The Little Merman

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Barter. That pretty much sums up what Suelo is doing. I think it's an admirable way of life, if not wholly feasible for those of us who like modern conveniences. I have not yet read the book, but the video/article did say that he gives back to the community. He would probably be willing to exchange bartering services in exchange for anything he needs, including medical care. He likely doesn't contribute to the landfills and depletion of the ozone layer. I applaud his efforts.

I live in the same town as Suelo (Daniel Shellabarger), and Jermy has pretty much summed him up. He doesn't live in his cave much in the cold winter months, he house sits for soft hearted seasonal residents, sleeps in their bed, eats from their pantry, uses their computers to surf the net, watches TV etc. He has a lot in common with these adult children who won't get a job and move out of Mom and Dad's basement.

Let him be...no one above would even consider the attempt let alone the immersion. You Americans...bad as us Brits for knockin an achievement however peripheral

So many people opting to make perfect the enemy of good as a means of belittling the subject of the story. Must be enjoyable, picking various nits about the lives of others to make oneself feel better, or to reject the story of another as anything but bullshit.

Keep on at it, internet.

@Todd, and I suppose the book is being distributed for free? After all, it wouldn't be right to make money off a philosophy that eschews money.

Sounds to me like most of you nay sayers need to read the book, otherwise you don't know what you are arguing or what kind of point Mr. Sundeen and Suelo are trying to make. That is if they are trying to make a point. It is what it is and it's pretty friggin amazing to me that Suelo has lived so long living in the caves of Utah. What ever floats ur boat is what I always say.

Does he at least have his own garden or something he can get fresh veggies from?
Why not actually set up something a bit more permanant that makes him reliant on the land and what it has to offer instead of dumpster diving and depending on friends to feed him. If he's already doing that then meh.. I didn't read the article :P

I was going to ask about medical treatment as well. It honestly would take a full community to truly realize his intention...people that would trade/barter for services, and work together to harvest, etc...however, even in a barter system, there's still a feeling of payment, only a change in currency...

I notice he's using a library terminal. Libraries are not free. They are paid for by the taxes that he does not contribute to. When he goes to a "free" clinic for medical care, the same applies.

So 12 years no shower? Yaa you can forget the girlfriend idea. Dog friend idea too. Even they have standards. Parasite.

Not impressed.

No, no. Daniel Suelo indeed lives without using money.

The article never claimed that he renounced all material things or services (those are still made with money) - it's just that he himself has been living for the past decade without using currency.

Bet he ain't got a girlfriend.

I came here fully prepared to shoot down this story but see that it has already been done. Thanks guys!

@ForReallyReal, your analogy is terrible and doesn't fit the situation at all. Everyone can be a vegan if they chose to be. No problems there. Everyone can't stop using money. Or, to be more precise, everyone can't stop using a means of exchange. Classic barter went away because it was too cumbersome; you had to hope/pray that the person who wanted what you had to trade had something you needed in return. There will always need to be a medium of exchange. Now, whether that medium should be inherently worthless monopoly money or something with intrinsic value that will hold its buying power over time and that politicians cannot debase is another discussion.

Not to get too Ayn Rand on your ass but have to agree with Jermy here. I don't really understand this idea that money is evil and it is a virtue to live without it. Money is a medium by which one can exchange your own useful skills and ideas for those of others in human society. By rejecting the need for this exchange you are is essence rejecting the idea that goods and services have value that is abstractable. I guess if that is this guys choice, whatever, more power to him. All the nice things about modern society like health care, technology, commerce, white collar jobs, higher education, etc, etc, all depend on the financial system to survive. Without it you would be reduced to living in caves eating squirrels and berries, oh wait.

Isn't that a bit like claiming a vegan isn't a vegan because the driver who delivered the lettuce to the supermarket was wearing a belt? The point is not that he's living in a world devoid of money. The point is that he's not used money personally for about 12 years.

^ agreed

This guy didn't quit money. Every item Daniel Suelo uses or eats was bought with other people's money. It's no stretch to point out that the roadkill was run down by expensive cars paid for with other people's dollars, the internet at the library paid for with other people's tax dollars, the dumpsters he dives in - filled with discarded food paid for with other people's dollars. This man does not represent a viable alternative to a capitalist money driven society. I'm reinded that Henry David Thoreau who claimed to live simply whilst squatting on R.W. Emerson's property, regularly eating at Ralph's home. And by the way the pink flamingos hanging off the bike shout crazy to me. I see enough of these sponges living off other people while preaching at them the virtues of their own leech-lifestyle to take this story remotely seriously.