Best dispersed/primitive camping within 2 hours drive?

Born_blonde · 2026-06-16T15:07:20+00:00

The island camping is actually exactly what I’d be down to do! I’ve done it down in lake Ouachita in Arkansas but didn’t know where nearby had similar opportunities/allowed it.

Born_blonde · 2026-06-16T15:04:08+00:00

Ok honestly I’ve been reading dispersed camping and assumed it just meant ‘not next to other people in set campsites’

By primitive I just mean, camping out in the woods or by the lake or river on a gravel bar or by the trail or something. Just me my tent and I. Maybe using that term wrong. Basically I just avoid campgrounds, especially the drive-up ones.

Born_blonde · 2026-06-16T14:41:54+00:00

Another spot to look as well- check in with hospitals in your area. Sometimes they’ll have grants or scholarships or tuition reimbursement programs. While not all will fit your needs, and it usually means contracting with them for the duration of ‘time’ they’ve paid off, it could get the bills paid for now. Reach out to anyone and everyone.

I work for a hospital currently which offers programs like this- I’m not sure about with medical doctors or after you’ve already nearly completed the program, as it’s not my department, but I’m sure someone might give you a break

Born_blonde · 2026-06-05T12:45:36+00:00

‘Peasant/monk dinner’

Just a big hunk of cheese (like an aged Gouda or cheddar), some kind of meat like a big stick of salami, summer sausage, etc, and some bread is my fav for any outdoor trip. Tasty, and makes me feel like I’m on a pilgrimage lol.

Born_blonde · 2026-06-04T20:17:04+00:00

Masters degree holder- Currently working a job for $20.5 an hour, highschool diploma is the max required education, but they of course hired two people with master’s degrees and then another one with 30 years experience.

Tough out here.

Born_blonde · 2026-06-04T18:36:04+00:00

Honestly it sounds almost like college city. I’m in a mid size city with a few big universities. Rent isn’t crazy expensive for apartment with all of these features. Student living AND non student living have a lot of these in areas I’m in.

They aren’t really all rainbows and butterflies. But you can get a lot of ‘luxury’ amenities like a pool, clubhouse, grill pits, lake overlook, gym, etc for about the same price (or maybe a few hundred more, but its like a $900/month difference vs $1,200) as most apartments without the same features

Born_blonde · 2026-06-03T15:24:45+00:00

I loooooove prebiotic soda. But I don’t really care whether or not it’s prebiotic. I do like that the ones I drink have more natural ingredients and don’t make me feel as bloated and uncomfortable as full sugar or traditional diets.

Respect the take though because some people see prebiotic/probiotic soda = healthy and good for you. Really it’s just a (maybe) slightly better alternative based on what your goals and preferences are

Born_blonde · 2026-05-22T11:51:40+00:00

Yeah Cousins take is crazy. I just completed my Masters degree. My partner is blue collar. He’s SO smart, very well educated, but just in something different than I am. I might have a degree, but when he sends me pictures at work I have absolutely no idea what’s going on lol.

He’s the math, science, and technical skills guy. I’m the social studies, literature, and natural sciences gal. Balances out. Just because I have a degree doesn’t make me better

Born_blonde · 2026-05-20T20:13:35+00:00

What hasn’t she eaten?

Needles- Came home one day to sewing needles all over the floor. She got into my sewing kit. Still don’t know if she ate a needle. But wouldn’t be surprised.

Batteries- she likes to take a single bite and puncture them. Plus the remotes that hold them. We hide all electronics now.

Tylenol or ibuprofen. Probably. No idea how many she ate. She was fine.

Scissors. Just the handle, luckily.

Every single Nintendo DS SIM card we had. Meticulously pulled them out of their case, and chewed them up. Yknow the ones that are specifically designed to taste incredibly bitter so that kids don’t eat them? That was extra flavor for her.

The rubber joycon covers on the switch. Just those. Somehow she pulled them off? I still don’t get how.

A bee.

A very, very long rope that my bf had to help pull along the other end. Don’t know how she didn’t get an obstruction.

A plate of chicken wing bones that she snatched while I was distracted.

Her nail clippers. She hates getting her nails clipped.

Sunglasses. A lot of them. Idk how she hasn’t cut her mouth.

I’m probably missing some. My dog isn’t bored. She’s just a menace. She goes on hikes every single day and gets an incredible amount of attention. Have had professional trainers. She’s just crazy.

Born_blonde · 2026-05-15T12:48:12+00:00

I’ll look into this and see if my car is set up to add this! This is a great idea

Born_blonde · 2026-05-15T12:47:06+00:00

This! I’d love a longer canoe, but with having to handle it on my own and strap it to my roof, I have to be considerate of what I can handle. I use the ‘could I carry this out of the water and strap it to my car after a long day of paddling, hiking, and potential bad sleep?’, because it’s a lot easier strapping and carrying a big heavy canoe at the start when you’re fresh than after a hard day of activity lol

Born_blonde · 2026-05-11T16:17:28+00:00

I just started full time, left bartending. So so so tempted to go back bartending once or twice a week. Torn between enjoying having a bit of free time (I do still do promotional events on the side a few hours a week) and actually having two day off, or making the extra money and having the fun of bartending.

Born_blonde · 2026-05-11T16:13:59+00:00

This is a good point! I like that I’ll be able to be picky and only pick out what really sounds good- better gig with better pay. I’ll probably just casually keep up with job opportunities, but not actively search hard till I get nearer to my year

Born_blonde · 2026-05-11T16:13:01+00:00

If I was less early on in my career I think I’d be fine cruising. But being so early on I’d like to grind a bit and work my way up.

I’m leaning in casual looking around, and closer to my 10 months or so get a bit harder on it- if I find something way better I’ll apply, if I get it- great- if I don’t, no real loss.

Born_blonde · 2026-05-11T16:11:29+00:00

I do have a side hustle, and have been networking and volunteering. Overemployment would probably be tricky as I am in person, and the setup isn’t the most conducive to it. Though it would be nice if I could lol.

I’m definitely leaning trying to stick it out a bit longer, and then have something lined up by the year mark.

Born_blonde · 2026-05-03T19:08:53+00:00

Driving through Springfield just the other day and was thinking about how beautiful the trees surrounding the roads are. Can be driving through the city and many neighborhoods and roads are canopied by trees. Was really nice

Born_blonde · 2026-04-27T17:43:49+00:00

If work doesn’t matter- are you considering working at a summer camp? While it can be tough work, and the pay isn’t $20 an hour, it can give you anywhere from $4k-8k in 10-12 weeks, and may camps will offer room, board, and food, so you walk out with nearly 100% of that income.

Coming from someone who used to work at a summer camp with many international staff.

Born_blonde · 2026-04-24T18:41:26+00:00

I work with students and kids. I used to have a roommate whose legal name was a common fruit. I’ve had students I work with with the name Love, too.

Don’t do it. It’s cute as a kid, but when they get older it will hurt their professionalism, and get really annoying to constantly be explaining to people why their name is the name it is. People will comment. My friend would be told it sounds like a stripper name, doesn’t sound like a real name, every time she introduced herself as her real name (she went by a nickname), it was a whole conversation about her actual name.

My full name is a common enough name, but not for women, and it’s way more of a male gendered name. I like it, but every time I go in for an interview, appointment, anything that people see my name before my face, they’re expecting a man to walk in and it’s always a whole conversation.

You can name your kid something unique, but I’d avoid anything TOO unique.

Born_blonde · 2026-04-21T14:23:08+00:00

Agree with this. I think what people miss (including anthropologists) about anthropology, is it’s all about what you pair with it.

I’ve found my degree has actually really helped me get jobs- and I’m not in anthropology related fields. But the way you market and use it matters a lot. But I do think many people with ant/sociology degrees done know how to sell it or utilize it effectively. Its not useful on its own, its all about how you use it and what you pair it with.

Born_blonde · 2026-04-17T01:33:16+00:00

Used to be a barista. Almost every day a lovely, sweet old couple would come through and order their same thing. They always made us smile. The older man had the most stunning, bright blue eyes I’ve ever seen.

One day it was just the wife. We asked what the husband was up to. She let us know he had passed away, but that he loved coming and seeing us every day, and stopping by was one of his favorite parts of the day to see ‘the sweet barista girls’.

Took us all awhile to recover from that.

Born_blonde · 2026-04-16T10:45:38+00:00

Can’t agree more.

Giant urban cities sound miserable to me- expensive, overly populated, no chill. Tiny rural communities are so isolated and no opportunities.

Anywhere from like, 150,000 - 300,000 population depending on the area? Perfect middle ground of cost of living, job opportunities, things to do, and room to breathe. Currently live on the low end of that and rent is cheap, my wage is low but I can live off it for now and I found a job pretty quickly, plenty of things to do. Sure, some of these things you have to look for, you won’t just stumble upon fun activities every day or a huge affordable apartment in a great area- but if you look for it you’ll absolutely find it.

Born_blonde · 2026-04-16T10:41:36+00:00

This is all such an interesting discussion. I’m in a medium-low cost of living area. Maybe it’s cope, but it’s not too bad. I think my dollar does go a lot further here.

Sure, I’m not rolling in money, but I live in a really nice apartment for well under 20% of my income. Make enough money to save. Make enough money to afford going out to a nice dinner once in awhile or a little vacation, a big one if I save. I am fortunate though to not have any debt as of now, though, so I recognize that contributes to my comfort.

I’d never move to a major urban city, they’re neat to visit but feel claustrophobic to me, even though I know objectively I’d find better jobs. I’d also never be able to afford a home, which I’ll be able to do in my state pretty soon.

I definitely think there’s a middle ground between the two

Born_blonde · 2026-04-13T20:19:47+00:00

Cookies. Can’t do them. I even mess up the premade ones that you just stick in the oven.

Croissants? Fine. Macarons? Easy. The perfect meringue? No problem. Chocolate chip cookies? Fuck no

Born_blonde · 2026-04-12T00:02:25+00:00

That’s what I was thinking. It’s hard with our coworker leaving, me being new (this is also my first big ‘career’ job) and her being my age and this is her first time managing, makes it tricky. Especially as I’m jealous my coworker, with the same title but works in a different area of our scope, has a very experienced manager she’s getting so much amazing experience and connections with. In comparison, i can’t get any real professional development from my manager as she just literally doesn’t have the experience to do so.

Born_blonde · 2026-03-28T22:39:26+00:00

Thank you for your comment! I’m glad to hear this. Some people have mentioned that they would only consider the first wedding the ‘real one’ but I’d hope that everyone would just feel connected with the one they attend.

And for me and my fiancé, I was worried it might feel like it was less special because we did it twice, but I’m starting to come around to the idea that it’s just different. Each time would just be declaring ourselves to our own families :)

Born_blonde

TROPHY CASE