…but I need to know that there is work and affordable housing proportionate to the wages. I'm a 22-year veteran carpenter/restorationist, working pretty much exclusively on colonial homes and plantations in the Charleston, SC vicinity. I travel light, with tools and a dog in a 77 CJ-5. I don't know whether I'm much of an activist, more of just an anarcho-passivist that wants to live somewhere that espouses my value system, which is quite simply: if I am neither harming another human being nor attempting to take that person's property, I should be left to my own devices, to live and die as I please. I have streamlined my lifestyle to a point of minimal non-intrusion into the lives of those around me; I'm always happy to help if you ask, but I don't care about your stuff or your life and I won't be discussing mine. My email is cryptoanarchist@gmail.com; somebody please give me some details at ground level. I've already joined the FSP and promised to get there by 2013, but I'd leave next week if the right opportunities existed. Is there a restoration-type contractor in Keene ( I was reading about all the Victorian structures, and some that predate the Revolutionary War; right up my alley)? Is there a human being, as opposed to a management company, who has a finished basement or FROG or tool shed for me to rent? Minimal impact on my environment is the core of my personal creed; I don't need much and it doesn't need to be perfect. If the owners of one of those historic properties happens to read this, and you have an extra spot for a man and his well-behaved old dog, that would be almost optimal.
I want to move to Keene. Help me out, please.
[quote author=cryptoanarchist link=topic=3330.msg36683#msg36683 date=1276540700]
…but I need to know that there is work and affordable housing proportionate to the wages. I'm a 22-year veteran carpenter/restorationist, working pretty much exclusively on colonial homes and plantations in the Charleston, SC vicinity. I travel light, with tools and a dog in a 77 CJ-5. I don't know whether I'm much of an activist, more of just an anarcho-passivist that wants to live somewhere that espouses my value system, which is quite simply: if I am neither harming another human being nor attempting to take that person's property, I should be left to my own devices, to live and die as I please. I have streamlined my lifestyle to a point of minimal non-intrusion into the lives of those around me; I'm always happy to help if you ask, but I don't care about your stuff or your life and I won't be discussing mine. My email is cryptoanarchist@gmail.com; somebody please give me some details at ground level. I've already joined the FSP and promised to get there by 2013, but I'd leave next week if the right opportunities existed. Is there a restoration-type contractor in Keene ( I was reading about all the Victorian structures, and some that predate the Revolutionary War; right up my alley)? Is there a human being, as opposed to a management company, who has a finished basement or FROG or tool shed for me to rent? Minimal impact on my environment is the core of my personal creed; I don't need much and it doesn't need to be perfect. If the owners of one of those historic properties happens to read this, and you have an extra spot for a man and his well-behaved old dog, that would be almost optimal.
I want to move to Keene. Help me out, please.
[/quote]
I understand your concerns, as most people share them, but I generally do not go out of my way to help people who say "do this for me and I'll…"
And I even more so do not go out of my way for people who say the above, then say they aren't an activist, and have no desire to be part of the community.
So why do you want to come here (with our assistance…)? So you can just live freely, taking advantage of those who tie up the system? And you want OUR help?
You apparently want to move to Keene. But I dont think you're interested in moving to Free Keene. Leave the anarcho stuff out of your post, and post it to craigslist, and see if any of the greater community wants to subsidize your move, just because you might be a nice (idk, the guy never even talks to us) neighbor. Yeah…
Why did you join the FSP if you do not want to be an activist? The statement of intent specifies that the goal is to get 20,000 ACTIVISTS to work towards a better society.
If you have no desire to put in effort, why'd you join?? Just to move the counter one spot?..
Though, if he does move here, it is very likely he will be inspired by at least some of the activism that is going on here and become an activists, at least from time to time. I've seen it over and over again.
I said nothing about "do this for me and I'll", I simply asked for information. And I eschew titles, so no, I'm not an "activist"; I'm not hosing people to believe my cause, I LIVE my cause and lead by example. I want to move to Keene to grow in that regard, but if it's full of self-righteous anarcho-pricks who can't contribute a positive piece of information to a legitimate and sincere question, perhaps it isn't for me. If it is your purpose to weed out the quiet, non-aggressive types so you can fill the town with obnoxious libertariassholes, you're off to a good start. And I stand by my self-definition; unless you're a college English grammar professor, stick to checking your own syntax and leave mine be.
That aside, is there anyone ELSE willing to talk to me? Unless, of course, becoming an activist means abandoning common courtesy to strangers…
I'm not sure what you mean by contractor, since I only know of it as a type of "not an employee" type of employment.
But how do you get work in Charleston? I'd imagine that there isn't a huge demand for home restoration on an individual level, that the means to contacts and networking related to that would be like a county historical society or some snippet of information in a chamber of commerce brochure about "historical" buildings, some sort of registrar. And since you've been in this kind of work for 22 years you've undoubtedly seen housing bubbles before and how that affects the range of clients you have. I'd guess getting work would be done in kind of a similar way here.
[quote author=Sovereign Curtis link=topic=3330.msg36687#msg36687 date=1276544275]
I understand your concerns, as most people share them, but I generally do not go out of my way to help people who say "do this for me and I'll…"
And I even more so do not go out of my way for people who say the above, then say they aren't an activist, and have no desire to be part of the community.
So why do you want to come here (with our assistance…)? So you can just live freely, taking advantage of those who tie up the system? And you want OUR help?
You apparently want to move to Keene. But I dont think you're interested in moving to Free Keene. Leave the anarcho stuff out of your post, and post it to craigslist, and see if any of the greater community wants to subsidize your move, just because you might be a nice (idk, the guy never even talks to us) neighbor. Yeah…
Why did you join the FSP if you do not want to be an activist? The statement of intent specifies that the goal is to get 20,000 ACTIVISTS to work towards a better society.
If you have no desire to put in effort, why'd you join?? Just to move the counter one spot?..
[/quote]
see, this is why I never let you have a theme song.
It's a toss up either way, isn't it? Invert what you read from him, and how not-weird does he sound:
"hey guys I wanna be everyone's bestest friend and get arrested all the time 'cause I'm ~edgy~ and hardcore and when anyone mentions the government around me I wince my eyes like I'm blind and grasp at the air, shouting "WHAT'S THE GOVERNMENT IT DOESN'T EXIST I CAN'T SEEEEE EEEE IT"
but enough about me, let's talk about US. I'mma thumb my butt up to the next Social Sunday with ole' Lassie here and we can have a sleepover and tell ghost stories and you'll tell me I have something in my hair but it won't be embarrassing 'cause you'll like, totally all know me, and oh man oh man it'll be so awesome we're all gonna be bestest of friends I just know it!!"
…okay I lie. He actually sounds way more legit that way.
but srsly. People looking to move here, and for to whom such a move is a bigass deal, tend to be direct about not wanting to be some kind of a burden on total strangers, exceptions aside. On the internets, in an Introduce yourself post, this can come off as isolationist. Perhaps if this'd just been an "Hi I'm c-a I'm so cool" and this'd been posted in the Housing forum, then it'd be slightly less so.
If I've never "done activism" before, I'd be disingenuous to call myself one before I even got here, wouldn't I?
And I don't mean to be saying you're all wrong on this or anything Curtis, I'm just pointing out that I'm not sure how a "genuine" person who has specific concerns (but which are the same basic ones as everyone elses) should sound on the internets in such a first post.
If you can get a reserve to hold you through for a few months, you should be able to find something while you're here. I'm in no position to offer right now, but someone's likely to have temporary stayover space.
You might try coming up for PorcFest later this month, and scouting around for prospects there. Of course, it's being run by Curtis–and as this is the second time recently that I've had to chide him for alienating an interested prospective participant, I don't know what sort of environment to expect there. But most people involved in this project are as friendly and helpful as you could ever hope to meet anywhere, so don't let one person's snarky saturninity turn you sour on the whole wonderful thing!
Thank you to all who've shown me courtesy in your responses. Sam, I can do the reserve thing and probably manage this without any assistance, but it never hurts to ask. I'll probably bumble on up in the fall after my peak exterior season to see what the lay of the land is. Again, thanks for the courtesies shown, and I hope someday to shake your hand(s) in person, maybe buy Curtis the Anarchist Community Organizer (Jesus I hope I'm not the only one who sees the irony) a beer.
Curtis is under a lot of stress right now. I think he misinterpreted your request, but I can't speak for him. It's very gracious of you to extend such an offer to him. I know him to be a good guy, but he's organizing porcfest AND facing years in prison for civil dis.
Welcome. As far as your construction job is concerned, there are a number of contractors around, surely some do restorations. I'd google and start making phone calls. Also, check the jobs area of this forum.
[quote author=FTL_Ian link=topic=3330.msg36708#msg36708 date=1276569402]
Curtis is under a lot of stress right now. I think he misinterpreted your request, but I can't speak for him. It's very gracious of you to extend such an offer to him. I know him to be a good guy, but he's organizing porcfest AND facing years in prison for civil dis.
[/quote]
Come on, if you keep making excuses for me, I'll never learn.
Follow Shaunna's lead
Thanks for enabling a better understanding. @Curtis, sorry I snapped. I spent the early part of my 20s imprisoned as a victim of the Drug War; 2 years for a joint. I suspend hostilities. And thanks again to all who responded; as usual, just gonna have to do the deed first and deal with the consequences afterward. Why change a self-destructive policy now?
[quote author=cryptoanarchist link=topic=3330.msg36727#msg36727 date=1276599745]
just gonna have to do the deed first and deal with the consequences afterward.
[/quote]
That's usually how it has to be done. For all the considerable hassle, I was sure glad I did.
My first housing arrangement here was absolutely abysmal. The good thing is, it got me up here and it didn't last long. It encouraged me to find a better arrangement and that was a LOT easier to do once I was here. When you're here, you can go around and look at rooms or apts for rent, etc. You can go around and get applications and you will have some kind of job within 2 weeks. Then, just like the housing, you can start looking for something better but at least you can support yourself.
One thing to be aware of is you cannot support yourself marketing just to free-staters; not right now. I imagine that will change as the tide of movers grows, and it is growing. Just realize that it's the really passionate early movers that are here and a lot of them are single guys just out of school and what-not. They cannot give you enough business to support yourself. If you want to be self-employed, be prepared to market yourself to the broader community. If you're already doing that successfully where you are, it's just a matter of applying the same strategy here, though you'll be starting over and rebuilding your contacts and such. If you're not already doing it where you are, it's not likely to be easier here or at least not significantly.