I’m a 57 year old who has worked like a dog my whole life. I can now afford to do the cool things I want to do but my body is broken so I watch young people on KZfaq do them instead. Enjoy the time you have and do the dreams now!

"And Snuggles got bit....." Me: Oh shit did she die?!? "By the backpacking bug." Me: Jesus christ that was 0.5 seconds of too much tension

I’m amused to the “living the dream” idea working some 8-5. Most people are angry and miserable, being paid just barely enough to keep showing up for work, and never really having anything to show for it. I think you guys are probably “living” more than most. Credit to y’all for having the courage to do you.

A quality of life is measured by experiences, not possessions.

Hey, you are living the American dream. It's called freedom. Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness. Doesn't say anything about bigger is better. Keep it up my friend.

My wife and I did much the same thing back in the late 1970s as you did in 2014 . I had watched my father and his friends retire at 65 and die at 66 and that soured us a little on the idea of "doing the things we want to do" after we retire. We decided that we wanted to cruise the world on a sailboat. I had owned and operated a commercial salmon troller before we met so I was an experienced ocean-going sailor. But we had the same issues, jobs, mortgage, cars, toys, one kid..... It took us six years of no dinners-out, no more toys, and (for me) finding work that pays more than the 9-to-5 jobs. I found work on drill ships as a "subsea engineer" (first) and then as a watchstander (mate) and dynamic position operator. We built a 32' sailboat from a semi-completed (hull and deck with roughed-in interior) while I was home. Since I worked 28 days on the ship and then flew home for 26 days off the ship (with pay) I applied myself to the building of the boat just as if it were a job. In April of 1977 our boat arrived and so did our daughter. By that time we had paid off our house and we could afford the parts to finish the boat (along with some custom woodwork I could not do). In June of 1980 we took the boat out on a shakedown cruise north from Seattle out into the Pacific and up along the west coast of Vancouver Island. Our daughter was 3-1/2. We moved onto the boat when we returned, finished some little issues, and rented our home out for income. In May of 1981 we left for 5 years of cruising the Pacific. During our stay in the Sea of Cortez our son was born. Our income during this time was rental from our home (which we had paid off) along with occasional jobs for me on drill ships and doing work on other yachts. Our expenses were minimal since we were in the tropics and didn't need to heat our home, pay for telephone (ham radio worked), gas for commuting to work, baby sitters, and all the other little expenses that add up. We also did not pay for insurance on the boat (or health insurance since medical help was pretty inexpensive (and pretty good). Our son's birth, for instance, cost $300 including pre-natal, post-natal and the birth itself. We came back and I promised my wife I'd work until I died if I had to. I'm 75 and still only semi-retired as a consultant. You don't have to be rich. But it helps to be obsessed. :)

Good for you and Snuggles! At 50 yrs old I have completely re-evaluated my life and am working towards simplicity. I’m just planning my first overnight backpacking trip. See you on the trails.

Live modestly (I have a minimum footprint philosophy), reject Madison avenue consumerism, enjoy experiences rather than acquiring stuff == I only worked 20 years of my adult life and had all the rest of my life for myself. It allowed me to backpack over 15k miles (PCT, AT, CDT, FL & AZ trails, etc), bicycle toured 50k miles (all over the U.S., Canada, Baja, Australia, New Zealand, HI, etc, etc), paddled 30k miles (Yukon, Mississippi, Peace, Mackenzie, Ohio, Hudson, Erie canal, Gulf and Atlantic I.C.W.,Inside passage, etc, etc) and finally cruised a sailboat for 7 years including a 40k mile circumnavigation in the high latitudes. It has been a good life and I'm still going strong at 70 (I'll spend the winter paddling the Gulf coast again and ride the TAT off-road mountain bike route starting in April). My advice, reject all this consumer sh*t and get out there and experience life and the outdoors before both are gone. I agree 100% with "Darwin".

You’re the most articulate hobo I’ve ever heard. Love your vids!

I’m one of the ones who is happy with a house, a bunch of kids (4), and all that stuff but for someone to disagree and dislike your video or leave hateful comments, well that’s just ignorant! You are right, everyone should be happy with what they choose. I love watching your channel and those of other hikers because I love to look at life from someone else’s perspective!

TED talk material. You guys are an inspiration

This is probably one of my favourite hiking videos I've watched. Thank you for sharing and I had goosebumps listening to you talk about finding what you love and not being afraid to sacrifice the "comforts" in order to live the life you want.

The American dream is freedom and you two are living it.

That "hobo life" is looking more attractive everyday. Good for ya'll!!

I thought "Snuggles" was his dog until I found out it was his wife. XD

After going to prison due to an addiction I've cleaned up my life and have been sober for 2 years this month. I've found that I can live a minimalist lifestyle and traveling/exploring the world is the best drug you can find.

Great video! I'm more than old enough to be your father and if you were my son. I would be very proud of you!

Life is about balance. I happen to have a job I love, a great wife, a mortgage, cars, and kids. But I also love to get out on the trail and enjoy the beauty of the world around us. Keep doing your thing Darwin. Your extended time on the trail provides the weekend warriors like me great trail and gear advice, and we appreciate that. The gift of our country is the freedom to create your own "American dream" .

Thanks for the video, fyi: the only people leaving negative comments are those that are just too lazy and unwilling to go after what they want.

Dude, I'm not mad, I'm jealous! I'm glad you guys found something that works. Makes me happy to know you're doing what you both love.

Tempted to go van life and live life my way. Going on adventures, meeting strangers, and finally feeling like no one had control over me

REI, Cabellas, or some other outdoor retailer needs to hire you as their spokesperson. Your public speaking skills are superb.

Glad to hear you're doing what you love, with someone you love! It's great when hard work pays off and you end up with the results you're striving for. Keep up the good work.

Its called, NO KIDS.

I've worked all my life in 9 to 5 in crappy jobs, i'm in my 50's now hardly done anything. Your right man when I look back about what I could have done. Who's the fool....When I left school my Dad was "get a job get a job" I didn't know any better. love your video's you Rock man....

What I think is that many of us do not have the courage to not live by society standards , that is the real truth !

Thanks for sharing this. Your videos are always honest and decent. I love that. All the best for the future !

Hats off to you man for finding what makes you happy & going for it. Safe travels.

Don't listen to the haters.

We lived the "hobo" lifestyle during several camping trips this past summer. We really enjoyed the physical freedom to roam and live in the moment without watching the clock. You don't realize how much the trappings of everyday life weigh you down until you discover that you can happily exist without them. When you're on the road living a very simple, back-to-basics lifestyle you also get an AMAZING amount of mental freedom. It's not for everyone, but it's clearly working out very well for you and Snuggles. Keep living your dream!

I've been enjoying many of your videos over the last few days. I have even more respect for you now having seen this video.

You don't need to justify yourself. Love your vids and your lifestyle sounds amazing!

Hike your own hike ... Live your own life.

Good on you Darwin and snuggles! It's very brave to go against the grain and do what makes you happy.

Better question: how do you keep that beard so straight on the trail

Great advice and you are right, each to his own. What makes it work is that you and Snuggles both have the same goals and planned it out very well. Recently discovered your videos and enjoying it a lot. Thank you and all the best to both of you.

I love your life. Glad you and Snuggles have one another :) I am on my way downsizing too - no debt, tiny cottage and preping for backpacking. TY Darwin. Godspeed !!!

This is so freaking perfect!!! Man, this should be played at colleges. You didn't need to explain yourself, but I am glad you did. I am jealous of you and your discipline. Your life looks awesome! I aspire to live more simply too. I recently lost 192 pounds and went hiking (for real hiking) on the Lonestar trail in TX. I am hooked! You are an inspiration already. Thank you for what you do.

Dawin, it was very generous of you to share yourself this way. I find it inspiring and I find myself reorganizing my life to have greater freedom for travel and much more. Keep living your fullest man!

Excellent video!👌🏾 I love you are doing exactly what you want to do and haven’t conformed to how society says one should live their life. In fact, you found a new subscriber over here buddy. Continue enjoying the lifestyle you have made for yourself.

Dude, you are inspiring. I cannot live like you do. I have 3 kids and a wife who have no interest in hiking or living simply. They are my priority. I would not trade it for anything, but if I were to choose a different lifestyle, I think I'd choose yours. So my goal is to pay off my house, get my kids through school, retire, then hike the AT. That is what is realistic for me right now. But for you, how has a wife who has the same desires as you, and no children? Go for it, man. You rock. People always want the quick and easy thing. They want the pretty pictures without the work. They want the end without the suffering. Whether it be a bit 401(k), whether it be a long and prosperous career, or whether it be thru hiking. But the end is not the point. It is about the journey. Hike your own hike, live your own life. One day I will get out there. In the mean time, I'll be happy with weekend backpacking trips. We all have our own priorities and own journeys.

Thanks for this. You said that maybe this video will encourage some people to take up your lifestyle. Someday, maybe soon or maybe when you've put in more time, you should make a video on the pluses and minuses of the lifestyle, including things you dislike and what kinds of discomforts or risks you tolerate. For example, what do you miss the most from your more stereotypical middle class lifestyle? Just to provide a realistic and balanced view for those who are thinking about making changes in their life. I'm sure your encountering other people who made parallel but somewhat different choices, from hobos to 40' RV'ers, and you could incorporate some of their tradeoffs too.

Big respect for this video, knowing this about you will make watching your videos even more entertaining. This lifestyle what I've been aiming towards for the last couple years. Keep up the good content!

This is such an inspirational video for anyone looking to do what you do! Nature is so simple and living alongside it truly brings out people's best qualities. Keep up the great work Darwin!!

I’d say you’re no different than entrepreneurs taking a chance on a dream or opportunity. I love it!

I haven't looked at how many subscribers Darwin has until now. He should have a lot more! Darwin you are great!

I enjoyed this video a lot. I've watched a lot of your reviews on gear but after watching this one you've got me wanting to watch all of your other content. Keep on keepin' on

Deep respect @darwin onthetrail. Thank you!

Good for you guys! You're living your dream. Not many people can say that. Keep up the great videos!

Great video and keep going, you are influencing many who are desperate to make a change but too fearful to make the move.

Love you man, you're such a great inspiration to go out and do the things I really care about...

You're happy, living a good life, honest and simple. Sounds great to me!

Keep doin what you're doin dude. Good for you, not everyone gets to live their dream. Great video!

Good for you Darwin. Keep living the lifestyle that you both love! We get the benefit of enjoying your great adventure videos and you really help me in choosing my gear. Thanks!

Amen brother. I’m in the UK and I think this lifestyle is the way forward. I have started to live this way as well and I’m so much happier!

Good for you bro, I think doing what you really want in life is so important. Love your videos!!

I admire that choose to live that type of lifestyle. I admire that you were able to make it work. Thanks for all your videos.

Very inspiring. Heading out to do the PCT this Spring!! Stoked to live the good, simple life. Thanks Darwin

Thank you for posting this video!! My fiancé and I are pursuing this lifestyle and it is so refreshing to hear such a practical approach to alternative means of living. Thank you for what you do!

Much respect man , you have an amazing lifestyle that you worked hard for , and you’re working for this , your channel is one my favorite , keep doing this , i wish one day to live a similar life .

Ultimate freedom leads to ultimate adventure! Brave and bold is the only way to live.Glad you put this video out. Don't listen to the Judge Judys out there you guys live the way you want to.

Damn right, Darwin! Live your life for you and the way you want.

"That's totally cool!" Man, Can I borrow some of your positivity ? I totally need it!!

Keep on trucking and everyone has to find there own happiness and I'm glad you two have found your. :) Peace on Brother

So just like your backpack you "ultralighted" your entire life to enjoy the journey more! Got it!

Darwin, you are spot on! Most things in life are circumstantial, i.e., layoffs, fired from a job, trust funds, working 9-5, but when it comes down to it I, myself, was once afforded a solid month off work because I got dumped by a ruthless employer. That was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. In 2005, I was able to take a month, along with a retired military friend and my best friend, and was able to pack up my bike on a Greyhound bus and head out to Colorado Springs and tour back to Ohio, some 1,500 miles. It was the most adventurous time of my life, and yes, I had a few folks asked, "don't you work, how can you afford to take time off and spend money"? And like you Darwin, I saved and saved to do what I did. While others would never, or could never, give up their "city lives", I could, for a month. It takes mental preparedness and being able to physically be prepared for all you might endure on your trip. Bicycle touring is not cheap, if you want to do it right. And if I had to do it over again I would rather have gone with a pair of buddies which were TOTALLY OF LIKE MIND. That way you can "rough it" more often and save money, and genuinely say you really crossed country, instead of saying half the nights were stayed in hotels. Lucky for me, most nights were under the stars via tent. Bottom line: Prepare yourself mentally and have a plan, and if possible, have "like minded folks with you", because if you don't you'll wish you never toured. Darwin, you and snuggles are very fortunate to have the same mindset, not many do. HIKE ON FOREVER!

so inspiring. thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience with the world.

You both are very brave and an inspiration to us still struggling to live simpler.

Hi, Darwin! We are figuring out our happy. We love hiking and making our YT videos and hope they will someday help fund our "happy". In the grand scheme of things, we are REALLY happy and have a great life, but we are trying to figure out the changes that need to be made to make spend as much time together as possible. We are DINK's and just thinking about how to work for ourselves and spend more time together. Keep doing what you do and don't worry about the haters. They give you publicity too. We love what you do! Keep on trekking!

What do you sacrifice to make you happy is like what bag of sand do you drop to make your balloon rise. Nice one dude and honestly refreshing. Cheers, chris

I knew there was something about you when I subscribed last week... Your real and honest... Great quality to have my friend.... Enjoy every moment because it can be our last

Thanks for sharing and your honesty. And most of all for posting your adventures for us that can't make the excursions💕Be safe😉

Good for you, man. Keep it up.

Just got to say D Man that you, Dixie from Homemade Wanderlust and PHARROH who hikes all the mountains in Los Angeles have the best hiking/backpacking videos out. ATB Mike

This is spot on mate. I'd love to have the balls to make the change and live how you do. Most people work 50 years in a hope of one day fulfilling their dreams then die. Go you man.

Darwin and Snuggles, thank you both for being transparent and so real! You both are AWESOME!!

Thanks for sharing! My husband and I are ready for a change in our life. My dream/ plan is to hike the Appalachian Trail then RV throughout the U.S.

It is shitty that people made you feel like you had to explain this. I think a lot of people would love to do what you guys have done but don’t have the balls to lose the security of their home and possessions, I know I am that person for sure. Keep doing what you’re doing and keep us all jealous!! All the best 👍🏻

So awesome! Living debt-free, setting goals and crushing them! You are an inspiration to all of us Darwin. No matter what lifestyle we lead, the concepts you live by are gold.

You are an itinerant philosopher, Sir. I love your videos and find them incredibly helpful. Thank you so much!

Well said! GAME OVER For the haters =)

I’m jealous and close to considering the same thing lol. Houses just collect clutter lol

Hell yeah man! Love seeing a video with double the amounts of subscribers! Reaching way more than your base audience with this one. Good message

Good for you and your wife man! I can't agree with you more and kudos for going out and living the life that suits you best. Keep trekking and never let the haters get to you. Maybe I'll see you out on the trail someday - you never know.

Who cares even if someone was a trust kid etc. Someones living the life they want regardless. Negative comments are from jealous bitter and twisted individuals. The type of people best avoided in life. Happy Trails.

This is pretty inspirational for just addressing a simple question....

So awesome that you are making it work. Do what makes you happy, that's what is important.

I'm glad you decided on your lifestyle the informative videos you create are certainly helpful to beginning hikers

Great video. Being a bit older and retired I offer one caution though. It’s never too early to start planning and saving for your later years. Being older and financially comfortable is huge. You’re lucky to have Snuggles who is so in line with what you’re doing. For now...... stay happy my friend!

Great message! Make choices that get you what you need and want. Set goals and work towards accomplishing them.

Good for you ! I agree totally with your sentiments... and hats off to the both of you, for having the courage to follow what you truly want. All the best.

More strength to you both!! Keep hiking and live your life!!!

Darwin! AWESOME-totally-killing-it video!! We, as you know, are living almost exactly as you guys and loving it! This started for us when we quit our jobs and moved to Costa Rica, and has continued for our thru-hike of the AT this year. You will inspire others with this video, and everyone will want to watch it (because everyone secretly WANTS this life-style but they are not necessarily willing to give up the "comforts")! You rock.

God, bless u, dude, for those words about happiness

You answered an extremely nosy question in an articulate manner. I admire the two of you for finding a way to live your dream. Stay safe and God bless.

I have been watching your videos lately, but this is the one that got me to subscribe. I really appreciate what you said in this video.

I totally agree Darwin, I have chosen (correct word) to live my life a certain way and I admire the way you have chosen to live yours. You make a great deal of sense.

You are living the American dream because it makes you happy. Everyone has different dreams congratulations

I respect your decision on lifestyle and admire it in some ways. Many guys look up to you because you are living the free life. I plan on doing more backpacking trips because of your videos. Thank you.

Your explanation sounds authentic. Being transparent always is a major plus. You got my respect.