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Have you lived an interesting or unconventional life?

8 replies

Rodehereonthebus · 29/05/2020 12:34

I read a lot of memoirs and obviously, the sample size is skewed because the fact that they're writing a memoir means their life must be somewhat out of the ordinary, but it's still fascinating to see the interesting/unconventional lives some people have lived. There are all sorts of examples, from people who've given up everything and moved somewhere completely alien to them to artists and creative professionals who've started communes to people who've hitchhiked across multiple continents. Some of them might be temporary experiences, some might be permanent lifestyle choices, but it got me thinking about how I've lived a fairly conventional life - school, tertiary education, full-time employment in the same career etc. with lovely holidays in between but nothing very out of the ordinary.

The most interesting thing I've done is probably that I've lived in a different country, but given that it was another English-speaking country and a common place people move to (Australia) it wasn't exactly a radical life choice! Most of my friends live broadly similar lives to me so I'd be interested to hear if you consider your life to be unconventional and what makes it so? Obviously it's all relative, but I doubt anyone would read my memoir as it currently stands, unless I pack in my life in the suburbs and join a troupe of acrobats or something Grin

OP posts:
maxonebitch · 29/05/2020 12:42

I haven't but my friend's mother is writing a book about how she worked her way around the world on her own in the 1940/50s, I'm looking forward to reading that.

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 29/05/2020 12:44

Yes, but I'm afraid I can't talk about it, or I'd have to kill you.

Muh2020 · 29/05/2020 12:46

Yes, I have upped sticks and lived in a number of different countries and I did all that alone.
I am supposed to be moving to China very soon - alone.

Rodehereonthebus · 29/05/2020 12:57

I have one friend who could write a great memoir - she's worked for the UN in some really challenging situations and places like Iraq and Yemen and refugee camps in Bangladesh. She's single and has never had a long-term relationship, but is content with the life she lives because she's so invested in her work.

OP posts:
VetOnCall · 29/05/2020 15:57

Yes, most of my friends and family think my life has been a bit unconventional/crazy... I love to travel and have chronically itchy feet. Since I qualified I've spent periods (anything from 3-18 months) living and working in a number of different countries, including Spain, Canada, Nepal, Peru, Bolivia, Cambodia, Botswana and Sri Lanka. I've done some incredibly interesting voluntary placements providing basic veterinary care and spay/neuter programmes in some large cities and some very remote areas in the developing world - I've had some very interesting experiences! Almost two years ago I upped sticks again and moved to Canada on about 6 weeks' notice and I'm still here now. I'm lucky to have a job that's needed everywhere and offers some great opportunities if you want to grab them. I don't have kids but my dogs are extremely well travelled 😄

Heroicasymphony · 29/05/2020 16:02

I don't think so but other people think I have. I suppose if I wrote it all down in a list it would look that way but it was just living really so it doesn't feel like it.

Dowser · 29/05/2020 16:14

Sadly no

My doctor though, I wish I’d known more about her life in Borneo

SouthCoastShell · 29/05/2020 16:17

My life has been quite different from most due to a very strict upbringing. Im a middle aged lady now but I have never been able to say a swear word, never been drunk,never smoked, never tried drugs, never slept with anyone other than my husband, not celebrated a birthday (my own or anybody else's) never celebrated Christmas or new year, Easter or valentine's day, even fireworks night! So I guess that makes my life quite different from others.

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