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Living off the land 100%

Most of the posts on here have been piss-taking, some have perhaps crossed the line, but Stanley Edwards hasn't helped himself in denying stuff that he had posted before & trying to re-write history, but I think trolling his blog is going too far IMO.

I really haven't bothered to waste my valuable internet time deleting posts in the comments here. The spammers are frustrating, and do themselves more harm than good other than improving their Google rankings. But, downright malicious remarks for no good reason really isn't on. The cowardly way they read just depresses me. So, from now on, any posts in the comments I don't like will be deleted
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Perhaps it's time to leave him be on his own blog?
 
JuanTwoThree said:
Stanley Edwards I'm quite interested in the economics of the lifestyle.

...That tots up to some expenses.

...

It must all add up. My maths is not good but I don't think I could afford to be poor.
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More than happy to log-in here to reply to reasonable questions. I have just posted something along the lines of an answer to this question on my blog purely by coincidence. However...

Daily costs are variable. I am not buying food, but this is not saving much money. As I have said here many times; I am gathering as I hike simply for pleasure. If you have to budget in food, then €3/day is ample.

Beds are always the biggest cost. I am mostly sleeping on beaches. Perfectly safe when You find the right place. Also, a very healthy way to sleep. I don't think I have felt a single drop of rain since leaving Porto! The cheapest single rooms I can find have been €35. I take a room no more than once a week for a thorough shower and clean up. There are showers on the beaches for a quick rinse in the morning after a plunge.

Shirts, T-shirts, underwear etc can be easily washed and left to dry over night. No cost there. I am buying new jeans and cheap socks rather than bothering to wash them. New jeans every Three weeks, or so for a Tenner. Pack of Five pairs of socks for €2.50

I need chemist. This is about €30/month.

I never buy hash! It just comes my way for free. Quite happy going without when it doesn't come for free.

Beer. Hmmmmm. We're looking at a minimum of €15/day. I am a slow, but constant drinker. Currently buying bottles of Bohemia from the supermarket - they are on a 40% discount offer. About 8 bottles/day = €7. Plus Three beers in a bar to charge my batteries and use WiFi = €7. That is the absolute minimum of my beer habit. More often it will be closer to €25/day.

Tobacco. A 30 Gramme pouch plus papers and filters = €10 to last a little under Three days.

Incidental costs like laptop repair comes as it can and when. A good friend/client/old U75 poster sent me €50 towards the costs of repair - very grateful for that. I also met an old client/acquaintance in Lisbon who bought Two sketches at a good price. Laptop repair covered.

My beautiful new watch came from an independent jewellery shop in Lagos as payment for work plus a bit of added street cash. Not prepared to reveal the retail price, but it is a quality piece. I consider it a lucky treat to myself.

Lots of other costs which just have to be covered somehow. If you are prepared to put in the hours, get the luck and find an ideal pitch, then you can quite easily make €100+ a day on the street, but it is tough and you do need a lot of luck. There is only so much you can control yourself.

Income is highly unpredictable. Occasionally I get good work from new clients, or old established clients who have supported me for many years. I was exceptionally fortunate in Lisbon, and Setubal proved to be an incredibly wealthy little city. Lagos was OK to average, but the beach sleeping was fucking beautiful.

I am down to about €10, so I need to make some cash in this little town I am in now. I will work all day, and simply walk with whatever cash is in my pocket after paying for beers. I am hoping Faro will be good enough to get me to Tavira where I know I have good work, and income lined up.

From there I will work in Huelva and run the gauntlet with Spanish police which could mean a €300 fine to pay for 'occupation of a public space without permission'. Then to Seville before heading home to Granada. The stress free, no police hassle in Portugal has been a very beautiful thing I haven't experienced for many years. Not just no police stress, but no crazy mentals stress also. I will miss it, but will undoubtedly return.

I am not sure of the exact figures. Very difficult to come up with an average daily cost, but my guess would be €60/day is very comfortable. €30/day is doable. Big bonuses now and then are fantastic :) I think this trip I have been averaging around €80/day income. Not saving cash yet - that will come very quickly soon, but living very happily.
 
JuanTwoThree said:
I net 2000€ per month.The average Portuguese nets about 900€, the average Spaniard about 1700€. Don't for a moment kid yourself that you're poor.
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I don't. Beyond finances I enjoy a priceless freedom.

Other posters here have called me poor. This is summer. I can sleep out comfortably and earn good street money. Winter is an altogether different proposition - outgoings go high, high, high. Income plummets unless I have lined up enough good work. Gross to Net income looks very different during winter months. I usually end up squatting. This year, I think I have lined up enough work to survive in a €150/month room in a house share, but don't really have any idea where I will be. The romantic in me says "go back to Nazare and just paint the winter Atlantic". The realist in me says "you will die you stupid fucker, that sea will kill you". So, I may just fly to some sunny island somewhere south.
 
Stanley Edwards said:
Very difficult to come up with an average daily cost, but my guess would be €60/day is very comfortable. €30/day is doable. Big bonuses now and then are fantastic :) I think this trip I have been averaging around €80/day income. Not saving cash yet - that will come very quickly soon, but living very happily.
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Hang on, that's over £500+ pw, comfortable living is -£400 pw, or half that on the 'doable scale', so an average of around £300 pw, and you are not saving?

Stanley Edwards said:
I don't. Beyond finances I enjoy a priceless freedom.
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Doesn't seem very 'priceless' to me.
 
For the record, I haven't made a single post on his blog and this will be my last post in 'his' thread. Because it's boring and there's nothing to see here from Stanley except lies, half-truths and fabrication in the name of trying to make himself look good (and failing). I have no desire to engage his narcissistic fantasies reading posts about watches or how much beer he drinks. I've read tons of travel blogs and believe me his is right there down at the bottom. I read travel to gain an insight into travel, not to hear about the authors fantasy world.

It's been like watching a particularly bad Donal MacIntyre 'documentary'. Feeding time at the zoo is over for me.
 
It's been like watching a particularly bad Donal MacIntyre 'documentary'

I really liked the one he did about the Chelsea headhunters...passing out having the Lion tattoo :D
donalmacintyre460.jpg
 
Stanley Edwards said:
For one last time...

I have no reason to lie. I do not think I am living a better life than anyone else here. I have just responded to all the malicious crap posted here. Read through the thread. Take a look at how much vile abuse you pathetic cunts have thrown at me.

I am not out to prove anything. My idea was for a very simple thread about gathering food to cook as I hiked through Portugal. Seems many here didn't like that idea and threw all sorts of corrupted allegations at me for absolutely no reason.

Your abuse has come from every possible perspective. Throwing very negative remarks around about homelessness, being physically abusive to disabled people, thieving from the poor (even though you seem to insist that myself being poor is a very bad thing to be ashamed of), you accuse me of lying when there is absolutely no possible reason to want to lie, you quote my words and throw them into a new context with your own twisted screw on them... it goes on, and on. It is truly pathetic, and I find it very sad. Depressing to think you have nothing better to do than churn out crap about someone anonymously. You sad fuck, pathetic, little losers.

It is not the way you live I am criticising, nor judging. It is your behaviour here, and the way you read.

It is just so fucking sad :(

Me? Top of the World thanks :)

Easy hike around an estuary today. Looks very beautiful. And, yes - I will be getting even deeper into the spirit of the Atlantic. Nature and all that. You don't just look at it. You have to actually live it to get the most out of it.
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You're an exhibitionist stan so you've got to accept you'll get a bit of shit. Although I do agree with you that there's a large core of fucking idiots on this site who clearly have nothing better to do than post memes mocking you. Pretty sad. Just stick em on ignore.
 
My income fluctuates a lot, but my baseline amount I allow myself to spend a month is virtually identical to Stan's 'comfortable' rate (£1500 when converted to GBP) and I manage to pay for a house and food from the shops rather than scavenged out of that. And I think I have a pretty good lifestyle compared to lots of people. It does seem that Stan's 'priceless freedom' is basically freedom to drink and smoke most of his income rather than spend it on life's essentials. That's addiction, not freedom, but it's fascinating to watch the justifications for why it's such a great lifestyle.
 
Hot, hot, hot.

I have not chosen a good pitch. Too hot to work, so I have left a half complete sketch with my backpack in the middle of a sun drenched plaza whilst I sit in a bar drinking chilled beers and watching the coins drop in from a distance.

This is freedom.

Going to have to wait until about 5PM until I can sketch to finished and try to sell. I am counting down the hours on my beautiful new, very expensive watch.


-----/

I am going to reply to a certain poster soon. Not sticking anyone on ignore.
 
planetgeli said:
For the record, I haven't made a single post on his blog and this will be my last post in 'his' thread. Because it's boring and there's nothing to see here from Stanley except lies, half-truths and fabrication in the name of trying to make himself look good (and failing). I have no desire to engage his narcissistic fantasies reading posts about watches or how much beer he drinks. I've read tons of travel blogs and believe me his is right there down at the bottom. I read travel to gain an insight into travel, not to hear about the authors fantasy world.

It's been like watching a particularly bad Donal MacIntyre 'documentary'. Feeding time at the zoo is over for me.
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My blog is NOT a travel blog. Don't like it - don't fucking well read it.

As for the many travel blogs you do read; I seem to recall you citing Nazare as a 'tourist hell hole', or something like that. Have you ever been, or did you just read about it? It is an incredibly special place. Of course there are going to be drones of tourists in high season. Even so, you only have to walk an hour in either direction to enjoy beautiful wilderness beaches with just a handful of other people. I suspect the travel blog you read was written by someone who jumped off a bus for an hour, then hopped back onto a bus to go get a McDonald's meal deal in Lisbon. The sort of person who claims to go in search of alternative, undiscovered destinations, then moans when there isn't a €20/night backpackers hostel and a BK with WiFi just around the corner.

---------------/

And, yes - I know it isn't you prattling childish bullshit on my blog. It is Not Bono wanker features.
 
lazythursday said:
My income fluctuates a lot, but my baseline amount I allow myself to spend a month is virtually identical to Stan's 'comfortable' rate (£1500 when converted to GBP) and I manage to pay for a house and food from the shops rather than scavenged out of that. And I think I have a pretty good lifestyle compared to lots of people. It does seem that Stan's 'priceless freedom' is basically freedom to drink and smoke most of his income rather than spend it on life's essentials. That's addiction, not freedom, but it's fascinating to watch the justifications for why it's such a great lifestyle.
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One man's meat...
 
lazythursday said:
My income fluctuates a lot, but my baseline amount I allow myself to spend a month is virtually identical to Stan's 'comfortable' rate (£1500 when converted to GBP) and I manage to pay for a house and food from the shops rather than scavenged out of that. And I think I have a pretty good lifestyle compared to lots of people. It does seem that Stan's 'priceless freedom' is basically freedom to drink and smoke most of his income rather than spend it on life's essentials. That's addiction, not freedom, but it's fascinating to watch the justifications for why it's such a great lifestyle.
Click to expand...

I have never tried to deny my alcohol addiction. I am one of those annoying 'functioning alcoholics' who manage very well despite it. I enjoy it. It takes the nasty edge off life and enables me to gain much more pleasure and freedom from everything.

You want a house? Fair enough - you pay for your house, but you never try and judge anyone else for choosing not to be a fucking slave to the system just because they weren't born into money. I do not know anyone in this World who has managed to get on the property ladder without a little help from parents, or family. Nobody, and I know many high earning people.
 
Stanley Edwards said:
My blog is NOT a travel blog. Don't like it - don't fucking well read it.

As for the many travel blogs you do read; I seem to recall you citing Nazare as a 'tourist hell hole', or something like that. Have you ever been, or did you just read about it? It is an incredibly special place. Of course there are going to be drones of tourists in high season. Even so, you only have to walk an hour in either direction to enjoy beautiful wilderness beaches with just a handful of other people. I suspect the travel blog you read was written by someone who jumped off a bus for an hour, then hopped back onto a bus to go get a McDonald's meal deal in Lisbon. The sort of person who claims to go in search of alternative, undiscovered destinations, then moans when there isn't a €20/night backpackers hostel and a BK with WiFi just around the corner.

---------------/

And, yes - I know it isn't you prattling childish bullshit on my blog. It is Not Bono wanker features.
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Right of reply and all that, and just the one so you can have the last word after this if it's so important to you.

No, I don't like your blog and won't be reading that, or this, anymore. That's kind of the point.

I was in Nazare in (roughly) 1990.

I got my updates on Nazare not from any blog, certainly not from any fictional blog you make up to try and belittle my view, but from a Portuguese friend who lives in Lisbon and consequently knows Portugal quite well.

My knowledge of Portugal is not bad, being a regular visitor because of my friend. I could have told you some nice places on the way down to the Algarve. You're not interested. Just like you weren't interested in even acknowledging Juan's offer of help. You just seek a nice reflection off the mirror you imagine you're looking into by posting here.

Last word is yours lost photographer.

/out.
 
Stanley Edwards said:
My blog is NOT a travel blog. Don't like it - don't fucking well read it.

As for the many travel blogs you do read; I seem to recall you citing Nazare as a 'tourist hell hole', or something like that. Have you ever been, or did you just read about it? It is an incredibly special place. Of course there are going to be drones of tourists in high season. Even so, you only have to walk an hour in either direction to enjoy beautiful wilderness beaches with just a handful of other people. I suspect the travel blog you read was written by someone who jumped off a bus for an hour, then hopped back onto a bus to go get a McDonald's meal deal in Lisbon. The sort of person who claims to go in search of alternative, undiscovered destinations, then moans when there isn't a €20/night backpackers hostel and a BK with WiFi just around the corner.

---------------/

And, yes - I know it isn't you prattling childish bullshit on my blog. It is Not Bono wanker features.
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Its isn't actually Stanley, but run with it anyway.
 
Stanley Edwards said:
I have never tried to deny my alcohol addiction. I am one of those annoying 'functioning alcoholics' who manage very well despite it. I enjoy it. It takes the nasty edge off life and enables me to gain much more pleasure and freedom from everything.

You want a house? Fair enough - you pay for your house, but you never try and judge anyone else for choosing not to be a fucking slave to the system just because they weren't born into money. I do not know anyone in this World who has managed to get on the property ladder without a little help from parents, or family. Nobody, and I know many high earning people.
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hang on, what about your gaff in the UK you used to boast about ? I can dredge it up and quote it if you want
 
Stanley Edwards said:
I have never tried to deny my alcohol addiction. I am one of those annoying 'functioning alcoholics' who manage very well despite it. I enjoy it. It takes the nasty edge off life and enables me to gain much more pleasure and freedom from everything.

You want a house? Fair enough - you pay for your house, but you never try and judge anyone else for choosing not to be a fucking slave to the system just because they weren't born into money. I do not know anyone in this World who has managed to get on the property ladder without a little help from parents, or family. Nobody, and I know many high earning people.
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I just think there's an irony about claiming to be free and also being an addict. If you're a slave to your addiction you aren't free, by definition. Like many people I know, you have managed to create a life that allows you to be an alcoholic. I'm not judging you for that, I know how fucking difficult alcoholism can be, but to say it brings you 'pleasure and freedom from everything' is pretty severe self-delusion. And I wasn't born into money. I think there's some things about your lifestyle that are admirable - having a marketable skill you can do anywhere is great - but I'm not sure that it's better to be a slave to the bottle rather than the system.
 
lazythursday said:
I just think there's an irony about claiming to be free and also being an addict. If you're a slave to your addiction you aren't free, by definition. Like many people I know, you have managed to create a life that allows you to be an alcoholic. I'm not judging you for that, I know how fucking difficult alcoholism can be, but to say it brings you 'pleasure and freedom from everything' is pretty severe self-delusion. And I wasn't born into money. I think there's some things about your lifestyle that are admirable - having a marketable skill you can do anywhere is great - but I'm not sure that it's better to be a slave to the bottle rather than the system.
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I do not feel as though I am a slave to alcohol. I just enjoy it.
 
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