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Financing the UL lifestyle


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Home Forums General Forums General Lightweight Backpacking Discussion Financing the UL lifestyle

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Viewing 14 posts - 26 through 39 (of 39 total)
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  • #1873640
    Craig Savage
    Member

    @tremelo

    Locale: San Jacinto Mountains

    I work from home & I rarely leave my small mountain town. Pretty sure the last time I've seen any of my colleagues from work, in the flesh, was more than 3 years ago. The money I save in gas alone…

    #1873806
    Angela Alexander
    Member

    @crayon

    We are new to long backpacking trips- but not new to outdoors. We live a very flexible life- to the point that (we are early 30's) kids that we coached in swimming had a bet that we were either rich or we sold drugs- because we "did not work"…. lol….

    In truth- we own 2 businesses- both are internet based- so all our income comes from orders placed online. One of our companies is in manufacturing, that does require us to "make" a product. And sometimes that gets in the way of outdoor play- but mostly we have designed our lives to live – to not be sucked in to a rat race.

    We also live in North Eastern Lower Michigan- some of the best trails in our state are less than a mile from my front door.

    Although- I did grow up in the PNW, and MISSSSS the Cascades to death- and have looked at moving to a small town in the Snoqualmie area for many years- and who knows maybe! But for now- I purchased 10 wooded acres within 1/2 mile from a lake and trails and it is safe and quite and has a shop for our companies for 140k (actually quite high for my area)- and with such a small monthly payment- it gives me extra $$ for things I want to do and equipment I want to have. If I was to move to the PNW I would be paying 3-6x what I pay right in housing and not even have nearly as nice of a place. It is costly there!

    Also- we do not have cable TV- we have one car- we work from home, so it saves on gas, we just put our money where we want it to go!

    I think that working for ourselves has been the biggest benefit to living how WE want- not making our lives work around someone else telling us when we can take time off.

    I know not everyone is as lucky as us- but then again, anyone can do what we do….

    #1873815
    Angela Alexander
    Member

    @crayon

    I would get the book "The 4-hour workweek" by Timothy Ferriss It is a great book on lifestyle design!! I own it in print, digital and audio! lol…

    #1873823
    David Thomas
    BPL Member

    @davidinkenai

    Locale: North Woods. Far North.

    >"If I was to move to the PNW I would be paying 3-6x what I pay right in housing and not even have nearly as nice of a place. It is costly there!"

    Angela,

    I've often had that same thought – how much would our 13 forested acres with 700 feet of sandy beach on the salt water looking across at three 10,000-foot glaciated (and ocassionally erupting) volcanos cost in Puget Sound? Oh, and it's on the road system, has city water, electric and natural gas. $5,000,000? $10,000,000? I kayaked past Bill Gates house a lot when I lived in Seattle and, yeah, he's got more enclosed square feet, but not nearly as nice a location. But we paid less for our lot than you did for yours.

    Certain combinations work better than others – you've got an internet business that gives you freedom in your location. We've got professional jobs that pay better in a rural area than in the big city. Whereas Michigan can be a crappy place if you're an out-of-work auto worker and Alaska is a tough place to live on minimum wage (because food costs more and you use a lot of utilities for heat).

    #1873847
    Ben F
    Member

    @tekhna

    It's also worth noting that it's about attitude. This site pushes the newest, best, lightest, most expensive gear. Be happy with what you have, because in truth it's probably light enough for you to have a good time. Don't worry about shaving an extra ounce or two off. Save your money that way, by not succumbing to the hyper-materialism that can engulf this place sometimes, but also your sanity.

    #1873913
    Craig Savage
    Member

    @tremelo

    Locale: San Jacinto Mountains

    very well said

    #1873986
    John Doe
    BPL Member

    @jessearl

    Just take what you can afford and go when you want to and be happy with it.

    And also realize that a lot of people probably spend more time talking about their hobbies on internet forums that actually engaging in them throughout the year.

    It makes it look like everyone is out thru-hiking the Smokies each weekend when that's probably pretty far from the truth.

    #1874028
    ed hyatt
    BPL Member

    @edhyatt

    Locale: The North, Scotland

    I confess to a tinge of greeness when I think of the diverse outdoors playground many of you (US based) posters have available to you…..but then your vacation regimen brings that back into balance.

    A friend who migrated to Canada a decade ago has just got up to four hard-won weeks of vacation time (although he can and does flex other time a little).

    I'm paid a lot less now than when I was private sector…but now I have around nine weeks of holiday – which gives me the chance to come and enjoy your playground and lot's of others too :-)

    #1874111
    M B
    BPL Member

    @livingontheroad

    In any case the UL stuff costs pales in comparisons to some kid activities.

    I have a friend whos daughter competes in rodeo. Fancy horse, trailer, training, F250 to pull it, travel all around the country. Ive never asked, but I know they spend A LOT on that. But what else would a pro bass fisherman do when not fishing?

    My boss at works daughter got a new horse. Until he told me, I had no idea a "good" horse cost more than many new cars.

    Makes me feel better about throwing down a piddly couple thousand on kids sports each yr.

    #1874134
    Nick Gatel
    BPL Member

    @ngatel

    Locale: Southern California

    Hiking is only putting one foot in front of the other. Pretty basic. Some gear is needed for overnights, and an inexpensive and light kit can easily be assembled.

    For the most part hiking is free. And one need not necessarily drive long distances. I travel all over the country and it is quite easy to find somewhere to overnight even near metro areas.

    Lots of vacation time is not a prerequisite either. Here in the states, even without considering vacation, most people have 2 days per week off. That is 104 days per year. So, the question is are we managing our inventory of leisure time? Every day of inventory not utilized for good things is lost forever, and our inventory is finite.

    #1874146
    Eric D.
    BPL Member

    @ewdysar

    Locale: SoCal

    Hi Nick,

    When I read your post, I thought "that's the problem, I only get 104 days of weekends per year". I think that I do manage my free time well, but I only get a few overnights on the trail per year. It's just that hiking is only one of my interests. Between sailing (offshore racing when I can), blacksmithing, woodworking, restoring old cars, medieval re-creation, treasurer for a non-profit, maintaining my house (1912 Craftsman), etc. etc. There's just not enough to go around. If hiking was all that I wanted to do, there would be plenty of time. That said, I'd more time to hike, maybe after I retire… :)

    #1874174
    Brian UL
    Member

    @maynard76

    Locale: New England

    I think a lot comes down to changing expectations.
    I think many like me, read trip reports from those few people who are lucky that their profession gives them a lot of time off or they have really made a lot of sacrifices and may have different prioritys than most people.
    Is it that bad to get out every once in a while for a weekend? Once I thought it was but the more long term trips I took the more I realized as much as I love the outdoors I have so many other interest too. Do I want to spend 4-6 months hiking? Maybe when I retire but I think of how much of the world I could see in that same time, how many museums and great citys- suddenly its not as appealing.
    There is nothing wrong with being a weekend warrior. Ive learned that all I need is a little bit of wilderness and little bit of alone time and Im good.
    Sure I see those pics of mountaineers and thru hikers in remote wilderness and can see myself there but I if Im honest with myself Im probably happier doing other things.
    I found myself feeling lonely even when I was in the most beautiful of places. That was a wake up call that I needed some balance in my life between the outdoors and normal life. I keep a light pack with a simple kit in the closet and when I feel the need I can just grab it and go on a quick foray into the wild.

    #1874179
    Kattt
    BPL Member

    @kattt

    Thanks for a great and honest post Brian.

    #1874194
    Eugene Smith
    BPL Member

    @eugeneius

    Locale: Nuevo Mexico

    "Is it that bad to get out every once in a while for a weekend?"

    Absolutely not!

    One thing I make a point of doing is celebrating the times when I am blessed with the opportunity to retreat and drift around in my favorite wild places, no matter the scale of adventure. Celebrate every measure of time spent outdoors because it really is a luxury and not one everyone has the privilege of experiencing at the capacity we get to.

Viewing 14 posts - 26 through 39 (of 39 total)
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