Resources and reflections on hermits and solitude

October 12, 2003 3:54 AM

The Hermitary, a website about being on your tod. Don't miss the blog.
posted by ceiriog (10 comments total)

From the weblog,

"Robert E. Harrill, called the "Fort Fisher Hermit," was a popular hermit near Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1955-1972, receiving and entertaining visitors in the abandoned sea-side military bunker that he called home."

A 'popular' hermit who entertains visitors? Sounds like a pretty liberal definition. Beach front property too.

Maybe it's time to reevaluate my career choices.
posted by cedar at 5:27 AM on October 12, 2003

What does "being on your tod" mean?
posted by rushmc at 6:02 AM on October 12, 2003

Maybe it's time to reevaluate my career choices.

Don't knock it, apparently its still a pretty viable industry.

(Deffinition of Tod)
posted by KnitWit at 7:30 AM on October 12, 2003

Thanks for the clarification, KnitWit -
for a moment there, I thought ceiriog was referring to...Tod.
posted by Smart Dalek at 10:39 AM on October 12, 2003

From knitwit's link:

[adj] (British) alone and on your own; "don't just sit there on your tod"

It says it's an adjective, but the example uses it as a noun, so I still don't know what it means.
posted by dgaicun at 12:00 PM on October 12, 2003

hermitagerie.com - Everything for Today's Hermit!

Books [link]
"Fruits & Nuts: A Collector's Guide", 2d ed., 38 photos, $33.95 hardcover
"Hungry for Vision - How to Fast Your Way to Wisdom", $7.95 paperback
"Silent Sunrise: The Daily Affirmations of Famous Hermits", $18.00 trade

Gear [link]
Dressers, solar heaters, cave murals - you name it, we've got it! From outhouse kits to meditation pillows - if you're alone, cold and suffering, we've got what you need to spruce up your crib.

Communications [link]
Here at the Hermitagerie, we understand how much energy and dedication it takes to maintain your solitude. And we know that sometimes, you just need that something extra - that human touch. That's why we created HermitComm(tm).

Available only at the Hermitagerie, you won't find these cellphones, pagers, beepers or laptops anywhere else. We've taken the latest technology and tastefully encased it in natural wood, leather, fur, and stone. Built to last a lifetime, and fully upgradeable, these finely handcrafted accessories will blend right in with Mother Nature. And the rich selection of textures and colors is, as always, coordinated to complement our Natural Man(tm) and Natural Woman(tm) lines of clothing.

No modern hermit should be without them!
posted by cps at 1:43 PM on October 12, 2003

/smack cps
posted by rushmc at 1:49 PM on October 12, 2003

This is a great link Cieriog!
posted by eastlakestandard at 4:27 PM on October 12, 2003

I still don't know what it means.
You're right dgaicun, that dictionary's a bit poked. "On your tod" means "on your own". Apparently it comes from rhyming slang (you have to scroll down the page a bit).
Also, this is a cool post, thanks Cieriog.
posted by nomis at 7:00 PM on October 12, 2003

That "hermit job" in KnitWit's link was fairly common in some neighborhoods in Southern Cal, only they called it "that weird guy in the guest house", most often in the second or third home of a really rich bastard, but the practice has suffered after Kato Kaelin...
posted by wendell at 10:32 PM on October 12, 2003