Is there any way to survive without working in the rat race?

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The options suggested that intrigue me are
1. Hermit
2. Farming
3. Hippie commune
4.Monastery
5. Welfare, Medicaid, food stamps
6. Emigration

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could realistically pursue those options without capital?

2. + 6. http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listin ... ture.shtml
3. I've had a few clients involved with the rainbow family: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Family
4. Don't know where you're located, but this monastery was near us when we lived in GA: http://www.trappist.net/welcome.htm They have 'vocational retreats'.
6. Join the Peace Corps: http://www.peacecorps.gov/ - or any of the other endless organizations that help people in other countries.

You don't have to have to have a lot of money for these, but you do need travel funds.

You could go to somewhere like Taiwan and teach English.

Another possibility is to work from home in a freelance capacity. Industries like mine, the language translation field, are over 80% freelance, so there are few "rat race" jobs even if you want one. Take a look at books about home-based businesses for ideas.

I don't work much, and don't make much, but can cover my expenses and continue to live on my own (which is my only option at present).

Also, consider moving to an inexpensive part of whatever country you live in. If you're in the U.S., check out websites like city-data.com for all the details about cost of living, lifestyle, amenities, etc.

Hermit sounds fun, but when it comes down to it, I don't know if I'd make it.
My dream career would be Mushi Master. Part hermit, part adventurer, with the perfect amount of beauty, intrigue and danger mixed in.

Almost my dream job would be journalism. You'd have both colleagues and be able to do your own thing, and it's nonperfectionist. It's more important to put it out promptly. If you make a mistake, you just print a correction. And it's more important to put the story in a meaningful context, and that is inherently nonperfect.

I've looked for a journalist job and nay a nibble. With traditional print journalism losing readers to the Internet, it's just not a growth time, and the new models are not yet making money (I guess, or not enough money).

It is telling the story with your own unique voice, whether it is an arc across the story, or finding the thread within the story, it is telling the important story your own way. That's what people find worthwhile to read.