5 ways to start fresh

[SsilverR]

To answer one of the questions you've posed...yes I would love to just run away and start afresh. Like everything else in life I don't have the balls to do it though.

I even have a plan sorted out which doesn't require me changing my name or anything so drastic. Get my HGV liscence here in the UK, get 4-5 years of Long Haul experience, then emmigrate to Canada under the PNP Program. I could start the ball rolling by going for my medical but damnit I just can't bring myself to commit to anything.

(if you wanna just get to the point then skip to the last paragraph)

you'll be surprised just how much balls you have when you're actually IN the situation ... i recently did dunwich and back on a bycicle .. 240 miles .. took me 18 hours and 50 minutes .. i told myself at the start that i'd do it and 6 friends came along .. at the end it was only 2 .. me and billy ..the guy who said he only wanted to come along for a few miles and see what it's like, he claimed he'd cack out after the first few miles and in the end it was the guys who boasted they'd make it who backed out ... around a quarter way billy wouldn't stop complaining about how dark the road was and how it was a bad idea and me along with steph, james and truan were just insulting the hell out of him but slowly everyone started dropping out and bill was the only one at my side when we got there ... i ate my words as he gloated

during the journey even I had moments when i though "hell no this isn't worth it" ... but if you power past the butterflies you'll be surprised what you're capable of. i did and i know bill did more than me, if you just say fuck it and push through .. you'll be too busy handling the situation to worry about if you have the balls to do it or not

 

[Luftwaffles]

anippeth

Well, id say join the French Foreign Legion. Apparantly they dont do next of kin and you get a citizenship after some time too(if i remember correctly.

EDIT ninjad >=[

 

[Glamorgan]

1. legally change your name, destroy all your old belongings and join the army (in my case the UK parachute regiment)

No offense dude, but that probably isn't the best idea on the list. I'd just do number 2 or 3, or a combination. But this isn't something you should take on lightly. You'd leave behind everything you ever knew, friends, family, etc etc. All the things you hold important. Or don't. Either way.

1. Buy new shoes. Place old shoes on a bridge with a note. Walk away.

Yep. That would work as well.

 

[Tourette]

Nvm, saw you tried the Legion.

 

[Emperor Platypus]

Join the French foreign legion, or the Israeli defence force, and tell nobody where you're going. I've heard they don't need a next of kin listing if you're foreign, and unless you're French or Israeli, nobody will know who you are.

But then, if you're a Muslim, fighting for Isreal might seem slightly problematic....

i tried the legion when i was 19 .. since i'm half french they refused me after having me do chores for 2 weeks >.< ..... pricks ... anyway .. what's this israeli defence?

apparently about 40% of the legion is made up out of french nationals who pretended to be from belgium or luxembourg (spelling?).

Yea I've had/have the urge to leave everything behind and join the legion. But atm I'm about to start uni and I think I should grab that chance for a second start in life rather then throw away the 3 buddies I've got, they stood by me in the past. I doubt abandoning them now is the correct response to that.
(plus I doubt my family would be pleased with it).

Another reason is that running away is in many way's the cowards way out, i'd hate to let my old demons win after 10 years. Bend but unbroken as the saying goes.


Disclaimer: I am in no way encouraging people to run away and leave everything behind. Try talking to someone. You'd be suprised how it can help.

 

[arsenicCatnip]

Considering I'm essentially going to be doing #3, I think it's as good a way as any. Change your name (in this case, reclaiming my maiden name), change your address and phone number (moving to Illinois without telling my family exactly where or giving them my new information), and haul ass far far away.

 

[Tekkawarrior]

Theres always the French Foreign Legion...

You my friend, know what you are talking about.

 

[Eagle Est1986]

Why destroy your belongings? Sell them or give them away to charity.

I've thought about this many a time and I'm also intending to join the army soon, hopefully before the end of the year, if not then by March next year. Absolute latest.

Edit: And hopefully I'll be doing another after that, I hope to gain a few medical qualifications in the Army that'll insure I can get a job more or less anywhere in the world when I finish my service.

 

[The Stonker]

1. Kill yourself, restart in the after life

2. Gain entrance to a mental hospital where you live the rest of your life drugged up

3. Alienate all of your friends then start over while staying in your area

4. Kill someone who looks like you then steal their identity

5. I'll probably agree with Julianking93, get amnesia and start over.

There are my 5 ways to start fresh, most of which you wouldn't want to do, but hey, it's an option.

And if you listen to this guy then you will surdenly get your joy back /muhahhahaha.
But I would recommend a good night sleep and a bucket of ice cream that always helps me. Well not a bucket more like a silo.

 

[Eagle Est1986]

apparently french citizens can't join .. even though i'm only half french and have never lived a day there (apart from when i went to apply for the legion) .. i held a french passport ... and in their eyes i was a french citizen because of that ... they knew their answer from the start .. they just needed a janitor for a while

Just looked it up, French citizens can join and if they wish they can enlist under another nationality. Apparently a lot of them say they're Belgian or Swiss.

 

[Gocho]

Years ago when I was coming out of high school I suddenly found myself unable to go to university due to lack of cash and not wanting to have huge student loans. My answer (on advice from a friend) was to join up with a carnival and work my way all around North and South America for 5 years.

When I left I took a duffel bag full of clothes, last names are not needed on the road so no concern to anyone except for passport purposes at borders, you basically leave everything behind and start new.

When I was done having a great time traveling around convincing people to give me money for teddy bears I went home with enough money for school and my future wife who I would never have met had I just stayed home in Ontario, it was the most interesting time of my life and while not always enjoyable it was always entertaining.

YMMV

 

[Dectomax]

recently i just wanted to abandon everything i have now and just do something else with my life ... i was wondering how many ways you know to just start anew and build from zero

no.1 is something i'm actually going to do in a few months .. also wondering if any of you felt you wanted to just run away and leave everything behind too

1. legally change your name, destroy all your old belongings and join the army (in my case the UK parachute regiment)

2. immigrate, buy a ticket, get a working visa and tell no one where you're going

3. change your name, delete all old facebook/any other web accounts .. and move across the country

4. destroy all your belongings, take all your money out of your account, buy a tent/sleeping bag ... and just walk ... keep walking and never stop ... if you need money do oddjobs for people to pay for ferrys or whatever to get across seas .. or just stowaway ... never stop walking, become a nomad

5. join a group dedicated to a certain cause .. whatever the cause .. a group that gets you around and you're never in 1 place for too long .. yes they exist .... just careful which ones you pick ... some are kinda craaayzaay

so escapist .. what are your methods of starting fresh ... loool faking death and becoming a professional nomad thief .. damn i should have included that in my top 5 >.< .. ah well haha

Can I just say in relation to point 1, do you have any idea how difficult the training is for the Paras? I'm in the Application process for the Royal Marines at the moment and I've been training for about 7 months to build up the physical fitness required and even know I don't feel ready.

The Para's are one of the UKs Elite forces, with a drop out of 72%.

Just a heads up...


A better Idea, would be to join the French foreign legion, if you complete 5 years service, they will give you a French passport and you'll officially be a French Citizen. Meaning you can live in France, also they will create a completely new identity for you aswell, if needed.

 

[mad825]

one only problem I see with the changing name part, if you have a diploma or a degree you cannot change the name on those.

 

[the Dept of Science]

I've had thoughts of it, but the one thing I would say is that completely starting again may not be the best idea. If its total freedom you are after, then the freedom to go back to what you had before should always be left open.
I don't see why you wouldn't tell ANYONE. If you move to a completely different country, I don't see how telling people could affect you. If you are going to disappear, then people will worry about you, search for you etc. In other words, keeping it a secret would just be a dick move to anyone that might care about you. If you just say "Hey guys, I just want to start my life completely new, I'm moving to a different country, getting a new job etc. Don't try and convince me otherwise, don't get worried if one day I'm just not there".
Y'know, unless you are actually on the run or something.

I've entertained thoughts like this and the way I would do it would be...
- Before I left, get good at meeting people and making friends without a social circle to help you. People I know that have only been travelling, even for a short while (2 months) said that loneliness can be a big problem unless you put a lot of effort in/have someone doing it with you.
- Get my degree, which will make it infinately easier to get a job if I need money. I wouldn't change my name because of this.
- If I wanted to start from scratch, put all my money in a bank account and put a clause in my will saying "any money left in my bank account when I pass away will go to charity". That way if it all goes wrong, there is always a failsafe, while on the other hand there is a motivation not to fail.
- Explain to people what I was doing. Maybe they could set me up with some contacts in foreign countries, so I can have a network of people should I need to use it.
- Then start whatever adventure I had planned.

 

[Emperor Platypus]

Can I just say in relation to point 1, do you have any idea how difficult the training is for the Paras? I'm in the Application process for the Royal Marines at the moment and I've been training for about 7 months to build up the physical fitness required and even know I don't feel ready.

The Para's are one of the UKs Elite forces, with a drop out of 72%.

Just a heads up...


A better Idea, would be to join the French foreign legion, if you complete 5 years service, they will give you a French passport and you'll officially be a French Citizen. Meaning you can live in France, also they will create a completely new identity for you aswell, if needed.

just a quick question, would you happen to know the british armed services stance on foreigners/immigrants joining?
I'm thinking of joining after I finish Uni, but I do not feel like fightning and possibly dieing for my own country.

Politicians/civies are screwing the army over to much for me to trust them.

 

[Jezzascmezza]

Why...
Would you want to do all that?

 

[Dectomax]

Can I just say in relation to point 1, do you have any idea how difficult the training is for the Paras? I'm in the Application process for the Royal Marines at the moment and I've been training for about 7 months to build up the physical fitness required and even know I don't feel ready.

The Para's are one of the UKs Elite forces, with a drop out of 72%.

Just a heads up...


A better Idea, would be to join the French foreign legion, if you complete 5 years service, they will give you a French passport and you'll officially be a French Citizen. Meaning you can live in France, also they will create a completely new identity for you aswell, if needed.

just a quick question, would you happen to know the british armed services stance on foreigners/immigrants joining?
I'm thinking of joining after I finish Uni, but I do not feel like fightning and possibly dieing for my own country.

Politicians/civies are screwing the army over to much for me to trust them.

Which country are you from? As it is limited to British citizens or members of the Commonwealth. To class as a British citizen, you must have lived in the U.K for a total of 5 years.

The British military are more than happy to have foreigners join, but it is a slightly different process.

What branch are you looking at joining?

 

[Meggiepants]

Well, the best way is just to move to another city, at least 60 miles away. I don't think you need to change your name or anything like that. Unless you are like, a famous killer or something. But if you are just locally infamous, I doubt very much anyone in your new city will know anything about it. Just move to a city that has at least 60,000 people and you'll soon find that you can start fresh pretty easily without such drastic steps.

Also, I would add go back to school and get a new degree there. That is also a good way to start fresh. When you search for jobs you can pick something far away and move their with your new career waiting for you.

 

[Emperor Platypus]

Which country are you from? As it is limited to British citizens or members of the Commonwealth. To class as a British citizen, you must have lived in the U.K for a total of 5 years.

The British military are more than happy to have foreigners join, but it is a slightly different process.

What branch are you looking at joining?

Yea not a commonwealth citizen. I've lived in London for 3 years, though am no longer living there atm. I'm guessing you need 5 years of continues residence in UK. That said my grandmother used to be a British national before she married my grandfather and changed it to Dutch, so maybe that could offer a 'quick' way to the British nationality.

Which branch?

Before I decided to not join the local guys and gals in green I was seriously thinking of joining the infantry. And seeing as that we only have air assault or mechanised, it was prob gonna be air assault. (I am 2cm taller then the recommended height for mechanised).

Honestly though like I said I want to see how Uni works out for me first, I figure I've got more then enough time left after that to join the armed forces. And more importantly I might just decide to join 'my' army before joining the British. Maybe I'm just going through a phase and that is the reason why I don't wanna fight for the home team. We'll see.

Thank for the info anyway.

btw.
I'm quite surprised that you guys allow naturalised citizens to join up, I think over here you need to have the Dutch nationality from birth if you want to sign up.