Personal preference, more or less. I worked in tech long enough to both save up a bit of a nest egg and realize I don’t want to spend my life sitting at a computer screen while the government takes a third of my paycheck to do lord knows what with, the landlord takes another third for the enormously helpful service they provide of “using accumulated wealth to buy up investment properties”, and the rest goes to the local bars (I jest… slightly).
That said, “homeless” is a loaded term that likely doesn’t accurately connote my living situation. I live in a tent on an wildlife refuge. I am a full-time volunteer on that refuge with the US Fish and Wildlife service. The general public may camp at the site free of charge, but my position grants me access to laundry, showers, and internet at the headquarters, which is located a few miles away from my campsite (no services or cellular connection there).
About half my traditional “working time” is spent doing odd jobs around the refuge for the benefit of its wildlife, staff, and visitors. I am provided a government truck and gas for official business, as much of the time I’m off-roading around from task to task. The other half of the time I work on personal projects, bike, hike, read, relax, meet people, etc.
In general I derive more satisfaction from helping animals-at-large as compared to humans, but the animals unfortunately pay quite a bit less. I would like to some day have an official compensated position using my education/professional experience to help wildlife more than my current position allows, but I have not yet heard back from the applications I submitted to that end. I am hoping connections I develop here will help me pursue that goal more effectively.
I bet this sounds like a dream to at least 20% of folks here. I'd love to read about your transition, how does it feel after a while - that would be amazing HN submission. Good luck!
Lol a few careless moments with a woman would end his lifestyle in a hurry. When the judge orders 20% child support they'll impute the income at whatever you can make slaving away at a desk, not what you make in a relatively carefree life with fish and wildlife. In California that would be $20k+ (post-tax), so basically almost all the post-tax income of a low level fish and wildlife worker, assuming you're even lucky enough to get the full-time job.
I lived a somewhat similar life basically enjoying living outdoors and odd jobs and travelling and volunteering until I had a kid; would not recommend consorting with women unless you want to be on the hook to pay rent and chained to a desk for 18 years.
Having your passport revoked, your DL revoked, liens and eventually seizure order on your vehicles, and a felony warrant out for your arrest would really put a damper into travelling though...
That said, “homeless” is a loaded term that likely doesn’t accurately connote my living situation. I live in a tent on an wildlife refuge. I am a full-time volunteer on that refuge with the US Fish and Wildlife service. The general public may camp at the site free of charge, but my position grants me access to laundry, showers, and internet at the headquarters, which is located a few miles away from my campsite (no services or cellular connection there).
About half my traditional “working time” is spent doing odd jobs around the refuge for the benefit of its wildlife, staff, and visitors. I am provided a government truck and gas for official business, as much of the time I’m off-roading around from task to task. The other half of the time I work on personal projects, bike, hike, read, relax, meet people, etc.
In general I derive more satisfaction from helping animals-at-large as compared to humans, but the animals unfortunately pay quite a bit less. I would like to some day have an official compensated position using my education/professional experience to help wildlife more than my current position allows, but I have not yet heard back from the applications I submitted to that end. I am hoping connections I develop here will help me pursue that goal more effectively.
Hope that helps explain!