Over the weekend I held a garage sale to start selling my stuff, which was harder then I first thought. I got rid of a few of my bigger things such as my bed and my couches but as I dig through a lot of my other stuff I find I have a lot of useless stuff. Things that I don't even know why I have kept them. I could only imagine what other people collect over the years. My recycling bin is so full I can hardly move it.
While doing the garage sale I was listening to the news reports coming in about the lives lost in the fires over in Victoria. 35 confirmed dead – this was the first I had heard of the fires as I don't have a TV and I only really read the local news papers.
Finally back to Cub Scouts tonight – gees I have missed it however I think the school holidays made a few of them feral but it will not take long till they become good little Cub Scouts again. One of the Joey Scouts (the section below Cubs) said that he knew some of the people who lost their homes in the Victorian fires and that we should do something to help them. I then asked Norma (our group leader) about what happened with the fires as I didn't know. She explained to me that the death toll is expected to be over 200 people. I couldn't believe it! That is a lot of people. Our Scout Group is planning to do a bit of fund raising to help some of the people who are left behind after the fires. I guess it reminds us that Mother Nature has a power far beyond what we could ever understand, even though the fires where deliberately lit. I was court up in the Bush Fires of Australia Day a few years ago and I understand the ruthless power of wildfire. It was one of the scariest days of my life.
Anyways – thats another story.
I will try again to get rid of a few more things this coming weekend however if I am unsuccessful I will just give it all away and give people the option of making a donation. Who knows they may be feeling generous. I sent an email today giving my 21 days notice to my real estate – so that is kind of the confirming commitment that I am actually going to do this. The funny thing with the garage sale is that one of the very first things that I sold was my bed. I'm currently sleeping on a 'blow up bed' which deflates itself by the time morning breaks, leaving me sleeping on the hard wooden floor boards. I guess its weening me into permanently sleeping on the ground.
The wheels are in motions and I am rather looking forward to it - No turning back now!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Decision Made
Ok, I have made my mind up. I'm going to do it! Even though I have a little bit of fear about the decision I am confident it is the right one. Everything seems to me pulling me in that direction.
I have sat down and gone through all the logistics that I can think of and I believe I can make it work.
I'm going to give myself to the end of February to get things sorted. Then I am going to live off grid until May, go over to the USA and do Camp America, come back to Australia in in the beginning of October and properly stay in the local caravan park until I sort out what I want to do next.
I have Grassroot Venture activities and camps on most weekends until I leave for the US so I will stay out bush during the week, only coming in when needed, do my activities and camps on the weekend, find somewhere to stay Saturday night so I can do Cub Scouts on Mondays, Then head off again.
I've organized a place for my dog to stay while I need to work (coz at the moment I still need money to pay off debt and my US ticket). I'm going to sell all my belongings except those with strong sentimental value such as photos and memorabilia – I'm organizing for them go into storage. I've worked out other logistics of how I would be able to do things, what I will need and I have even worked out a way of being able to still use my laptop. I need my laptop to take bookings for my activities and camps and to organize things. I have won a 200 watt inverter for my laptop which plugs straight into my cigarette lighter of my car – just need to find the money to pay for it.
It's going to be a massive learning curve. I've got a few weeks now to get things sorted and sell everything. I wonder how many people have done the same as what I am doing now? It makes sense even financially in this economic recession. Sociologically it is more like we are designed to live – as we where never meant to live our lives in the way society is currently structured, working our lives away to make money to – live! Thats what I don't get..... We are so dependent on money to sustain normal life it is ridicules. Money has no real value except that which we place on it. In a way it is only imaginary, a man made credit used to..... control people.
I feel rather liberated by the idea now of going off grid – however I think I do have to find another word for it as 'going off grid' doesn't feel just right.
I have sat down and gone through all the logistics that I can think of and I believe I can make it work.
I'm going to give myself to the end of February to get things sorted. Then I am going to live off grid until May, go over to the USA and do Camp America, come back to Australia in in the beginning of October and properly stay in the local caravan park until I sort out what I want to do next.
I have Grassroot Venture activities and camps on most weekends until I leave for the US so I will stay out bush during the week, only coming in when needed, do my activities and camps on the weekend, find somewhere to stay Saturday night so I can do Cub Scouts on Mondays, Then head off again.
I've organized a place for my dog to stay while I need to work (coz at the moment I still need money to pay off debt and my US ticket). I'm going to sell all my belongings except those with strong sentimental value such as photos and memorabilia – I'm organizing for them go into storage. I've worked out other logistics of how I would be able to do things, what I will need and I have even worked out a way of being able to still use my laptop. I need my laptop to take bookings for my activities and camps and to organize things. I have won a 200 watt inverter for my laptop which plugs straight into my cigarette lighter of my car – just need to find the money to pay for it.
It's going to be a massive learning curve. I've got a few weeks now to get things sorted and sell everything. I wonder how many people have done the same as what I am doing now? It makes sense even financially in this economic recession. Sociologically it is more like we are designed to live – as we where never meant to live our lives in the way society is currently structured, working our lives away to make money to – live! Thats what I don't get..... We are so dependent on money to sustain normal life it is ridicules. Money has no real value except that which we place on it. In a way it is only imaginary, a man made credit used to..... control people.
I feel rather liberated by the idea now of going off grid – however I think I do have to find another word for it as 'going off grid' doesn't feel just right.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Bring You Up To Speed -
Hmm.. Deciding where to start to give you an understanding of where I am at now.
On a cold and rainy April night at King Edward Hospital in 1984 and precious baby boy was born – hmmm too for back.
Lets skip ahead a good 20 odd years - I lived in Halls Head (Mandurah) Western Australia and worked at Fairbridge Village as the Senior Activities Instructor (later changed to Senior Instructor of Outdoor Recreation).
Fairbridge is a major youth charitable organisation in Western Australia and the only charity in Australia that owns a whole nationally heritage listed town site. Fairbridge runs a myriad of programs and services for young people and has partnership agreements with 14 other youth organisations. Fairbridge works with children with a disability, young people at risk, young people with drug problems, the unemployed, young people in our justice system, young people who are struggling with life, indigenous young people and refugees, through to gifted young people. Fairbridge assists young people to reach their full potential and bring about long term positive sustainable change in their lives. I used to coordinate and run camps and activities for them.
Pritty awesome and it also has an Eco Village status. Perfect place for me to be working. The main problem was it was very long hours (which I didn't mind doing) and the drive to work was 80minutes every single day because Fairbridge is located north of Pinjarra. My situation changed where I was then living so I asked if I could live on site at Fairbridge in one of the cottages which wasn't being utilized by clients. To my surprise I was allowed.
I was only planning to live on site for a few months but those few months turned into a year and half. It was great living at Fairbridge. It was also great working at Fairbridge but I couldn't do both. It got to the point where I needed to re-enter society and rent a house in Pinjarra (the town just down the road).
I love Pinjarra – its the first town that I have lived in (and I moved around heaps when I was a kid) that I felt true pride to say I lived there. I am the Pinjarra Cub Scout Leader (Akela) and I get a true sense of community from the place. It takes me an hour to get a loaf of bread because I keep bumping into people and having a chat to them. I don't mind because I actually enjoy it.
One day I went to the shop and found a flier on the community board for a dog for $100. I always wanted a dog since I had one when I was little. I took down the number and gave them a call. The lady said that if the dog wasn't taken by the end of the day that she would need to put her down because they where moving over east. I just had to take her. She was a 3 year old black and white Aketa X named (ironicly) Keeta.
So here I am living in town with a dog and working long hours for a course I think everyone should be working towards – helping people. However all good things come to an end. I wasn't happy with my job and I just wanted to spread my wings as I felt I wasn't reaching my full potential. I applied to Camp America and got accepted and placed straight away. I decided I would start a part time business on weekends taking kids camping (www.grassrootventures.com.au) to make a bit of money to go towards my trip to the USA in May 09. Unfortunately I hit a few hiccups with my employer and I decided it would be in my best interest to resign – no hard feelings. All things happen for a reason.
I have developed my business into a 'full time business' as best as I can. It has a lot of potential however the world financial crisis has been putting pressure on peoples personal financial situations which intern means they don't spend as much as they used to on the kinds of services I offer. So here I am I have no steady income, I have a dog to feed, rent to pay ($230 a week) and bills I can not pay for. I can see myself getting in deep debt.
Around 3 years has passed since I lived in Halls Head and I feel I have come a very long way. I have no TV, Microwave, Electric Kettle, Toaster – the only electrical things I have is my laptop, a printer, my fridge and washing machine oh... And a lamp which I never use – I just keep it coz it looks cool.
I use only 80L of water a week and I recycle over 60% of my waist. I eat as organic as I can and I also try to only eat food which are right for my blood type (which is B+). I am slowly re-socializing myself to make my transiting easier.
One of my ultimate goal in life (I have a few) is to buy a large area of land and live self sufficiently and in harmony with nature on it. I want to share this with others who also share the same Shadoran views. I would like it to become a tribal based community where we can expand and grow to reach out to the wider community and help guide them to a better way of living – especially the young. I am Shadoran – and so I hope my efforts for self preservation helps others achieve theirs and we can ultimately change the world and avoid this catastrophe which I feel society is blindly walking into.
Should I do it? Should I go off grid and risk it? Or should I keep doing what I am currently doing as part of the problem - just like everyone else?
On a cold and rainy April night at King Edward Hospital in 1984 and precious baby boy was born – hmmm too for back.
Lets skip ahead a good 20 odd years - I lived in Halls Head (Mandurah) Western Australia and worked at Fairbridge Village as the Senior Activities Instructor (later changed to Senior Instructor of Outdoor Recreation).
Fairbridge is a major youth charitable organisation in Western Australia and the only charity in Australia that owns a whole nationally heritage listed town site. Fairbridge runs a myriad of programs and services for young people and has partnership agreements with 14 other youth organisations. Fairbridge works with children with a disability, young people at risk, young people with drug problems, the unemployed, young people in our justice system, young people who are struggling with life, indigenous young people and refugees, through to gifted young people. Fairbridge assists young people to reach their full potential and bring about long term positive sustainable change in their lives. I used to coordinate and run camps and activities for them.
Pritty awesome and it also has an Eco Village status. Perfect place for me to be working. The main problem was it was very long hours (which I didn't mind doing) and the drive to work was 80minutes every single day because Fairbridge is located north of Pinjarra. My situation changed where I was then living so I asked if I could live on site at Fairbridge in one of the cottages which wasn't being utilized by clients. To my surprise I was allowed.
I was only planning to live on site for a few months but those few months turned into a year and half. It was great living at Fairbridge. It was also great working at Fairbridge but I couldn't do both. It got to the point where I needed to re-enter society and rent a house in Pinjarra (the town just down the road).
I love Pinjarra – its the first town that I have lived in (and I moved around heaps when I was a kid) that I felt true pride to say I lived there. I am the Pinjarra Cub Scout Leader (Akela) and I get a true sense of community from the place. It takes me an hour to get a loaf of bread because I keep bumping into people and having a chat to them. I don't mind because I actually enjoy it.
One day I went to the shop and found a flier on the community board for a dog for $100. I always wanted a dog since I had one when I was little. I took down the number and gave them a call. The lady said that if the dog wasn't taken by the end of the day that she would need to put her down because they where moving over east. I just had to take her. She was a 3 year old black and white Aketa X named (ironicly) Keeta.
So here I am living in town with a dog and working long hours for a course I think everyone should be working towards – helping people. However all good things come to an end. I wasn't happy with my job and I just wanted to spread my wings as I felt I wasn't reaching my full potential. I applied to Camp America and got accepted and placed straight away. I decided I would start a part time business on weekends taking kids camping (www.grassrootventures.com.au) to make a bit of money to go towards my trip to the USA in May 09. Unfortunately I hit a few hiccups with my employer and I decided it would be in my best interest to resign – no hard feelings. All things happen for a reason.
I have developed my business into a 'full time business' as best as I can. It has a lot of potential however the world financial crisis has been putting pressure on peoples personal financial situations which intern means they don't spend as much as they used to on the kinds of services I offer. So here I am I have no steady income, I have a dog to feed, rent to pay ($230 a week) and bills I can not pay for. I can see myself getting in deep debt.
Around 3 years has passed since I lived in Halls Head and I feel I have come a very long way. I have no TV, Microwave, Electric Kettle, Toaster – the only electrical things I have is my laptop, a printer, my fridge and washing machine oh... And a lamp which I never use – I just keep it coz it looks cool.
I use only 80L of water a week and I recycle over 60% of my waist. I eat as organic as I can and I also try to only eat food which are right for my blood type (which is B+). I am slowly re-socializing myself to make my transiting easier.
One of my ultimate goal in life (I have a few) is to buy a large area of land and live self sufficiently and in harmony with nature on it. I want to share this with others who also share the same Shadoran views. I would like it to become a tribal based community where we can expand and grow to reach out to the wider community and help guide them to a better way of living – especially the young. I am Shadoran – and so I hope my efforts for self preservation helps others achieve theirs and we can ultimately change the world and avoid this catastrophe which I feel society is blindly walking into.
Should I do it? Should I go off grid and risk it? Or should I keep doing what I am currently doing as part of the problem - just like everyone else?
Intro
Hi - My Name is Scott and this blog is about my personal journey to become a modern Shadoran Nomad. It has been many years in the making but I feel I am at the stage in my life where I am ready to take that first step and live off grid, separate from the 'advances' of society.
Its not only a personal journey but also one of self discovery, self preservation and I guess in some ways spiritual exploration. I'm stepping into the unknown and I guess its the unknown where you find the best rewards in life.
I hope that those reading this blog will feel inspired to make changes in their lives – and maybe hopefully learn from what I have done.
Wish Me Luck!!
Its not only a personal journey but also one of self discovery, self preservation and I guess in some ways spiritual exploration. I'm stepping into the unknown and I guess its the unknown where you find the best rewards in life.
I hope that those reading this blog will feel inspired to make changes in their lives – and maybe hopefully learn from what I have done.
Wish Me Luck!!
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