Nomadic peoples move over the landscape seeking pastures for livestock, game to hunt, or other resources. Many of these peoples have only minor interactions with the cash economy if at all. A nomadic lifestyle is not the nasty, brutish, and short lives lived in an imaginary past, but rather research has shown that many nomadic peoples have more leisure time than those of us who participate in a cash economy.
As a guide I too am nomadic. I follow the seasons to various "pastures" around the country where the climbing is in season and there is guiding work. I put a lot of miles on my Hyundai Santa Fe. I have devised a system to make living out of my Santa Fe convenient and comfortable; however, I have quickly learned that both socially and bureaucratically we do not live in a country that deals well with mobility. Where do I register my car (home)? Where am I from? Where do I pay taxes? Where do I want to be? are the question marks of a nomadic lifestyle
I have a friend who spent a couple of austral summers (northern winters) in Antarctica. He explained that since no one is "from" there, instead of "where are you from" they ask, "where do you pay taxes?"
Travel, like access to information is becoming increasingly easy. Airports, roads, and hightech boots have all made flying, driving and walking respectively much easier. The result: we are freer than ever to pursue our dreams and follow our passions. So, go for it.
Wandering but not lost,
Eitan
No comments:
Post a Comment