Stepping Off of the Grid?

torpor asks: "Has anyone on Slashdot ever stepped off of the grid? I don't just mean long yuppy vacations to pacified islands, but seriously gone from 'tech-dedicated' to 'doing my own thing in the middle of nowhere for a while'. It's that time of year again. I've killed my TV, and I'm finding myself looking for adventure and mayhem in distant quarters. Have any of you ever done this, and returned with interesting stories to tell?"

Comments

Not me, but someone I know certainly did.

[Anonymous Coward]

Not sure if I should tell the story, but hey.

Someone I used to work with quit his job about one month ago. He worked as a Senior unix engineer / hacker - and had done so for a decade or so.

The reason? He wants to see the world. He's taking one to two years off - depending on how long the trip takes. He's going to visit as many countries and areas as he manages. He's been saving for this for a LONG time - and he's finally realizing his dream.

Now, what kind of guy is this? He's certainly a computer person. He's a code-warrior, server admin and network admin - combined.

He's a regular reader of this site, so he'll probably recognize this posting, if he reads the story - depending on whether he plans on using _any_ computers during the trip. .. I kind of envy him.

Stepping off the grid

[zoloto]

I did this for a year. Except I went about it in a more extreme way.

Quit my job.
Almost emptied my bank account (just enough to keep it open) and had the cash saved safely.
Moved from my parents place to miscellaneous places under aliases and didn't use my real name.
Never went near "public" cameras.
Paid cash for everything.
Never logged onto the internet and used "my" name or email account... ever.
Didn't contact my family through means where they could trace me (unmarried, no holidays)
Worked jobs where I was paid under the table with my alias.

I did this all half-way across the country. You don't have any clue how much I loved it. New name, new face, new style of living. Hell, even this slashdot subscription I have was paid for by someone I don't know who has never met me in real life or online (except through slashdot). This "alias" of zoloto isn't linked to my real name in any way, shape or form... and that's the way I like it. (someone guessed at my name once thinking he was "cool" but it never worked for him/her)

It's great. It's too bad we can't do this anymore with our real lives since people (companies/govt too) openly share our information and collect "assurances" that we're credit worthy and an assett to society.

Re:Stepping off the grid

[zoloto]

Just for fun and to prove one could do it for the long term. I only had a few thousand dollars in my account at the time and I was 18, so I went back to my parents place when I was 19 and started working / school again. That was around 1997-8 and I tell you it was a lot of fun.

Figuring everything out as if I was starting fresh, new everything and looking for legal jobs was a great experience. I made enough money to live, eat, enjoy some small entertainment and go about my business. Bought a car, did everything under that name essentially keeping "my self" off the grid and this new person on for just a year.

Actually with common names such as Brown, Johnson, Smith and Thompson I was easily noticed, but just as quickly dismissed. Just like that cherry red van you say just a minute ago driving down the street... or did you?

See what I mean. It's all about disguise. Sometimes you have to keep it all out in the open, and keep the secrets locked-in-tight and no one will notice you.

You guys are lame :P

[tdmg]

I was off the grid for 5 months and 10 days when I hiked the Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia in 2003. I had a cell phone, but if you look at Cingular's maps, there is a thin strip up the East coast where you can't get reception. That strip is the AT, which I hiked. It was really easy, I didn't miss the internet at all, didn't miss IMing or e-mail, and I sure as hell didn't miss all the spamming and ads all over. I would write letters to my parents that they would type up and e-mail to my friends, but that was about it for the internet. Not having to deal with technology was a great relief. But, being back here it's hard to live without it, my lifestyle at the time just didn't require it.

I remember when I stopped by a town in NH and I saw the last week's newspaper in the trash. It read "Great 2003 Blackout!". It's amazing to have missed something like that. I even heard stories of hikers who didn't hear about 9/11.

I'm planning to do long hikes in the future, so that won't be the last time I'm off the grid. (I know some people who hiked without ID, I still had my DL).

Anyway, if any of you have question or are just interested, I have all the answers. You can e-mail me at aberkowi@student.umass.edu

Re:Give it to the hot ones

[Wog]

Recommend a Glock 23, 200 rounds of cheapo walmart metal jacket ammo, and 100 rounds of nice name-brand hollow-point. Add a nice holster, and you've got a complete, compact self-defense package + 200 rounds to practice with, for under $700.

Get a concealed carry license for any state you plan to meet people in, unless you've got the balls to disconnect so completely that you never see an authority figure again. In most states that have enough wilderness to dissappear into, it should be very easy, even for a non-resident to get a permit.

I say this not to make you a gun nut, but to keep you from being a victim when several larger people in the hills decide to take advantage of you. You're more likely to encounter animals that need to be put down for your own safety. Do some studying about the balistic reactions of different points in the animals that frequent your destination.

Just be careful, and don't burn too many bridges back home before you go out the first time.