What choosing poverty looks like...

Wolferz · 05-10-14, 06:42 PM

This Oregonian gentleman has it going on.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/photo/wh...y-looks-n75796

Sailor Steve · 05-10-14, 07:59 PM

Pretty cool way to live. I wouldn't want to do it.

fireftr18 · 05-10-14, 08:26 PM

I agree with both of you. This man isn't truly living in poverty. He has chosen to live a much simpler life. All his needs are provided, and he seems to have his desires met.

razark · 05-10-14, 08:31 PM

Every so often, this sort of lifestyle runs through my mind. Usually followed by "if I didn't have a wife, kids, and was twenty years younger". I can understand why some people choose to live like this, and I admire the courage it must have taken to start down that road.

Sinkmore · 05-10-14, 08:47 PM

I could absolutely live that way, if I could get high speed internet. And a girlfriend. Maybe the internet is possible, but the GF? No, I am trapped in the normal world.

Kptlt. Neuerburg · 05-10-14, 08:50 PM

I just read this a few of minutes ago, personally I would love to do something like this at least once if I could. It does kind of put me in mind of the book Into the Wild (really good read for someone who hasn't read it).

Jimbuna · 05-11-14, 05:18 AM

I admire the guy, he appears to have found the lifestyle he wants but I'm too accustomed to my family and home comforts to try anything like that.

Catfish · 05-11-14, 05:24 AM

What he chose to live in is material poverty, not spiritual poverty.
If the basic needs like warmth and food are fulfilled, you have time for other things like reading.
As Erich Fromm put it, you either have, or are. (To have or to be)
If you need to buy things regularly to be happy, you have a problem.
Sometimes when i am in a super mareket and look at some even nice goods, i am very happy to think "No i will NOT buy this".

Although his lifestyle is a bit in-between, since he uses a chainsaw, a high-tech tricycle and some other things you would not be able to acquire or maintain, when the Zombie apocalypse strikes

Wolferz · 05-11-14, 08:13 AM

This is likely how I'll end up living when wife 2.0 passes on. Maybe even simpler. Like a tent utilized with a nomadic lifestyle.
I don't believe in owning property on this planet and I like the idea of renting property even less.
Modern convenience has become almost unaffordable for the average human being unless he chases after the almighty fiat to pay for it.
Always somebody standing there with their hand out to collect for what you consume. And way too many hands wanting to collect for services you didn't ask for.

Betonov · 05-11-14, 08:17 AM

I should really look at that hut for plans.

Not as a way to live, but a forest retreat I want to build but can't afford

Armistead · 05-11-14, 09:31 AM

He was probably married before and she got everything and he had to learn to live like this. Now he's at peace!

Wolferz · 05-11-14, 10:08 AM

The most interesting thing about this story is how he either recycled or repurposed all the materials needed to build his Hobbit hole.

I must confess that washing myself and my clothing in a river would be a PITA.

I'm surprised that someone in government hasn't found fault with his lifestyle choice. Like how he disposes of bodily waste.
Here where I live, the local constabulary had sanitary sewers installed and forced all homes to hook up to it. They had a set quarterly charge for treatment for years. Until new subdivisions forced an upgrade of the treatment plant. Read... new plant. The township had to get a loan to build the thing and the loaning authority decided that the quarterly charge should be more in line with other sewer districts. Now we are forced to pay almost three times what we did before.

In a big city, your sewer bill is figured by how much water you use and put into the system. Here, we draw our water from a well so it isn't metered.
They had such a problem with grey water being flushed into their system from basement drains and sumps that they started sending the sewer police to check everyone's plumbing for unauthorized input.

Armistead · 05-11-14, 10:23 AM

If they send the sewer police to my house I'll tell them they need a warrant to enter.

Honestly, they're been several scams around here where people come clean cut, dressed or in some city uniform claiming to be such and such with the govt/city. They say they need to do a survey, check your lines, but try to get you outside with one person, while others sneak in and rob you blind. They come so professional with papers that people fall for.

Wolferz · 05-11-14, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armistead

If they send the sewer police to my house I'll tell them they need a warrant to enter.

Honestly, they're been several scams around here where people come clean cut, dressed or in some city uniform claiming to be such and such with the govt/city. They say they need to do a survey, check your lines, but try to get you outside with one person, while others sneak in and rob you blind. They come so professional with papers that people fall for.

No balls big enough on the crooklins around here because they know they'll get shot in the purloining process.

Bubblehead1980 · 05-11-14, 10:16 PM

I see him as a man who just gave up on life and is just surviving, not living.However, if he really is happy, good for him.

05-10-14, 06:42 PM	#1
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	What choosing poverty looks like... This Oregonian gentleman has it going on. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/photo/wh...y-looks-n75796 __________________ Tomorrow never comes

05-10-14, 07:59 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Pretty cool way to live. I wouldn't want to do it. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

05-10-14, 08:31 PM	#4
razark Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,731 Downloads: 393 Uploads: 12	Every so often, this sort of lifestyle runs through my mind. Usually followed by "if I didn't have a wife, kids, and was twenty years younger". I can understand why some people choose to live like this, and I admire the courage it must have taken to start down that road. __________________ "Never ask a World War II history buff for a 'final solution' to your problem!"

05-10-14, 08:47 PM	#5
Sinkmore Shore leave Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Pacific Coast, North America Posts: 70 Downloads: 129 Uploads: 0	Wifi? I could absolutely live that way, if I could get high speed internet. And a girlfriend. Maybe the internet is possible, but the GF? No, I am trapped in the normal world.

05-10-14, 08:50 PM	#6
Kptlt. Neuerburg Admiral Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,279 Downloads: 54 Uploads: 0	I just read this a few of minutes ago, personally I would love to do something like this at least once if I could. It does kind of put me in mind of the book Into the Wild (really good read for someone who hasn't read it). __________________ "When you're born into this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show. If you're born in America you get a front row seat." - George Carlin

05-10-14, 08:26 PM	#3
fireftr18 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 2,528 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	I agree with both of you. This man isn't truly living in poverty. He has chosen to live a much simpler life. All his needs are provided, and he seems to have his desires met.

05-11-14, 05:18 AM	#7
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,525 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	I admire the guy, he appears to have found the lifestyle he wants but I'm too accustomed to my family and home comforts to try anything like that. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

05-11-14, 05:24 AM	#8
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,766 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	What he chose to live in is material poverty, not spiritual poverty. If the basic needs like warmth and food are fulfilled, you have time for other things like reading. As Erich Fromm put it, you either have, or are. (To have or to be) If you need to buy things regularly to be happy, you have a problem. Sometimes when i am in a super mareket and look at some even nice goods, i am very happy to think "No i will NOT buy this". Although his lifestyle is a bit in-between, since he uses a chainsaw, a high-tech tricycle and some other things you would not be able to acquire or maintain, when the Zombie apocalypse strikes Last edited by Catfish; 05-11-14 at 06:11 AM.

05-11-14, 08:13 AM	#9
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	This is likely how I'll end up living when wife 2.0 passes on. Maybe even simpler. Like a tent utilized with a nomadic lifestyle. I don't believe in owning property on this planet and I like the idea of renting property even less. Modern convenience has become almost unaffordable for the average human being unless he chases after the almighty fiat to pay for it. Always somebody standing there with their hand out to collect for what you consume. And way too many hands wanting to collect for services you didn't ask for. __________________ Tomorrow never comes

05-11-14, 08:17 AM	#10
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	I should really look at that hut for plans. Not as a way to live, but a forest retreat I want to build but can't afford

05-11-14, 09:31 AM	#11
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	He was probably married before and she got everything and he had to learn to live like this. Now he's at peace! __________________ You see my dog don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it.

05-11-14, 10:08 AM	#12
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	The most interesting thing about this story is how he either recycled or repurposed all the materials needed to build his Hobbit hole. I must confess that washing myself and my clothing in a river would be a PITA. I'm surprised that someone in government hasn't found fault with his lifestyle choice. Like how he disposes of bodily waste. Here where I live, the local constabulary had sanitary sewers installed and forced all homes to hook up to it. They had a set quarterly charge for treatment for years. Until new subdivisions forced an upgrade of the treatment plant. Read... new plant. The township had to get a loan to build the thing and the loaning authority decided that the quarterly charge should be more in line with other sewer districts. Now we are forced to pay almost three times what we did before. In a big city, your sewer bill is figured by how much water you use and put into the system. Here, we draw our water from a well so it isn't metered. They had such a problem with grey water being flushed into their system from basement drains and sumps that they started sending the sewer police to check everyone's plumbing for unauthorized input. __________________ Tomorrow never comes

05-11-14, 10:23 AM	#13
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	If they send the sewer police to my house I'll tell them they need a warrant to enter. Honestly, they're been several scams around here where people come clean cut, dressed or in some city uniform claiming to be such and such with the govt/city. They say they need to do a survey, check your lines, but try to get you outside with one person, while others sneak in and rob you blind. They come so professional with papers that people fall for. __________________ You see my dog don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it.

05-11-14, 10:16 PM	#15
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 7,104 Downloads: 605 Uploads: 44	I see him as a man who just gave up on life and is just surviving, not living.However, if he really is happy, good for him.