satchel or fanny pack.

For shelter, I keep it to my strengths and tied up with my faults: it’s a 10x10 tarp I can pitch in several ways, mostly over a hammock, which is my sleeping arrangement. I also make my own bedding material, but currently I’m using a purpose made hammock sleeping pad, of the inflating variety.

Then there’s the safety factor: most homeless
People struggle with sleep: you’re vulnerable. You need a flat space. You will get cold, and the lack of sleep WILL kill someone. I use the hammock stealth camping method, but further that by specifically sleeping inside of tree canopies, which I ascend with ropes and pulleys: which I know how to use safely.

With this lifestyle, I have a slower range than with a car, but the overhead cost is basically minimal, given how I don’t have expensive equipment to maintain or repair, gas and insurance, and cars are also HUGE, noisy and difficult to hide effectively. A bike has been a lot better.

I primarily load my bike in an aerodynamic way, with the bags, and bike UP a hill or forest mountain, or something, to shake off any followers, and gain distance from most places that will likely have homeless
People there, after hours. Then I set up my stuff (usually in the dark, did I also mention I gained superhuman abilities, like seeing in the dark?) and sleep, then break camp at dawn and leave to make my breakfast somewhere else. I might leave my bedding equipment some place, or bring it with me.

So far, this lifestyle has been great, but keep in mind that I practiced the situation before I had to rely on it for survival. The reasons why I thrive, are because I am a man, and because I have gained wisdom through personal experience.

Back in September of 2016, one of my friends honked the air horn on my bike, which was only used for traffic. I’ve since replaced it with a whistle. Anyway, this ruptured my ear drum and caused me to have total hearing loss for 2 solid years, and severe tinnitus for a third year.

I only really regained my hearing using my own ability to engineer a machine that created brain growth, and promoted rest/healing. It still took me 2 years of my own physical therapy that I developed, and I’m lucky as hell that I spent 2 solid years building up this tech BEFORE my TBi happened. Maybe I would have recovered anyway, maybe never…

I want to celebrate my life, because I’ve nearly died 1,000 times and I’m only 31. Despite everything, I’m doing well. I might be homeless, yet I’m doing well.

Sometimes, I have nightmares about how my parents beat the living soul out of me, or how I’ve nearly died, or worse: that I’m happily married to my ex fiancée Lilly and the TBi never happened. Those dreams hurt the most. She did confess to me that she stopped loving me after the TBi, because my personality changed.

I still love and miss her, she was my bff and we genuinely loved each other. I told her I was going to be homeless when it happend, but frankly my own ability to live wisely came back to aid me in my darkest times, through and through: she never believed in me.

I want to move on!!!! Not sure how ;( finding love seems harder now, because people are crazy. I want to find love. Become a good lover, husband and father.. yet people tell me I’m worthless because I have failed the objective of capitalism: I am more than a broken cash register!

Not sure what the past decade of regaining my humanity should look like, but I should really reflect on what it’s come out to be!!!!

I am a bikepacker, so I have to port about 63L of gear with me, on my bike. It's spread out over 2 bags and a frame bag. Despite sounding heavy, It gives me a speed boost.

Anyway, I have been trying to solve this issue: How do I get a portable bucket to wash some clothes in? Something small, 1-2 gallons.

I solved it! I use a nylon-mesh "roll top dry bag" that has been modified: the plastic strips at the top, where the clip buckle is: that got removed and I then put tape along the edges.

If I want a smaller bucket, I roll the lip down enough, and boom!

I used it the other day to give myself a rag bath, while out on a HOT day, at my little home in the woods.

It felt nice being butt naked, in a private place, doing that. I used about 3-4 L of water. I used soap. I washed everything but my hair (I have long hair.)

I am coming up on my 3 year anniversary this coming month: since I lost most of my savings, my housing, and my two nice jobs.

Basically, I lived in a shared housing situations, two bad actors committed crimes, and we all got evicted. I was targeted by their gang for speaking up against it. I narrowly avoided the lawsuit and stalking.

I have been incredibly lucky: When I was a child, I realized this could happen to me (become homeless) and I took it upon myself (as a child and teenager) to imagine a solution, practice out the skills to make that work, work at that diligently for nearly 2 decades, in CASE it happened..

and when it did happen, in my late 20's: I was ready, I was able to weather the storm very well. Few people have this happen.. We are mostly all told to believe in the lie that this only happens to bad people. Reality is that the sun still shines on the wicked. For better or worse, what happens to anyone is neither good nor bad.. Anyone who is greedy, will never be rich. We all have the same thing: our present moment.

So now that it's been 3 years of relatively EASY living, no car, no address, no actual stable job where I am an employee: I gotta ask: WHAT MORE DO I WANT OUT OF MY LIFE?

I want to join a village.. but there's no village. I want to find housing? Find a mate! Get on with my life?

I am just nomadic, a ghost: a traveler... people look down on us so vagrantly, to get a lick of self worth from external forces of context. True self worth only comes out of competence.

As for my options: No section 8, the local resources are corrupted and won't specifically help me: I am not mentally ill or abusing substances. I can't prove enough income to rent a studio. I might be able to find a house mate situation to share, but even with that: still too expensive.. and if I was lucky to find a big house with many people: I get illegally discriminated against because I am a man and not Punk enough for these youth of today.

So I am losing hope: My lifestyle isn't that bad or rough, it's just... unhoused.

I've honestly come to fully embrace it, but that might just very well be because I tell myself I should love it: because I knew this wouldn't be easy, but that I thought of everything before it happened: and for that.. I have to be absolutely gracious and maybe even proud of myself, of Kid me, for figuring this out with wisdom.

The other month, my NICE android phone broke, and I have yet to fix it. The other android phone I had is absolute dog crap CHEAP, and wouldn't charge with anything under a whopping 15w of power. I started using the iPhone I have, which is locked to ATT and I got it mainly for the camera..

I found out that I can get something like 1GB of data/unlimited call/text for some $10-15 a month, which I can afford. I also found out the local store has a promotion: something like leasing to own a MacBook air pro for a low price for existing customers with an iPhone.

But, is it worth it? Maybe (maybe MAYBE) it would be worth it to me, because I am trying to break into the digital nomad scene with my bikepacking vlogging, and this would make it easier to do stuff ON THE GO and have it work with this stupid Locked-Software iPhone..

Otherwise, I am just going to give up, use my old GoPro, get a good external mic, have to sync that in Post and hope for the best.

I do not like it so far, but everyone assures me it's the iOS 26 having stupid issues with the UI priorities...

Have to do a house sit aaaaaaalll the way there.

Does anyone have any recommended routes from sunset TC max to the Forest Heights Park by the Miller Hollow nature area?

Something like a bus that’s regular, a neighborhood bike way, or some backwater road that the cars won’t absolutely splatter me along.

Maybe it’s the heat getting to me.

I’m trying to shift two pdf files from my stupid iPhone (no space left) to my nicer Supernote e ink journal.

Between the stupid limited space, not able to simply plug into a non-Apple computer to off load data and media, it’s been annoying as frick.

What if I’m out in the middle of nowhere capturing images for my vlog, and then this happens? I hate it.

It should be as simple as: I find a cafe in Buckministan, use their WiFi, download a pdf file for DADGAD tuning cords, put that into an OTG usb, then disconnect it from the phone, connect it to the phone, and then upload it to the SuperNote.

Instead, I have to download the apps, to push 30mb of data or something stupid.

I was with my friend Danielle a few months ago, and we went camping. She’s new to that so I helped her out a lot, with chores.

One of the things I helped her with, was washing her feet before bed. I do this too, but I don’t use her method: soap and water, because water
Is cold!!! It uses a lot of water sometimes.

My method: I use 70% or 91% isopropyl alcohol, spray my foot down at various angles, and buff away the dirt with a bandana. It dries out fast and either one might sanitize or overkill-dry out my foot.

Does anyone have other ways? My foot can get very dirty.

Last week, I was with my friends and nearly all
Of us were barefoot :)

That felt healing, on some deep level!

Right now, I’ve been rocking woolen wennigas from my toe knuckles to my calves, held in place with a long leather thong and earth runners.

Not quite barefoot all the time, but that’s
My shoe for most of the year.

I’m a novice Apple user, and I travel A LOT. I heard that the Apple MacBook Air line is great for on the go video editing: which is ideal for me, as I’m BikePacking.

It’s a bit complicated, but I want to use something as seamless and lightweight as possible or feesable: with the price.

I’ve heard of people using this tech for vlogging but the steep price tags keeps me away, but maybe it’s worth it: for convenience, and long term support.

What’s the latest model that’s still supported?

Or is it worth getting a new one?

Do commercially available SSDs work or should I get a pricier new model of MacBook Air?

I’ll be using my iPhone 13, though the key features I desire for this vlogging tech:

-on the go
-battery life
-ease of use (Chromebook/Iphone/Linux hodgepodge tech I have now WONT play nice together)
-preferably lots of space for media
-omg do I need a million bucks?!

On my BikePacking rig, I don’t have so much of a weight limit as I do a Volume limit. It’s about 110L of volumetric space, at most: without a trailer.

For weight, I can comfortably bikepack up to 300lbs, including bike and water, etc.

Both are massive overkill but I’ve done it before. It just sucks to have to charge up so often and feel like I’m at the mercy of batteries and lowered performance on the go.

Dropped a small (2L) soft bag, navy blue, at the rooftop parking lot when we went to Lloyd center: pretty sure I dropped it when I took my backpack off the bike and forgot to grab that. Some people tried returning it but I was too distracted to realize I had lost my bag.

Long shot I get it back, but it was full of mending material! To fix my bag and my sandals.

Went to TNr and everything went wrong! My sandal broke, my bike almost broke down, and I lost my mending bag! Then someone’s birthday got crashed :(

I am certain I dropped my bag (navy blue, smaller, soft goods that aren’t valuable) when we went up to the Lloyd center parking roof. I remember talking to my friend, absent mindedly taking my backpack off and going Up the stairs: I dropped it then, and there.

Some people tried telling about it “some guy on a loaded bike dropped this” and I was too cross faded to realize it was my bag!!!!

Does someone have it? I got home at 2am from that, I’m gonna go trace my steps, maybe someone dropped it there, too.

If it’s gone, not too much loss: it was just stuff to make a new pair of earth runner sandals.

I want to make a youtube account to share my thoughts and experiences, with young adults *(us) as the target audience.

Personally, I think I'd be showing B reel content of my little bike-packing adventures in nature, because I am "homeless" and that's legitimately how I live, day to day. Background music of my kalimba, ocarina and guitar. I live this way because of the high cost of living, I lost most of my savings, the world is ending and I wanted to love my life some more. I trained for 2 decades to live this way, beccause I knew the world is ending, constantly, and I wanted to be ready :)

The main theme of the channel would be "how to live well" since that is something I know. I used to be a chronic complainer, I used to be depressed, etc. Now, I am not depressed nor do I complain too much. I even managed to kick most addictions, including smoking and drinking.

That's what I know best, the art of living well. Personally, I have been a life long devotee of various philosophies, and have questioned these guides every day, for my whole entire life. I've still committed mistakes, and FOFO'd my way through them.

I think part of the channel should also help gen z people have a positive attitude towards the absolute difficulty of becoming homeless, because it's going to happen to most of us, because of stuff beyond our control: which brings up the fact that the way we react to what ever happens to us, IS within our direct control.

As for being homeless, I am living that way. For me, I entertained the fact that this could happen to me, and balanced it with the real cultural heritage I was born into, being native American. We are usually nomadic, and prone to higher-level thinking where we are a direct and living part of the ecosystem we find ourselves in. I've been doing well because I am not greedy, using money as a tool, and because I have a direct connection to nature.. I also do well because I prepared what was hard, while it was still easy.. and now that it's hard, I've done it easily. I want to share that, because having a contingency plan for the possibility of disaster, often makes the disaster easier to survive!

I took this gig job, for about a week: 16 animals to pet sit, and a house to watch, a huge garden to care for. It's mostly chickens, and some little odd ball pets, and two dogs.

The dogs are ok, they do not play rough or harm me, which is nice. I really do hate dogs. I hate them so much because I am always aware that they are not human, and prone to violence.

I happen to be homeless, so taking occasional gigs like this is nice and welcomed. I also used to do this BEFORE, and I am actually doing pretty well, despite being nomadic.

So I've been here a week. The dogs do not smell, but one does have some digestion issues on the mend, so it has occasionally farted. Gross.. They're both old so not so annoying.

I trained them some, like how to move out of my way when I say "Move it" and paw. They mostly keep to themselves and sleep!

I used to get into fights with dog owners, abusing public spaces. I wanted to avoid this, cause I had people pull guns on me, or else sicc their dogs on me: that was not healthy.

I've been on the mend, and even started picking up dog crap from residential yards, for dog owners. Why? Because no one was doing it, and it was my "therapy" to get over my reactive-aggression towards dog owners for not doing it, in public spaces.

After doing this, and a few other dog pet sits, I still hate dogs, I truly do. They will never be people, and I will still tell dog owners off, just politely.

This is good, because I used to be a chronic complainer, and that was ruining my life.

Now, I am literally so stubborn, I cannot have a bad day, even when dogs come around: because I can handle my triggers and reactions.

With this same skill set of emotional regulation, I keep calm when I get into fist fights, win and show mercy. I quit smoking easily. I can keep calm and self-rescue out of genuine deadly situations when I am outside. I am able to stay calm when things truly fall apart. I am able to de escalate tense situations and even tire out attack dogs, or make them stop instantly.

My patience, has truly reached a level that is great for my emotional health.

And I still hate dogs so much!!!!

Long story short, I became a philosopher as a child, and I asked questions. When the adults would not entertain by big questions, I began to read books written by dead philosophers. That worked!

Then I lived my life, as one does. Then, my life was briefly ruined by a traumatic head injury, losing the love of my life (so far...) and blah blah blah, I then fully recovered and... became homeless!

But that's not a problem.. cause I knew this could happen! I trained for nearly 20 years to have a lifestyle that would benefit from this housing insecurity! I am a nomad!

So I basically live my life off grid, as a traveling bike-packing nomad: I figured this all out ages ago, and practiced several skills to mastery, because I realized that I had all the time in the world, as a child and teenager.

So now, I think about sharing what I learned, with people: because the world is heading to instability and I am thriving despite it all.

What would I show?

-bikepacking on a budget
-how to live without money
-theory on living well
-some relevant history
-and my personal favorite: how to not become a chronic complainer! (I was one...)

I basically get life to strangle me with a piano wire, turn around, break that choke hold, collect those piano wires, and collect them to braid a rope, to pull my big dreams into reality. I am constantly thrown to the wolves, and usually make a nice BBQ out of them. I like living my life, and I wanted to show the world that the world will end, but your attitude doesn't have to play along with that.

Totally got an unsolicited DM from a redditor that has barefoot in the name. It was a basic "How do you do?" message.

I check the profile and there's literally NOTHING there except posts about barefoot...

I know these people exist but ew its yucky :(

I think it's one of those people who has a secret fetish and asks you questions and gets off to the replies. It's giving very Pedro Pascal vibes.

I've made my own equipment (not for serious expeditions, and more budget friendly, hand sewn and specialized niche gear) with all sorts of things.

Right now, I have several yards of cotton duck canvas, and want to use this.

But is this inherently a bad fabric choice? I have heard of water logging the fabric, holding it taut and letting it air-dry, to then water-proof it.

I'd probably use my pre-made stuff, which is 1:1 mineral oil and parafin. It works pretty well!

It might be heavier, but I am bikepacking so weight isn't too much of a deal breaker.

If I should just go by something like camouflage Ripstop nylon, something that isn't ultra light sylnylon (not sure if I want to spend the $$$ for fabric that will wear out within a season or two) what and where should I buy?

I already have my dedicated sewing machine, work with rope knot systems, and hand sew pretty well.