If You Believe There Are Better Ways & Places to Live, Consider This!

When one life ends, another begins.

Photo courtesy of author

“They say that people who abandon our advanced, connected world and move to remote places — closer to nature — live happier and more fulfilling lives. They become more appreciative of what they have and don’t have. They enjoy fresh and healthy food. Their decision forces them to exercise from dawn till dusk. And focusing on the necessities of life gives their lives genuine purpose and meaning.”

I have heard this and similar sentiments a lot recently. I am not sure why, but stories of abandoning the modern world and retreating “back” into nature seem to have captured the cultural moment. We grow tired of the technological dystopia emerging around us and long for a simpler, more sustainable way of being.

And living in a lower gear surrounded by mesmerizing natural scenery sounds attractive to most of us at some point in our lives — far away from the daily rat race in overcrowded cities. It must be a joyful feeling waking up in the morning without needing to deal with the world’s uncertainties and conforming to the relentless 24/7 cycle of modern life.

We are like caged birds dreaming of the endless possibilities of escape and freedom.

And yet, this story of a return to nature has never been for me. I am not much of a dreamer and prefer to stay realistic. Even when dreaming. And for most of us, leaving our jobs, packing up all our belongings, and going elsewhere is nothing but an impossible or even a reckless fantasy.

And like with caged birds, I wonder if they would fly away if their cage door were to swing open and the prospect of liberation was to present itself. Or are such dreams of freedom just that? Empty hopes and impossible imagination.

Don’t be Ridiculous!

I bet I wouldn’t survive very long if I were released and dropped in nature. Where would I go without my creature comforts? Without my technology? Without GPS? Which plants, fungi, and fruits could I eat without getting sick or worse? I wouldn’t know the answer without cellphone reception.

And don’t talk about the animals. I love them. Still, outside the zoo walls, I am a…