tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512130412767613840.post6684019434587481204..comments2014-05-24T16:13:25.827-07:00Comments on The Adventures of Troy and Burl: How to liveTroyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387743192671564282noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512130412767613840.post-10915379117653407632011-05-22T17:09:26.432-07:002011-05-22T17:09:26.432-07:00Troy,
Great article. I really enjoyed this and ha...Troy,<br /><br />Great article. I really enjoyed this and have had similar thoughts. I often wonder how difficult it would be to strike off the beaten path and do this. I also think of what it would be like to "rebel" against the system by not working as much as most people do, not buying into the heavy commercialism of our society, and only work just enough to get by so that there is more free time.<br /><br />I struggled with a similar idea when thinking of what a good career would be. This is a bit different, but not that different really. Do I try to enjoy the work or the life away from work. Do I want to have a stressful or painstakingly boring job that earns good pay, or sacrifice some money or time for a job that is a bit more enjoyable. I am sure there are situations where you could have the best of both worlds, but they are probably few and far in between.<br /><br />The fact that we are able to have this conversation with choices shows just how "well off" we all are in a security standpoint. Most f us in the Western world have the ability to choose a safe yet boring and unrewarding work environment if we would like to. It provides all of our basic needs for us and our children. A large proportion of the rest of the world probably never gets this choice.Seylerchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01073312693861487674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512130412767613840.post-11635143577789898892011-05-22T00:03:31.932-07:002011-05-22T00:03:31.932-07:00PS - Which Ashley are you? Pants?PS - Which Ashley are you? Pants?Troyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12387743192671564282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512130412767613840.post-19907941143567065232011-05-22T00:03:00.160-07:002011-05-22T00:03:00.160-07:00Thanks for the feedback guys. Ashley, i would agre...Thanks for the feedback guys. Ashley, i would agree that money makes you happy in that it can eliminate some of life's problems and free up time for you to work on the others. I tried to say something to that affect, but it may not have been clear.<br /><br />Bethany, great points. I'm sure there is a ton that i'm not thinking of or taking into consideration. It is a very provocative subject to me though, and i'm enjoying the exploration. <br /><br />Rick, glad you enjoyed it. I like your point about there being more than recreation. I agree, even the things i listed, like biking and skiing, the best part isn't the activity itself, but sharing it with friends. The same ride is way more fun and satisfying and contributes far more to my happiness if i have friends with me. If i do it by myself it is often pretty lack-luster. So the social aspect is more important than the activity itself. I think having lots of good relationships is much more important in life than getting to do things like ski or ride dirt bikes. But sometimes it's hard to convince myself of that, i still lust after gear and gadgets and want to ride all the time.Troyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12387743192671564282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512130412767613840.post-91613957752977368872011-05-21T21:59:08.832-07:002011-05-21T21:59:08.832-07:00Modern life isn't all perfect, but it has its ...Modern life isn't all perfect, but it has its perks. I wouldn't want to give up coffee, running water, occasional medical care or the internet. We do cooperatively raise cows, raise chickens for eggs and meat, grow a huge garden, go to pick-your-own farms for what we don't grow, and do lots of canning. This fills up a great deal of time, and we still buy more than half of our food at the store. And I don't know where we'd begin with producing our own clothing. If we did much more we'd be stuck working at home, and we'd miss going to the beach and to visit family and friends. We wouldn't be able to take our kids to visit the Redwoods. I think unless you want to be a total recluse, you would have to be a part of a cooperative community to be happy off-grid.Bethanynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512130412767613840.post-17353459909943832011-05-21T21:43:58.325-07:002011-05-21T21:43:58.325-07:00There was a study done this year, and in American ...There was a study done this year, and in American society money does make people happier. I don't believe this takes into consideration those who go "off grid." people who say money doesn't make you happy are taking into consideration that it is not the only factor in happiness, and that is true, but it makes life so much less stressful! Good luck, we have all been there, or are there.Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07493213817240740901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512130412767613840.post-70905092625833004302011-05-21T20:33:46.151-07:002011-05-21T20:33:46.151-07:00I have had a lot of similar thoughts Troy. Seems t...I have had a lot of similar thoughts Troy. Seems to be more to life than a throttle cable jump starting my adreniline. My wife Karrie and I have thought about places such as Montana for a new, more down to earth way of living and self relience. In todays world it would seem odd if many others did not have thoughts similar to yours. I know I have for quite some time now. Making that into a workable and livible reality seems to be the hard part. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this as it sparks another look in to ones self, how we are living as a society and what is truly important in life. I agree, stuff and money is not the answer and only provides happiness for an instant in the grand scheme of things.<br /><br /><br /><br />Rick RamboRickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08314457811303476452noreply@blogger.com