The Call of the Wild

I’ve been dreaming of late. No, I didn’t dream of two more snows, again. The dreams weren’t about current real life or even possible future in a general sense. The dreams seemed to be more of a calling than anything. I dreamed of mountains, valleys, streams, rain, wind, snow, and sunshine. I dreamed of a natural life without schedules, the typical rush, and without most modern conveniences. I dreamed of getting to some places others can’t drive, and some other places not even the best drivers and vehicles may go. It wasn’t an easy idyllic dream. It was sometimes hard work just living. Quite often, most often, it would be considered boring compared to tv, computer games, work, and modern play. But the dreams are powerful.

I am not sure I can make this dream real. But I feel the draw. I don’t suppose I would do it for the rest of my life, but it would be nice to do it for a year or two. I wouldn’t do such a thing just to say I did or to prove myself (did that last, to great dissatisfaction and some small griefs). No, I would do this to reset my priorities, to understand a simple life before continuing with this complicated one, to explore my nation, and for a daily dose of fresh air right up my nose.

Now, I don’t plan to die out there, as many with similar dreams seem to mis-plan to do. I have been looking at everything from vehicles to gps beacons to field kit and food and water, short and long term solutions and possibilities. It isn’t something I could do this year, very possibly not next year. However, it is something I could be preparing to do. I have already started buying some of my needs, testing these where and when I can. I will be buying more things in time and some things over time. Self-heating MRE’s and other fireless food solutions, target practice and perhaps small game hunting experience up-dating, technology studies regarding phones, beacons, and other convenient or “necessary” equipment, general field and location planning, even mail resources discovery. No, I don’t plan to “live the dream”, I just plan to live simply and control-alt-delete my personal machine. I might even be able to do this frugally enough to jump start my retirement account (which, for all practical purposes, I don’t need being that I am already receiving retirement. However, I might want to buy a house someday, or go back to school on my own nickel.).

I must admit, the world I’m living in leaves much to be desired. Politics and morals are so poor as to make a man despair. Still, and in truth, today is yesterday and will be tomorrow. Sometimes civil life is bad and sometimes my ruby glasses have turned to blood red and I just can’t see the goodness for the roses. My bad, and part of my consideration. If the world is horrible, is the viewer the problem or is the world? Is my lust for things, women, and achievement or lack of attaining these things in ways which are satisfactory the problem or is the world really going wrong?

Most will never be able to know. Women generally couldn’t and wouldn’t do what I am planning. Most men wouldn’t either, to be quite honest. I am not even sure I will do it, but at this point, that is my plan. In two years (slimly possibly less), after this coming August, I plan on having my house cleaned out, selling or disposing of things that won’t last, storing the rest (yeah, I’m keeping my Kershaw Shun layered steel kitchen knives and clever, All-Clad cookware, leather couch set, and mucho good comfy bed for when I get back). But much of the rest, computer included, will go away. I might have to get a lap-top though, I have heard satellite phones can now offer internet services. I know it’s not “outdoors-like”, but it can be convenient for shopping for vitals, an occasional blog, email, and general and specific local information, and trip planning (and burning time on those stupid games). Well, only a maybe on the lap-top.

Until then, I have a lot to do so… “Just, just get off my back man!”. Hehehe I think I’m hyped, a little nervous, and even a little cynical of my own resolve, among other things, all rolled into a nifty ditty-bag called me.