So what is the blog about? It’s about what I call Going On The Bum. Spending time in a way that serves no other purpose than personal fulfillment of the bum. Making a deliberate effort to be at the helms of one’s life, and not just be subject to it. My goal with this blog is mainly to keep myself honest and deliberate, but if anyone finds themselves inspired to Go On The Bum themselves, then I will have succeeded beyond my wildest expectations.
So without further adoo, let’s learn a little bit about bum culture.
The word Bum often evokes negative connotations of laziness and homelessness and general societal idleness. Wikipedia makes a distinction between the words Hobo, Tramp, and Bum: “a hobo travels and is willing to work; a tramp travels, but avoids work if possible; a bum neither travels nor works.” I intend to use the term Bum to describe all three, along the lines of Harry McClintock. Going On The Bum means to drop out from the pressures of regular society.
The heyday of the U.S. hobo, tramp and bum was no doubt the second half of the 19th century, when hoppable freight trains were plentiful and the world was a wilder, more dangerous place. Nonetheless, Bum culture has continued in the decades since, though it has taken new forms. The counterculture of the 1960s were undoubtedly On The Bum, the pioneers of the internet, Bum, so were most explorers. To Bum is to explore and adventure. To go out with no plan and see what life has to offer. And so, I argue that Bums are alive and well today, even if they no longer wander dusty roads with bindles. Today, they decide to opt out of consumer culture by making their own things and advocating for right to repair, they decide live in vans, boats, or tiny homes for extended times or for the weekend. They travel the world or explore their neighborhood.
There is no single right way to Be On The Bum. Bum is a state of mind: Halleluja, I’m a bum
When will you be selling merch
When selling out becomes financially viable.
We have a fine selection of burlap sacks and cardboard suitcases that were fished out of the river. Old boots are discounted if they have holes in the toes, or are meant for two left feet. Payment may take the form of a bag of coins of varying values and clinkiness.
Finally, I’ve been fighting for my right to not void my warranty when I repair my bindle stick