Identities, who do people think you are?

[Laurentius]

I wonder from time to time, how many people on this forum identify primarily as a "bushcrafter". I expect there are very few who do, maybe those lucky ones who can do it for a living. Most of us will have alternate identities in different worlds. Indeed given the very questionable nature of what each of us thinks "bushcraft" is I don't think that I would include that in my identity at all. For whatever reason I am here because I am a nature lover and I like being outdoors. Perhaps in some senses a "primitavist", With the inevitable paradox that I using the best that modern technology gives to share these thoughts.

What aspects of bushcraft do you think the people you work with or socialise with see in you?

For me it may well be my hand crafted walking sticks.

 

[British Red]

Its food and drink for me. I had a guy here doing some work last year who asked if I minded him bringing his daughter (about 7). I had her eating silverweed on a fire, ramsoms, sorrel and more, she then stacked split wood and weeded the parnsips....eating the chickweed. The guy was entranced and brought me some stipper clips for my No. 4 to say thanks. I gave Elderberry Port to a bloke for dropping me 5 ton of tree trunks today.

The best I have had is a beef farmer who I asked if I could take some horseradish from his field....he didn't know what it was. I made up some sauce and took him a few jars. He gave me a shoulder of salt marshed grazed beef to go with my sauce! Heck of a deal that.

 

[Wayland]

I am best known for my living history work in schools probably although "Ravenlore' and now "Ice Raven" get more traffic on the web so I'm not sure what that means.

I still think of myself as a photographer although it represents a very small percentage of the way I spend my time these days.

 

[Toddy]

Me ?
I'm a housewife with some very interesting friends

M

 

[Harvestman]

Wildlife, especially the spiders, although at work I'm also known for woodwork as I do a stall every year at a fundraiser.

 

[Elen Sentier]

Another wildlife person. People see me in all sorts of wildlife things but mostly in relationships with animals and between one part of nature and another.

behind every creative woman there's usually a very talented cat ...

 

[Miyagi]

Depending on the circumstances in which we met, most folk where I live know me as;

a) The bloke wi the handsome dog that goes hiking/plays cowboys and indians.
b) Thon fella wi the wandering chickens.
c) The Chef that does the charity BBQ every Ferry Fair/local MCC BBQ every year.
d) The bloke that runs the Jujutsu club/used to work the doors in local pubs.


Liam

 

[rik_uk3]

Happy camper.

 

[sandbender]

I walk, sometimes quite long distances, an ability to carry less and find nibbles and water along the way has proved handy in the past. I quite like making things too.

The people I know enjoy the photos, tales and the occasional carved spoon.

 

[Man of Tanith]

At work I'm the kit junkie who goes camping no matter the weather
I'm also the one who's coat always smells of Woodsmoke.....quite noticeable in a care home and has caused understandable concerns I the past

 

[Bumbler]

To my neighbours I am the stepfather of that Asian boy their kids play with, that likes to go for walks in the forest wearing clothes that cost less than 600£
The family and friends knows I go fishing sometimes and goes for walks and even camp in the forest. I don't think any of them has ever heard of the term "bushcraft", and there really is no single word for it in Norwegian. We do have words for the different things that bushcrafters do though.

 

[mountainm]

Just between you and me...

To interpol I was "the black glove", jewel thief, bon viveur, and master scrabble player extraordinair!

To everyone else I'm just another bloke with too much gear lying unused under the stairs.

Shhhh.

 

[Ivan...]

To my neighbours, i am that grey haired bloke who is always going camping, they always need to comment on the weather conditions, and some are experts!

One did surprise me the other day when she said "Have you got a meet this weekend?" So there are spies amongst us.

My friends think i am mad, but that is ok by me, as most of my real pals do exactly the same as me.

Oh and the postman knows me quite well too! If you know what i mean? Sure he is a government agent.


Ivan...

 

[bob_the_baker]

Most of my colleagues know me as a forager, especially after the "roadkill squirrel in the fridge" incident

 

[crosslandkelly]

To my Friends and neighbours, I'm the bloke who fixes things and goes camping when it snows.

 

[Miyagi]

I'm also the one who's coat always smells of Woodsmoke.....quite noticeable in a care home and has caused understandable concerns I the past

Do they know you escape? They'll lock away your Werther's if you're not careful.

Just between you and me...

To interpol I was "the black glove", jewel thief, bon viveur, and master scrabble player extraordinair!

To everyone else I'm just another bloke with too much gear lying unused under the stairs.

Shhhh.

Thanks MountainM, you gave me my first laugh of the day.


Liam

 

[TurboGirl]

I get some diverse opinions- from random peers who think I'm mad and assume its some kind of discomfort endurance test to kudos from the younger adults who reckon I'm a 'hacker'... at least I hope thats what they said ... the ones who are interested like the making aspects but really I think I'm a glamper more than a bushcrafter, I like the comfort rather than the survivalist aspect

 

[Baggy]

I am known in the village as the nutter that likes camping in the snow

 

[Nice65]

At work I'm the kit junkie who goes camping no matter the weather
I'm also the one who's coat always smells of Woodsmoke.....quite noticeable in a care home and has caused understandable concerns I the past

Same, though I'm shying off going if its cold and wet. Plus knives, lots of them

It's nice when it gets to the stage where people begin to regard you less as a nutter and more like someone to offer good advice on the subject. I have many work colleagues who now come to me asking which knife would suit their fishing box, son etc.

 

[dwardo]

Neighbours think I am nuts when they see me leaving with my kit, the bow and axe dont help the impression but they are all nice folks and just poke fun.
Friends see it more as eccentric but at the same time joke about me looking after them all when the zombies attack.

The one that really gets my goat is the friends of friends people i hardly know who think its a conversation opener to say "so your the one who think your bear grills then?" gets right on my thripneys. I dont start a conversation with "so you think your a world class footballer do you?? aye??
Or a recent one "so your the one who like all that outdoors stuff" said with an air that its a strange thing to do or like they somehow avoid the "outdoors" altogether and move from place to place via teleportation.

People also see me as the bloke who fixes and makes things from leather/wood to electrical goods and computers. Which I like