After researching through some subreddit, I noticed the fact they weren’t many posts on alternatives lifes options, and it puzzle me someone bc I see so many lost people, wanting to escape this conventional life.
We don’t have many sharing of relatively unconventional lifestyle.
I do however see quite a lot of people, being back to a slower life, to country side mainly. It’s one way of doing even if it’s more difficult that it can seem. More and more people begin to do their own garden, even if it’s mean to spend hours every days to do so.
This lifestyle seem to be the most popular and visible.
But even so, it seem that most of the people who are willing to escape the rat race or our so called capitalist system, think that we just cannot.
Idk for every country, and I am in a privileged position for sure, but I think that there are more solutions than appears.
So I wanted to ask if you know some ways of living alternatively, because we need to share this types of information. Somehow, it might give hopes so I think it’s important.
For my cases, it’s important to note that I live in France, so idk if there is this types of places in others country, and what kind of life we could live if we wanted too.
What I can share personally, is what I experienced and what can be possible.
First of all, I guess that many who are sick of this world, may need a complete turn over and therefore a break without a plan of returning in our ancient life.
I know that some people have some big responsibilities like childrens or family to substain. In those case, yeah, it can be more difficult to do the big jump.
I can also say that peoples with closeness to nature tendencies, and a taste for simplier life will be more easily prone to find themselves again with these little adventure.
After doing the big jump myself, I met many peoples who were doing seasonal jobs, and for the rest of years wandered around.
I can particularly emphasise WOOFING where you are hosted, and share meals with your hosts in exchange of 4-5 hours of work a day in a farm/nature oriented job. It’s profoundly more human than typical jobs and you can learn a lot of from it. Many does that with a specific project in mind and gain knowledge and skills from it. So it can be your thing if you especially like everything farm oriented, or you have building project.
In France we also have many « ecolieux », it’s basically community living with an ecological mindset. There is some where you can go to visit and maybe if you really like it, considering living there on a mutual agreement.
For those who live in city and don’t want to drop everything, you can find many association and community garden, that can be a great start.
In woofing and in those ecolieux, you can experiment living off grid and see if it’s your things, some really have the « cottagecore » kind of vibes for those who might be interested. Obviously, you can met many farmers who can share theirs journeys with you, as craftmen, herbalist etc. I know that the art of « artisanat » are more rooted in France but I think it’s quite the same in others European country, in the US, it may be more difficult.
For those who want to be more on the activist side, they may be interesting festivals in your country, where are hosted conferences, workshop, round table discussion etc. It can really give you a sense of purpose and not feeling doomed nor useless for a greater society.
I was under the impression that many peoples here were willing to make things change but didn’t do actions toward that. Imo, that can be very great ways to start, and you will at least feel less alone.
Obviously there is association, more local or global like Extinction Rebellion, or you can join unions too.
In France, we also have ZAD (« Zone à Défendre » which mean « Zone to Defend »), where you basically « can » lived while you are protesting again the creation of more artificial construction like an airport, highway etc. It’s a very particular way of living but if you can endure it, it can be amazing.
In those gatherings and places, you can met all kind of person who live alternative lifestyles as well. If you are an hippie kind of person, or nomad style with some artistic/spiritual side, you will find many peoples like you there.
Voilà !
I really wanted to share what I know about these alternatives lifestyle, hoping that some can see that others paths are possible. If you know others ways or want to share your personal journey, I will read everything with great pleasure and I think it can help others as well.
PS: sorry for all the writing mistake, and I don’t usually write long a** essay like that.