Hello nomads and wanderers, I would like to introduce myself as someone who has recently tried and failed at running away from home. I realize that many of you have bias against people like me because 99.9 percent of us are ungrateful asswipes who do it because we get in a fight with our parents or do it for attention. I do not feel sorry for my self, I get along with my parents well, and I am not looking to impress anyone; please do not be mistaken. I currently reside in the United States and am 15 years old. I am the type of kid who loves life very much and spend almost all of my time outside of school outdoors by myself. I do not spend my time worrying about my appearance, my social media, or playing video games. I have spent time with squatters in my area, I appreciate the squatting lifestyle very much and the interesting people it produces. I am also the type of person who fixes their own problems, however unorthodox the methods are. I also have very little interest in schooling because I don't believe it has an important role in my future.
I spent the past few months planning, scrounging gear, and tying up all of my loose ends so I could make my way out of the shitty suburban lifestyle I have always known. I wanted to leave all technology behind and become a nomad. I had mapped out my way to the nearest railyard and eventually I broke free and biked my way there, the idea of train hopping was intriguing to me and an old squatter friend had told me all about it. I knew that if I could get to the railyard and lay low for an indefinite period of time, that a train would stop and I could get on it because my friend had recommended the specific spot. When I got there, all sorts of trains were stopping and going but none of them were going in the right direction, for the first two days, I waited and watched all the trains stop but they were all going the wrong direction. An old squatter had seen me sleeping in the cold and rain and invited me to come by his fire and smoke weed, I gratefully accepted, we became good friends. On the third day, I decided that I would board any train that stopped, there were only two directions they were going. I also became much more careless about my hiding place and was spotted by the train crew on a passing train. They sent a yard worker to clear me out of the area, who I told I was just taking pictures, but he still made me leave. I was on the lam, and I knew people who cared about me would be out looking for me and my picture would be everywhere. Pretty much as soon as I had left the railyard, I was spotted and driven home by police.
This happened fairly recently but I can reflect from this experience with guilt and wonder. When I was on my own I felt like I was at home with myself and I cannot describe the feeling. I believe that life on the road is the correct path for me.
Now that I have described my situation, I would like to get into the real reason why I am putting this on here. Now that I am back with my family and with society, I really want more life on the road even though it has been a few weeks since I ran away and I only lasted three days. I think that if I had been less careless and more patient, I would have made it. It is difficult living on the run and I believe that I would not have lasted longer unless I had boarded a train.
In my state, there are laws regarding runaways, they pretty much just say that any 17 year old is not a runaway and cannot be searched for by police. I think I should give another shot at living on the run because the absolute freedom that comes with it makes it definitely worth it, but I can always wait 14 months for a much easier approach.
Is there anyone on here who has advice for me on being on the run, or on riding trains, any advice helps, (especially from experienced runaways).
Please personal message me anything that is actually helpful so stupid kids who don't know what they are getting themselves into can't read the advice.
I spent the past few months planning, scrounging gear, and tying up all of my loose ends so I could make my way out of the shitty suburban lifestyle I have always known. I wanted to leave all technology behind and become a nomad. I had mapped out my way to the nearest railyard and eventually I broke free and biked my way there, the idea of train hopping was intriguing to me and an old squatter friend had told me all about it. I knew that if I could get to the railyard and lay low for an indefinite period of time, that a train would stop and I could get on it because my friend had recommended the specific spot. When I got there, all sorts of trains were stopping and going but none of them were going in the right direction, for the first two days, I waited and watched all the trains stop but they were all going the wrong direction. An old squatter had seen me sleeping in the cold and rain and invited me to come by his fire and smoke weed, I gratefully accepted, we became good friends. On the third day, I decided that I would board any train that stopped, there were only two directions they were going. I also became much more careless about my hiding place and was spotted by the train crew on a passing train. They sent a yard worker to clear me out of the area, who I told I was just taking pictures, but he still made me leave. I was on the lam, and I knew people who cared about me would be out looking for me and my picture would be everywhere. Pretty much as soon as I had left the railyard, I was spotted and driven home by police.
This happened fairly recently but I can reflect from this experience with guilt and wonder. When I was on my own I felt like I was at home with myself and I cannot describe the feeling. I believe that life on the road is the correct path for me.
Now that I have described my situation, I would like to get into the real reason why I am putting this on here. Now that I am back with my family and with society, I really want more life on the road even though it has been a few weeks since I ran away and I only lasted three days. I think that if I had been less careless and more patient, I would have made it. It is difficult living on the run and I believe that I would not have lasted longer unless I had boarded a train.
In my state, there are laws regarding runaways, they pretty much just say that any 17 year old is not a runaway and cannot be searched for by police. I think I should give another shot at living on the run because the absolute freedom that comes with it makes it definitely worth it, but I can always wait 14 months for a much easier approach.
Is there anyone on here who has advice for me on being on the run, or on riding trains, any advice helps, (especially from experienced runaways).
Please personal message me anything that is actually helpful so stupid kids who don't know what they are getting themselves into can't read the advice.
