How I Make a Living as an Adventurer

"Responsibilities in and of themselves define nothing. It's always people who are imparting values — high or low. Reading your line, it's pretty clear that who you are is determined (defined) by what you do (i.e. the responsibilities that you take) — in the eyes of others (i.e. your peers and society)."

I am going to play devil's advocate here, but even if one defines oneself by the responsibilities one takes, that may have nothing to do with the perception of others. Some people could just find it rewarding to be responsible for the wellbeing of others ( family??). That whole deduction did not add up to me, in and of itself.

Secondly, it seems that some from the " I don't care what others think about me…" folks, also spend a good amount of time making sure they are perceived as not caring what others think about them… ;)

"Secondly, it seems that some from the " I don't care what others think about me…" folks, also spend a good amount of time making sure they are perceived as not caring what others think about them… ;)"

Just want to make sure there are no misunderstandings :)

I don't find being responsible for the well-being of my family (wife and children) rewarding. It is my moral responsibility. As for the rest of the family, it is a case by case endeavor… some I have no desire to help. Those who I help are in the vein of helping them to help themselves. And I find none of it rewarding at all, but rather a drag.

"[E]ven if one defines oneself by the responsibilities one takes, that may have nothing to do with the perception of others.

Theoretically possible, but I think people who define themselves by the responsibilities taken would apply similarly toward others — as a matter of consistency. In Tors case, that's the perception I got all the way around. I could be completely wrong, of course.

Some people could just find it rewarding to be responsible for the wellbeing of others ( family??). That whole deduction did not add up to me, in and of itself.

Sure. We're all wired differently…

"t seems that some from the I don't care what others think about me…" folks, also spend a good amount of time making sure they are perceived as not caring what others think about them… ;)

Indeed. Like how some people fall over themselves to make sure EVERYONE sees them as inclusive, liberal, and open minded. The yardsticks we use to judge (and be judged upon) are limitless. Responsibilities, wealth, looks, etc., etc. It's seldom black or white / all or nothing… but I think to the extent we can cultivate a sense of worth and well being within ourselves that is based a bit less on competition / comparison with others — then we increase our chances of joy and contentment.

"I don't find being responsible for the well-being of my family (wife and children) rewarding. It is my moral responsibility"

Fine: To some it is rewarding to take care of their moral responsibity.
Just depends of how you define the word "rewarding" and there is no one definition that applies to all.

Helping others help themselves…. sure, no argument here, but that has nothing to do with this.

My previous post should really be read as it applies to the thread. Or not.

Now he's married with a house. Change, Life's only constant.

"Now he's married with a house. Change, Life's only constant….."

[Music up, "Bobbie McGee"]

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waiting for a train
And I's feeling nearly as faded as my jeans.
Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained,
It rode us all the way to New Orleans.

I pulled my harp from and my dirty red bandanna,
I was playing soft while Bobby sang the blues.
Windshield wipers slapping time, I was holding Bobby's hand in mine,
We sang every song that driver knew.

Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose,
Nothing don't mean nothing honey if it ain't free, now now.
And feeling good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues,
You know feeling good was good enough for me,
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.

From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun,
Hey, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul.
Through all kinds of weather, through everything that we done,
Hey Bobby baby kept me from the cold.

One day up near Salinas, Lord, I let him slip away,
He's looking for that home and I hope he finds it,
But I'd trade all of my tomorrows for one single yesterday
To be holding Bobby's body next to mine.

Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose,
Nothing, that's all that Bobby left me, yeah,
But feeling good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues,
Hey, feeling good was good enough for me, hmm hmm,
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.

La la la, la la la la, la la la, la la la la
La la la la la Bobby McGee.
La la la la la, la la la la la
La la la la la, Bobby McGee, la.

La La la, la la la la la la,
La La la la la la la la la, hey now Bobby now Bobby McGee yeah.
Na na na na na na na na, na na na na na na na na na na na
Hey now Bobby now, Bobby McGee, yeah.

Lord, I'm calling my lover, calling my man,
I said I'm calling my lover just the best I can,
C'mon, where is Bobby now, where is Bobby McGee, yeah,
Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lord
Hey, hey, hey, Bobby McGee, Lord!

Yeah! Whew!

Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lord
Hey, hey, hey, Bobby McGee.

[Roll credits]

That's a pretty good plan. Sow your wild oats in your 20s and 30s all while developing your resume. Have some puppies in your thirties and try not to strangle those puppies in your forties. Live frugaly along the way. Semi-retire in your fifties to a part time job and mortgage free house enjoying a life of chasing adventure and selling isobutane canisters for <20 hrs a week at REI.

..Sow your wild oats in your 20s and 30s all while developing your resume along the way. ..

Think AS also took a chance on an unconventional career choice (small business?) and came out on top instead of a conventional path in his degree (economics). Read where a photographer for Surfer magazine (who has been since promoted in the field) started after getting his Masters in Economics or MBM from a major California school .. or the couple who does (did?) many of the photos for Backpacker mag and others having to live in their van for a while before their photos started selling.

Add: the part of keeping other expenses low makes sense while on an adventure. Watching some vehicles getting towed from a planned parking repaving right now, … I wonder how many are off on multi-week or multi-month travels and didn't get the memo about a week ago? Granted some are just lazy or being a young curmudgeon. Sometimes it just pays to keep your stuff in long term (prepaid) storage or at a trusted persons house (like a parent).

ed: add

Who is to say that Andrew Skurka is not a "responsible" person, just because he has chosen not to have certain attachments at this time?

Although I don't pretend to know anything about his life (I have never met him; I have read one of his books, but that doesn't make me an expert on him!), I feel sure that he assumes lots of responsibilities (for example, to his "teammates" on his non-solo adventures; to his "clients" on his teaching adventures, etc.)…and I don't think he'd be successful if he didn't acquit those responsibilities admirably.

All this to say…your path is WONDERFUL — whatever it is — because it's wonderful for YOU.

Obviously, as a society, we need things like stability (to raise children effectively) and industriousness (to fund the important stuff like preparing our children to take over in the future). But maybe we also need "out-liers"; people who take a different approach, have different aspirations and goals. The best artists have always been out-liers, and they help us see other ways of thinking and other possibilities, which is a good function!

As others have said — as long as he isn't expecting me/you/us to subsidize his "fun", why should we have anything to say about his choices? Unfortunately, I know several young people who DO wrongly take public monies (i.e., getting unemployment benefits but not looking for work; using an old student card when they haven't been in school for 10 years, etc.) to pay for their adventures. As someone else said, this is NOT an adult life, and is rather insulting/destructive to those who pay taxes to fund these programs. (Of course abuses happen, but that doesn't change the wrongness of it.)

But if, as Skurka wrote, you want to focus your life on non-material happiness generators, and you're not cheating others to do it — why not???? Enjoy, Andrew!

Actually Andrew is apparently married now. A recent blog post is about what skis to get for her for Chirstmas. A whole other type of life-and-death gear selection question. LOL

So sad – another one bites the dust! ;-)

Perhaps this is the best way to be a full time adventurer? :)
http://www.theonion.com/articles/im-just-a-free-spirit-who-is-entirely-financially,33905/

I need a trust fund. Anyone want to adopt a short, bald guy who is not-quite-40?

Geez, 32 is young! ;-) Heck, I was having kids at 37 and 39!! I had a kid at 24 and then spent my 20's and early 30's hiking. So I guess I see 32 as a good age.

IMO, waiting till 30 or older isn't an issue with marriage! If anything you have time to grow up and find what you want to be.

Ha! Good find Pmags, though the Average Joe (and Jane) must save money like other types of vacation (or "stack bills" in stripper parlance). Besides a trust fund, .. a nice police, firefighters, or similar pension that can be taken while young helps too (though these are dangerous jobs where there's less chance of collecting).

Again hats off to Shurka but that doesn't mean everyone else is hosed.

There isnt any right way, and few legal wrong ways, to live a life.

But I do think that the vast majority of modern people have been so brainwashed by our society and upbringing within it, they unfortunately never realize there are alternative paths in life that dont include career, house, spouse, and 2.3 kids.

Its far too easy to get carried away with the ease that debt is granted on whims. People dont realize its a trap, until their desires change, but the debt is still there. Freedom, is lack of debt. Mort gage, is literally french for death pledge.

"Mort gage, is literally french for death pledge."

And "rent," I believe, is West Flemish for "buying a dead horse."

The great jurist Sir Edward Coke, who lived from 1552 to 1634, explained why the term mortgage comes from the Old French words mort, "dead," and gage, "pledge."

It had to do with the doubtfulness of whether the mortgagor will pay the debt. If the mortgagor does not, then the land pledged to the mortgagee as security for the debt "is taken from him for ever, and so dead to him upon condition, &c. And if he doth pay the money, then the pledge is dead as to the [mortgagee]." The term has been in English much longer than the 17th century, being first recorded in Middle English with the form morgage and the figurative sense "pledge" in a work written before 1393.

By the way, the French legal system does not have "mortgage" — they have a very similar concept called "hypothèque".

…

I've made my living as an adventurer for 13 years now.
Here are a few of my thoughts on the subject. I hope they help!

http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/living-travels/
http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/living-love/

"Its far too easy to get carried away with the ease that debt is granted on whims. People dont realize its a trap, until their desires change, but the debt is still there. Freedom, is lack of debt."

Bingo. MB hit the nail on the head. Debt, especially car payments, are the curse of the middle class. If we can get over our lust for the automobile & see them only as transportation, society will take a giant step forward.

PS – Happy to see Skurka found love and got married. A bit sad though. Maybe one more huge hike from him, but that's probably it.

Ryan

I have not been very successful trying to convince other people to do or believe what I want them to, so I gave up. I just do what I like and believe what I believe, and they can do as they choose. Me having an opinion about their choices doesn't accomplish anything. If someone chooses not to marry and to hike instead, more power to them. Solo hiking is kind of boring for me, but that is just me.

Ryan,

Agree on taking loans out for cars, it's the dumbest thing anyone can do with their money this side of flushing it down the toilet.
I've been driving and owning cars for over 30 years now though and i've never once been in debt for any of those cars or motorbikes.

Granted i have and would never buy a new one but car ownership doesn't automatically mean it's a curse.

Obviously if money is extremely tight then it's going to be very tough to run and maintain a car, but then no one said car ownerships is not without it's costs.

Biggest problem as far as i'm concerned is people living the lifestyle they feel they deserve rather than the one they can afford.

This is a great thread – it's actually part of why BPL has become a bit of a life changer for me. I spent my entire youth and early adulthood pursuing career and money – and found it was not at all fun.

Now I'm working very, very hard to cast off my debt, my possessions, and need as little money as possible. I don't want a big house – honestly, the idea of tiny house living is actually very attractive to me! Heck – I often wonder if living in a yurt would be as cool as it sounds.

This way if I don't NEED a lot of money to maintain all the things I used to feel like I needed to accumulate, then I don't need to work as much (yeah obamacare!) and I can live simply (http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1812048,00.html) and spend my time not working to pay my mortgage and car payment and, well, working just to work more…

but rather to be able to live my life on my terms – family, friends, my dog, nature, cuben fiber………….

"my dog, nature, cuben fiber…………."

LOL, yeah, don't forget the cuben. If Thoreau was writing today he would have a chapter on it in Walden. (insert ironic smiley here to stave off ironically impaired rants)

But seriously, agree %100 – about Obamacare as well, the main thing missing from Caveman life. That and my espresso machine.

I think we are genetically programed to be happier living less regimented, stationary and burdened lives. I think that "adventure" is actually closer to a modern version of what we did as a species the last 30000 years. So, again ironically but in a different way, Andrew Skurka in the middle of the Brooks range looking at all the caribou tracks, feeling humbled, and throwing things at charging Grizzlies … that seems to me much closer to a genetically preconditioned state of Eden than working in a cubicle. To paraphrase Lawrence of Arabia (movie not his book), "You can do what you want, but you can't want what you want".

@ Jennifer et al: the quote in the OP says it all
http://andrewskurka.com/2012/how-i-make-a-living-as-an-adventurer/

Q: What is just as effective as making money? A: Not spending money.

It's getting easier to do that from my perspective. Since the loss of net neutrality, my search engine results have gone haywire (my smartphone results just gave me the nearest open convenience store as being 900 miles away at 3AM), my cable company wants to increase my rates even though it's just the Kardashians on television, and there's been a flood of recall notices out there recently. Pay more for defective goods and services … or save it for an adventure? Hmmmm. Let me think..

Add these are "first world problems" certainly, .. but at least several hundreds of dollars per month worth of first world problems

"There is no one way to be a "grown-up." Problem is, most people still believe a marriage, kids, and a mortgage somehow means they've "arrived" in adulthood, when actually we can all think of people who have these things but who are irresponsible and emotionally immature. What's worse, many people seem end up in this conventional life arrangement with little self-awareness of where their life is going. The Artic 1000 took a type of mental maturity most of us here will never achieve. If Skurka consciously chooses that route of self-development instead of the more common and socially expected one, that's not Peter Pan syndrome. It's just a different path."

That sums it up pretty well, I'd say.