I packed up and headed directly to Starbucks. It crossed my mind that I only had $10 left. That meant a coffee on this day, and a small meal. That would leave enough for one more coffee the next day. The batteries were also dead in my camera, so I'd have to wait to get new batteries if I could raise the funds. But, at the moment, none of this concerned me. I needed to get this story written.
When I arrived at Starbucks I realized that before I could relate the tale, I had to process and post all the pictures about my walk downtown and describe the day. This took a good amount of time. Finally, around noon I was able to begin writing the story. There wasn't much else to tell about this day and no pictures to show.
So, I'd like to introduce a more formal presentation about a term I've used many times here and at Facebook, in a first attempt to work out the details. I have a concept in mind, but it is not fully gelled yet. Still, I feel the strong urge to develop it and can't think of a better place. Please think of this as a rough piece of wood that I will whittle into shape over the next two months.
* * * * * * *
THE ARMY OF ONE
I feel that I have not accomplished the social goals that a more outgoing person would have. I know people who would aggressively walk up to strangers and charm them into interviews and pictures, for example. However, I don't know many people with as wide a range of interests as I have, who can also pull off the lifestyle and organization necessary to survive without becoming very discouraged. I myself become discouraged on a regular basis (as we have all seen on many occasions). Yet, my laser focus on reaching goals, is probably a bit stronger than the average person.
Having said all that, patting myself on the back for these strengths, I am rarely satisfied with what I do. I suffer from bouts of guilt, regret, personal doubt, disappointment in myself, and a poor self
Perhaps paradoxically, my concept of this singular human force - the Army of One - is two-fold. "One" refers simultaneously to the individual and the whole. There should be in each of us an Army of One Human, while all of the Ones should be forming into an Army of One Humanity. Anything in between these two goals is but a bridge to the final goal--ONE WORLD, in UNIFIED DIVERSITY.
My use of the word, "Army" may be unfortunate, because of it's association with so many memes. Nevertheless, the idea is that there is a war going on in the world between selfishness and selflessness. It is waged by each individual in one way or another. The goal is to win over the whole.
My use of the word, "Army" may be unfortunate, because of it's association with so many memes. Nevertheless, the idea is that there is a war going on in the world between selfishness and selflessness. It is waged by each individual in one way or another. The goal is to win over the whole.
People might be surprised to learn that my specialty in college was military history and especially strategy. I found that both were useful things to know and were easily overlaid upon many things in life. From written debate, to business, to games, to marketing, and even to personal relationships, military strategy could often be applied.
This kind of strategizing doesn't only apply to the placement of troops, but to the way they are treated--both friend and enemy.
Specifically, I found the styles of, Alexander the Great (of course!), Julius Caesar, Hannibal, Constantine the Great, William the Conqueror, Genghis Khan, Napoleon Bonaparte, Robert E. Lee, George S. Patton, Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. to be very instructive. Although, physical warfare is innately an insane activity, these men (in my opinion) were fair enough and wise enough to succeed at controlling this insanity, by staying relatively sane.
Besides being my namesake, Alexander is my all time hero as both a general and a man. He was young (20) when he took over the throne and then in 12 years proceeded to conquer all of the known Western world, then began extending his empire into India, never losing a battle right up to his death. He is widely regarded as the greatest general of all time. Most of the other men listed above studied Alexander's strategies and tactics intensely. The most recent of whom, Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr., used several of Alexander's maneuvers to soundly push the Iraqi army out of Kuwait in a land war that reached a ceasefire in only 100 hours! He was fair, extremely tough, and mechanically efficient. Troops loved him and there were surprisingly few American casualties...
U.S. Casualties: 147 battle deaths, 145 non-battle deaths, 1 missing in action...
Army: 98 battle; 105 non-battle
Navy 5 battle; 8 non-battle; 1 missing in action
Marines: 24 battle; 26 non-battle
Air Force: 20 battle; 6 non-battle
Women killed, 15
Wounded in action: 467.
GulfLink.osd.milIn my mind, it was the last true war victory the US achieved. It was done correctly and for the right reason, with international support (over 30 nations joined forces). These were the days before strong international terrorism.
Out here on the streets of America I've found new applications for the discipline, stealth, planning and organization that goes into the strategy for my project. I am the Major General and the grunt--the whole army pressed into one person. I (in purely a technical way) consider each new town or city to be a conquered land, each sleep spot to be like an encampment, each day's activities to be like troop maneuvers. I have made many, many mistakes, mostly in navigation. But, I feel like I have been relatively successful in other ways, including organization, planning, funding, keeping a precise log (in this case, blog) of my activities, securing safe bases of operation, scouting, dealing with locals, resupply and the tenacious persistence to accomplish each operation within a rigid timescale.
I feel that I have not accomplished the social goals that a more outgoing person would have. I know people who would aggressively walk up to strangers and charm them into interviews and pictures, for example. However, I don't know many people with as wide a range of interests as I have, who can also pull off the lifestyle and organization necessary to survive without becoming very discouraged. I myself become discouraged on a regular basis (as we have all seen on many occasions). Yet, my laser focus on reaching goals, is probably a bit stronger than the average person.
Having said all that, patting myself on the back for these strengths, I am rarely satisfied with what I do. I suffer from bouts of guilt, regret, personal doubt, disappointment in myself, and a poor self
image in general--all traits that were ruining my life before I left Maine, and remain as residual friction that slows me down upon these Journeys. And, now as I near the successful conclusion of this Journey I am becoming fearful of slipping back into these dark personal waters.
This Army of One is pretty good in the field, but may suffer from not being able to see my form of action anymore. I don't want to be - to paraphrase McArthur - that old soldier who just fades away...
The Modern Nomad would do well to study my strategies if he is to succeed in his own Journeys. (I will use male pronouns, but this could equally apply to women.) And, here is the vision I have for the next couple of decades, grandiose as it may be...
I believe that this kind of temporary lifestyle is especially suited to those who have a mission of some kind. Mine has been very broad, almost indefinable. But, the Nomads to come should develop and preserve an ethic to what they do. I have consistently used the attention I'm getting to speak on behalf of love in all of its forms. I know that it is only cooperation with those (you all) who support me, financially and morally that deserves credit for anything I've done. The need for simplicity is self-evident when all you have is strapped to your back. This should be a metaphor about what is really needed in life.
The Modern Nomad sees his future settlement as being as light on the natural environment as his days wandering the highways of whatever lands he chooses. That means cleaning up trash, recycling and reusing things until they are not needed anymore. Along with that, it means valuing only what is needed--making your wants no more than needs.
Exercise, healthy eating that matches that exercise. I have found that it is not necessary to eat more than once a day. But each person should match their eating habit to their physical activity. Yes, I eat a lot of fast food. But, I don't eat a lot of junk food. I am able to do this and stay healthy because of the frequency and distances of my walking. When I am settled down again, I will still only eat once a day, but it will be very high quality food. Believe me, I'm sick to death of McDonald's! What I crave (and am going for whenever the opportunity presents itself now) is grocery store salad bars and Asian buffets. Both allow me to hand pick the good things that my body is demanding. To be able to cook and prepare my own food again is one of the activities I most dearly seek now.
The Modern Nomad as, and in, the Army of One appreciates the most basic of all transportation - his own feet and legs - as the most superior and civilized form of transit. He resorts to other forms in proportion to how well they will set him up for his next center of activity--which will be performed by walking where he needs to go.
The Army of One always steps up to the plate to fight for the suffering of other creatures and human beings. He - we - never pass by someone who is injured without offering assistance. No creature is purposefully left trapped or in agony. Injustice being visited upon one human being by another should be attended to as long as it does not deplete or defeat the purpose for which the Nomad has chosen.
The Nomad's fight for the the future of the final Army of One requires public expression of exactly that, when inquiry is made by those who don't understand why this lifestyle has been chosen. People are naturally defensive and slow to accept new ideas on their own. But, the Nomad does not push his ideas. Nor does he allow himself to be pushed. Peace in presence of individual beliefs systems that do not put pressure on other people or be pressured by them is the ultimate state of personal freedom for all. This is the core of what drives Modern Nomadism.
These are some of the voluntary suggestions that will be discussed in a coming essay. They will be called, "Nomadics" (being the best practices and procedures used by Modern Nomads).
For now though, I think I cut the first few shapes out of this piece of wood. I very much look forward to your opinions and views about these embryonic ideas.
To truly change the world from the bottom up, I believe that those of us who are able (probably many more in the younger generations) must go through basic training. Unlike the hierarchical armies formed to destroy other armies, this training is self-imposed by the individual Army of One Human, upon himself. He must hold only the highest standards for his activities, be open minded enough to adopt the things that he sees working for other people, not be so stubborn that he can't reform himself and become better.
The war is one where selflessness must conquer selfishness in the world. But the battles (like any form of hard compromise) will require a measure of BOTH, without risking selflessness as the more superior trait and ultimate target.
This war will be a nonviolent world war for the spirit of all humanity. Uniformity and conformity are the killers of human souls and the food by which the small number who impose such system exist on. Their methods of control must be wiped off the earth forever.
When I felt that I'd nailed down the first half of the Ghosts in Gray and Blue story, I headed out into the night, back to my good sleep spot. I fell asleep easily and slept with the romance of the mid 1800's on my mind.
This Army of One is pretty good in the field, but may suffer from not being able to see my form of action anymore. I don't want to be - to paraphrase McArthur - that old soldier who just fades away...
The Modern Nomad would do well to study my strategies if he is to succeed in his own Journeys. (I will use male pronouns, but this could equally apply to women.) And, here is the vision I have for the next couple of decades, grandiose as it may be...
I believe that this kind of temporary lifestyle is especially suited to those who have a mission of some kind. Mine has been very broad, almost indefinable. But, the Nomads to come should develop and preserve an ethic to what they do. I have consistently used the attention I'm getting to speak on behalf of love in all of its forms. I know that it is only cooperation with those (you all) who support me, financially and morally that deserves credit for anything I've done. The need for simplicity is self-evident when all you have is strapped to your back. This should be a metaphor about what is really needed in life.
The Modern Nomad sees his future settlement as being as light on the natural environment as his days wandering the highways of whatever lands he chooses. That means cleaning up trash, recycling and reusing things until they are not needed anymore. Along with that, it means valuing only what is needed--making your wants no more than needs.
Exercise, healthy eating that matches that exercise. I have found that it is not necessary to eat more than once a day. But each person should match their eating habit to their physical activity. Yes, I eat a lot of fast food. But, I don't eat a lot of junk food. I am able to do this and stay healthy because of the frequency and distances of my walking. When I am settled down again, I will still only eat once a day, but it will be very high quality food. Believe me, I'm sick to death of McDonald's! What I crave (and am going for whenever the opportunity presents itself now) is grocery store salad bars and Asian buffets. Both allow me to hand pick the good things that my body is demanding. To be able to cook and prepare my own food again is one of the activities I most dearly seek now.
The Modern Nomad as, and in, the Army of One appreciates the most basic of all transportation - his own feet and legs - as the most superior and civilized form of transit. He resorts to other forms in proportion to how well they will set him up for his next center of activity--which will be performed by walking where he needs to go.
The Army of One always steps up to the plate to fight for the suffering of other creatures and human beings. He - we - never pass by someone who is injured without offering assistance. No creature is purposefully left trapped or in agony. Injustice being visited upon one human being by another should be attended to as long as it does not deplete or defeat the purpose for which the Nomad has chosen.
The Nomad's fight for the the future of the final Army of One requires public expression of exactly that, when inquiry is made by those who don't understand why this lifestyle has been chosen. People are naturally defensive and slow to accept new ideas on their own. But, the Nomad does not push his ideas. Nor does he allow himself to be pushed. Peace in presence of individual beliefs systems that do not put pressure on other people or be pressured by them is the ultimate state of personal freedom for all. This is the core of what drives Modern Nomadism.
These are some of the voluntary suggestions that will be discussed in a coming essay. They will be called, "Nomadics" (being the best practices and procedures used by Modern Nomads).
For now though, I think I cut the first few shapes out of this piece of wood. I very much look forward to your opinions and views about these embryonic ideas.
To truly change the world from the bottom up, I believe that those of us who are able (probably many more in the younger generations) must go through basic training. Unlike the hierarchical armies formed to destroy other armies, this training is self-imposed by the individual Army of One Human, upon himself. He must hold only the highest standards for his activities, be open minded enough to adopt the things that he sees working for other people, not be so stubborn that he can't reform himself and become better.
The war is one where selflessness must conquer selfishness in the world. But the battles (like any form of hard compromise) will require a measure of BOTH, without risking selflessness as the more superior trait and ultimate target.
This war will be a nonviolent world war for the spirit of all humanity. Uniformity and conformity are the killers of human souls and the food by which the small number who impose such system exist on. Their methods of control must be wiped off the earth forever.
* * * * * * *
When I felt that I'd nailed down the first half of the Ghosts in Gray and Blue story, I headed out into the night, back to my good sleep spot. I fell asleep easily and slept with the romance of the mid 1800's on my mind.
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