If you don't try due to fear of failure you've already failed due to fear.
That idea of how indispensable you are is pretty flawed IMHO. I can type a LONG story about how indispensable you really are. See, it doesn't matter this day and age how well you're liked, how good you do your job or even how good of a team player you are. These are all petty BS that some guy authoring a spreadsheet came up with to "boost morale" which really doesn't exist anymore to make someone think they know how to feel their worth. Don't let yourself get caught in that trap - the longer things stay the same, the more they need to change.
I agree with many here - what you're up to is risky in terms of hanging on employer's property....The drive may not seem worth it, but you may be MUCH better off to drive a little out of town, away from your employers place, to an area deemed safer, etc.. The money you'll be saving without a rental obligation will more than justify a little extra fuel expense to lower your risk of problems with your employer, which with it being tied to a future goal it seems it would be worth the extra effort IMHO. Really, if you're in at 5am you shouldn't have THAT much of a traffic problem with a bit of an additional drive.
I don't think you guys are being hard arses. I understand all your concerns and I appreciate it, I really do. I'm not saying that i'm indispensable. Any joe-schmoe could do what I do after a month of training. But I've been doing it for three years and I am one of the best at troubleshooting the problems that arise. Which is something that new people aren't any good at. Add that to the fact that we're short staffed as is. My supervisor has been begging them to hire two new workers for our department for over a year.
Our property is fenced off and has a security gate to even drive onto it. There is no reason the police would be called. We have our own security personnel, all of whom know me. If someone were to see me they'd probably come up and talk to me themselves. If they thought it was suspicious they might call security (which is improbable as it's pretty laid back around here). Even then security would come over, see that i'm an employee, and I doubt that they would even ask me to take the hammock down. If security bumped it up the ladder, I may end up with a sit down with my manager, who would nicely ask me not to hang on the property, because of the "perception" it gives.
I really do appreciate the concern, Thanks for it. It's the fact that so many care that makes me love the HF community. I really have no worry of losing my job or having the police called on me. My biggest concern is what i'm going to do if I get told that I can't hang my hammock here anymore. I shared this post with my supervisor and he too didn't have any concern about it either.
If you don't try due to fear of failure you've already failed due to fear.
Okay folks...this conversation has gone about as far from hammocks as it can.
Lets either talk about the hammocking aspect of SC's adventure or let it go.
“I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy
So, I imagine you set up and tear down each day. Have you learned or adjusted much with your hammock in doing this? It seems each time I go out I learn a little more.
Do you use the same 2 trees? If so, any sign of wear from the straps? I've stayed in one place for 2 nights without any sign of wear on the tree. Never stayed longer though, so curious about that.
I learned that the father the trees are apart the higher you need to go to get the 30* mark. The trees are about 20ft or more apart and i have to hang about as high as I can reach.
Friday was also the first time I spent an overnight with the UQ. I learned that you really have to get it snug against the hammock. Even with the sleeping bag my feet got cold past the point of the UQ. So i think i'm going to go get a bit of pad and/or some merino wool socks to sleep in. I found myself cross in legs ala "indian style" so my feet were on the UQ.
So far I only slept there Friday. Saturday I slept on a friends couch after a late party. Last night I spent the night at my gf's since i'd already driven up there for dinner and laundry. So tonight will be my second night. I'll let you know if I find any wear on the trees. I plan to use the the same at least one of the same tree but I may hang the opposite way on it with another tree. There are about five in the line that are all evenly spaced.
If you don't try due to fear of failure you've already failed due to fear.
Don't let yourself believe that for a moment; regardless of the employer or situation. That's all.
Stealth needs to be your constant waking thought when you are in camp. I know firsthand that it is possible to conceal yourself in a high density area, but it takes constant vigilance. A secret should stay exactly that; a secret. Don't let any of your co-workers know, even the ones you believe can be trusted. No way I would be posting this in a public forum, but to each their own. Also, try to avoid setting-up in the same place more than a couple of nights in a row. Tracks don't take all that long to form and I promise you they will be evident come the end of the year if you keep walking the same path. What are you going to do when/if it snows? Your tracks will be obvious and curious to a snoopy person.
A heavy tarp might be a good investment. Something that will block as much light as possible. I assume you'll want to cook something from time to time, or maybe entertain yourself or make a phone call with your phone. It's amazing how far light can travel on a dark night, so having something heavy to block much of that light would be good. Stay very, very mobile. Again, a often used camp is not a difficult thing to find, even with excellent LNT practices.
As the great and amazing Jimi would ask..are you experienced? Meaning, have you camped through the weather and temps you are planning here? Anybody can suffer through a night or two of misery in camp. Are you prepared and capable of doing that for weeks...months? It's a fair question. Gonna be a tough thing to go from that cozy guest room at your GF's parent's house to a hostile wind and rain soaked hillside come Monday evening. It's like hotels/hostels when the weather is bad; nobody wants to go back on the trail. I guess you are about to find out, just be prepared mentally.
Of course, be absolutely sure you can't be seen. You can really only do that by setting up and walking where people walk while keeping a keen eye for where your selected site is located. You should do this for every camp. Takes one bored and observant somebody to ruin your fun.
I will admit, it does sound like a bit of fun. I've never been one to give authority so much respect as that it takes away from my right to live free. If I'm causing no harm to another, I just don't see it as their business. I'm wrong, or course, but that's the way it is. I wish you good luck and safe sleeping. But, please, cover your six. With the way things are these days, squatting laws are being enforced with a heavy-hand. Just know that and take steps accordingly.
Trust nobody!
Haha yes, the towns are not equipped for it here. A couple inches of snow locks everyone indoors for half a week!
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