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Jello
Social climber
No Ut
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Oct 29, 2006 - 01:45pm PT
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Heather- I added some pics of actual dirtbags to my earlier post.
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stonefree
Trad climber
Charlottesville
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Oct 29, 2006 - 01:57pm PT
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" Those who think they are a dirtbag are not one."
Nice.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Oct 29, 2006 - 06:58pm PT
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That's it kids?
Golly gee,
I mean, Gee wiz, I go bouldering all excited to come back and see the goods 'n all manner of snappy 'n insightful rumination; troll or no troll, this cud be fun.
Well, Jello's pics are neato, that's fer dang sure.
-And eKaterinaHippyGirl!
(Might I suggest you were just recently on a "walkabout": quite distinct from dirt-bagero).
Lemme get the confabulator goin, along with a little vino...
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Oct 29, 2006 - 08:08pm PT
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Okie Dokie,
Like I was tryin’ to be sayin’ on the other threadero-
I never liked the term Dirtbag.
I prefer Minimalist Voluptuary.
For starters, although we (those in the know, haha), we know what this dirtbag term applies to; nevertheless, I never cleaved to it. Just take a look at Locker’s posted definition and it is clear that dirt bag at the outset has a sort of skanky, untrustworthy, and generally disreputable feel to it. (Oops, that definition rings a few bells; OK maybe we were once scoundrels, well some of us…).
That term leaves little room for dignity and it does not characterize the platform from which much noble striving was once sought. Yes, by the way, the noble savage, or dirtbag still exists. There are young people working in mountain shops, on construction sites, holding seasonal jobs of all description and they often live out of their cars a great deal of the time to achieve a lean efficiency and leverage their work purely to feed their adventures. I have met them.
Nevertheless, identifying with internal experience and giving it primacy over external material reward and security: this is the basis upon which a dirtbag’s strivings are predicated, thus the minimalist is born, or attempts to be wrought upon the scene of the luxurious sensory experience there to be had for the taking. You have access to sweeping heights, a marvelously tuned physique, adrenalin, confronted fear, inexplicable self satisfaction, but you must often pay significant dues to really attain mastery.
Essentially, the dirtbag, um I mean the minimalist voluptuary, understands that although not a strict axiom, the more material and external wealth projected, the less rich and cultivated the internal soul. It’s all about where and when the personal energy is focused. I wouldn’t state this as an absolute, but it holds true and bears out more often than not. Sure, investing in intellectual resources benefits us in the long run: higher life earnings, ability to extend as a dirt bag at a later date and all that, but that sort of non material and very savvy internal cultivation comes with a price and like anything its acquisition has to be well timed.
To my mind a lot of it boils down to the tension point between the urgency of rewarding the gift of youth versus squandering the needed preparation to secure a reasonable future. To leverage the youthful mind/body in best molding a useful set of deeply instilled mental and physical patterns at an early age, which will then better serve the climber for a lifetime; this is often the big challenge and dirt bagging is so often the tempting, useful, and yes – the risky solution.
Happy Sailing,
Roy
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H. Lea
Trad climber
Canada
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 29, 2006 - 09:14pm PT
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Tarbuster,
Excellent. I may have to quote you. Would that be OK with you?
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Jello
Social climber
No Ut
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Oct 29, 2006 - 09:20pm PT
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Mr Boostier- a toast to you, my man!
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Russ Walling
Social climber
Out on the sand, Man.....
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Oct 29, 2006 - 09:23pm PT
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Sheesh Tardy.... gurgle on would ya.....
I was just going to divlulge all known info on Dirtbaggery™™™ and a treatise on "Great dirt bags I have known", but I got so damn tired out reading yer gobble-de-prose I had to go lay down. Maybe an episode next week if I forget to shower.....
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Dave
Mountain climber
the ANTI-fresno
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Oct 29, 2006 - 09:25pm PT
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"Well, I love being one. I'm not always one, b/c I can't have the luxury"
Luxury of being a dirtbag. That's the funniest thing I've read all night.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Oct 29, 2006 - 09:35pm PT
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Well there Dave,
You dint even read whut I wrote huh?
(just goofin' on yah)
Oopsie, I know, werds 'n stuff all knotted up perhaps.
I was trying to say that sensory experience in the form of wicked routes is a luxury, by many accounts one of the highest of luxuries we have been known to afford our bad 'ole selves.
You know, I got that you weren't dragin' on my quote, I think that was Lea's anyhow, but that Voluptuary thing really rings for me, as I see physical, emotional, and intellectual experience as presented in the climbing riff as totally sensuous & luxurious.
We ain't saints and we do value a rockin' good time.
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Hootervillian
climber
the Hooterville World-Guardian
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Oct 29, 2006 - 09:50pm PT
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if you really want a sighting of a dirtbag in it's native habitat, find yourself a gaggle 'o trustafari. more than likely one will show up, usually in the middle of the 'rotation'.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Oct 29, 2006 - 09:50pm PT
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And don't listen to Mussy(RW) he knows darn tootin' well what I'm ah talkin' bout.
One ah my fave memories is a time, once upon a time, when me 'n mussy were all stumble drunk on our coffee buzz in cramp 4, and muss wadd, that's mussy, juss tossed his empty cup into the squalor that was our table and said "Man, we are livin' like Kings!".
Routes all around, buddies & betty's tah hook up wit, shaggy racks abundant, few real material cares demanding our attention.
Now that is luxury.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Oct 29, 2006 - 10:18pm PT
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Oh and Lea,
Per the quote me request.
See, I pretty much live on Supertopo, mostly to chat & flirt it up with all the hot chix who live here too (Lisa is Ok with it as long as I rub her feet after I log off)...oh & yes a lot of my old and dear buddies are here too. It is a fluid medium and context is critical to relational efficacy.
So my point bein' that I am of course circumspect of being quoted, you know, what with the confluence of nasty lil' things like deadlines, shifting context, & editors takin' my sensitive and incisive gobble-d'gook to a place where it lacks all original alacrity.
So, at the outset I am amenable to contributing, but I gotta ask to proof read the final of what yer gonna submit before I willingly lay it in your lap. I know it is more than less public domain at this point, but that is my wish.
Best Regards,
Roy
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James
climber
A tent in the redwoods
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Oct 29, 2006 - 10:23pm PT
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My house is a tent in the woods. My student loans go to climbing trips instead of rent. I meet my climbing partners in a parking lot, Lone Lad from Covina style. I guess that makes me a dirtbag.
Little while ago, went out to the bars with a lady friend. She was the Sahara, hot, and things were going remarkably smooth for me. As we left the bar, I thought I was gonna be touchin it later that night. She turned to me and said with a coyish smile, "I'd go home with you...if you had a home to go to."
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Oct 29, 2006 - 10:39pm PT
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excellent point james,
not only is dirt bagging risky, but costly too.
way hard on relationships or potential relationships; the dirtbag gals will tell you the same.
the difference bein' that dirt bag gals often have sumwhut better set ups in their 'rigs: i once witnessed a cute lil' d bag gal's VW micro bus, fitted out with an actual chest of drawers fer clothes.
another, the venerable (can't recall her name), had spice racks built in to her van doors...
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dougs510
Social climber
down south
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Oct 29, 2006 - 11:10pm PT
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My thoughts on a dirtbag:
One who sleeps with their head in the dirt. Staying in C4 is the epitomie of head in dirt bivi.
Hmmmm... beat up vans with grease pouring out of the engine, and hot, cheap beer in the topbox. rolling their own cigs with bugler, and perhaps mixing a bit of taboo along with it.
thick fingers, strong climbing, and living large.
Running it out, vertically, as well as horizontally.
lastly, living a dream that most of us are too afraid of.
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Don't let go
Trad climber
Yorba Linda, CA
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Oct 30, 2006 - 12:36am PT
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So has anyone "reformed" from being a dirtbag as was asked? To put a less negative spin on it, has anyone stopped being a dritbag to pursue a life with a steady job, kids, house...? I personally want to know because I just graduated from college and am needing to chose between having a job with ok money or touring the world climbing.
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mountain fairy
Trad climber
Phoenix
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Oct 30, 2006 - 02:07am PT
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Wow. And all these years I thought "dirtbag climber" was a term of endearment- not something to defend, change or rationalize!
Man, those were the days... Playing chess with Tucker at the deli, making saltines with ketchup and mustard and calling it "pizza". Hauling pigs bigger than myself for a bit of cash so I could stay in the Valley a few more weeks...
Who doesn't like to sleep with their head in the dirt?
Is there really such thing as "reforming" when you're a true dirtbag at heart?
Minimalism is a true luxury in our consumer-driven society.
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mountain fairy
Trad climber
Phoenix
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Oct 30, 2006 - 02:13am PT
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"Has anyone reformed"...
Does one every truly reform? I hope not!
There are many shades of dirtbag grayness...it's more a state of mind...
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steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
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Oct 30, 2006 - 08:37am PT
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O.P. -
I'm pretty sure there's absolutely no such thing as a "weekend dirtbag" like you imply you become when you "have the luxury."
And the mags get lamer and lamer...I always found that I wrote the best (and most entertaining) when I was writing about something I knew about in the first place, or directly knew the sources of information for what I was writing about. Maybe you should try that?
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oldtopangalizard
Social climber
ca
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Oct 30, 2006 - 08:57am PT
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don't let go
One can become a reformed dirtbag. We spent years sleeping in the dirt in JT with the sand filling your mouth while you snored away too tanked to know.
I remember waking up on a fireroad outside of Idyllwild, crashed in the middle of the road, in the middle of nowhere, with my face full of ants. It was a long time ago, but I believe it was called 'cowbell alley'. Someone can help me on that. Anyway, it was a great life, but now I sleep in a bed almost every night. Showers are daily, yes, you can be saved. But be forewarned, you will always remember the days of no showers, no running water and face in the dirt sleep as the great days.
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