Land, Liberty, and Living Cheap | A. M. Hickman

Oct 13, 2025

In this fascinating discussion, A. M. Hickman, also known as Shagbark Hick, shares his journey from being a homeless hitchhiker to a proud owner of a $33,000 home in rural New York. He reveals how he lives on just $600 a month, emphasizing frugality and the rejection of conventional paths. Hickman discusses the joys of rural life, the importance of land ownership, and his experiences with the Amish for healthcare. His unique perspective challenges the traditional American Dream, advocating for a simpler, meaningful lifestyle.

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INSIGHT

Credentials Don’t Guarantee Flourishing

Hickman saw suicide across classes and concluded the credentialist path can hollow people out.
He argues alternative, lower-cost lives can prevent despair by offering real options.

ANECDOTE

Buying A $33K Home In The Adirondacks

Hickman lives in a northern Adirondacks village of roughly 250 people, about 30–40 miles from Canada.
He paid $33,000 for a move-in ready house in that depressed rural town.

ADVICE

Practical Steps To Live On $600/Month

Live frugally by eliminating mortgage, heating with wood, using rural transit, and buying local Amish food.
Save excess earnings to buy tools or assets that further reduce living costs.

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Join us for an incredible conversation with A. M. Hickman, aka "Shagbark Hick," one of the most unique voices on X. From living as a self-described "homeless" hitchhiker to owning a $33,000 home in rural America without a mortgage, Hickman shares his unconventional journey to a life of freedom, frugality, and purpose. Discover how he lives on just $600 a month, rejects the corporate grind, and builds a fulfilling life with his family of three in the northern Adirondacks. This episode is packed with insights on rethinking the American Dream, finding affordable land, and embracing a simpler, more meaningful way of living.

Shortly after we recorded this podcast, Hickman's early life as an anarchist was profiled in the Wall Street Journal, so be sure to check that out too.

CHAPTERS:
(00:00 Introduction to Shagbark Hick)
(01:29 Celebrating New Beginnings: Hickman’s First Child)
(02:22 From Homeless to Property Owner: An 8-Year Transformation)
(03:43 Choosing a Life of Adventure: Hickman’s Hitchhiking Days)
(04:56 Joining the Coast Guard: A New Chapter)
(06:18 Rejecting the Credentialist Path)
(08:22 Life in a Dying Rural Town)
(10:26 Making a Living as a Rural Writer)
(12:43 How to Live on $600 a Month)
(14:38 Escaping the Consumer Treadmill)
(16:34 Debunking the Housing Crisis Myth)
(18:43 Finding Love in an Unconventional Life)
(20:59 The Power of Owning Land)
(24:35 The Magic of $10,000)
(27:41 Managing a Tiny Mortgage)
(28:53 Healthcare Hacks with the Amish)
(31:20 The Mindset Shift America Needs)
(34:34 Homesteading vs. Hickman’s Philosophy)
(36:37 Why Rural America Matters)
(37:46 Wrapping Up with Shagbark Hick)

A. M. HICKMAN LINKS:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/shagbark_hick
🌐 Hickman's Substack: https://shagbark.substack.com/
🌐 Recent profile of Hickman's earlier life in the Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/tech/how-two-young-men-got-pulled-into-internet-darkness-and-how-they-got-out-814d0214

CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/