Walk the Earth

So, I wasn't sure to post this on Advice or Travel, but seeing as how SighSee seems to be a pretty chill place, I figured I'd ask here.

I've lived in the same state for 34 years. For better or worse I was tied to this place by being raised in a foster care system and so on. I went to Boston for a few years of college and took a trip to Vermont once. Point is, I'm sick of being here. Just wallowing in the same streets and neighborhoods I've seen all my life, all I've ever wanted to do was see the world. Long story short, despite countless setbacks over the years doing the best I can just to survive, I feel like it's absolutely necessary for me to just go, to walk. I want to get out of New England and see the world, but there was always something holding me back. Now, I have the best opportunity to do it.I have no family, no friends left, nothing holding me here.

I'm getting my last paycheck from my last job in a few days and it will be about $400-$500. I have a backpack packed with a few shirts, pants, laptop, some books and basic survival gear. I want to walk the country and lose myself so I can find myself, so to speak. I don't necessarily have a destination in mind, although California or Florida seems like a decent endgame.

I guess what I'm saying is, is it possible? Any advice, tips or warnings for someone looking to just expand their horizons on a very minimalist budget. I can catch cheap buses if need be to get somewhere fast. I've been homeless for months before, so I know what to expect traveling and sleeping alone.

I just need some advice, or guidance from someone whose done something similar. I want to live like a vagabond for a bit and see how far I can get and see what life brings to me.

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  1. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    If you want enlightment, you could just ask yourself how the frick did you end up with only 500 bucks to your name and no job and litterally no safety net. Or rather, how to stop being in such a situation now that you're 34. You know, instead of going back to being homeless again.

    Frick, provided you find another crappy job for the time being and *actually* save up some more you could get yourself a TEFL certificate and apply for an english teaching job abroad using your american passport. You'll get paid far more than you ever did, will have a far more stable situation, and you get to visit entirely new continents, not just states.

    Or you know, maybe find some middle ground between going full homeless and going abroad vs getting paid but being stuck here. Maybe take a week off and go to a hostel somewhere in cali or florida.

    • 2 years ago
      Anonymous

      >If you want enlightment, you could just ask yourself how the frick did you end up with only 500 bucks to your name and no job and litterally no safety net.
      lol

      • 2 years ago
        Anonymous

        Oh believe you me, I know exactly how I got here, and that's precisely the reason I want to get out. Too many negative associations with the area. I'm not looking for an enlightening experience, I just want to get the frick out of here and seek life elsewhere. The major goal is to travel abroad one day, but I figured I would start with the homeland first because I don't have a passport or funds for international travel just yet.

        If you want to walk as far as possible without the logistical issues of civilization, my friend walked the entire Appalachian trail 2,200 miles from Maine to Georgia. All nature, beautiful camping all the way with occasional people you'll meet along the way, the weather and the elements shouldn't be a particular issue either.

        If you want to cross America horizontally, I don't know much about that. Once you're a good bit past the Mississippi river you shouldn't have a problem finding mostly legal places to sleep/camp, but there is more danger with being stranded without water in desert like landscapes, or getting hit by a car if you'll be walking next to roads the whole way.

        Either way, definitely start by attempting a 3 day hike, then a 7 day hike, before planning anything several months long. Also get [...] for help on the details. SighSee is mostly focused on city and town travel.

        Thanks for the tips, I'll definitely check SighSee. I actually have one cousin who is a decent human being and said if I'm ever in FL I can crash there. Was thinking of making that the first leg of my journey. Walking the Appalachian trail down to Georgia sounds kind of nice.

        The money thing is the biggest hangup I guess. I've literally walked up down and across the state of CT for the better part of the last several years with nothing to my name but the cloths on my back just to survive at times when I couldn't find work or a place to stay for a while, so I feel like even a sketchy plan is better than no plan at all at this point. I'm highly employable, I have a decent work history, no criminal record and have no hangups about taking shit jobs for decent pay along the way. Is it possible to find work along the way to supplicate my funds as I go, or is that an unreasonable belief?

        • 2 years ago
          Anonymous

          >Too many negative associations with the area. I'm not looking for an enlightening experience, I just want to get the frick out of here and seek life elsewhere.
          Sounds like you're not traveling, but just leaving without a destination. Lots of my friends have done this. They've ended up in Cali, Colorado, Missouri. Might be what you need. Or you might head home after a few years, that's what two of three of the friends I mentioned did, but none of them regretted doing it. Just remember, being broke long term is not an option. It breaks you down over the years and the problems only get harder to run from. Get that good job and save up some money.

          Also if you've really never been out of New England, just save up a few grand and do a road trip for a few months, you can see pretty much all of America if you just keep it moving.
          >Pic related, did this in a month

  2. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    first poster is kind of right but, assuming your heart is set on this, maybe consider some sort of contract work. i dont know how far you are gonna get with 500 bucks. The answer is definitely 'not very'. Maybe consider working while you travel though. If you dont have skills to be a digital nomad, maybe look up some humanitarian work, some transient labor. Either way, you gotta face the reality that money talks and you just dont have enough to make this viable currently.

  3. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    If you want to walk as far as possible without the logistical issues of civilization, my friend walked the entire Appalachian trail 2,200 miles from Maine to Georgia. All nature, beautiful camping all the way with occasional people you'll meet along the way, the weather and the elements shouldn't be a particular issue either.

    If you want to cross America horizontally, I don't know much about that. Once you're a good bit past the Mississippi river you shouldn't have a problem finding mostly legal places to sleep/camp, but there is more danger with being stranded without water in desert like landscapes, or getting hit by a car if you'll be walking next to roads the whole way.

    Either way, definitely start by attempting a 3 day hike, then a 7 day hike, before planning anything several months long. Also get

    [...]

    for help on the details. SighSee is mostly focused on city and town travel.

  4. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    I say do it, I have never done anything quite so ambitious but on a smaller scale I've never regretted my various excursions and hikes. You will probably come to some profound realisations about yourself while you have so much time to ponder and undergo physical challenges on the trail

  5. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    Probably just going to find an easy way to just off myself, I'm starting to think that may be the most efficient solution to my problem

    • 2 years ago
      Anonymous

      >Probably just going to find an easy way to just off myself, I'm starting to think that may be the most efficient solution to my problem
      WTF
      Start on your anti-depressant meds and start job hunting immediately. If you need to job hunt outside of expensive Boston, then do that first.
      People earn vacations by saving up money and take a break from work like for a couple of days unless you have some British pension. You are far too old to be aimless.

    • 2 years ago
      Anonymous

      >Probably just going to find an easy way to just off myself, I'm starting to think that may be the most efficient solution to my problem
      if you are serious, just go finish your Bachelors degree if you haven't already and then go be a TEFLgay in Asia/Spain/South America/Middle East.
      No you wont be rich(unless you go to like Dubai to teach) but you will have a much better life than now.

    • 2 years ago
      Anonymous

      Leaving New England sounds way easier

  6. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    The wilderness is no joke and you will die if you aren't prepared. Actually do research instead of consulting imageboards.

  7. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    Are u planning to just camp? And only spend money on food? Because 500 dollars aint shit, maybe if lucky 10 nights in cheapest motels

    Idk, doesnt seem like youre prepared at all, i dont know you but i should point out you run the risk of being perpetually homeless in florida. Kind of ironic you come from cali place with most hobos and heading to florida place with most hobos per capita..

    Idk if i were you i'd save at least 2k to do this

  8. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    Just go. Don't expect encouragement. If you want it, go through with it. If not, shut your mouth and regret it forever.

    I'm sure you will make the right choice.

    As for practicality, imagine you have two goals from now on now - to survive and to walk wherever. So start with the US and then see where else you could go in the world without visas, etc.

    • 2 years ago
      Anonymous

      Also; completely forget the whole survival larp. Learn how to get free shit and some sort of money rather than honing some ultra larp bushcraft bullshit.

      • 2 years ago
        Anonymous

        Kek.

        If you want enlightment, you could just ask yourself how the frick did you end up with only 500 bucks to your name and no job and litterally no safety net. Or rather, how to stop being in such a situation now that you're 34. You know, instead of going back to being homeless again.

        Frick, provided you find another crappy job for the time being and *actually* save up some more you could get yourself a TEFL certificate and apply for an english teaching job abroad using your american passport. You'll get paid far more than you ever did, will have a far more stable situation, and you get to visit entirely new continents, not just states.

        Or you know, maybe find some middle ground between going full homeless and going abroad vs getting paid but being stuck here. Maybe take a week off and go to a hostel somewhere in cali or florida.

        Completely agreed, but I'd say spend a week in Florida and try to get a job. Job market is always booming and it's affordable. But Amazon is hiring everywhere, and has sign on bonuses and relocation bonuses.

        • 2 years ago
          Anonymous

          Yeah, that wouldn't be a shitty idea to be honest.
          Go to to your cousin OP, help with the groceries and look for a job. Realize how shitty life is no matter where you're at then save up for a CELTA. Before your thirties end up you'll be banging TTTs every day of the week and you'll be sipping Mai Tais wondering how shitty your life would've been had you started your thread in /adv/ instead of SighSee.

  9. 2 years ago
    Anonymous

    Honestly OP, 500 bucks isn't much. And since it's pretty clear now that those 500 bucks are basically your life savings, I don't know man.

    I just don't understand why would you want to go all in. Find a new job, save up some more money so you can actually pay your rent + whatever you need to save up for a week-long trip at your cousin's. That would mean saving up a bit more money supposing you have to leave your job to take a week off. Depending on your rent you're looking at a few extra months. Why take a chance ?

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