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I often find myself romanticizing the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. I'm certainly not suggesting modern society be dismantled, but there's something intriguing, at

I often find myself romanticizing the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. I'm certainly not suggesting modern society be dismantled, but there's something intriguing, attractive even, about the simplicity of that life.

thedanbob 7y ago
I think this is why I enjoy backpacking once in a while. Sure, it’s nowhere close to actually “living off the land” but it’s still a challenge to survive out in the woods in the middle of winter with just what you can carry on your back. It also makes me more aware and appreciative of all the comforts and conveniences I have when I get home.
merpnderp 7y ago
I've always thought I tasted a bit of this lifestyle when I went on a week long backpacking trip in Rocky Mountain National. Only brought enough food for half the trip and planned on eating fist to supplement. By the time we caught any fish we barely brazed them over a fire before eating them raw, and then decided to pack out the next day because this sucked.
your-nanny 7y ago
is it simple? maybe only in our imaginations.
prometheus76 7y ago
Rule 1: Always have a plan for the day. Theorem 1: If you accomplish half of your plan for the day, you had a very unusual day. Rule 2: Be ready, at a moment's notice, to drop your plan for the day to pursue an unusual opportunity. Theorem 2: You might not always be rewarded for your enthusiasm, however. And, at first, you will see many "opportunities" that are actually distractions from the task you are avoiding. Time and seasoning will give you discernment. Rule 3: Be aware, at a moment's notice, that you will have to drop your plans and focus on an unexpected emergency. Re-build what broke so that it won't break the same again next time. Rule 4: You can start practicing now by skipping meals, or even skipping a day of eating on occasion. Also, sleep on the floor with a light blanket sometimes. Don't wear a coat to work sometimes. Take cold showers. Practice being uncomfortable. Practicing makes it easier to absorb being uncomfortable when you don't have a choice in the matter. Rule 5: While you will be met by frequent surprises and challenges, you will also be bored at times. Practice being comfortable with being bored by walking more, with no headphones, no podcasts, no music. Just you and your thoughts. Rule 6: You will always be building and re-building a plan for the day, but that plan should always be fitting into a context of the season that is coming next. What you do today makes the next season more comfortable, or at least, survivable. Theorem 3: You can judge how well you are surviving and adapting to the challenges of your environment by how long out into the future your planning reaches. Theorem 4: To romanticize this as "simplicity" is to grossly underestimate the mental fortitude and resilience required to focus on the matter at hand while continuing to rebuild a plan for the near future, all without losing your shit and giving up. Not to mention, grossly underestimating the creativity with which Nature can surprise you. (The numbering doesn't really matter, but theorem 1 is related to rule 1, and theorem 2 is related to rule 2. Mostly, it was just a way of separating my thoughts.)
- bradstewart 7y ago
  This is definitely not a response I was expecting, but it's a really good, thought-provoking one. Thanks for that. I have no doubt I'm grossly underestimating things, but I do think your ideas fit the definition of "simplicity" as I intended--simple being the opposite of complex, rather than easy or effortless. I find all of the ancillary functions we're forced to perform as part of modern life to be very complex and highly distracting. On any given day I might have to file a tax return, pay a phone bill, argue with a doctor's office over a bill I paid 18 months ago, have my car break down, deal with credit card fraud, receive a dozen spam calls, research and select a new insurance plan, find a new dentist, etc, etc. I actively take steps to reduce these distractions, but many are pervasive and effectively required. I long for the opportunity to be bored. As another comment said, this is part of what I love about backpacking: it affords the change to be bored with my own thoughts. And I'm back to romanticizing the ability to focus on a single, simple goal: survive to the next season, with all the uncertainty that brings and mental fortitude it demands.

thedanbob 7y ago

I think this is why I enjoy backpacking once in a while. Sure, it’s nowhere close to actually “living off the land” but it’s still a challenge to survive out in the woods in the middle of winter with just what you can carry on your back. It also makes me more aware and appreciative of all the comforts and conveniences I have when I get home.

merpnderp 7y ago

I've always thought I tasted a bit of this lifestyle when I went on a week long backpacking trip in Rocky Mountain National. Only brought enough food for half the trip and planned on eating fist to supplement. By the time we caught any fish we barely brazed them over a fire before eating them raw, and then decided to pack out the next day because this sucked.

your-nanny 7y ago

is it simple? maybe only in our imaginations.

prometheus76 7y ago

Rule 1: Always have a plan for the day. Theorem 1: If you accomplish half of your plan for the day, you had a very unusual day. Rule 2: Be ready, at a moment's notice, to drop your plan for the day to pursue an unusual opportunity. Theorem 2: You might not always be rewarded for your enthusiasm, however. And, at first, you will see many "opportunities" that are actually distractions from the task you are avoiding. Time and seasoning will give you discernment. Rule 3: Be aware, at a moment's notice, that you will have to drop your plans and focus on an unexpected emergency. Re-build what broke so that it won't break the same again next time. Rule 4: You can start practicing now by skipping meals, or even skipping a day of eating on occasion. Also, sleep on the floor with a light blanket sometimes. Don't wear a coat to work sometimes. Take cold showers. Practice being uncomfortable. Practicing makes it easier to absorb being uncomfortable when you don't have a choice in the matter. Rule 5: While you will be met by frequent surprises and challenges, you will also be bored at times. Practice being comfortable with being bored by walking more, with no headphones, no podcasts, no music. Just you and your thoughts. Rule 6: You will always be building and re-building a plan for the day, but that plan should always be fitting into a context of the season that is coming next. What you do today makes the next season more comfortable, or at least, survivable. Theorem 3: You can judge how well you are surviving and adapting to the challenges of your environment by how long out into the future your planning reaches. Theorem 4: To romanticize this as "simplicity" is to grossly underestimate the mental fortitude and resilience required to focus on the matter at hand while continuing to rebuild a plan for the near future, all without losing your shit and giving up. Not to mention, grossly underestimating the creativity with which Nature can surprise you. (The numbering doesn't really matter, but theorem 1 is related to rule 1, and theorem 2 is related to rule 2. Mostly, it was just a way of separating my thoughts.)

bradstewart 7y ago
This is definitely not a response I was expecting, but it's a really good, thought-provoking one. Thanks for that. I have no doubt I'm grossly underestimating things, but I do think your ideas fit the definition of "simplicity" as I intended--simple being the opposite of complex, rather than easy or effortless. I find all of the ancillary functions we're forced to perform as part of modern life to be very complex and highly distracting. On any given day I might have to file a tax return, pay a phone bill, argue with a doctor's office over a bill I paid 18 months ago, have my car break down, deal with credit card fraud, receive a dozen spam calls, research and select a new insurance plan, find a new dentist, etc, etc. I actively take steps to reduce these distractions, but many are pervasive and effectively required. I long for the opportunity to be bored. As another comment said, this is part of what I love about backpacking: it affords the change to be bored with my own thoughts. And I'm back to romanticizing the ability to focus on a single, simple goal: survive to the next season, with all the uncertainty that brings and mental fortitude it demands.