The first part of this guide will attempt to help you decide
whether or not you should run away from home. Should you decide to run away,
the second part will provide information on how to prepare.
The third section will teach you exactly how
to leave your house and get started on the road as a runaway.
Taken from runawayguide.com
give Leif the credit.
Still in progress, ill put my own words here soon
in the near future.
whether or not you should run away from home. Should you decide to run away,
the second part will provide information on how to prepare.
The third section will teach you exactly how
to leave your house and get started on the road as a runaway.
Taken from runawayguide.com
give Leif the credit.
Still in progress, ill put my own words here soon
in the near future.
Pros and cons
Pros:
1) You will experience a freedom that most people only dream of.
2) You will travel, see amazing places, and meet remarkable people.
3) You will gain a new perspective on life.
4) You will overcome many of your fears and grow as a person.
5) You will become very skilled at living outdoors.
Cons:
1) You will go at least a few days without food on some occasions.
2) You will freeze on the street under a cold night rain.
3) You will encounter robbers, drug dealers, crazy homeless people and
prostitutes.
4) There won’t be many people around who you can talk to.
5) You will seriously hurt your family who most likely loves you
dearly.
If you think that any three of these pros outweigh the cons, then maybe
running away is meant for you. But if you don’t think you can handle the cons,
then you should try to confront and overcome what ever it is that is bothering
you and work it out at home.
Preparation
Step 1) Amass a significant amount of money: If you are serious
about running away and doing so for a prolonged period of time, you are going to
need some money. Save your allowance, work, or sell your things. Do whatever you
can do to gather as much money as possible. Though you can theoretically leave
without any money, a good amount to get started with is 1000$.
Step 2) Practice Running Away: Running away entails doing
things such as eating from dumpsters and sleeping on the street. Therefore, in
order to be better acclimated when you actually do runaway, you should practice
dumpster diving at your local supermarket and try sleeping out in the woods for
a few nights.
Step 3) Prepare A Note: Writing a note is important for two
reasons. The first is as a courtesy for your family. This way they will know
that you have runaway and won’t be worried that you have been kidnapped or
murdered. The second reason is, and this is important if you don’t wish to be
caught, to inform the police. Most states do not consider runaways under 18 to
be illegal, and even in states that do, they will not actively search for you.
On the other hand, if they believe you have gone missing, they will try to find
you. Additionally, you can always try to convince you’re parents to let you run away and
travel.
Step 4) Pack your bag: There are a few essential items that
are a must for any runaway. A strong waterproof backpack, a warm sleeping bag, a
flashlight, a compass, and layered clothing. Additionally, canned food, granola
bars, a battery operated radio, a space blanket, a pocketknife and a tarp are
ideal gear if you can get a hold of them.
about running away and doing so for a prolonged period of time, you are going to
need some money. Save your allowance, work, or sell your things. Do whatever you
can do to gather as much money as possible. Though you can theoretically leave
without any money, a good amount to get started with is 1000$.
Step 2) Practice Running Away: Running away entails doing
things such as eating from dumpsters and sleeping on the street. Therefore, in
order to be better acclimated when you actually do runaway, you should practice
dumpster diving at your local supermarket and try sleeping out in the woods for
a few nights.
Step 3) Prepare A Note: Writing a note is important for two
reasons. The first is as a courtesy for your family. This way they will know
that you have runaway and won’t be worried that you have been kidnapped or
murdered. The second reason is, and this is important if you don’t wish to be
caught, to inform the police. Most states do not consider runaways under 18 to
be illegal, and even in states that do, they will not actively search for you.
On the other hand, if they believe you have gone missing, they will try to find
you. Additionally, you can always try to convince you’re parents to let you run away and
travel.
Step 4) Pack your bag: There are a few essential items that
are a must for any runaway. A strong waterproof backpack, a warm sleeping bag, a
flashlight, a compass, and layered clothing. Additionally, canned food, granola
bars, a battery operated radio, a space blanket, a pocketknife and a tarp are
ideal gear if you can get a hold of them.
The escape
Now that you are prepared physically and mentally, it is time to set a time
and date for your escape. The most ideal time of year to runaway, in the
northern hemisphere, is in the late spring. In this way, you can avoid frigid
nights and sleep relatively comfortable out doors.
The time of day you leave really depends on your situation. You may want to
leave after your parents go to work or after they have fallen a sleep. If they
don’t work or are light sleepers, you can always leave from school. If you can’t
sneak out at lunch, try getting off at a different bus stop on the ride home.
What ever you decide, it is vital that no one catches you or knows of your
plans. This way you will have enough time to put some distance between you and
your hometown.
Once you have left, you should head to your local train or bus station. Check
the timetable and take whatever comes first. Your main goal right now is to get
out of your town, county or even state.
In the first couple of hours, you are going to be on quite an adrenaline rush
and you might be tempted to tell others what you have done. However, unless you
feel you can really trust the person, never tell anyone that you have runaway.
If you do, you risk that person calling the police and you being caught.
and date for your escape. The most ideal time of year to runaway, in the
northern hemisphere, is in the late spring. In this way, you can avoid frigid
nights and sleep relatively comfortable out doors.
The time of day you leave really depends on your situation. You may want to
leave after your parents go to work or after they have fallen a sleep. If they
don’t work or are light sleepers, you can always leave from school. If you can’t
sneak out at lunch, try getting off at a different bus stop on the ride home.
What ever you decide, it is vital that no one catches you or knows of your
plans. This way you will have enough time to put some distance between you and
your hometown.
Once you have left, you should head to your local train or bus station. Check
the timetable and take whatever comes first. Your main goal right now is to get
out of your town, county or even state.
In the first couple of hours, you are going to be on quite an adrenaline rush
and you might be tempted to tell others what you have done. However, unless you
feel you can really trust the person, never tell anyone that you have runaway.
If you do, you risk that person calling the police and you being caught.
Surviving
Once
you run out of money, which will happen sooner than you expect, you will need to
know how to survive without it. And this is the most difficult part about
running away. You will need to adapt to sleeping on the street and learn how to
find food. More, you will also need to know how to travel for free. In the
following section, I will introduce you to a few of the techniques that will
help you survive and live as a runaway indefinitely.
Although sleeping on the street is uncomfortable and often frightening, you
can get used to it. In order to avoid being questioned by police or harassed by
the homeless, prostitutes and rapists, you are going to want to find a place
that is out of sight. Some ideal spots are the bushes, in a park, or deep in the
woods. If you are in the city, try to walk out towards the countryside. If the
city is too large, you may want to sleep in a 24 hour train or bus station.
However, if you stay here, there is a higher chance that police or concerned
pedestrians will question you about your predicament. Therefore, you should
always be prepared with a back-story. For more information and tips on sleeping
on the street, please refer to this guide, “How To Sleep On The Street.”
In order to find food, you have to be somewhat creative. One of the best
places to begin your search is in the dumpster behind large supermarkets. Here
you can usually find an abundance of produce and meats only a few days past
their expiration. Another place to find food is at a buffet. Finally, you can
always steal food. However, karma is real, and when you steal, more times than
not, you will experience the repercussions. For more information on finding free
food, check out this guide, “How To Eat On The Cheap.”
There are a few different means of transportation that you can use as a
penniless runaway. The first method is to hitchhike. If you are not familiar
with hitchhiking, please see this guide, “How To Hithchhike.” A second means of travel is
to jump trains. This is possible both on Amtrak and on European trains, and can
be done with little risk of being caught. However, jumping trains is illegal and
not recommended, but if you still want to know how, check out this guide, “How To Jump Trains.”
Surviving as a runaway is no easy task. You will be constantly exposed to the
harshness of both nature and society. Though it is arduous and you will suffer,
if you refer to the former supplementary guides, you will learn how to overcome
these hurdles and adapt. Click here to view all of the Runaway Guides.
Conclusion
Running away rarely solves your problems. It may provide temporary asylum for
you and your thoughts but in the end, you will have to confront your problems.
Additionally, you may believe that if you move to a different country or state
that you can ascend your dilemma and find happiness. In truth, no matter where
you go, your problems will follow you as persistently as your shadow. A search
for happiness in the external world is a search without end. True content can
only be found within your self and that can only be done if you are free from
regret, guilt, and fear. And running away makes realizing this very difficut.
you and your thoughts but in the end, you will have to confront your problems.
Additionally, you may believe that if you move to a different country or state
that you can ascend your dilemma and find happiness. In truth, no matter where
you go, your problems will follow you as persistently as your shadow. A search
for happiness in the external world is a search without end. True content can
only be found within your self and that can only be done if you are free from
regret, guilt, and fear. And running away makes realizing this very difficut.
Tips
Put your cellphone on airplane mode to make it stop giving out a radio/cell signal (you still get apps and wifi stuff)
Do NOT call/text the people who will help/runaway with you because your parents can get those numbers from the phone bill online.
Before you go print out mapquest directions to a place you are NOT going to, a place in the opposite direction of your destination. Crumble it up and throw it in the garbage when the police search for evidence they will find it and you will throw them off.
I thought of these tips on my own by approaching running away situations hands on.
I'll keep you updated with more tips as I discover them.
Do NOT call/text the people who will help/runaway with you because your parents can get those numbers from the phone bill online.
Before you go print out mapquest directions to a place you are NOT going to, a place in the opposite direction of your destination. Crumble it up and throw it in the garbage when the police search for evidence they will find it and you will throw them off.
I thought of these tips on my own by approaching running away situations hands on.
I'll keep you updated with more tips as I discover them.