How do we live?

[Piel]

I´ve been wondering how and old stoner lives? I remember rejecting middle class values back in the 70´s and here I am -middle class, three cars, dog and a cat, kids and the whole shebang.

Smoking herb is for me a) medicinal b) keeping myself apart from the establishment (in a small way).

What about you guys?

 

[qdavid]

Yup

 

[litebuzz]

i live well! my opinion of well may differ from someone on the west coast. but i'm happy, healthy, have work, married, love where i love....and i love that i can grow kick ass weed...but the secret part is an odd double life thing.
i value hard work, save some $, don't lie or cheat, and be a good human.

too bad the law douches think i'm a lazy pot smoker anbd a menace to the community! man these laws gotta change soon!!

 

[friscofrqancis]

At 58 years old; I've never had a credit card. never owned a home. I have owned up to 3 or 4 cars and 4 or 5 motorcycles at a time. Then, again; I've packed a duffle bag and wander off into the world. I've had good jobs; usually in some sort of lead position, on the job as a weldor/fabricator/mechanic or in corporate offices as some kind of system engineer/designer. I've also taken long semi retirement breaks of three to eight years.

My preferred dress is still tee-shirt and Levis even in corporate offices (san Francisco - not a major feat). I think it safe to say I would of been thought of as some middle class workaday serf, and at times in my life I may have been. Certainly felt like it at times; usually just before one of those breaks. Still, I've helped raise my two kids. Surprisingly, they came out OK. OK enough to make their dad proud anyway, but my criteria is still based on that rejection of "middle class values" illusion I held so dear as a young buck.

There ain't nothing wrong with settling down buying a home, two cars, having 3.2 kids and gong to little league on Thursday nights. I've done most of that except the house thing and at my age have the land and plans for a house in Chiang Mai (Thailand). So I guess I'm slowly growing into that 'Middle Class, the Pit of Dispair" hum drum life, again. Got one more run of work to do, and a few more roads to ride but it'll be nice to have a home to go to when I feel the need.

Living in the USA it can be difficult to function; raise, and provide for, a family without being infected by some of those "middle class values." At the end of the day, as you put away the briefcase or hang up your overalls fire up a number under the headphones blasting "Dark Side of the Moon" into your poor worn out eardrums it ain't the cars in your garage, the mortgage on your house or the neatly trimmed roses that define a capitulation to those abhorrent "middle class values" we all feared as young men and women. it wasn;t middle class values that were such a rotten thing in our youth, it was label that worked at the time, kinda. if you still question authority in all it does, if you still prefer to take the time to understand many sides of an issue rather than following some jingle laden propaganda campaign, if you still place a higher value on being honest in your dealings with those around you and don't fear change simply because it's new or different then maybe you held on to the values that were important and if you lived a comfortable life, there is no capitulation in that. You did OK.

ON THE OTHER HAND
If you've been sucked into to some kind of consumer-slavery with the need to have every whiz-bang sweetheart of a thingie that was just on TV and are plagued by "OMIGOD I GOTTA BE JUST LIKE them successful people down the street" kind of thoughts. If you take all you see on Fox news as gospel, or by into anything over hyped without intelligent deliberation and open-mindedness. Well, you just might've turned away from that path you saw in front of you back when you rejected all that was holy to those that held (what we saw as) "middle class values." Way back then.

Reading the above, one last time before I click that button; one might excused for thinking I should not post in these philosophical-type threads while under the headphones listening to "Dark Side of the Moon" after burnin' a very tasty joint of highland Thai (a rare treat here!).

 

[Piel]

ff: Well spoken! Lucky for me I live in the boonies so I have nil competion from any neighbours! I left the US many years ago but I still feel American -it doesn´t really wash of does it?

I hear Thailand is beautiful -did Thai sticks ever really come from Thailand? If so do they still make them?

One important question: Are Frie boots still made?

 

[cloverman]

life is good!!! not so much 20 years ago but now the rat race for me is DONE! I live in a small town in Oregon. no more big city life (san jose) calif I grew up there just not for me. My daze are spent on the golf course getting stoned or playing in the woods.

 

[Piel]

CM: Sounds nice! I grew up in the Bay Area but I´ve moved around a lot. I think quite a few old hippies are finding their way back to the ideals of the 60´s now that we´ve gotten older. Things like growing your own food, enjoying nature, litterature etc are things we now find time to do.

Hoping the kids will grow up and become independant...

 

[facelift]

Could be better. It's going on 2 years since I've traveled. I've been employed at 6 different places the past 3 years. I've managed to hang on to some money. No bills unless I use my credit cards. I'd rather get away from the emf's for a few weeks that pay for sex.

Can't wait for golf season

 

[cloverman]

facelift- golf is a great escape. there are some cool golf resorts out there. I try to go to one a year for a week just to say ive been there this year bandon dunes on the oregon coast it should be a blast ill have to pack extra balls lol hope you get out there soon get some birds (eagle etc)

 

[cloverman]

Piel: wow i have a big garden out side i grow a lot of veggies its like 60 miles to the store for me so it really helps out and its fun my friends like it to i send them home with all kinds of stuff my neighbors make me fresh salsa for the peppers and tomatoes (always to many to eat) and it seems like the only channel on my t.v is the history channel learning what i missed in school i guess but it seems like the news just angers me to see all the crap that goes on wheres the LOVE

 

[Hank Hemp]

Been unemployed since 5 nov 08. I don't believe it either. Did land surveying ain't none of that going on. What with all the repos and houses never sold. I'll be 60 in sept and oh yeah had back surgery 3 weeks ago. Be I'll pull through but I'm almost 60 now.

 

[friscofrqancis]

I hear Thailand is beautiful -did Thai sticks ever really come from Thailand? If so do they still make them?

Been here eight years ain't seen a stick in all that time. But we occasionally get some good quality weed that tastes almost as good as those green sticks I got once back '79-'81. Mostly Compressed Lao weed, sometimes seeded, usually not.

Thailand is a beautiful country and I spend a good deal of time on the road on my bike finding the tiny backroads that lead nowhere more than a road side stand selling ant eggs and cicadas or a riverside noodle shop built out of pieces of a 100 year old teak houses.

Moving back to the states this spring. Looking forward to it, kind of afraid of it to. It'lll be for at least a year, more likely two. I'll be homesick for here in 6 weeks or less. After that gig, I'll come back here, and do some more riding. Hoping I can stay retired after this next gig, unless I get bored.

 

[fishheadbob]

I was into rejecting middle class values way back when. Worked forever as a social worker attempting to help the downtrodden, who I think almost prefer to be downtrodden, and the job came with a kick ass pension. 2.4 kids born in wedlock, same wife (professor) 38 years. Used the job to buy a run down farm in the boonies. Somebody died and left me a nice bundle so now I still live on the farm, farm a lot and appreciate the pension, grow kick ass weed, but drive my BMW to the country club.
Interesting that my current pothead pals are doctors, lawyers, judges, etc who see me as "safe" for good substance abuse.

 

[Piel]

Sorry for you guys that are out of work, hope times turn around soon.

Then again it´s weird how some things just work themselves out. Karma I guess.

I´d never have the guts to move back to the States -my elbows aren´t sharp enough anymore.

 

[Mr. Charlie]

I live a happy positive life in beautiful western Colorado. Surrounded by great friends in a small mountain community with a kick ass grow scene.
Single father/income of two amazing daughters... one already in college(valedictorian) and the younger one with straight A's. I support myself and my girls independently from a small scale art/craft business. I am a major volunteer in numerous non-profits, local radio dj, and an avid mountain biker amongst numerous other things...
Oh yeah... I smoke WEED!!! and have for a mere 20 plus years!

 

[Piel]

Mr. C: Sounds like you´ve done a great job raising those daughters! I wish the craft business would work better where I live, seems we don´t have enough turists.

In a few years the kids will be out of the house a scary thought. What will it be like not having the patter of small feet (size 12 ) and the sound of Black Metal echoing through the old abode?

But they´re good kids.

 

[Mr. Charlie]

In a few years the kids will be out of the house a scary thought. What will it be like not having the patter of small feet (size 12 ) and the sound of Black Metal echoing through the old abode?

But they´re good kids.

Right on! I have my eldest daughter visiting now and it is a real treat to share time together.

Personally, I am really excited about the freedom and time that I will have to pursue my personal interests. Not to be selfish by any means, but the kids(even big ones) take a lot of attention and care... even when they think they are 'all' mature! I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and look forward to watch their adult lives develop.

Keep up the great work Piel, I can't think of a better thing to invest your time and love towards. Cheers

 

[Rose56]

I've got a foot in each world. I'm 53 retired early at '91 grow my own mostly for medicinal purposes life is good we live simply off our own investments.

 

[Piel]

The kids have started to wonder why I small of smoke in the evening! They really are quite naive, I usually tell them it´s from the kitchen stove.

My older son has toked once(that´s what he says anyway), he was drunk at the time and got sick. He told me this in confidence and I was way more cool than my mom was back in -78 when she found my stash.

 

[robereno]

Child of the 50's/60's and after a teacher assigned me the task of writing a report on them, bought into the whole hippie thing. Graduated from San Francisco State in the early 70's but had no interest in pursuing my Social Science degree. Went to a community college and took horticulture classes which prepared me for a career working outdoors. Managed to retire at 55 with a good pension; really lucky.

With a great wife and 20 acres to play with, these are the happiest years of my life. Did I mention lucky?