Yeah, dude, it's a real pain living without a penny in your pocket, especially if you like being surrounded by people in a city that smells like sweaty armpits. But if that's not your scene, congratulations, you've arrived in the real world, buddy. You’re one of those who love the wild life, enjoy that feeling of your ears popping when you climb a mountain, and laugh your ass off when you realize you have no freaking idea where you are. And what about when you take a deep breath as you pass by a pile of horse manure mixed with dirt while walking in the countryside? Because yes, mate, in the country everything smells glorious, while in the city, almost everything is rotten crap. Well, it goes without saying that we are all bitcoiners here, and most of us, stackers, are on this boat purely for the philosophy, not giving a damn about the price of our precious bitcoins. In this story, which is damn real, of my pitiful or beautiful life, depending on the prism you view it from, you'll find anecdotes from my last three months living without fiat money. I assure you there will be some laughs and a handful of tears as we unpack them little by little.

This is the first of many (hopefully) chapters, which will make up a complete book (if Satoshi wills) next year. For now, I’m sharing this pre-book exclusively here on SN, alongside my fellow stackers who have helped me so much over the past year.

Let's get this straight before you start criticizing: I'm fed up with shitcoins and fiat money. There's nothing more liberating than cutting ties with all that crap the system shoves at us. Fiat? What's that? It's like a house built on sand, a house of cards waiting for the inflationary breeze to bring it down. And don't get me started on shitcoins, those cheap imitations of true digital gold. Sure, some might have interesting applications, but most are traps for fools. The only real currency, the one that can lead us to a future of freedom and prosperity, is bitcoin. No intermediaries, no bloodsucking banks, no governments controlling every cent you earn. It's like going back to bartering but on digital steroids.

Isn’t it enough to spend your money without some middleman sticking their nose in? Imagine this: you wake up in the morning, look at your bitcoin balance, and know that every satoshi is yours. No banks charging absurd fees, no governments taxing you at every turn. Privacy is another gem, dude. Who needs everyone knowing how much you spent on beers last weekend? With bitcoin, your transactions are yours and nobody else's. Then there’s the matter of security. Unlike fiat money that can be printed endlessly by a desperate government, bitcoin has a limited supply. 21 million, not one more.

This makes it resistant to inflation and political whims. And because it’s decentralized, there’s no single point of failure. The system is designed to withstand attacks and stay strong.

Sometimes using bitcoin isn’t possible, and here’s where it gets interesting. For example, you find yourself in the middle of the forest, disconnected from the world, starving, and the only available shelter is a local farm that only accepts cash or barter. What do you do? You adapt, of course. You can't be a total purist when your survival is at stake. In those cases, resorting to barter or cash is the only option. But hey, those are the exceptions, not the rule. Platforms like Bisq or LocalBitcoins emerge, allowing you to exchange bitcoin for cash privately and securely. They are tools that allow us to continue on our path to financial freedom without having to depend on the traditional system.

These three months have been a wild ride, an odyssey through the jungle of financial freedom. I’ve learned more about myself and the system we live in than I could have imagined. Living without fiat money and without shitcoins isn’t easy, but it’s liberating. You realize how much we depend on a corrupt and flawed system, and you start to see things differently.

Life in the countryside, far from the city and its stinky, sweaty armpits, is pure. It’s real. Here, every satoshi counts, and every transaction is a declaration of independence. So, fellow bitcoiners, stay strong, stay free, and above all, keep stacking. Because in the world of cryptocurrencies, only bitcoin is king.

See you in the next part of this wild and liberating story. Until then, may the timechain protect and guide you.