There seems to be a nostalgia for Alaska-based nuts. At least a third of the google searches that lead people to my blog are on that post I did many months ago on Chris McCandless. A second slew of searches is for that of Timothy Treadwell, albeit it's not nearly as many as that done for McCandless. In thinking, who was the bigger dumbass? Chris for living in a bus for 4 months in Alaska and eventually starving to death because he came unprepared? Or Treadwell, the wacko who lived with the Grizzly bears, only to eventually be eaten? I'd have to say that Treadwell was the bigger idiot because he was in his 40's, where as Chris died only at 24. Had he lived, he would have probably grown out of his idealism. But in light of those 2, here as another Alaskan weirdo, although he's weird in a good way. For anyone who hasn't heard of Richard "Dick" Proenneke, you should pick up a copy of his book Alone in The Wilderness, and also the documentary on him. Dick, a retired mechanic, went to Twin Lakes to build his retirement cabin, which you see here.
Now, when I say 'built' I mean he really built it. He built the tools for which he built it as well. He made door hinges from spruce trees, and literally cut all those trees himself and set them down one on top of the other with just his 2 hands alone. He had a strong intelligence and his own insight into the world, as well as a very matter of fact approach to life. Just reading or hearing his words really give a sense of perspective. Where most find boredom, Proenneke finds use. One of the most insightful things he mentioned was that he felt that too many people work on parts of things, and that doing a job to completion satisfied him. I imagine he would not tolerate much of the self-pity/self-obsessed perspectives of today, this constant me, me, me- I'm bored, etc. Well, find something useful to do, and stop expecting the world to entertain you. I learned when I was a kid to never complain about being bored- it not only sounded lazy, but I'd be given work to do. Where as I'd be told: here's a mop. Start mopping, Proenneke would say: here's a tree, start chopping. Even if you're not a lover of the outdoors, I do recommend watching this PBS special, just so you can get a separate sense of self, to show that sometimes the solution to the pettiness of our own thoughts (that most of us cause ourselves) is just looking forward and making ourselves useful.
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