Aquinas, I think there were a lot more premies that lived as you describe than there were ashram premies. There were many, myself included, that didn't even consider any kind of decent job. They just took whatever was available to get the money for the next event, sometimes just a week or two of work and then they were off.
Towards the end of my time at university, my class got involved in a bit of research. We had to design a series of experiments to find the information we were after. I didn't do the work, because I was away again at some event. Everyone had to stand in front of the class and describe their designs (except me). Then the professor did his own presentation and I realised that the work he'd outlined could be cut right down and the information we'd get would be better quality. Half the work, better outcome. This made such an impression on him, I got no trouble for not having done the work in the first place.
I heard later from a friend who became his research assistant that he would have really liked me on his research team, but he didn't even mention it to me because he knew I'd be gone in weeks.
So no research for me. Van driver, soup factory cleaner, butter stacker in a warehouse, plasterers labourer, furniture removals, painter and decorator, builder. I faked plumbing, electrical skills, plastering and carpentry because I only had to last a few days in the job, but in the end, I learnt enough not to have to fake them.
I once stuck letters into envelopes for four days. A girl in the office told me she'd been working there for 2 years saving up for her dream trip to Switzerland. On the fifth day, I quit that job to go to Geneva. I think she right I was winding her up. I know she thought I was nuts.
Four of us in a tiny flat lived like that for years, and so did many of the people we knew.
