I REALLY want to be a...

Faarr out! I don't know where exactly to go,though...any ideas(other than cali!)?

 

right on! me too!

 

i live here in california and one of my best buds used to be a hobo. he rode the trains from LA all the way up to washington .. back and forth for a few years. still says it was one the the best times of his life. except when he jumped from a moving train and broke his ankle.. and his prince albert got infected

 

Well strictly speaking, a Hobo is a person that travels from one place to another working where they can to get food - often trading labor for a meal and a place to sleep - a Bum is someone who travels around begging. Have done both in my younger days - "You got spare change my brother". On riding trains - harder to do than it looks - scared the liver out of me the few times I tried it. Mostly I hitched. At that time, any long hair would pick up another freak that he saw with his thumb out. Things have changed a lot - and it was always harder for women - they had to put up with a lot of american male bullshit - she's a hippy, she must want to screw - lot of twisted thinking among the straight folks. Best bet these days is probably to work to get a cheap car and a little cash ahead - then travel from job to job. The other option is to play the school game till you get the right piece of paper - then you can go and come as you please - that’s what I ended up doing - I worked my way through nursing school - once I passed boards I could get a good job anywhere - but everybody has got to pick their own road.

 

You have what we call an idealised view. It's pretty common in America. For some reason, the beats really glamorised the whole hobo thing in the 50's, and we're still rolling with it. The sick thing is that the original hobos weren't doing it by choice. They were destitute people in the great depression desperately hoping to find a better life if they hopped the train.

Anyway, it's not that hard to do. But you're not going to get very far if you're not willing to give up your ideas of comfort. Being on the road can be very physicaly taxing, and if baking in the sun is the worst you get, you'll be lucky. Just get a frickin' hat and drink lots of water.

You'll want more than a guitar and your clothes. A backpack full of food and a notebook and a water bottle and a sleeping bag are all wonderfull things. Perhaps a tent or tarp as well. And maybe even a change of clothes or two? Bring lots of socks and underwear, and don't forget your toothbrush.

 

No,seriously man. I can't be out in the heat. That's the main thing stopping me. Not because of the hat,not because of the lack of wter. I drink tons of water. My family is highly prone to skin cancer. Plus,I really,really can't be out in the heat. I'd pass out after 30 minutes. I have done it many times before.

 

i doubt that you are gunna make it as a hobo then, if that's the case...

 

Yeah,it saddens me...my dreams are crushed!

 

lol....if only we could control the weather

 

hmmm yes it seems all fun and games... and at times yes it is. I admit I loved my life then and was very happy when I traveled but where my life is now makes me happy too...


anyway, like someone above said, you need more than just clothes in your bag... infact you'll prob throw all the extras away(besides whats on your back, maybe an extra) and carry food and a blanket instead. Clothes come and go, sometimes you don't always have food. Being young and female and alone I'd advise you go with a trusted male friend or wait until you can do it safely... you'll have a rough trip otherwise (almost guarenteed sadly). There are months you don't shower or change... keep that in mind. Being a "hobo" is a live for the day kind of life.

 

i have the same probs with the heat you do..thats why i want the bus & tipi..that way your totaly mobile, free to wander, but ya got a place to get out of the weather, ..ofcourse that option takes allittle investment & time..but the saftey & security factor i think is worth it, especialy for a sister alone
or a few people could go in on it together..sorta like a family thing..

 

being a hobo does have alot of plusses. but it is quite a bit of a drag. it was nicer when i had the VW . . . unless it was one of those times you had to build a new motor in the middle of nowhere with no loot ot your name. being in a backpack was veryrefreshing for a while, but it does get heavy, and it gets hard to find a new place to camp everynight. you gotta eat too. i would play the mandolin everyday, but it really is hard to make enough for a meal somedays. theres many people who get by just fine by begging for sparechange all day. you can get alot of loot that way, but being homeless for 3 years, i never could bring myself to do that.

 

yeah it seems kind of hard...I don't think I know anybody who would want to go with me,and I surely would want at least one person... dear god must I be so alone?!