On the road or not?

[owl]

   Maybe we should have a pontificating thread---who would like to start?

 

[josephusminimus]

   Maybe we should have a pontificating thread---who would like to start?

Why not use this one?

 

[Where~the~wind~blows]

Angeli, Owl and Jack do not make me get the pontificating behave stick!

 

[owl]

   Just as long as it doesn't turn into pontificating ponies!

 

[josephusminimus]

   Just as long as it doesn't turn into pontificating ponies!

<br /><br />I just pulled up Quartzite on Flashearth.com for a view of the place from the sky.&nbsp; All those squigglies and curlycues in the desert around you don't strike me as having been made by ponies prancing, prospectors pontificating, or poor people puzzling priorities.&nbsp;<br /><br />If there were some mutilated cows lying around I'd say it was flying saucers making crop circles.&nbsp;

 

[crazybill]

I have waited a day or so to comment on this thread, to see how it works out, but also to sort out my feelings on Owl's original comments. <br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;I mentioned in my 'introduction' thread that I was retired and living in a house on my own property. I never pretended that I was living "in the life". The job I retired from was a 32 year career that I enjoyed and was challenged by. <br />&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;But, before all that, when I was discharged from the Army in 1971, I was truly at loose ends. I started on a 9 year journey, going from job to job. I lived a lot in my 1/2 ton pickup with a camper shell on the back. Everything I owned was in that truck. Sometimes I had a place to stay, sometimes I was in that truck. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp; About 1978 I was working as a contract laborer and I got a 19 foot Terry travel trailer and thought I was in a palace. It even had a bathroom with a shower. That shower was so small I had to step out of it to turn around but I sure liked having it. <br />&nbsp; That was where I was when I landed the job that would turn into a career. <br /><br />I draw a lot from those years. I learned a lot of lessons then, some them were hard lessons to learn. Some of them I didn't even realize were lessons until years later.<br />I sometimes felt incredibly free, sometimes I honestly felt alone and scared. But a lot of who I am now was started then. <br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;Does this qualify me as having lived "the life"? Does my voice count more now, or am I still just another voice around the campfire here?<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;I truly hope that it is the latter because I believe that every post should be taken at face value here. I lurked here quite a while and really gained from what I read here. Out of a sense of obligation I introduced myself and started posting. <br />&nbsp;I was made to feel welcome. <br />&nbsp;I will continue to post here because I have found kindred spirits here and feel I can contribute. I don't feel that I need to trot out my personal history every time I want to speak.<br /><br />&nbsp;I hope all this makes some kind of sense.&nbsp; <br />-Bill-<br /><br />&nbsp;<br /><br />&nbsp;<br /><br />&nbsp;

 

[cedric]

As a newcomer I am not liking this thread. so I choose to not read it all in fear it might cause me to move on

 

[josephusminimus]

As a newcomer I am not liking this thread. so I choose to not read it all in fear it might cause me to move on

Cedric:&nbsp; I hope you don't move on.&nbsp; I don't think what you're seeing is rancor, antipathy or venom being spewed by posters.&nbsp; Seems to me it's honest discourse between people with differing world views airing them in healty, civil ways.&nbsp; The fact it's being discussed without any rudeness might be an indicator the posters believe it's important enough to justify itself.<br /><br />Just saying.

 

[josephusminimus]

I have waited a day or so to comment on this thread, to see how it works out, but also to sort out my feelings on Owl's original comments.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;Does this qualify me as having lived "the life"? Does my voice count more now, or am I still just another voice around the campfire here?<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;I truly hope that it is the latter because I believe that every post should be taken at face value here. I&nbsp;I hope all this makes some kind of sense.&nbsp; <br />-Bill-<br />&nbsp;

<br /><br />Makes a lot of sense, Bill, and your posts do speak for themselves.&nbsp; As you've said though, all posts speak for themselves.&nbsp; What yours say about you are probably more nearly what a person might wish to have said about him, however, those a lot of us make.

 

[karl]

I do not express my thoughts as eloquently as some, and have no interest in fanning any flames, or in any way adding contention. Just adding some thoughts.<br /><br />Interesting how we can each read the same words, yet arrive at differing conclusions(judgements) as to what the writer meant- take one statement, add three egos = someone feeling "wronged" in some way.<br /><br />I have some understanding of the Lakota traditions, lifestyle and spirituality, and understand that being an Elder was/is not a reward for being old, it is a responsibility to the tribe- a responsibility that is devoid of ego and righteousness. That is very different than the "white" mentality of "deserving respect"<br />An Elder must demonstrate wisdom, compassion, humility.....loosely translated that means smart enough to listen, care about the tribe as a group and individually, and know that they are no more or no less than any living thing.<br /><br />Having tripped and entangled myself with my own arrogance and self righteousness enough to finally realize (sometimes, anyway) that experienced or not, I can still learn from others - no matter what their experience.<br />I had one of those AH HA! moments while reading a thread the other day in which someone suggested velcro dots to hold cabinet doors and drawers in place- I have no idea their experience with vandwellling, but it made perfect sense to this old man with&nbsp; twenty something years more "experience" than the poster.<br />Over the years I have tried all sorts of traditional latching, based on 40 years "experience" as a carpenter, and her solution is cheap, quick, simple, unobtrusive, easily replaced/repaired/upgraded and comes in decorator colors if that matters.....I have choices- to entertain the suggestion as viable, to argue the possible downsides of the application, to ignore the suggestion and continue p and moaning about my doors flying open.-non of which really means anything to anyone else.<br /><br />i can't count the number of bits of knowledge i have gleaned from this site, probably would have more if I read all posts, but there are some that , at least for now, I avoid for various reasons. This is a quality site, I enjoy it daily, and have appreciation for the vision and work that made it a reality. Thanks Bob and all those that work to keep it running.<br /><br />

 

[SirJoey]

Yeah, people who think they know everything,
really get on the nerves of us who do.

 

[McBe]

Yeah, people who think they know everything, <br />really get on the nerves of us who do.

<br /><br />That was pretty funny Joey, made me laugh!&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" /><img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" /><img src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" />

 

[WanderingRain]

Thanks to Bob and everyone for keeping the discussion civil and for making efforts at clarification. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br />I've personally never claimed to be an expert at this.&nbsp;<br />I just share what I experienced so far which is... not a lot.&nbsp;<br />Whenever I post, I mostly add a qualifier that usually sounds like: "more folks on this site probably know more about this than I do but here's my 2 cents..."<br /><br />We are all here to learn and share with one another. And in some cases, to cheer each other up and act like a van dwelling support group of sorts.<br />So I enjoy hearing from a variety of voices both old and new... experienced and non experienced.<br /><br />I am also cheered on by people posting about their progress and their travels. And those of us stuck in one spot working jobs derive much pleasure in hearing about their adventures. For me, I don't know if I am full time. I sleep in my van, that's about it. I certainly don't travel the country (I need to work a lot of hours) and my travels only come in the form of a weekend out of town every now and then.<br /><br />So I am happy seeing pictures of folks who are out there making their dreams come true. The site has never struck me as being filled with affluent people. There may be some, but to me, it seems this site has all the types under the sun and that's what makes it a great place to log onto and chat.<br /><br />Cheers and goodwill to all!<br /><br />--Rod