Live Free or Die

[LeeRevell]

Squirrels do move around, migrating through the neighborhood then returning. I consider them a viable food source - southern fried or cooked in brown gravy over rice, YUMMY!
Fat robins are a good meal too, but obviously seasonal. In Dad's younger days in the Depression Era and WWII, they were an important food source for the poor folks. Dark meat, like a fat quail.
Florida has endless lakes and rivers - always a place to fish.
A good book on the wild edibles (plants and animals) of your AO is a necessity, if you want to be truly self-sufficient.

 

[akrvbob]

There are two ways to retire:

1) Increase your retirement income through increased savings by working longer, more and harder
2) Drastically reducing your living costs.

Ideally you can do a combination of both. That's basically what I did putting in my years and then retiring early at 51. Living and boondocking in a van drastically reduces my expenses so I could do it so early.

If the can live without the security blanket, you can do it at anytime and at any age. the only thing that stops you is the many years of brainwashing that tells you that you must live and plan only for the future by shitting all over today. No human was ever born thinking that way! Our society dedicated all of it's resources to manipulating us as children into honestly believing that is a good plan.

As I've gotten older, I consider that a horrible trade and very much regret not having the balls to say "Eff it all, I'm going to live for now. I was born to be wild, free and happy, not a good productive drone!!"

Bob

 

[owl]

Interesting Bob, I don't recall ever being brainwashed as you describe. Bought and lived in my first van in 1972, lived a free and happy life. Worked and travelled the world meeting people from all walks of life. Have friends from those days all over the world. The one common thread seems to be independent thought. The ability to think outside the box. To understand from an early age, self determination. Are there disappointments, absolutley, regrets, certainly. A life enjoyed, I wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China. I look forward to every day with excitement, joy and happiness. I think living for today and tomorrow is so much more important than dwelling in the past. You can do something about your future, the past is out of our hands. Please don't anyone take this out of context, don't assume that because I disagree with Bob that I'm attacking him. This is a declaration of a life lived differently.

 

[RogueRV2]

It is more than a shame that the vast majority have no idea of what freedom really is and what we have lost.

 

[akrvbob]

The problem is the definition of brainwashing is that the victim is unaware of being brainwashed. If he realized it, he wouldn't be brainwashed.

The Roman Senator, philosopher or poet who rapes, beat and kills his slaves denies being brainwashed.
The communist soldier or spy who dies for his country denies being brainwashed
The Crusader who goes off on a holy war to kill Muslims denies being brainwashed
The Muslim who blows himself up would deny being brainwashed.
The priest who burns the witch at the stake denies being brainwashed.
Hitler managed to brainwash a whole nation into either doing or accepting despicable things! But they all would deny it.
The very proper English gentleman who went off to build an Empire really thought it was his right and duty to do so.
Custer really did believe he had to kill and slaughter every Indian he could.
Every American Slave-owner totally believed he was right to do so.

They all believed lies because their parents and society repeated them every day of their lives. And they didn't have radio, TV or the Internet yet! They are the ultimate brainwasher! Every society brainwashes its people and then the whole society behaves in basically the same way. When you try to explain to them the fallacy or error of their system they universally reject every word.

The great advantage of democracy is that along they way they give you enough freedom and decency within the brainwashing that you find it pleasant and even desirable. When told you've been brainwashed you deny it, when offered a way out out you reject it. Life is seemingly very, very good.

But the fact it is a "decent, pleasant and good" brainwashing doesn't change the fact that it is brainwashing.
Bob

 

[RogueRV2]

Yes, the brainwashing has gone high tech and goes well beyond the internet and other forms of media. It is also done though our food, water, and 'pharma', and other means as well. It goes way beyond historical means that used cultural norms and peer pressure as the primary influences. The systematic, high tech, multi-prong approach over recent decades has worked brilliantly. The ability to think critically is greatly diminished, and generally, the vitality of the population is at a minimum. They exist in a daze and haze with only a lucid moment or two. It is comprehensive method of programming, dumbing down and neutering that has made America, the Land of the Slaves. And the butchering has begun.

 

[LeeRevell]

Bob, one could use your text to assume that ANY form of society is, at heart, a form of 'brainwashing'. We are all products of our society, and our upbringing. If that upbringing goes against the societal norm, some are able to evolve out of it. Some folks are 'chameliens', able to fit right into a new societal group quickly, but most can not. Sometimes bucking societies norms can be a good thing, sometimes not.

 

[owl]

                Our behavior is a function of our decisions, not our conditions.

 

[GrantRobertson]

                Our behavior is a function of our decisions, not our conditions.

However, there is a ton of research that says those decisions are quite often a result of our conditions. Not only that, but the part of you that you THINK is making the decision is actually not doing much more than explaining away the snap-judgement made by your subconscious in the first few milliseconds after the problem/issue was first presented to you.

The most important step in learning to understand oneself is to realize that one is not always in control of one's self.

 

[owl]

   Really, the most important step ? I appreciate your chiming in, but I question your claim that one is not always in control

of ones self.. Generalization ? Perhaps self control is something you struggle with, the assumption that everyone is lacking in self control 

is absurd.

 

[mconlonx]

"Live Free or Die" is a marketing phrase for the state of NH. Nothing more.

 

[Matt71]

If you guys really want a look into human nature, you should read some existential philosophy
Heidegger, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir

 

[Wabbit]

Most(all?) of those "reality" shows are entertaining to watch, but they aren't reality. Kinda like the news shows lol. I do enjoy some of them because they are a bit subtler than others(not news shows lol, the reality ones). But for the most part in the winter when I'm stuck inside, I watch cartoons and movies.

I have cabin fever soooo bad lately!!! I want back outside and can't wait till I can spend the whole year out and about and do the TV thing on rainy days or movie nights! The fever is making me stir crazy!!!! Lol.

As to the whole, "Live free or die" thingy. I think the Live Free choice sounds better....

 

[flying kurbmaster]

I am not sure it is possible to live free, we all have to conform to laws, rules, socially imposed or otherwise, we all struggle with shelter, food, community. If we could run around naked on a beach in a perfect climate with endless fruits and vegies growing in the bushes with no inhibitions, then maybe. The best we can hope for is long periods of peace, serenity, feeling accepted and loved amongst the chaos.

 

[Matt71]

Whenever the question of freedom comes up I always thing back to a speech Ralph Nader once gave when he was running for president where he talked about the difference between personal freedom and civic freedom.

 

[vanman2300]

The subject of different types of freedom has come up with the recent measles outbreak and people refusing to get vaccinated. We don't have complete freedom to do what we wish to do in some cases. Basically they have been comparing not getting vaccinated to hurtling down the highway at 100 MPH+. In both instances innocent people are endangered, hurt or killed by both so why are we restricted to drive within a certain speed and not required to vaccinate?

BTW, just to let those who do get their vaccinations, if you haven't had the MMR vaccination in a few years you may want to get one. Even better, have a blood test done along with other prescribed blood tests your doctor requires during a physical to see if you are still immune. I thought I was until I got checked before working at a hospital and found out I was not immune.

 

[LeeRevell]

My sister is a Medical professional, and is required to get vaccinated for her job.
Thank Goodness the State allows us the freedom to choose. I hate being forced to do something I consider wrong.
I never cared for so-called "reality TV", finding the scripted show too ridiculous. Mainstream News is about as bad. CNN, MSNBC, FOX - left or right, they are all biased with an agenda. Often times Foreign News sites give a better balance of truth, as they have no axe to grind here.
As to freedom on the road, it's humorous to see how many people believe they have a 'right' to drive. That is a State-granted privilege. And privileges can be taken away.