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Sustainable ski bumming

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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
Would it be possible (/enjoyable/endurable) to ski bum, for the rest of my life? I will squat, backpack, tent, hike, sleep in cars, couch surf, bunk with a dozen guys, work my ass off all summer (ONLY if need be), hop borders, shoplift, dumpster dive, etc, in order to ski 150+ days until Im old and dying.
Anyone experienced (like, in years) in bumming? I read the newest news feature, and Im fucking inspired. I want to go to college, and then... chase winter
Nov 20 2009 8:05PM
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-=koLLac=-
Posts: 4122 - Karma: 11
It seems like many of you think it's an "either...or" choice between skiing and school / career. For me, it unfortunately was because I picked a stupid field (public accounting) but at least I make a decent amount of money (I spend less than 1/2 of what I make and don't go without).

However, school doesn't have to be expensive and you can ski quite a bit while in school. State schools or community colleges can teach you quite a bit of useful stuff as well. Bartending at night is a killer deal, I did that while I was in college. Another gig that actually pays surprisingly well is owning a hot dog cart - no jokes. Watch out for zoning, though, I bet you can't do that downtown Vail, haha.
Nov 21 2009 4:50PM
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selkirks
Posts: 1978 - Karma: 59
I work as a lifeguard during the summer in Spokane for our Parks & Recreation Department. I made $9/hour last year. I don't know where you're getting your information. Washington's minimum wage is the highest in the United States ($8.55/hr.). But if you think about it, at $9/hr (next year, $9.25-$9.50/hr.), you're really not making that much lifeguarding.

I know the Canadian governing body for lifeguarding is different (NLS certification?). In the United States we have the Red Cross. The prerequisites are in my opinion, less stringent and more relaxed. I don't know where exactly you are located, but at least in the United States, lifeguarding is a great job, but it's pretty low-paying.


Nov 21 2009 5:58PM
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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
I didnt buy, it, found it free online, I reread it once every couple years. Its my favorite book, mac has some amazing insights and tricks, despite being a little arrogant. But I find his smugness to be justified, Im not sure how you could live that life and NOT scoff at the working class!

And I did think about that, too, to the person who said they knew a 50 year old who skied everyday, never had a real relationship or a real job. I can handle never having a real job, but I really would like a relationship. To make matters worse, Im mostly on the queer side, and theres VERY little of that to be had anywhere. The gay skiers cult? less than a dozen people.

When this thread dies, too, Im going to make a thread about ski resorts that are set up to develop. If I could build 10 g's or so, I'd love to buy a few acres and watch that blossom
Nov 21 2009 6:52PM
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Drail
Posts: 14011 - Karma: 10,001
being in a relationship isn't harder or easier in a ski town than in the city... straight up.

as for the gay thing... well, there's a few gay dudes in my town (ski town of around 4000), but they're a bit older, not many in the 19-30 year old crowd - that i'm fully aware of...



and as for developing ski resorts, well - there's not much going on right now, due to the recession, flooded market, and the whole mentality of what developing a ski resort is, in the eyes of the investor, these days.
Nov 21 2009 7:25PM
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Samckoy
Posts: 381 - Karma: 66
Wow. The US are stingy to lifeguards. There was a strike in Ontario because lifeguards where only getting 12/hour when they wanted atleast 16/hour. BC have higher wages for lifeguards even.
Nov 21 2009 9:15PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
ding ding ding
Nov 21 2009 9:18PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
I would say get a degree first, that way when you blow your knees you"ll have a fallback.
Nov 21 2009 9:20PM
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-fungus-
Posts: 249 - Karma: 14
dude... word
pretty much, if u ask me, there's nothing more to it then to a) move right up the ass of a mountain, b) over the summer score a solid job that pays well, and c) during the season, i'd probably get a job working at the mountain, like in an episode of some salomon freeski thing on NS there was a guy who was bumming and worked like 6-10 or something as a cook at a restaurant at the resort
Nov 21 2009 9:30PM
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-fungus-
Posts: 249 - Karma: 14
dude... word
pretty much, if u ask me, there's nothing more to it then to a) move right up the ass of a mountain, b) over the summer score a solid job that pays well, and c) during the season, i'd probably get a job working at the mountain, like in an episode of some salomon freeski thing on NS there was a guy who was bumming and worked like 6-10 or something as a cook at a restaurant at the resort
Nov 21 2009 9:31PM
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Drail
Posts: 14011 - Karma: 10,001
one thing that most of you "go to school first" people seam to be forgetting is that you can always go to school. if you hit 30 or 40, or whatever age, and decide that you're over the ski bum lifestyle and want a change that requires you to have a degree for something or other, why can't you go to school at that point? if you go to school now, than not use your degree for a decade or more, odds are you're degree will be outdated and you'll have to go back to school for a refresher course, or even take the whole damn thing over again.


remember: if you don't stick a double cork 12 this season, you'll be one year older when you do.

Nov 21 2009 9:32PM
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Zump.
Posts: 3338 - Karma: 305
yeah but why would you want to go to school? because you need a better paying job? you should go to school before so you have options as to what you want to do. maybe you won'e have the money for school after 15-25 years of bumming.
Nov 21 2009 9:34PM
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Drail
Posts: 14011 - Karma: 10,001
and where exactly are you getting money for school now, as a poor teenager in high school?
Nov 21 2009 9:35PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
There are jobs that are high paying and give lots of time off. For example I know a guy who just started a paramedic job and he gets something like week on/week off schedule. And the course you need to take for it is actually not all that long compared to similar professions.
Nov 21 2009 9:40PM
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freezed
Posts: 12973 - Karma: 500
if you go to college when you're 18, your parents will pay for it. if you go when you're 40, probably not. i think that's the reason.
Nov 21 2009 9:45PM
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Drail
Posts: 14011 - Karma: 10,001
yea, i think that's bullshit, but i didn't come from a rich family, so it wasn't even an option for me...

...yea... ...soo... i don't know.
Nov 21 2009 10:06PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51264 - Karma: 157,482
I've been saving and investing my money. I save up a little extra and then invest it.

I plan on snowboard as long as I can, maybe starting  small business eventually.


Right now I have have about 3k invested in silver bullion. That's not a lot but it keeps growing. And I bought it all with low paying jobs and extra cash over the last year and a half.



If I can keep saving at even close to the same rate I'll be in good shape. As the economy continues to crumple I'll be in a good spot. Have a good chunk of money to put into a small business or a nice down payment on a house.


I'd rather live life my way, and maybe have to live a little cheaper, than be a guy working a 9-5 hating life.


Another thing, I have no plans to use a credit card ever. The american dream is to buy a lot of things you can't afford, work a 9 -5, and be in debt/and a slave to the system for the rest of your lives.

Ps: So many people going to college right now shouldn't be there. College used to be a place for serious people who wanted to learn and move into a specific career.

Now it's more about partying and "life lessons". Or because everyone's "supposed to go to school.


Those are awful reasons to go to school, and into debt. You can learn just as much from real world experience, and set up your own opportunities.


If you took the money you were going to spend on college, and invested it, or put it on a down payment for a house, you wouldn't be in bad shape either.


It's all personal choice. You shouldn't feel forced one way or the other
Nov 21 2009 11:00PM
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troublemaker3
Posts: 1954 - Karma: 225

yea its all fun and games untill you get an injury and have no health insurance to pay for it.  you dont have to be poor to enjoy skiing. there are plenty of career paths that allow for ample ski time. people with real jobs ski too. but i guess they dont carry that hardcore ski bum persona.

personally id rather ski a few times a week, have a decent paying career/job. my own house. money to spend traveling and skiing around the world. health insurance. and retire early.

Nov 21 2009 11:21PM
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skiEER
Posts: 4089 - Karma: 79
you cant do that forever especially with injuries
Nov 22 2009 12:17AM
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PhuzzyWuzzy
Posts: 358 - Karma: 82
That's deep...
Nov 22 2009 1:27AM
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afrocentric
Posts: 707 - Karma: 29
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Nov 22 2009 1:50AM
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afrocentric
Posts: 707 - Karma: 29
Nov 22 2009 1:51AM
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Jthon74
Posts: 399 - Karma: 19
very inspiring!, but sayin, just get up and bounce where you live and move next to a sick mountain, work a night job and ski bum is gotta be alot harder than that. i mean, ive been saving up for months now after graduating college, for a poss move out of western new york to somewhere out west next season. real estate no matter what, around a mountain is gonna be expensive, along with the jacked prices of  luxarious ski town life. unless you got generous RICH parents, or sell a bunch of coke, any move on your own is gonna be very costly.  the ski bum lifestlye is prob everyones dream on here but. to the average eighteen to early twenty year olds its gotta be hard.
Nov 22 2009 2:21AM
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Jthon74
Posts: 399 - Karma: 19
amen. ganga is key. and growing in itself is such a dope hobbie. nothin better than a freshie vt strawberry cough kola. thought about that idea many times. def know a few kids who moved to humbolt to pick and eventually landed a few acres. their rollin the doe rite now.
Nov 22 2009 2:30AM
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Jibbidy
Posts: 787 - Karma: 19
I have always seen the ski bum as incredibly appealing BUT not a very fulfilling lifestyle in the long run.  Personally, I would rather finish my mechanical engineering degree and maybe even an MBA on top of that, and own a condo at a nice ski resort, and ski every weekend of every winter.  Good money, good skiing. 
Nov 22 2009 4:37AM
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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
I dont understand this perception at all. I have a goal that I want to attain. I want to ride every day of every season until Im dead. If I were to attain that goal, I would surely be fulfilled in knowing that, while some of these pencilpushers rode 3 days last year, I banked 200. To me, that would be the best fulfillment of all.

I figure Ill go to school for either art or writing, my two natural skills, for 2-4 years, hopefully on a huge scholarship. The day I graduate, Ill head out to Santa Fe, NM, where minimum is $9.50/hr. and Ill bank up some real dollars there, maybe selling a little weed on the side. Get a revenue of 10g's or so. Drive up to Crested Butte, buy a pass, and ride.
Nov 22 2009 9:26AM
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gaku
Posts: 225 - Karma: 64
my threads, full of words of wisdom
Nov 22 2009 9:38AM
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Jthon74
Posts: 399 - Karma: 19
dude i honestly think that the key part of being a ski bum is not only being resourceful with the shit you got but a solid bank account to fall back on when times get tough are key in living that lifestyle. i mean you gotta understand that prob a bunch of these kids who said they are living the ski bum dream are milking the shit out their parents which makes the lifestyle sooooooooo much easier on them. especially the kids, and i love when they input in these threads because they dont know hard life, who are living in a semi-mansion ski chalet with a firend or two in aspen village or somewhere around tahoe city.  property tax and housing costs for areas world famous for the ski town are prob insane. unless you got something to fall back on. more than likely its gonna be a one season trip for you before returning home due to lack of funds. especially in the summer months. i mean these kids who are pros more than likely are living that dream hense pbp "EVERY DAY IS A SATURDAY". and im sure everyday is a saturday for them. which would be beyond dope. if you got the skillz to throw your carcaus every which way doin double this and double that. and can throw down on rails with tonz steeze than live in your car for a winter and chase any comp you can dabble into to make yourself known. im the farthest thing from a pro but i know that if your good enough, you'll get noticed.on the other end of the spectrum you could get a 4 year in hospitality and focus on ski resort managment, work your ass off get dec grades, and land a job at a resort and work your way up. a) you can ski a shit ton. b) you are getting salery c) you could poss work your way up and make a pretty nice living. just my two sense
Nov 22 2009 1:10PM
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kKid-Genius
Posts: 42 - Karma: 10
Work your ass off in th3 summer. bartend in the winter. then ski ski ski
Nov 22 2009 1:28PM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,500
dude after about a week you miss a bed. I don't know if you can do it for years and years.
Nov 22 2009 1:48PM
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jerad
Posts: 3236 - Karma: 47
...zero pussy?
Nov 22 2009 1:54PM
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jerad
Posts: 3236 - Karma: 47
I would like to add one thing - as a person who is finishing school this December and has skied more throughout college than I have in my entire life, I look forward to a career and money. I don't plan on working in any city that isn't close to mountains, because I still want to ski 3-4 days a week (2 days on the weekend + 2 nights a week).

Plus, I'd like to travel, do the AK heli thing, BC cat skiing thing, but since I am not a pro skier, the only opportunity I will ever have to do that is with the money I earn. It's easier to save for a trip like that when you have a real job. I'm not knocking anybody who decides to ski bum, because that's your personal choice. Just realize that not everybody can live like that, and the comfort of having money in the bank and a nice place to relax every night is pretty desirable for others.

I absolutely love skiing, its the #1 thing in my life - but I enjoy other things too, and I'd like to try and be a more well-rounded person. Keep in mind, there is sooooooooo much more to life than skiing. Why not try to enjoy it all?
Nov 22 2009 2:06PM
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Drail
Posts: 14011 - Karma: 10,001
actually yea, you know what? I was wrong, ski bumming is a waste of a life, it's too risky, there's no fulfillment and you live a lonely, meaningless life with nothing to show for it. it is incredibly hard to live in a ski town, and well... to be honest, i don't really know what the big deal about skiing is anyways.

everyone who is thinking about doing the skiing thing, you'll probably safer to just go to the city and get a job and all that. just go to the ski resorts in the mountains on holidays, it will be safer because everyone else will be there too, so you'll never have to be alone on the mountain.
Nov 22 2009 2:55PM
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Luc.
Posts: 7540 - Karma: 59
im thinking about bumming for a year or two in whis starting in the fall of 2012, so here is to hoping the world doesnt end! lol
Nov 22 2009 3:00PM
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prophet
Posts: 4734 - Karma: 1,007
woooooooooord to chuck
Nov 22 2009 3:06PM
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danedegruyter
Posts: 2749 - Karma: 1,137
Do people think before they talk?

jesus christ,
Nov 22 2009 3:57PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51264 - Karma: 157,482
What is wrong with people? Think before you post.

This page is filled with people trying to push there lives on someone else. "ski bumming is an awful lifestyle" get a job in the city" "bla bla bla"


You really just don't get it do you?

Lets say I eat cheeseburgers all the time, one of my friends says something about how i couldn't eat them everyday for the rest of my life. (I've had people say dumb stuff to me like that before)

Some people couldn't. But honestly cheeseburgers taste awesome, and it's food, no problem there for me. Or parking lot grilled cheese, with some ramen days.



Some people don't want a 9 to 5. The whole idea that your life choices have to revolve around one is just insane. Just because all the adventure got beat out of your head, doesn't mean other peopl have to follow your path.


Most american families that have a nice house and a couple cars, are in massive debt anyways. They get addicted to culture. They love to buy things they dont need.

Does that make them happy? Maybe some but not a lot.

So then you spend your life stressing about getting out of debt, but you can't because your already to immersed in the culture that goes along with it.


Maybe some people just don't have the same love for skiing. When all you want to do is live at the mountain, ski every second of everyday, thats love, that's passion.


But your going to tell these people that they can't do it because your not willing to do it. Or you don't think that you can do it.


Either way, let people live there own life. And stop trying to crush peoples dreams

Nov 22 2009 4:29PM
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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
+k
I couldnt have said it better myself.
Work isnt a religion, and your not missionaries
Nov 22 2009 4:49PM
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finnafuckyobitch
Posts: 1647 - Karma: 865
ma thredz
Nov 22 2009 6:45PM
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troublemaker3
Posts: 1954 - Karma: 225

you say this thread is pushing a lifestyle on people, then go on to say people who work 9-5 are in debt and buy shit they cant afford or even want. and are miserable

im 23, work 40 hours a week and have 3 day weekend, save 60% of all money i make. paid all my college loans off, paid for my truck in cash. ski 4 times a week, go on three ski trips a year in other countries. and plan to build a cabin within a few years to live in ......... all debt free.

ski bumming is a thing of the past especially with this economy, minimum wage, and cost of living in ski towns. do it for a year or maybe a few but soon you will find yourself working 50 hours a week for minumum wage just to get by, when you could be working less hours for more money and free time

nodody here is "trying to crush dreams", just giving you an honest reality on things

Nov 22 2009 7:07PM
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,012
pick a resort, and find a night job at a restaurant or bartending or something
Nov 22 2009 7:10PM
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Drail
Posts: 14011 - Karma: 10,001
i work 4, maybe 5 months a year (I don't work from mid October to early May, with a month off from mid july to mid aug), have never been in debt, ski every day (minus the odd hangover day of course), go on a ski trip to new places twice a year or so, I also paid for my car with cash, I can afford everything I want and need, I live in a really nice house.

And this will be my 8th winter of straight up ski bumming.

i just don't understand how you could say that ski bumming is dead when it's more alive than ever. Do you ever spend time in ski towns? have you ever actually socialized with people in said towns? or have any idea what living costs are in the majority of ski towns? Other than the Aspens, Vails, and Whistlers of the world, most ski towns are WAY cheaper than any major city.

I think this thread has inspired me to make a video blog this winter documenting the life of me and my ski bum ways to open the eyes of you naysayers and show you what my life is.
Nov 22 2009 8:43PM
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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
Cant wait to see the vlog.
And your right, ski bumming is more alive than ever. He said "in this economy". Well, in this economy, there are more and more homeless people, and I would imagine a small percentage of them ski.
Nov 22 2009 8:49PM
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T-Holt
Posts: 5020 - Karma: 639
Hahaha, so great.
Nov 22 2009 9:26PM
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troublemaker3
Posts: 1954 - Karma: 225

it all depens on your definition of bum, to me you have all the things a bum does not. in fact you seem to be exactly what i am describing as the perfect balance between work and free time.

you sir are no bum, just a person who enjoys skiing as much as possible and knows how to do so intelligently

Nov 22 2009 9:28PM
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Reed.
Posts: 4489 - Karma: 272
This thread is really interesting, and I'd like to chime in.

I graduated high school, and the parents forced me to go to school in the midwest, where I'm from (I wanted to go to UofU, but probably wouldve dropped out in all honesty).  I did my 4 years, picked up a Bus. Mgt degree, and had an absolute blast in school.  I also went to a school where I got about 100+ days a year in, not bad for Michigan.

After school, I moved out to Colorado, and tried the typical ski bum thing with a night job.  Blew out my knee in December and my season was pretty much toast.  Got bored and started a house painting business.  It's just myself as an employee and I make $35/hr in the summer. 

This will be my 3rd winter out here, and plan to get 150+ days (barring injury), just like last winter.  I have a part time night job at Target (pays $11/hr) and NEVER work before 4p.m.  I even got a sled this summer.

Ski bumming is absolutely still alive, and doing well.  I live in a house with 4 other college buddies who are all living the dream.  I have an exit strategy if I need it (move to Denver, get a career-like job), and I'd still be able to ski 3 times a week probably.  So to the OP and anyone else contemplating this life, go for it!  Try to have a PLAN B if you need it.

My number 1 piece of advice:  HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE!!! 

Blowing out your knee, concussions, broken legs... none of these are cheap, especially when you make $9/hr.
Nov 22 2009 9:56PM
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Drail
Posts: 14011 - Karma: 10,001
than, may i ask, what do you classify as a ski bum? if i'm not a ski bum, i just don't know what is.
Nov 22 2009 10:33PM
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Cincher
Posts: 3403 - Karma: 535
+k, That was exactly what I wanted to do. Luckily, I don't need no heath care insurance as I plan to stay in Canada.
Nov 22 2009 10:41PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51264 - Karma: 157,482

First, I was talking about the average american. Working a 9-5 and in debt.

I in no way said that if you work a 9-5 your guaranteed to be in debt and hate you life.

On the impossiblility of ski bumming... There are tons of people doing it. Sometimes it goes hand in hand with certain peoples entrepreneurial spirit.

I really have nothing against people living the 9-5 life. There are plenty of people who make that work and or happy. I was just saying it's not for everyone. Some people would be happier living poor and persuing other dreams, or just not being tied down.

I'm not trying to convince anyone not to go to college and or work a 9-5. I'm just saying we as people aren't one size fits all.

Wether your a rich executive at a huge company or selling dollar grilled cheese in the parking lot to pay for gas money, if your happy then good for you

Nov 23 2009 5:43AM
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mozzy
Posts: 1034 - Karma: 60
Very interesting thread.

For me, it's about options and choices. I've managed so far in my life to claw my way up in my line of work, save some money, buy the car, and if I decided tomorrow to bum it, I probably could. It would take a bit of a nudge to move out of the apartment, get the hell out of Europe, and into some ski town.

Now, let's say that I decide after a couple years of ski bumming that it's not for me, or that my priorities and viewpoints change (as they inevitably will to some degree), I have my tangible qualifications that I can fall back on, my degree(s), my job skills, etc., and I am sure that I can land a position somewhere and make coin.

With what I'm currently doing, I'm not rich, but I have choices. I don't have fixed hours, but rather I have long-term deadlines on the order of months to years. I have no debt. I save enough so I can travel to that exotic locale, get in that once-in-five years heli day, cash in those FF miles for first class tickets, the occasional four-star meal, things like that, which when carefully chosen, are things I remember and enrich my existence. I also know when to suck it up and get shit done.

It's all about those trade-offs.

As for the OP, you may change your point of view when you're 20, or when you're 30, or when you're 65. Everyone's life view changes, sometimes slowly, sometimes suddenly. But if you feel like this is a sustainable plan that fulfills you, go for it. If anything, you've got many points of view in the responses so far.




Nov 23 2009 8:58AM
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t_walker
Posts: 934 - Karma: 37
People that hate are jealous they didn't do it themselves.

white picket fences and sedans are dead.

Live with room mates, work bogus jobs, shred every day.

The industry is small, it's who you know not what you know, meet the right people while you're at it and you will open doors for your future after the bumming gets tiresome.

Go for it.
Nov 23 2009 9:54AM
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