How about seasonal work at vacation destinations?

Two of my children do seasonal work and travel...one works as a white water river guide in Appalachia in the summer, The other works in Glacier National Park in the summer.

They then come home for a month in October...then it's off to Vermont to work at a ski lodge until March-April...

Then home for a few weeks and then back off again....

Once you have enough skills...for instance, as a river guide you get training in CPR, field medicine, swimming, rafting, customer skills, water navigation, and even cook...you can transfer those skills to another river outfit and continue to build a resume. Start in the southeast and eventually move to rafting Colorado or Alaska.

Unfortunately....the pay is minimal and contractual... and every season you have to prove yourself all over again. Plus, you don't get to develope roots anywhere... which works for some people.

One fella at the rafting outfit was 72 and showed no signs of stopping... in the off season, he stays in a cabin...and not the fancy kind, but a real chink log cabin and lives off the land and odd jobs and doing small engine repair.

Anyway, this is what they are doing and it sounds like something that might work for you.....

A wise man once said "If you do what you love you will never work a day in your life."

Another wise man once said "To give up trying would indeed be our greatest mistake."

Yet another wise man once said "I know... that's why I said it."

whew... okay that was a lot of wise men... where's all the wise woman at? ohyeah that's right... behind every great man is a woman... and behind the fall of every great man is usually another woman...

okay enough amusing nonsence... Couple of friendly suggestion to consider...

1. check out the military... If you are strong willed enough to survive the brainwashing and maintain a semblance of your previous personality it can be a doorway into a much greater and successful world. Some of what they teach is very worthwhile. (I found this to be true.) And you can often travel if you want to. And you can do it without starving or bumming off the generosity of others. There are many downsides but those are the upsides.

2. Save up a few bucks or ask your family for it... and then get some basic camping gear, good boots and hit the trail... there are thousands of miles of maintained wilderness trails in America. Everything from the Appalachian trail to the American discovery trail down to the Pacific Crest trail. You could hike america for months or years.

If you are church going man you may want to schedule stops at related churches near the trail for hygeine and hospitality. (although most hikers absolutely reek during the first few weeks eventually all the toxins in your system get leached out and you stop smelling horrible... just a little "musky" but it's usually tolerable.) Also suggest your family hold an open bus ticket in reserve for you for when you want to go home. Remember travel light, travel safe. (btw this isn't my personal experience but that of a very close friend of mine.) (I've always wanted to try this but life hasn't allowed it.)

3. Absolutely make every effort to go to college. At least get an associates degree and try to get a bachelors if you can. Without it your options are limited. If you join the military be sure to invest in the GI bill... it is worth it. And it's okay if you can't handle the challenges of collegiate life. However, based upon your writing and attendance at ATS I'm guessing you are capable of learning.

Remember college isn't about actually learning anything; it's all about getting good grades and eventually a diploma.

No matter what you choose my adventurous friend... "Fair Winds and Following Seas."

("When the squishy hits the fan run for the hills... and then watch for the fish... it will always tell you which way to go.")

I am the same way. I'm also fairly young and I have escaped the system entirely also. I will soon be successful in hiphop or form money in some sort of creative fashion. Keep your head up and stay running from today's current illusion of life and death. Your soul creates the ulltimate plan for you. Spread love and peace in any way possible and it will come to you. Also, keep indulging yourself in 5th knowledge and anything that seems to be "hidden" from you...