tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post4914812001939740106..comments2010-02-22T09:38:58.956ZRob Hopcotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802521115618353098noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-74529823362625478502010-02-22T09:38:58.956Z2010-02-22T09:38:58.956ZThanks for your visit Davy.<br /><br />I&#39;ve just had a great weekend in my old campervan and stayed one night in somebody&#39;s front drive and the other at the side of the road.<br /><br />In between, I played loads of traditional English tunes in a pub which was wonderful.<br /><br />It&#39;s all out there if we keep looking and don&#39;t give up :-)Rob Hopcotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802521115618353098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-32240003327587396142010-02-21T11:14:42.996Z2010-02-21T11:14:42.996ZI&#39;ve found that real bohemians do exist and Bohemia is not just some spirit we can see in our friends. Since coming to the San Francisco bay area I&#39;ve have met many people from all around the world who naturally gravitate to my circle of friends here, everyone has an alternative lifestyle, when we are hungry we will eat (most of the time for free), when we need something we wont go to the local chain store and buy it but we will get what we want one way or another, we all despise restrictive things like work (at best we will have &quot;gigs&quot; or interesting odd jobs that heighten our experience of life. Everyone is a musician, writer, artist or craftsman of some sort. <br /><br />Some of us live on our own some with friends and some in collectives. Everyones view on politics differs from the mainstream (usually with a tendency towards anarchism) we all despise any idea or concept which is just a guise to control people and deny them of their freedoms (which most... be it capitalist, communist, socialist etc..do) <br /><br /> You simply cant find this type of life unless you are willing to say to hell with the bills, to hell with work and all the other restrictions our society puts on us and to hell with anything that isn&#39;t going to deepen my experience of life. Follow your art, love and happiness at all costs. Because life is short we are all breezes in the hurricane so live while you can.<br /><br /> We dont live lives like this from being young naive kids from upper class backgrounds, Ive seen people like us from ages 16-73, from dirt poor families like me to upper class families to some who have never had families. Im talking about people from all walks of life, there are many US combat veterans like myself who live like this now, we call it &#39;off the map&#39;, to lifelong travelers, former business professionals, refugees, and all sorts of other people who woke up and decided that another world is possible. Bohemia isn&#39;t an abstract concept concept at all you just have to be brave enough (or crazy enough) to change your own life and you will find other who have too. Peace, art, and love.Davyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04008787379422302988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-71736569361349749752008-04-08T16:51:00.000+01:002008-04-08T16:51:00.000+01:00Pete, 'passion gone'<BR/><BR/>I've met other people who have had the same experience.<BR/><BR/>I too sometimes find the pub jams a bit crude and long for a select group of friends making music together in 'real' harmony.<BR/><BR/>At other times, it's really good.<BR/><BR/>If something came along better musically, I reckon I could move on.<BR/><BR/>But I am a butterfly that likes to flit from place to place and a fixed group may be a little too fixed.Rob Hopcotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802521115618353098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-51405864903309542892008-04-08T11:44:00.000+01:002008-04-08T11:44:00.000+01:00I used to do folk festivals and jam sessions all over when I was in my 20s, with my trusty banjo. Oddly, I just woke up one day and the passion was gone.<BR/>Now it is the sea. I love to surf my kayaks and drink wine in the evening with my companions. I base my current mode much on Epicurus, which is why cars and other trappings don't really move me.<BR/>Friends, independence and an analysed life. Yep. Old but true.PerlNumquisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13719930860859412405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-91640597193795936082008-03-13T09:23:00.000Z2008-03-13T09:23:00.000ZPete, yes I agree with you except in my case it's folk music festivals.<BR/><BR/>I recently attended a Sidmouth Folk Festival reunion at the Radway Pub at Sidmouth for a weekend.<BR/><BR/>We just sat there and played one tune after another, mainly English traditional folk tunes.<BR/><BR/>There were squeeze boxes, wind instruments and even some brass, all belting out the tunes as best we could.<BR/><BR/>I came away thinking that I'd really had a great time but especially because I'd been with people with whom I empathised.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, neither my wife of kids shares my musical interests.<BR/><BR/>A shared interest shared is a wonderful thing and because the event was out of season (the main Sidmouth Festival is in August), it had a more relaxed and intimate feeling.<BR/><BR/>It was also, probably, the last time I will use my trusty old camper van before trading it in for a newer one.<BR/><BR/>Should I buy another camper van or should I use the money to jump on an aeroplane and discover green fields further away in my imminent retirement?<BR/><BR/>But, as you say, what is then point of all these different places unless there are people there with whom one can share interests?Rob Hopcotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802521115618353098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-12946968851193748792008-03-12T19:52:00.000Z2008-03-12T19:52:00.000ZPlease, call me Pete. The pseudony was a caprice borne of too much bier on night in Hanover.<BR/>I think the key to Bohemia is likemindeds. We achieve it by turning up in elderly vans to camp near the sea with various floating things: Surfboards, kayaks, bodyboards and we spend the day in aquatic pursuits, and then return spent and happy to make a communal meal, drink wine and sing. Must do more of it though this year.PerlNumquisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13719930860859412405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-15477790996738383812008-03-12T17:04:00.000Z2008-03-12T17:04:00.000ZPerlNumquist, I am much encouraged :-)Rob Hopcotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802521115618353098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-18747842734006645992008-03-12T16:31:00.000Z2008-03-12T16:31:00.000ZAhh, Mr Hopscotch, I understand your longing for a small haven of Bohemian sanctuary. Many years ago, me and me old dad used to cycle to a small place called Talybont on Usk, where like minded individuals would gather to just be there. It lasted a decade or so before people moved on. This is the cycle of things. Now, periodically in Summer, myself and some likemindeds adjourn to devon in kayaks for similar. It can happen.PerlNumquisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13719930860859412405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-70403030943889782008-03-07T15:46:00.000Z2008-03-07T15:46:00.000ZThis comment has been removed by the author.Rob Hopcotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802521115618353098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-79147386350144357912008-03-07T15:35:00.000Z2008-03-07T15:35:00.000Z"However, I've often felt my search may ultimately be ill fated. Everywhere looks so much the same, these days. " - so true and in this sameness even change looks quite the same ... I find we have stopped appreciating things that are unique .. becoz of our constant search for things patronized by others .... if something sells for others it sells for us as well ... this to me is a dangerous trend ... will give u an example ... if you read the book reviews by the so called experts, you would often find them commenting that it is not a classic ... I fail to understand how they judge a classic .. doesnt a book merit a reading becoz it has been written well enough .. is it necessary to benchmark it at all constant times ... isnt it true that if we keep on doing that there is a chance that everything written will sound like an old classics and we will loose all possible innovations in writings and creativity ....<BR/><BR/><BR/>There is nothing great than a get together with friends, fellow writer, fellow musicians or fellow dreamers and even if you cant get together just look around and play along ...<BR/><BR/>I know u gave me reference to this blog of yours but would like to know if this is the one that you update regularly .. or there are a couple of others that you work on regularly ---<BR/><BR/>Thank you<BR/><BR/>AlokAlokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02888672505035649846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-8766950863780041102008-03-05T18:50:00.000Z2008-03-05T18:50:00.000ZWhence Bohemia!<BR/><BR/>Whence Valhalla!<BR/><BR/>Whence Utopia!!<BR/><BR/>Hi Rob - just dropping in to say thanks for your visits...<BR/><BR/>I actually didn't know where to leave a message and had a hard time deciding....but maybe I'm a little Bohemian at heart!<BR/><BR/>btw - tried Cafe Hopcott...uh..it doesn't exist!aimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685252628734838159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-2875102160433201672008-03-05T15:01:00.000Z2008-03-05T15:01:00.000ZAn interesting list of places, goatman.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps it is in the nature of creative people to always seek.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again :-)Rob Hopcotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802521115618353098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-25292021742560545512008-03-04T20:54:00.000Z2008-03-04T20:54:00.000Zrob,<BR/>In my experience, these places come and go as to flow and progression.<BR/>In US one could cite Homestead, Florida; Cannon Beach, Oregon; San Antonio, Texas; Placitas, New Mexico; etc, etc. The people come together, create art, or a homestead living, then move on as the scene changes and is usually ruined by those not with the program.<BR/>I am heartened by your search though. Move around, make connections, and you may experience the joy of a spark in the continuum of this life.<BR/>Good luck, my heart is with you.goatmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02317617928368945316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-45654512682786097732008-03-03T16:39:00.000Z2008-03-03T16:39:00.000ZRob, I've tagged you to tell 7 random things about yourself. Only I'm not exactly sure which is your most frequent blog - and I like this bohemian concept here.amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08330763519601938989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-25983211593567365112008-02-08T10:11:00.000Z2008-02-08T10:11:00.000ZYon Rob! Shame on ye for tossing yon slugs and snails. They makest good soup!Viking Warriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16541001689554530174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-19913939807505550762008-02-08T08:43:00.000Z2008-02-08T08:43:00.000ZViking Warrior<BR/><BR/>LOL :-)<BR/><BR/>Perhaps we have a lot in common.<BR/><BR/>I crave to pillage like minded people's minds.<BR/><BR/>Whereas you want to pillage their booties.<BR/><BR/>Well met and welcome.Rob Hopcotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802521115618353098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1613087443127547329.post-38729326728267974992008-02-08T08:30:00.000Z2008-02-08T08:30:00.000ZWhence Bohemia!<BR/>Whence Valhalla!!Viking Warriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16541001689554530174noreply@blogger.com