A bit a mixture of Onnos versions would be the ship as basically a mobile
family farm. It's not really a different culture then that of the the
people around it, at least in the view of both the "farmers" and the
surrounding culture. It is a different lifestyle though. Occasionally
someone marries in, occasionally some child leaves the farm/ship to take
up an ordinary job.
There might be some education required or strongly suggested, that can
only be effectivly gotten on shore.
Some positions might be filled with people, for whom freight crew is a
temporary job. Seasonal crew would be one of the primary pools for people,
who marry into the family.
BTW i think my primary inspiration in that area has been Astereoid Wars
by Ben Bova, though there it's belters not freighters, so it has different
logistics.
If you have actually a distinct space gypsy culture you also need to think
how the number of ships and population growth get correlated. A central
population control authority, that does long term planing, or ad hoc
decisions by individual families/tribes? Ritually throwing surplus
population out of the airlock (if you are nice, while in port)? Luring in
required specialists with promises of sex and riches? Shanghaing people
who will not be missed all that much, and if they work hard for a couple
of years, they can get promoted family members? An officers caste and
slaves, whos number is more flexible?
One mans groundfloor is an other mans earthmissle
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Johannes Trimmel
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