Leave Me Alone

[Elderberry]

Legal Insurrection  by William A. Jacobson Sunday, December 25, 2022

Watching the video of Dick Proenneke living Alone In The Wilderness is an escape, allowing us to imagine a life free from the suffocating technological and bureaucratic grips.

One my favorite documentaries is of Dick Proenneke building his Alaskan cabin Alone in the Wilderness. I’m not sure when I first saw it, but it was well into adulthood, and I think it was on PBS.

I watched it whenever I could. There was something so appealing about not just the story, but the life alone.

I thought about it today when I saw a link to a video of a Swedish 18-year-old building a cabin by hand, I Spent 3 Years Alone Building A Log Cabin:

    4 years ago I felt lost, even though society had clearly paved the path for me. I was 17 and living in Stockholm Sweden. After seeing the documentary “Alone in the wilderness” by Dick Proenneke, I became completely obsessed with the idea of just packing a rucksack of hand tools and wondering off into the vast forest of Sweden to create my own life, living off the land and build a log cabin. I found my meaning, but I was still in high school. My Grandparents owned forest so I started spending more and more time with them every weekend, wandering out, dreaming of my obsession and asking for advise. I had absolutely no prior knowledge of anything how I was going to do this, just the obsession to learn. When I turned 18 I told everyone of my plans. I received a gopro camera from my parents, so I could at least film some of my adventures. I hadn’t even thought about filming anything but I did so and am I glad I did. It is a long story from here of hard work, pain, cold, making many many mistakes and figuring out how to solve problems all alone by trial and error. But I finally built the cabin all alone after 3 years. Along the way I also became passionate in filmmaking, so I invested in a better camera. The whole journey is filmed on a tripod by myself, which was lets just say a struggle (I am insane). Some people will doubt this and say I had a film crew and construction team, which I just take as a big complement. I know my journey and I hope to inspire others the same way Dick Proenneke inspired me.

There seem to be multiple pieces of the Proenneke documentary floating around but not the full hour-long video. A website devoted to Proenneke has many links, and as suspected, those that are publicly available without charge are not the full docmentary.

More: https://legalinsurrection.com/2022/12/leave-me-alone/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtiaSn5iCg8

[mountaineer]

We have a copy of the Proenneke video and, I believe, the book. What a fascinating story. I'll set some time aside to watch this young man's video.

[Kamaji]

Wow.  If I had it to do over again ....

[catfish1957]

My wife and I spent our Christmas week at my ancestral home that my great grandparents built 105 years ago.

Our rules are electonic technology is limited to a flip phone for emergencies and an emergency weather radio.

Entertainment. is limited to a walks in the woods, conversation, a book, and a crackling fire.  I find it invigorating to detoxify occasionally from modern communication bombardment.

[mountaineer]

Sounds ideal, catfish.

[Free Vulcan]

We've built a mighty economy of suburbanite convenience managed by electronic technology.

Problem is that whatever thing that is built relies on certain assumptions. In terms of the modern American economy, it relies on things like cheap fuel, long supply chains, just-in-time inventory, centralized production, and a semi-hostile foreign power making most of our goods.

It looks so zippy and shiny, but it's not realistic, as we have seen recently. Our economy is vulnerable and not grounded in sound economic principles, and the Global Reset wolves are licking their chops.

[catfish1957]

Sounds ideal, catfish.

It is.

What was nice last week, was the fact that in the piney woods on rare occasions you get the perfect set up of high winds, brutal cold, and acoustics where you get a ghost like whistle/moan  sound as the polar winds blow through the heights of the pine forrest.  I hadn't heard that sound in at least 20 years.  Brought back many memories.

You also marvel at the wildlife. I still marvel when a nearby Pileated Woodpecker lets out a long shrill, or a see brazen deer. These woods in our acreage doesn't see any traffic except us, so though not tame, they seem more territorial.

The quietness is almost deafening too, when you are not used to it.  Summer obvioulsy is much louder with the insects, frogs, etc. but having the quiet has a theraputic touch to it.

We'd do it more often, but even just being a couple of hours away at our age, seems to take some special effort.

[mountaineer]

I wish we had just such a retreat. Probably could ask my cousin if we could spend some time in his family's old hunting cabin, though. I remember spending the night there as a child, with no electricity and no form of running water but a hand-operated pump (which I hope still works).

[berdie]

Once upon a time I wanted to live in the high mountains in Colorado. Then I changed my mind and wanted to live on an island in a warmer climate.

So once again, I've changed my mind on all those options. I think I'll stay where I am and not invite people.

[roamer_1]

This is why I am trying so hard to get back up in the holler.

I have never done well where the loons plaintive cry is not heard... It is a signature of a deep woods mountain lake... With the cry of the wolf at night.

Down here there's a different kind of wolf and loon.

[Free Vulcan]

Down here there's a different kind of wolf and loon.

There you go. Wolf and Loon - great name for a local bar. Large pool of patrons. 

[roamer_1]

There you go. Wolf and Loon - great name for a local bar. Large pool of patrons. 

HAHAHA! That's right. Seriously. 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I saw it on PBS or all thing almost 2 decades ago.

Yeah it kinda sounds appealing, but I think I'd get bored. 

[Wingnut]

If I out live my wife I am selling all my/our shit and going off the grid. Not to ":na new of nook" of north shit living in the snow stuff.  But deep in the wormer woods shit.   I really hate people.   I want to live alone all by myself.  I'll be 67 in a few days.  I paid my dues living with people.  I  mostly hate people I meet today.   I tell most of them to F. Off. 

When I was 5 or 6, my Granddad took me to meet an old hermit who lived in an old shack close to his farm. His name was John.  He lived in a one room place.  Not sure how old he was.  But he was a grumpy old guy.  I want to be like old John.  When I was 10 grand dad went down to check on him and found him dead in his rocking chair.  I guess he had been dead for a few weeks.  It was winter time, so he wasn't too ripe. Just stiff as a board. 

I was thinking.  That would they way to go.  Die in the winter, so as not to rot away.   

[catfish1957]

If I out live my wife I am selling all my/our shit and going off the grid. Not to ":na new of nook" of north shit living in the snow stuff.  But deep in the wormer woods shit.   I really hate people.   I want to live alone all by myself.  I'll be 67 in a few days.  I paid my dues living with people.  I  mostly hate people I meet today.   I tell most of them to F. Off. 

When I was 5 or 6, my Granddad took me to meet an old hermit who lived in an old shack close to his farm. His name was John.  He lived in a one room place.  Not sure how old he was.  But he was a grumpy old guy.  I want to be like old John.  When I was 10 grand dad went down to check on him and found him dead in his rocking chair.  I guess he had been dead for a few weeks.  It was winter time, so he wasn't too ripe. Just stiff as a board. 

I was thinking.  That would they way to go.  Die in the winter, so as not to rot away.   

I am fairly close to that mindset.  Outside family, and a very very small circle of friends, I am not social and  really prefer to being that way.  A few years ago, I joked with my wife that I practiced social distancing long before it became pandemic fashionable.  I am not a huggy, friendly, affectionate sort either. 

Funny thing, is I used to be the opposite in my yourth.  I think I just tired of dealing with people, and all that entails.

I wear the curmdugeon badge as an honor.

[Wingnut]

I am fairly close to that mindset. 


Funny thing, is I used to be the opposite in my yourth.  I think I just tired of dealing with people, and all that entails.

I wear the curmdugeon badge as an honor.

 

[Free Vulcan]

I guess I've never been super social, but the biggest problem these days is I don't relate to people very well. Most people just schlub along blissfully, almost willfully, unaware of almost everything despite what's went down the last couple of years.

I also see alot more weirdness now than I did pre-COVID, and I'm not the only one saying that, which definitely makes me keep my distance.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Most internet forumers are probably  a little antisocial IMO. I'd be lying if I said was a social butterfly of course. not ever close.

But I  like my little tech toys. And hot showers. Modern transportation. People can piss off of course. Pets are cool though.

[roamer_1]

I go both ways socially... Definitely happy to be in my own company for a long, long time.
Shoot, I really don't think I have seen more than 10 human beings this whole month.

And I am perfectly fine with that.

But there is a gregarious side to me too. I like sitting on the porch with folks. I like a good debate. Steel sharpening steel, as it were... I love a good shindig, a hootenanny, a farm party... Love going to rondy and rodeo.

I don't miss it if I miss it, but a part of me goes wanting for it. If a woman was around to drag me to it, kicking and screaming, I would normally be all the better for it, and would likely have a great time.

[Wingnut]

My worry is other people like me may want to set up camp next to me.  This is not a 1960's free love commune. 

[Cyber Liberty]

I prefer the Castle Life.   

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

My worry is other people like me may want to set up camp next to me.  This is not a 1960's free love commune.

Certainly not downwind right?

[Wingnut]

I prefer the Castle Life.   

You are young grasshopper.  Wait for it.

[roamer_1]

My worry is other people like me may want to set up camp next to me.  This is not a 1960's free love commune.

In the true sticks?  LOL!

Not to worry. Most folks ain't got the stones.
Everybody up there are good, good folks... but they are there because they prefer their privacy. Every one of them welcoming in the moment. There's always time for the porch and some good sweet tea or shine... to pass the time of day. And they will all come a'runnin if you are in need.

But in the end, they will all, always, wander off to be alone.

[Wingnut]

In the true sticks?  LOL!

Not to worry. Most folks ain't got the stones.
Everybody up there are good, good folks... but they are there because they prefer their privacy. Every one of them welcoming in the moment. There's always time for the porch and some good sweet tea or shine... to pass the time of day. And they will all come a'runnin if you are in need.

But in the end, they will all, always, wander off to be alone.

So, there is hope then!