My brother, Joe, and his girlfriend, Jacque, decided to go off the grid for a while. They bought an Econoline van, converted the inside to a livable space, complete with a built-in bed with storage underneath and storage compartments in the upper part of the van. They sold their home, quit their jobs, took their two cats, and went on the road. They're traveling hither and yon, picking up work in various agricultural environments, staying in campgrounds, etc. They're in their mid 20's, and his reasoning was that, "If I don't do it now, I feel like I never will."
I'm probably the only person in my family who's actually proud of him for it. I'm annoyed by that fact, but I'm even more annoyed by the reaction I get from others when I tell them about his choice. It's the same, eyebrow-raised, disdainful, judgmental response, the expression of exasperated disbelief. I guess I can't say that I'm surprised by the typical reactions; but it was a reminder of how deeply we are acculturated to the ideology of capitalism, that, unless one lives in one place, pays rent or a mortgage, puts down permanent roots, and sells their souls to a corporate master, agreeing to punch a clock for five to six days a week, their lives make no sense.
I almost envy my brother his courage.
I'm probably the only person in my family who's actually proud of him for it. I'm annoyed by that fact, but I'm even more annoyed by the reaction I get from others when I tell them about his choice. It's the same, eyebrow-raised, disdainful, judgmental response, the expression of exasperated disbelief. I guess I can't say that I'm surprised by the typical reactions; but it was a reminder of how deeply we are acculturated to the ideology of capitalism, that, unless one lives in one place, pays rent or a mortgage, puts down permanent roots, and sells their souls to a corporate master, agreeing to punch a clock for five to six days a week, their lives make no sense.
I almost envy my brother his courage.
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