Upcoming Van-Dweller and Hardcore Prepper!

[GrantRobertson]

Chance,

If all you do right now are odd jobs, then you are going to be really hurting when you get out on the road. EVERYBODY can do odd jobs and anyone who needs odd jobs done has a ready supply of workers amongst all the other people living on the road.

You need to learn some kind of skill. You don't necessarily need to go to trade school. But you do need to figure out some skill that you will be able to sell. If you are a prepper, do you have extensive knowledge in this area? Could you teach classes and seminars (you might need to improve your grammar, but that's doable). Do you know bushcraft and survival skills? You could teach those. Seriously, just about anything you are really good at could be turned into some amount of income.

 

[Chancebond]

Wow, thank you, I have never even thought of that!

 

[Chancebond]

I'd like to thank everyone for welcoming me into the community!

 

[offroad]

Chance - watch all the DIRTY JOBS videos you can find. Then think about learning welding or cooking. Lots of quality welding jobs. Lots and lots of cooking jobs.

 

[Seraphim]

One point to consider - and there may be differences in Canadian law and US - but in the US a 16 year old is a minor. If they hop into a van and takeoff without their parent's permission, they are a runaway. If they takeoff with their parent's permission, and something happens, a parent can be charged as criminally negligent. Not preaching here, just offering something for you - and your mom's - consideration. Research Canadian law on the topic. For all I know, the age of adulthood in Canada may be 16. In the US, it's 18. I also noted your mom was aware of your plans; you didn't say she was on board with them. *grin*.

An employer is going to look for consistency, reliability and long term stick-to-it-ness in an employee. Dropping out of school does not demonstrate those traits. Most jobs you apply for will have several (at least!) other applicants. They will most likely be high school graduates. Your application will be on the bottom of the pile, most likely.

There will be some dirty, undesirable and underpaid jobs that have a high turnover available. How are you at consistent daily labor? At defending yourself?

How, in the next year, will you acquire several thousand dollars in an emergency fund in case your vehicle breaks down, or something else happens. Can you diagnose and engine problem, make a repair (will you have the tools available to make a repair).

Can you sew? Repair a piece of clothing you need but can't afford to replace?

Can you hunt/fish/trap with consistent enough results to live as a prepper? Do have, or can you afford, the equipment necessary to do so? Can you cook? Can you start a fire without lighter fluid. Have you an axe and a knife? A wood splitter. Can you afford them?

Are you truly self-sufficient enough to ignore the majority of intelligent and experienced people here telling you to stick out high school?

These are rhetorical questions. I don't expect you to answer, only consider them. When you're done, let me know. I have many more.

Respectfully, I'm not going to offer advice. You've already made up your mind.

Good fortune...

 

[Almost There]

AFAIK, Chance is in Idaho not Canada. Lived in Alaska previously.

 

[Seraphim]

My error on location - don't know why I thought Canada. In that case, those laws I mentioned certainly apply.

 

[akrvbob]

Biologically, the human brain is more ready to learn in the first 20 years of its life than it will ever be again.

The job of childhood and adolescence is to learn. I can certainly agree that what most public education teaches is of pretty minimum value so not pursuing it does make some sense.

What doesn't make any sense is to take this time when you can most easily learn and throw it away. My guess is that there is much more available to you through your school system than you are aware of. Shop classes, auto classes, sewing classes, who knows what else.

If you go to your guidance counselor and say, "I'm dropping out unless you start teaching me something worth knowing." Hopefully they can find something for you. Job Corp is an outstanding program you should look into. They'll get you your GED and teach you a marketable skill. You may be too young for it. There are other programs for at-risk kids, you need to find out what there is in your area.

If nothing else get yourself a job working for a welder, mechanic or any trade and work for cheap just to learn.

Devote this time in your life to learning, and you will NEVER, EVER regret it!
Bob