Well, you city folk dont know anything.
Im interviewing Tyler Selden, and things arent going so great.
And anyone who can handle a camera in their faces can probably handle a phone interview.
Tyler shows his one-year-old daughter Sydney the chickens on their property in Fairbanks, Alaska. “The main difference between living there and living here is that you’re totally isolated and you’re alone,” says Tyler, comparing the family’s time in the wilderness above the Arctic Circle to life in Fairbanks. “Just by necessity, you have to be self-sufficient and take care of your own needs.” Tina Russell/The Penny Hoarder
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But as we continue to talk, Tyler warms up.
He tells me hed rather die than have a traditional job.
He tells me things work out when youpursue your dreams.
He tells me his story.
Tyler, 35, hails from Nebraska, and Ashley, 33, from Minnesota.
They met in college in Duluth.
On his days off, he explored the surrounding wilderness and was blown away by what he saw.
I was really sick of school, he explains.
I felt like I wasnt doing what I was meant to do.
So he decided to follow his pipe dream to move to Alaska and live off the land.
I really value having a direct connection with nature, says Tyler.
I dont get as much satisfaction from the idea of having a job or a career.
Not wanting to end their relationship, Ashley decided to drop out, too.
The following March, theymoved to Alaskato begin their new life.
Your job while youre up there is to maintain those trails, says Tyler.
Theyre like your arteries into the wilderness.
You have to go out there to catch your fur by setting and maintaining your traps.
For money, they trap animals like Canadian lynx, wolves, wolverines, martens, fox and beavers.
You target whatevers abundant, says Tyler.
We keep the skulls and everything; we make as much money off an animal as we can.
Its not a money-making thing, notes Tyler.
But in 2014, everything changed.
The Animal Planet approached the Seldens, asking to film their winter trapping activities for a new show.
So they went for it.
Its a way to continue to live out there, says Tyler.
If we couldnotdo it, we would, but its money.
We were busting our ass and killing ourselves trying to make ends meet.
Though the Seldens bank account has a little more padding these days, their lifestyle hasnt changed much.
They also have a greenhouse andlarge garden.
They have paid off all their debt and lead an extremely frugal lifestyle.
Their only major expenses are firewood, gas and car insurance, and caring for eight sled dogs.
I feel like our spending habits are so ingrained, so normalized to me, Tyler says.
So much of what we do, its just a habit.
Every way we can, we just give a shot to save money.
If the couple has extra money, they invest it back into their properties or trapline.
They recently purchased an adjoining property in Fairbanks, which theyrent out on Airbnb.
They dont, however, have any money saved for retirement.
Im not working toward retirement, explains Tyler.
I have no intention of ever retiring.
Our lives in large part kind of revolve around food, says Tyler.
We just work for that stuff directly.
We feed our dog team with fish that we catch in the river right by our house.
They estimate this lifestyle saves them approximately $10,000 per year.
No one would eat that way because itd be really expensive.
And going back to a normal career isnt something either of them plan to do.
Trying to go back to that would be like trying to break a wild horse in, Ashley says.
Tyler agrees, saying, Im addicted to living this way the wilderness, the freedom of it.
Justbeing my own boss, being my own man and going out there and being alone with my family.
This is what Im gonna do until I cant do it anymore.
Its who I am now.
I would pick the poor house, says Ashley.
Night was quickly approaching.
They had sleeping bags, but no food and no other choice but to camp there for the night.
While these moments of self-sufficiency are scary, theyre also what make the Seldens feel alive.
Youre in the middle of the last great wilderness, says Tyler.
Youre the king of your own little kingdom.
Youre totally isolated and have to figure everything for yourself.
Its easy to go back home to the steamy shower and the big screen, says Ashley.
Its such a nice feeling to be really connected to the world, and to notice it.
To notice all the little things.
You just have to be willing to try something different.
Happiness is elsewhere off on the side trails of life, explains Tyler.
Susan Shain is a freelance writer and digital nomad.
Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.
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