Crossroads

**rwc1969** · 03-07-2011, 03:08 AM

Originally Posted by BENESSE

Someone famous/successful once said...follow your dream and the money will come and I agree with that... if you love what you are doing, and would do it even if you weren't paid, you couldn't ask for more.

That's a good point. And, this thread has me wondering how some of the primitive skills folks manage to become succesful in it as it does take a lot of time to learn and practice these skills, not to metion getting the word out. Makes me wonder if they inherited large amounts of cash, lawsuit, disabiltiy? how do they find the time and still pay the bills while learning and getting their "business" off the ground?

**your_comforting_company** · 03-07-2011, 08:46 AM

Most of the ones I've met are retired. Ben at chehaw was a ranger/forester, and he's the head of the zoo. So, he has good income and can teach classes on the side, at "his" zoo. He also has made contributions to a lot of books, and was a historian (or something like it) at UGA. Russell Cutts is a professional paleoarchaeologist and used to work at the Funk Heritage Museum, and an author of several books. A lot of the folks I've met live very simple lives, much like SD.

I have no illusions about it (teaching primitive stuff) becoming a career. My thing is that if I were to fall back into that boring routine job again, I wouldn't have time for anything "real". I like having the freedom/option to choose what I do today, and while it might be the same thing I did yesterday, usually I at least get a change of scenery, both on the commute and location of the job. I do like the prospect of bringing self-reliance skills to folks.

My Dad, my knapper friend, my neighbor across the road.. none of them were able to come to the demo this past Saturday. When I went by there on the way to the Park, I saw all the cars lined up like ants marching. Which was my contention for posting this thread. As much as my dad probably would have liked to come show his son some support, he was unable due to work. I NEVER want to have to tell my kids "I don't have time for (insert kids hobby here) with you, I have to work today". When we let our careers start to dictate our lives, something is taken away from us. The only person who got to share in the experience of that event with me was my youngest son... For which I am eternally grateful.

It's not that I am unhappy doing what I do. I do good work for folks that need a good job done at a competetive price. Things are just slow right now, but it's gotta pick up sooner or later. With the wife working at a good job with benefits, I think we can weather it a little longer.

As far as the question of 'how do they make paying careers out of teaching primitive skills' goes, I don't think it would be possible to make a career out of it, but rather it's a supplement to income, and it's something they enjoy, and find it rewarding to "teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime".

**hunter63** · 03-07-2011, 02:53 PM

Well said, ycc, another saying I like and believe is, "Do something you love and you will never truly work".
Sorry B, sorta a slightly version of your advice, but important enough to reinforce.