Boondockers In the Playground

[The Vorpal Tribble]

So, how many of you are from the middle of nowhere? Mountain born, country folk, desert dweller, wherever you get more of the wilds than civilization.

-=-=-=-=-=-

I myself am from the foothills of the Appalachians in northeast Georgia, within the Chattahoochee Forest. Helen/Dahlonega are the closest main towns, and the area is amongst the most beautiful locations in the state in my opinion. The surroundings have inspired much of my writing in fact.

My Backyard
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/38/l_1bde13b0600ef24ec2b72e1fed16de19.jpg


http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/64/l_b2c2b7144240f32a6c0d513c379b9783.jpg

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Guess I'm surrounded by city slickers, huh?

[Mystic Muse]

aww we aren't going to talk about the comic boondocks? :smallfrown:

I'm not really a city slicker but I'm not really out in the middle of nowhere either.

[arguskos]

Guess I'm surrounded by city slickers, huh?
Sorry dude, I'm from a city. Dad lives in the country now (sorta), so when I go visit him I'm not really in the city, but I'm not in the sticks either. Kinda in the fuzzy realm between city and sticks, if you know what I mean.

[skywalker]

So, how many of you are from the middle of nowhere? Mountain born, country folk, desert dweller, wherever you get more of the wilds than civilization.

Define "Boondocks," please?

I lived in a very rural area once. But compared to the places I've been visiting family, it doesn't seem very rural. I've been places where you pass the same tree 4 times to get there.

But, uh, I live in a pretty well populated area now. We're just across the river from a pretty major city, and about 10-20 minutes drive from the largest population center in East TN.

But I live on 36 acres (so close to 40!) and have plenty of mules. :smallbiggrin:

[The Vorpal Tribble]

A rural area is its general meaning

[Tequila Sunrise]

Redneck here! Well, I don't know if that's technically the 'correct' term for me, but whatever.

I live in rural NY. Currently in a small town, but I grew up in a very odd house on the top of a hill -- like some kind of tall tale. I still miss being able to walk for hours before seeing a house...:smallfrown: Your photos really bring back the memories, though it's hillier around here.

There are benefits of town living though. If I forget something from the grocery, I can just hop in the car and ten minutes later I have it. I spent a couple years in NYC, and man was it great to not have a car to deal with!

[drakir_nosslin]

Guess I'm surrounded by city slickers, huh?

Not quite... I'm from a small village close to the Middle of Nowhere, Sweden. It's basically 80 km of forest to the closest city, 10 km to the nearest shop. When I turned 16 I had to move to be able to attend to school. But oh, the nature, the stillness. I've never found anything like it. Lots of snow in the winter, green mountains/hills (depends in the perspective, they were a lot bigger when I was young) wherever you look in the summer.

And there are animals as well; Moose, deer, wolves, bear, and some occasional lynx, never seen a wolverine in action, but my grandfather shot one a couple of years ago when it tried to attack one of his dogs. Good fishing, great for hiking. Love it! :smallbiggrin:

Right now I don't live there, because of studies and such, but I'll probably move back someday. It's to awesome not to!

Here's a couple of photos, for those who are interested...

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799794_6966.jpg
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799841_3585.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799797_9426.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799839_2868.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799847_5674.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v184/250/77/674450104/n674450104_2198967_1752.jpg

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Redneck here! Well, I don't know if that's technically the 'correct' term for me, but whatever.
Depends, really. Redneck, down here anyways, is more a state of being than where you're from. You can be a redneck in the middle of the suburbs... and more than a few are.


Not quite... I'm from a small village close to the Middle of Nowhere, Sweden. It's basically 80 km of forest to the closest city, 10 km to the nearest shop. When I turned 16 I had to move to be able to attend to school. But oh, the nature, the stillness. I've never found anything like it. Lots of snow in the winter, green mountains/hills (depends in the perspective, they were a lot bigger when I was young) wherever you look in the summer.
Awesome, Drakir! You're about more out there than me. Can't tell it because of the clouds but entire backdrop of my pics are also mountains.

There were schools nearby but I ended up homeschooled so I was free to wander til I left home. That's actually my parent's place in the pics. Land is mine though.

Deer, coyote, racoons, opposums, skunks and vultures here. Turkey flocks in the fall. Bear and fox very occasionally.

[zeratul]

Not quite... I'm from a small village close to the Middle of Nowhere, Sweden. It's basically 80 km of forest to the closest city, 10 km to the nearest shop. When I turned 16 I had to move to be able to attend to school. But oh, the nature, the stillness. I've never found anything like it. Lots of snow in the winter, green mountains/hills (depends in the perspective, they were a lot bigger when I was young) wherever you look in the summer.

And there are animals as well; Moose, deer, wolves, bear, and some occasional lynx, never seen a wolverine in action, but my grandfather shot one a couple of years ago when it tried to attack one of his dogs. Good fishing, great for hiking. Love it! :smallbiggrin:

Right now I don't live there, because of studies and such, but I'll probably move back someday. It's to awesome not to!

Here's a couple of photos, for those who are interested...

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799794_6966.jpg
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799841_3585.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799797_9426.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799839_2868.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799847_5674.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v184/250/77/674450104/n674450104_2198967_1752.jpg

Beutifull photos, the last one actually looks a lot like central new york in winter. What with the mountains and lakes and forests n such. I technically live in a city, but if you drive half an hour in any direction your in a forest or the mountains, or some kind of wilderness.

[drakir_nosslin]

Can't tell it because of the clouds but entire backdrop of my pics are also mountains.

There were schools nearby but I ended up homeschooled so I was free to wander til I left home.

Deer, coyote, racoons, opposums, skunks and vultures here. Turkey flocks in the fall. Bear and fox very occasionally.


I figured that there would be mountains close by, as you mentioned the Appalachians in the OP. Those are real mountains in comparison to the ones back home.

We don't really have the alternative of homeschooling in Sweden, at least as far as I know, so I kind of had to move. Not that I regret it, since I got some perspective on life. Now I'm even more sure that I'll move back home someday.

[Bonecrusher Doc]

I grew up 2 miles away from a town of 2000 people in the Shenandoah Valley. Nothing nearly so desolate as some of you folks, but a lot of my suburbanite peers in college were amazed. "You have CHICKENS? As in, LIVE ones that WALK AROUND?"

My parents had 10 acres. Instead of a "Back 40," we referred to the part behind our small barn as the "Back 4." We can actually shoot skeet there without worrying about anyone being downrange.

Now I'm in a stairwell apartment in military housing. More than ever I want some elbow room now. "Oh give me land, lots of land..."

[skywalker]

I figured that there would be mountains close by, as you mentioned the Appalachians in the OP. Those are real mountains in comparison to the ones back home.

Appalachians (especially Georgia) are really only relatively mountains. We don't get above a mile in elevation, and that's very, very rare. It's only at the extreme north end of the range that we get that.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

I grew up 2 miles away from a town of 2000 people in the Shenandoah Valley. Nothing nearly so desolate as some of you folks, but a lot of my suburbanite peers in college were amazed. "You have CHICKENS? As in, LIVE ones that WALK AROUND?"
Hahaha. I grew up with lots of animals, would take them as mascots to sport parades and such.

Still have a pet emu called Bandersnatch at my parent's place :smallbiggrin:


Appalachians (especially Georgia) are really only relatively mountains. We don't get above a mile in elevation, and that's very, very rare. It's only at the extreme north end of the range that we get that.
Yeah, they're amongst the oldest, so they're worn on down.

I live a few miles from the highest point in Georgia though. Brasstown Bald is 4,784 feet above sea level.

[Syka]

I'm from one of the best examples of suburbia I've seen. However, my boyfriend spent the first 18 years of his life living in the middle of nowhere Illinois.

They had like 10 acres that their many dogs and cats loved to roam. I think the closest neighbors were a few miles away, and school was probably 20 minutes or so. Needless to say, he never really got the 'trick or treating' experience growing up. :smallwink:

He loved the forest, hated the cornfields,and couldn't wait to move. So now he's down here in suburbia with me and in about a year and a half we'll be going urban, probably in NYC. That's something he's been looking forward to almost his whole life, living in an honest to god city.


Granted, he had issues adjusting to our noise/light levels. I don't know how he'll ever sleep in a city. :smallwink:

[drakir_nosslin]

Appalachians (especially Georgia) are really only relatively mountains. We don't get above a mile in elevation, and that's very, very rare. It's only at the extreme north end of the range that we get that.


Yeah, they're amongst the oldest, so they're worn on down.

I live a few miles from the highest point in Georgia though. Brasstown Bald is 4,784 feet above sea level.

Huh, didn't know that. I thought they were a lot bigger. But that means that today I learned something, and learning is good!



Granted, he had issues adjusting to our noise/light levels. I don't know how he'll ever sleep in a city.

Give him a couple of years, or earplugs, both work equally fine against the noise. I still have trouble with the lights, and it's been 7 years so far...

[skywalker]

Give him a couple of years, or earplugs, both work equally fine against the noise. I still have trouble with the lights, and it's been 7 years so far...

I cannot stand looking up and not seeing stars. It drives me batty.

[Quincunx]

aww we aren't going to talk about the comic boondocks? :smallfrown:

Neither you nor I can afford all of the infraction points that would rack up. (Yes. Also disappointed.)

[The Vorpal Tribble]

I cannot stand looking up and not seeing stars. It drives me batty.
Amen, brother.

[Cobra_Ikari]

I don't know that I count. I live decently deep in the woods, surrounded by various farms, about 10 miles from town. And the closest major city is a good hour away.

[Fostire]

Here's a couple of photos, for those who are interested...

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799794_6966.jpg
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799841_3585.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799797_9426.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799839_2868.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799847_5674.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v184/250/77/674450104/n674450104_2198967_1752.jpg
O.o Can I move in with you?

[Bonecrusher Doc]

I don't know that I count. I live decently deep in the woods, surrounded by various farms, about 10 miles from town. And the closest major city is a good hour away.

It's all relative. Think how isolated the guys and gals living on the space station must feel.

I remember driving on Route Tampa in Iraq and seeing a person, sometimes a pre-teen kid, all alone walking along the road in the middle of the desert, without a backpack or a water bottle or anything, without a building or a tent or a camel in sight. It was creepy, like they were ghosts or something. That was the boonies.

[ForzaFiori]

I live in the middle of nowhere, about 2 hours north of Tribble. Same mountain range can be seen from my backyard on a good day. We got 10 acres of pure forest. There's some neighbors though. 2 actual houses, and a rehab facility. Down the road are a couple of trailer parks.

It would be WAY more deserted, but 1, I'm right off a highway, and 2, there are 4 fairly large towns surrounding me, with their suburbs. (i'm in a little pocket that isn't in any town). its 15 minutes to the closest small town, 20 to 25 to a medium one, and 30 to the largest one.

Also, If you don't count the snow picture, almost all of Drakir's photos could be from SC. It's eerily familiar.

[drakir_nosslin]

I cannot stand looking up and not seeing stars. It drives me batty.

Yea, one of the best things that I know is to go out in the middle of winter, close to midnight, and wander off up on a hill or so, and just lie in the snow, watching the stars and the moon, surrounded by complete silence. And I mean silence, like no sounds at all, there are no cars, no animals, no lights flickering, no dripping water, nothing.


O.o Can I move in with you?

Well, there are probably a couple of empty houses nearby, people are leaving the countryside where I'm from. It's really sad actually. There used to be a grocery shop, a bakery, a post office, a gas station and a school on the village, now everything's gone. I guess that when I'm old, I'll probably live there on my own, with a dog and a horse perhaps.

[Mystic Muse]

O.o Can I move in with you?

Same here. that place looks awesome!

[Thanatos 51-50]

Just throught you should know, VT, that I saw this thread and immediatly thought of The Boondock Saints.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Yes, I know, boondock appears in a comic, a cartoon and a movie.

*bares teeth*

[Winter_Wolf]

Grew up in the Alaskan Bush, not to be confused with the Australian Bush by any means. Hometown with a population of about 2000, nearest city is Anchorage, about an hour flight over swamps, tundra, lots of mountains, and not a few rivers. We have exactly one road that leads out of town, to a village of about 100 people, 26 miles away.

I miss Alaska, and I miss the river where I spent my autumn-times when I was younger, but my hometown really doesn't agree with a person of my temperament. Frankly I can't imagine moving back there for anything, though I would move to a smaller town if it had a road that led *somewhere* interesting.

[Yarram]

I used to live in the sticks. It's nice to have a huuuuuuuge backyard. Makes for good games of 44 Home.

The lack of broadband makes it terrible.

[Graymayre]

Do the mountainous and sparsely placed suburbs around Pittsburgh count?

[Rae Artemi]

Well, I live in Appalachia too, but it's Ohioan Appalachia. And I live in a city (technically, it's called a city, but that's just because it's the biggest town in our county). But I lived on a farm with Amish neighbors before, does that count?

[ghost_warlock]

Does living in Iowa count, by virtue of the whole state being basically the middle of nowhere? :smalltongue:

Though I live in Sioux City, now, I grew up on farms, surrounded by miles of fields, pastures, and groves. The closest town was only 5 miles away, but had a massive population of 300.

@drakir: Your photos are sublime, particularly the last one. It's almost an exact replica of my lifelong daydream home.

[Deathslayer7]

I would love to live where both of you are living. :smallfrown:

[Bonecrusher Doc]

What's "44 Home?"

[Temotei]

I live in a boondocks area called Avon, Minnesota.

However, I once resided in Albertville, Minnesota, and before that, Centerville, Minnesota. Both were fairly close to big cities, so it's all good. I suppose Albertville could be considered a medium-sized city itself.

Anyway, the closest "city" is Saint Cloud, which is about thirty-five minutes away.

[Rattine]

MAN there are a lot of people itp from Minnesota! lol I do too, and although I have neighbors and everything, I do live in a small town, and the student population is primarily made up of farmers, and the offspring children of doctors/nurses.

[Kobold-Bard]

Not myself, but my gf's parent's house contains 4 acres of woodland, another acre of random fields, and a driveway that is 1/2 a mile long. Their nearest neighbour is 20 minutes away on a bicycle. They are sheep farmers.

I assume she counts :smalltongue:

[Silly Wizard]

Hey, I live in Appalachia as well! In North Carolina, just twenty minutes from Tennessee.

[drakir_nosslin]

@drakir: Your photos are sublime, particularly the last one. It's almost an exact replica of my lifelong daydream home.

Heh, thanks :smallsmile: As I said, there's plenty of room, so if you don't mind moving to Scandinavia, I'm sure we can find you a place to stay.

[thorgrim29]

Northern end of Appalachia here. I live in a city, but when you need a bit of nature there's a lot of forest and a national park under an hour's drive away. Plus I used to life next to a vineyard back in France, my backyard was vines with the Gergovie Plateau in the background, it was pretty awesome.

[Zeb The Troll]

I've spent some time in places remote from civilization, but I'm a city boy at heart, I've found. I like being able to walk to the pharmacy and the grocery store and having four different movie theatres to choose from when I want to see something on the big screen.

Don't get me wrong, I can absolutely see what there is to love about being ultra rural, and for a vacation it's a great way to do it. I would just go stir crazy if I had to live in a place like that, I think.

[tcrudisi]

So, how many of you are from the middle of nowhere? Mountain born, country folk, desert dweller, wherever you get more of the wilds than civilization.

-=-=-=-=-=-

I myself am from the foothills of the Appalachians in northeast Georgia, within the Chattahoochee Forest. Helen/Dahlonega are the closest main towns, and the area is amongst the most beautiful locations in the state in my opinion. The surroundings have inspired much of my writing in fact.

Wow. I've seen this thread several times and I always skipped reading it because I thought it was about that horrible, horrible movie, The Boondock Saints. I have some friends that absolutely love that movie and make reference to it all the time, so I thought maybe there was a cult following that had originated and this thread was about those people getting together on the gitp forums.

Thank god I was wrong.

I'm originally from the middle of nowhere myself: also the Appalachia Mountains, but this time in NC. In the last few years, I did move to the piedmont area (which is far more populated) and now I'm doing a study abroad in the Netherlands... which isn't very "boondocky".

Although the mountains have definitely inspired me on more than a few occasions when it comes to game ideas. Also, I think it makes Werewolf more fun.

[Zovc]

I'm sure I'm not nearly as far away from civilization as many, but...

The closest city (by population) is about 6-10 minutes away from my house, there isn't anything particularly of note there.

The closest shopping mall is about an hour from my house.

[Anuan]

Not American, but my hometown was 8 hours from the nearest city. Bushland, nothing but dry scrub and a few brown rivers.

[Concrete]

Not quite... I'm from a small village close to the Middle of Nowhere, Sweden. It's basically 80 km of forest to the closest city, 10 km to the nearest shop. When I turned 16 I had to move to be able to attend to school. But oh, the nature, the stillness. I've never found anything like it. Lots of snow in the winter, green mountains/hills (depends in the perspective, they were a lot bigger when I was young) wherever you look in the summer.

And there are animals as well; Moose, deer, wolves, bear, and some occasional lynx, never seen a wolverine in action, but my grandfather shot one a couple of years ago when it tried to attack one of his dogs. Good fishing, great for hiking. Love it! :smallbiggrin:

Right now I don't live there, because of studies and such, but I'll probably move back someday. It's to awesome not to!

Here's a couple of photos, for those who are interested...

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799794_6966.jpg
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799841_3585.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799797_9426.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799839_2868.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v299/250/77/674450104/n674450104_3799847_5674.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v184/250/77/674450104/n674450104_2198967_1752.jpg

Swede as well, though not as geographically endowed.
I just recently moved into the city, and I must say that I hate it,especially in the winter. it's just gray sog and sickening orage light.
To be in the countryside in the winter...To just go outside a clear winter night when the moon is full, when the ground is covered with snow and the shadows are so damn black... And you feel the cold bite in your cheeks, and you can almost feel the moonlight on your skin...
And in the autumn, in the morning when you can see the mist under the spruce...
Dammit, this does it, this weekend I'll go out and visit my dad...

[Yarram]

What's "44 Home?"

Its tag, 'cept the person who's "it" counts to 44 at a location that is "Home."
A washing line is usually pretty good for this because it's out in the open.

The person who's it, then goes out and searches for everyone, while they all attempt to get to the washing line without being caught.

[Zeb The Troll]

Its tag, 'cept the person who's "it" counts to 44 at a location that is "Home."
A washing line is usually pretty good for this because it's out in the open.

The person who's it, then goes out and searches for everyone, while they all attempt to get to the washing line without being caught.Oh! You mean "Hide and Go Seek". :smalltongue:

[Innis Cabal]

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u131/Tebryn_Cabal/DSCN0093.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u131/Tebryn_Cabal/DSCN0116.jpg

My back yard.

[Zeb The Troll]

My back yard.I'd swear that first picture looks like it was taken from near Alarra's family's house in Rapid City, SD. That specific hill in the background looks like the one her parents' house faces.

[Innis Cabal]

You mean the mountain? :smalleek::smallconfused: It may not be a big, imposing jagged snow covered one, but thats still a mountain.

And its in Arizona, Flagstaff to be specific.