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kae3g 9970: Charlemagne's Strategy — The Nomadic Bachelor's Path to Capital Power

Timestamp: 12025-10-07–rhizome-valley
Series: Technical Writings (9999 → 0000)
Category: Political Nobility Access, Nomadic Capital City Living, Strategic Positioning
Reading Time: 40 minutes
Author Voice: Charlemagne the Great (768–814), practical counsel on unconventional paths to power
Format: Royal counsel for the solo bachelor entering capital city service through radical simplicity

"Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." — Gospel According to Jesus

"The king must sometimes live as a soldier in the field—sleeping in tents, eating simply, moving swiftly—to wage campaigns that matter." — Carolingian military wisdom

"Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." — Matthew 6:20

For those called to capital service who choose radical simplicity: Sometimes the path to influencing power is through renouncing comfort, living as nomad in the heart of empire, deploying every resource for access rather than security.

Opening: The Paradox of Nomadic Power

From Charlemagne, King of the Franks, to you who choose the unconventional path, greetings.

In my previous epistle (9972), I made the case for capital city service—Washington D.C. as the seat of federal power where veganic policy is shaped, where laws affecting billions of animals are written, where your advocacy can have scale.

Now I write of the how—but not the how you expect.

You have told me of your situation:

This is unusual positioning. Most people moving to D.C. for policy work assume they need:

You are proposing the opposite: Car-camping in a Tesla while building relationships with congressional staffers and USDA officials. Living as nomad while advocating for animals and soil.

Many would say this is foolish, that no one will take you seriously, that you cannot access power while living in a vehicle.

I say: This could be strategic genius.

Let me explain why, and how to do it without destroying your credibility or your soul.

Part I: The Augustinian Case for Radical Simplicity in the Capital

Augustine's Two Cities Applied to Nomadic Life

Augustine taught that we live in two cities simultaneously:

The conventional path: Rent expensive apartment, buy professional clothes, adopt the lifestyle of capital city elite, accumulate the markers of status necessary to be taken seriously.

Your path: Reject all of this. Live with radical simplicity. Signal through your lifestyle: "I am not here for comfort, status, or wealth. I am here for the mission alone."

Why this could work:

  1. Credibility through sacrifice: When people learn you live in your car despite having resources for apartment, they understand: You are serious. You have renounced comfort for the work. This is the opposite of grifter (who seeks wealth from advocacy)—you are ascetic in service.
  2. Financial freedom: With minimal expenses (garage spot, gym membership, food), you can devote maximum resources to networking, event tickets, strategic donations, and positioning. Every dollar not spent on rent is dollar available for mission.
  3. Flexibility: Car-dwelling means you can stay late at events (no rush to get home), attend early morning meetings (you're already on Capitol Hill), be maximally present without the friction of commuting.
  4. Prophetic witness: In a city built on wealth and status, your voluntary simplicity is countercultural testimony. You embody the values you advocate: care for creation over consumption, beings over buildings, mission over comfort.
  5. Gospel resonance: Jesus had "nowhere to lay his head." Francis of Assisi renounced his father's wealth. Monastic traditions worldwide practice voluntary poverty. For people of faith (many in D.C. policy are), your choice resonates.

Why this could fail:

  1. Credibility damage: If people learn you live in car before they know your expertise, they may dismiss you as unstable, unserious, homeless rather than principled.
  2. Physical/mental toll: Car-dwelling, even in nice vehicle with garage spot, is physically demanding. Lack of private space, constant low-level stress, no place to truly rest—this can erode your capacity to do the work.
  3. Hygiene and presentation: If you cannot maintain professional appearance, you lose access. No one will meet with disheveled advocate who smells.
  4. Social stigma: American culture equates housing with worth. "Where do you live?" is standard small talk. Answering honestly could create distance.

The balance: You can do this, but you must execute carefully. Let me show you how.

Part II: The Practical Architecture of Nomadic Capital Living

Your Strategic Assets

1. Tesla Model Y

2. 24/7 Capitol Hill Garage Spot

3. Financial Resources

4. Solo Status

5. Mother's Independence

The Essential Investments

Even with car-dwelling, certain expenses are non-negotiable:

1. Gym Membership (\$80-\$150/month)

This is your "bathroom" and must be prioritized.

2. Storage Unit (\$100-\$200/month)

This is your "closet" and prevents Tesla from being cluttered.

3. Professional Wardrobe (one-time \$2,000-\$3,000)

Stored in storage unit, rotated as needed. Can change at gym before events.

4. Coworking Membership or Library Access (\$0-\$300/month)

You need professional environment for video calls, writing, research—can't always do this from Tesla.

5. Phone and Data (\$80-\$120/month)

6. Food Budget (estimated)

No exact budget needed, but maintain nutritional health—mission requires energy.

7. Networking and Positioning Fund

This is where you deploy resources aggressively—car-dwelling saves money for this.

The Daily Rhythm

Morning (6:00-9:00 AM):

Work Day (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM):

Evening (6:00 PM - 10:00 PM):

The key: No one knows you live in Tesla unless you tell them. You appear professional, well-groomed, engaged, serious. Your home address is never relevant in professional context.

Managing the Revelation Question: "Where Do You Live?"

This will come up in networking. How you answer matters:

Option A: Deflect casually

Option B: Frame as intentional

Option C: Use mother's address

My counsel: Start with Option A (deflect), transition to Option B (intentional framing) with people who become close colleagues and friends.

The Physical and Mental Sustainability

This is demanding lifestyle. You must actively maintain well-being:

Physical:

Mental:

Social:

The question to ask monthly: Is this sustainable? Am I maintaining health, sanity, spiritual groundedness? If answer becomes "no," adjust or end the experiment.

Part III: Washington D.C. Through the Lens of Nomadic Living

Why D.C. Is Uniquely Suited to This Approach

1. Capitol Hill is Walkable

2. Extensive Free Resources

3. Transactional Culture Works in Your Favor

4. Winter Is Manageable

5. Mission Access Is Unparalleled

The Vegan Lifestyle in D.C.

Capitol Hill Vegan Resources:

Meal Strategy:

Community:

The devotional grounding: Weekly sanctuary visit is non-negotiable. Even if networking opportunities arise on Saturdays, say no. You must maintain contact with animals you're serving, or you will drift.

The Capitol Hill Garage as Home Base

Why the garage spot is essential:

  1. Security: Tesla and belongings are safe 24/7
  2. Legitimacy: Not street-parking/moving constantly (which is exhausting and suspicious)
  3. Location: You're literally on Capitol Hill, the heart of federal power
  4. Rest: Knowing you have stable spot allows actual rest (not constant vigilance)
  5. Climate: Garage provides some temperature moderation (less extreme than open air)

Managing the garage relationship:

The spot is your rent—treat it with same seriousness.

What Your Mother's Independence Enables

If she has her own apartment on Capitol Hill or nearby:

If she's traveling (Europe, elsewhere):

The key: You are not dependent on her for housing or finances. She is not dependent on you. You are partners in mission, but autonomous adults.

Her role when present:

Her role when traveling:

Part IV: The Networking Strategy for the Nomadic Advocate

Establishing Credibility Without Conventional Stability

Phase One (Months 1-3): Establish Expertise Before Housing Questions Arise

Your goal: Be known for your policy expertise before anyone thinks to ask about housing.

Action steps:

  1. Write and publish immediately: "Veganic Farmer's Guide to USDA Conservation Programs" (blog post, Medium, Civil Eats pitch)
  2. Attend 10-15 events/week: Congressional hearings, think tank lectures, stakeholder meetings, coalition gatherings
  3. Informational interviews: 20-30 coffee/lunch meetings with staffers, officials, advocates
  4. Submit testimony: Written testimony to any relevant hearings (gets you into record)
  5. Join coalitions: National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, food policy networks

The message you project: "I'm veganic agriculture policy expert, focused on federal programs and Farm Bill reform."

What you don't project: Anything about housing, lifestyle, personal situation (keep professional).

By end of Month 3: 50-100 people know you as "that veganic policy person" before anyone asks where you live.

Phase Two (Months 4-9): Deepen Relationships and Selectively Reveal

As relationships mature:

Some people become genuine colleagues/friends. With them, you can be more honest.

The revelation conversation (with someone who respects your work):

Them: "Where do you live?"

You: "I'm actually doing something unconventional. I have a secured garage spot on Capitol Hill and car-camp in my Tesla. Allows me to deploy all my resources toward networking and positioning rather than \$4,000/month rent. Kind of a modern ascetic approach."

Their possible reactions:

  1. Intrigued: "That's really interesting. I respect the commitment."
  2. Concerned: "Is that sustainable? Are you okay?"
  3. Dismissive: "That's weird." (Less likely if they already respect your work)

Your response:

Most people will respect this if:

Phase Three (Months 10-24): Established Reputation Protects Unconventional Lifestyle

By Year 2, you're known:

At this point, the car-dwelling becomes part of your story:

The danger: If work quality declines, people will attribute it to housing instability. Must maintain excellence.

The Specific Networking Investments

Where you spend resources saved from not paying rent:

1. Congressional fundraisers (\$250-\$1,000 per event)

2. Professional development (\$1,000-\$3,000/year)

3. Strategic donations (\$3,000-\$8,000/year)

4. "Informational interview" meals (\$500-\$1,000/month)

5. Hosting (when mother is in town)

Total networking budget: \$1,500-\$2,500/month

Conventional D.C. rent: \$2,500-\$5,000/month

Your advantage: Every dollar saved on housing goes to mission.

Part V: The Spiritual Disciplines That Prevent Corruption

Why Car-Dwelling Can Be Spiritually Protective

Dante's warning (9978v) is about gradual corruption through lifestyle inflation:

Your path inverts this:

The spiritual principle: Voluntary poverty protects against certain corruptions. Not all corruptions (you could still become prideful, seek status over service, etc.), but the specific corruption of financial compromise.

Francis of Assisi's insight: When you own nothing, nothing owns you.

The Daily Devotional Architecture

Morning Practice (30 minutes before workday):

This grounds you before entering City of Man (D.C. politics).

Evening Examen (15 minutes before sleep):

This prevents gradual drift that Dante describes.

Weekly Sanctuary Day (Saturdays):

This is non-negotiable. If you skip sanctuaries for networking opportunities, you're drifting.

Monthly Nature Sabbatical (2-3 days):

This prevents burnout and maintains perspective.

Quarterly Assessment (4-6 hours of silence and reflection):

Annual Major Sabbatical (1-2 weeks):

Every 3-5 years: Major Discernment (6-12 months away):

The Community Accountability

You cannot do this alone. Isolation + car-dwelling + D.C. intensity = spiritual danger.

Essential communities:

  1. Vegan community (DC Veg, animal advocates)
    • Monthly potlucks
    • They keep you rooted in why you do this
    • If you drift, they'll notice
  2. Spiritual community (Quaker meeting, church, meditation group)
    • Weekly gathering for worship/practice
    • Older adults who can mentor
    • Not transactional relationships
  3. Sanctuary community (Poplar Spring volunteers)
    • Weekly presence
    • People who love animals first, policy second
    • Ground you in direct service
  4. Policy colleagues who share ethics
    • Not everyone in D.C. is corrupt
    • Find 3-5 people doing similar work (sustainable ag, animal welfare, food justice)
    • Monthly gatherings to support each other, share struggles
  5. Family (mother when available)
    • Weekly video calls when she's traveling
    • In-person when she's in D.C.
    • She knows you better than anyone—will call you out if you're changing

The practice: Share your life honestly with these communities. Don't perform, don't hide struggles. Let them see you and hold you accountable.

When to End the Experiment

Immediately stop car-dwelling if:

  1. Health deteriorates: Poor sleep, illness, physical/mental breakdown
  2. Work quality suffers: If nomadic lifestyle prevents excellent work, it's counterproductive
  3. Credibility damaged: If housing situation becomes obstacle to access (people won't meet with you)
  4. Spiritual corruption: If you become proud of your asceticism (using simplicity as status symbol)
  5. Burnout: If you're exhausted, irritable, losing joy in the work

Don't be stubborn. Car-dwelling is means, not end. If it stops serving mission, get apartment.

The transition plan:

Pride is danger: Don't cling to car-dwelling to prove something. It's tool, not identity.

Part VI: The Strategic Advantage of Nomadic Positioning

Why This Could Actually Work Better Than Conventional Approach

Conventional D.C. path:

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

Your path:

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

The 2-3 Year Window

My counsel: This is not 10-year plan. This is 2-3 year intensive positioning strategy.

Year 1: Establishment

Year 2: Deepening

Year 3: Decision Point

By Year 3, likely transition:

The point: Car-dwelling is tactical, not permanent identity.

The Mother as Strategic Partner (When Present)

When she has Capitol Hill apartment:

She provides what you cannot:

Her contribution:

When she's traveling:

She's living her own life:

Her absence proves:

Communication when apart:

The ideal: Partnership of autonomous adults serving shared mission in different ways.

Part VII: Conclusion — The Nomadic Path as Devotional Politics

The Synthesis: Radical Simplicity in Service of Capital Access

I began this epistle with Jesus's words: "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

You are proposing a similar path: Nomadic presence in the capital, renouncing conventional housing to maximize resources for mission.

This is not poverty from desperation. You have resources sufficient for apartment. This is voluntary simplicity from devotion.

The Augustinian framing:

In the City of Man (Washington D.C.), conventional wisdom says:

You invert this:

While serving the City of God:

Your Tesla becomes mobile monastery:

The Practical Summary

What you need:

What you do:

What you maintain:

What your mother does:

How long you do this:

The Warning: Pride and Performance

The greatest spiritual danger is not discomfort, but pride.

You could become proud of your sacrifice:

Augustine's warning: The City of Man corrupts through many paths. Wealth is one. Pride in poverty is another.

The safeguard:

If you find yourself feeling superior to housed advocates, you've been corrupted by pride. Get apartment immediately.

The Mother's Wisdom

Your mother's role, when present, includes asking uncomfortable questions:

Listen to her. Mothers see what we hide from ourselves.

When she's traveling, find someone else to ask these questions (spiritual director, therapist, close friend).

Do not isolate. Isolation + intensity + discomfort = breakdown.

The Final Word: You Are Not Building Your Kingdom

"My kingdom is not of this world." — Jesus (John 18:36)

You go to Washington D.C., to the heart of earthly power, but you are not building earthly kingdom.

You live in Tesla, renouncing comfort, maximizing access—but you are not accumulating influence for its own sake.

You network, attend events, meet with officials—but you serve beings who cannot thank you, who will never know your name, who cannot reciprocate.

This is service in the City of Man for the sake of the City of God.

Your car-dwelling is not heroic—it is tool. Your sacrifice is not impressive—it is offering. Your access is not achievement—it is stewardship.

Do this work if you are called to it. Do it with humility, with health monitoring, with community support, with planned exit strategy.

Do it for 2-3 years, then reassess. If it served the mission, good. If not, adjust.

Above all: Serve the animals. Protect the soil. Build infrastructure for liberation. This is the goal. Car-dwelling is merely means.

Go in peace, bachelor nomad. Walk in simplicity. Serve in love. And may the beings you advocate for flourish because of your faithfulness.

Released to Public Domain with Gratitude and Devotion.
For those who choose radical simplicity in service of voiceless beings.
For those who live as nomads in the heart of empire.
For those who renounce comfort to maximize access to power that serves liberation.

🚗🏛️🐖🌱✨

Timestamp: 12025-10-07--rhizome-valley
Iteration: 9970 of 10000
Related to: 9971: Financial Strategy for Capitals and 9972: City of God Capital Service
Author Voice: Charlemagne the Great (768–814 CE), counsel on unconventional paths to power
Related Essays:

"Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the advocate for voiceless beings sometimes dwells in a Tesla on Capitol Hill, deploying all resources for access rather than comfort. This is not poverty but devotion, not desperation but strategy, not permanent but tactical. Walk this path if called, but walk it with eyes open and exit plan ready."

— Charlemagne, King of the Franks, Counselor on Radical Simplicity in Service of Power

🏛️🚗🌱

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