So, I’ve really started to make some large changes to my life after many years of being a degenerate and all my money going on smoking weed and doing other drugs with friends etc.
It all started when I got diagnosed with ADHD, got medicated, since stopped as the cons were worse than the pros now I’m on a good track, re-trained as a software developer and have been in my first role a year and I’m late 30’s now.
Weed was the last thing to quit and it’s been almost a month and I’m finally able to do all the things I could never afford. Bought a nice watch and booked a session for a sleeve tattoo I’ve always wanted.
I still need something to focus on to keep me happy and I love being out in nature and just milling about, but I’m a city kid, north UK, so really don’t know anything about surviving outside; but I want to go out for weekends and see the stars and just explore and be self sufficient.
It all just seems so overwhelming and I have no clue where to start. I’ve been watching YouTube videos and still it seems so overwhelming. My plan is to start purchasing everything you would need with a view to start from April next year but I honestly don’t know where to begin. What do I buy, which tents should I be looking at, how do I learn about water supplies I can drink from, what about cooking; can I make bacon and eggs for instance, what sleeping bags, cookers, backpacks, shoes, etc.
The list goes on and on and I guess I’m just looking for good resources to consume over the next 10 months to make sure I can go out and be safe, considerate, and not a burden on anybody else.
Thanks for any tips you can provide.
Edit: I have a lot of comments here to reply to, but I’m pretty sleepy right now so will reply to you all tomorrow. Thanks.
One thing I’d recommend is to start a little less all-in. You don’t have to go straight into backpacking out to the middle of nowhere and roughing it, you can start with car camping at a for-pay campground that’ll have some basic amenities, and just pitch a small tent there.
This’ll give you a chance to practice some basic skills in a less demanding environment before you really have to fully rely on them. Won’t cost much, and you’ll still be getting a chance to unwind a bit. Then once you’re more comfortable with your skills you can expand your horizons.
Thanks.
This is very useful, similar to the other comment, in that I can test the waters closer to home and work out what works and what doesn’t.
I am actually exited to learn things along the way and I think this is a sensible approach as I guess going on in could be very off putting if it doesn’t go well and ruin the hobby before I even start.
Your gut reaction being to go immediately to 100 miles an hour is probably the ADHD. Most of us hyperfixate really easily and jump into things with both feet. That said, in my personal experience, we also tend to hyperfixate on hobbies in a certain “category”. If your a sports person, or hiking person, or craft person, or theater person you’ll regularly hyperfixate on things that surround your “main” interests. (Sometimes we also go wildly off script but most ADHDers I know eventually circle back to their core interests.)
That said it’d be smart to get a basic understanding of camping in first because you can use it as a springboard for future hyperfixations. This was you’ll have the basic knowledge and equipment when your focus changes to ultra light, or extreme conditions, or rafting to camp spots. Etc. There is no escaping the dopamine hyperfixation train so you just have to learn systems that help you do it with minimal negative consequences.
Thanks.
Yes ADHD can be a gift and a curse and I guess it’s about understanding what is the ADHD and to take a step back and progress slowly.
Another thing, OP, I don’t know what your definition of wild camping is, but keep it legal. The last thing you want is to have a ranger, police, or property owner show up to roust you in the middle of the night.
Look into camping permits and regulations, or just stay at a car camping site to begin with.