Pros & Cons of Being an Urban Camper

Pros of being an urban camper.
_______

I'm free.
I'm closer to nature.
I meet more people.
I make my own schedule and work when I want to.
I'm less burdened with the responsibilities of material things.
I pay no rent.
I pay no bills. Well, OK, I have bills, for the phone and credit cards, but my debt is much smaller than yours.
I see and experience new and interesting things every day.
I have more time to be creative.
I'm constantly learning new things about the world around me.
I watch no television, but I do watch movies on my laptop.
I have more time to reflect upon things.
I worry less, or not at all.
All the money I make is mine.
I'm more physically active and a bit healthier for it.
I have more time to study the books I really wanted to study but couldn't while I was in college.
I've learned to defend myself against most of the elements (still working on almost freezing rain).
I'm a survivor.
I have amazing stories to tell.
I live "off the grid".
I'm a gypsy, pirate, nomad, and a lot of other words that always fascinated me as a child.
_______ _________
Cons of being an urban camper.
____________________

People look at you differently, sometimes badly (I'm trying to change this).
If you're not mentally prepared, like, you've never been camping before, then it isn't for you.

__________________
Pros of being a "House-y", that's someone who lives in a walled "House" structure thing, apartments included.
___________________

Get to sit on the couch and watch television.
Easy access to refrigeration.
Easy access to bathroom facilities.
Easier access to potable water.
Less chores and maintenance.
Easier access to entertainment.
Can invite friends over for entertainment in all weather.
Can give friends a place to stay for a while.
__________________
Cons of being a "House-y".
____________________

Rent/Mortgage.
Bills.
Work.
More "things" to worry about, like the security of your "things" (lock the door), how are "things" with the boss, now I must replace this "thing" (light bulbs), etc.
Isolation, cabin fever.
Disconnection from neighbors.
Disconnection from society at large.
More materialistic.
More polluting and damaging to the environment (more chemicals poured down drain, more toilet flushes, more electrical energy consumed, waste lumber and construction materials, more oil consumed, etc.).
You can probably dream up a host of personal reasons from here...

Have Gas Scooter, Will Travel

I am glad to announce that I have finally obtained the gas scooter I have been talking about for so long! I bought it off of Portland's craigslist for $200 (that's half it's value) using the money donated to the Artopium Art Troupe so that we can create the Artopium Art Booth. Having the scooter is going to go a long way in helping to haul the Art Booth equipment from location to location so we are very grateful that we have it and we kindly thank everyone, like people like you, who have helped to make it happen. Look forward to seeing me and my struggle to understand the inner workings of the 33cc engine that propels me toward my Artopium future showcased in the first episode of this next season's Guide to Urban Camping.

New urban camping episodes now playing!

Two more fantastic episodes of Artopium's Guide to Urban Camping have been released! Come check them out. Watch them here or on the official Art Troupe video blog channel at youtube.com/stealthcamping.

Artopium Art Troupe Charter to be released soon!

Where to even begin with this blog. I would like to introduce to you a new face in the Artopium journey, and you may know him as Kami. Kami came to me in the most random series of meetings and encounters and ended with He and I sharing a common idea: to put forth all art/music and to travel the world doing it. We have both collaborated to write up an official charter to lay down the rules of initiation and duties to the Artopium Art Troupe. Once the charter is written we will only need one more of the three founders necessary to set the charter into effect. We hope to find that person soon.

Episode II is now playing!

I just released the second episode of Artopium's "Guide to Guerrilla Urban Camping" and it's now playing on my YouTube channel.

Artopium's Guide to Urban Camping Episode I

I finally managed to put a full episode together, thanks to the new laptop I was able to aquire by working my ass off selling my handcrafted jewelry on Hawthorne. You can buy my jewelry online at artopium.com/mikesjewelry so check it out. The only money I use to aquire the equipment needed comes from my jewelry sales, and this will be used to help other artists sell their works, so it all goes to a good place.

This and the following episodes were all taken using nothing more than the camera built into my cell phone. It has a limit of 15 seconds per take and the resolution is less then that of a television, let alone a computer monitor.

In this episode I show you how I go in to the urban jungle, that which is known as Washington Park, and show you how to set up the perfect, long-term, guerrilla urban camp. From my semi-permanent shelter in the city park, I venture back into the city to sell jewelry and to network and meet the people who are going to help me throw the next festival.

Eventually I will find partners in both the business and in the Artopium Art Troupe. I've already received a lot of attention from my friends, family and Internet public, but I'm still waiting for the point of critical mass. Does no one have the guts to join me? This is a question I have to battle with daily. But I go on looking for other troupe members...


Artopium's Guide to Urban Camping Episode I (full version)

Artopium's Roving Festival | MySpace Video

Also be sure to check out my YouTube page. It has a lot more videos and playlists to check out! YouTube.com/StealthCamping

A new laptop

I'm very happy to announce tat my Internet hiatus is over! I got a rather small, meek and humble Eee PC, with the least amount of features, but it does the job and will even help me to the video editing for my upcoming series: "Artopium's Guide to Guerrilla Urban Camping". Look forward to some great improvements to the website as well.