@CalamityJane,
Actually, I am interested in how Mark lives.
I don't know that I'd call it prehistoric, just rural, which it fine.
If he has tips for growing food, how to handle severe weather conditions, and a multitude of other things he's expert at, I think a lot of people might be interested.
The thing is Mark, you somehow think that because most of the first world lives in cities or at least more urban environments, you think we are helpless as far as everyday needs.
I'm typing while waiting the 20 minutes for the bread dough I just made waiting for the gluten to relax, so I can knead it a little before its first rise.
I make all my own bread, by hand, no electric appliances. They aren't needed. I make all my own dried beans, as far as cooking them from scratch. Between the 2 I get most of my protein. Some years I grow vegetables, some years I don't.
My neighbors 2 doors down keep chickens. They eat their fill and have left overs to give to whoever wants them. In fact, I know a few others in the surrounding blocks that keep chickens as well. Many of my neighbors grow at least some of their own produce. I live about 1.5 miles from downtown.
I use mostly vinegar, water and baking soda to clean my house with cotton rags. All the containers I use for dry goods are empty peanut butter or mayonaise jars. I seldom buy clothes anymore, because I no longer work outside the home. I always hated shopping for them, but I needed them for work. Now I live in cropped sweats and t shirts.
So just because people don't live in the middle of the country doesn't mean they are necessarily mindlessly consuming and obliviously wandering around.
Many people live mindful lives no matter where we live.
In fact Mark, I may know more about your lifestyle than you know about mine.
I've lived in the country. The last thing I saw when I was moving away was my neighbor splitting the belly of a slaughtered hog hanging from a tree and taking out it's guts. Escaped cows, horses, people being severely injured by them, driving 20 miles to get to a store to get something. Do you think that's unusual for people? It's not.
I grew up on the ocean. We ate a lot of fish. Most of the fish we ate for supper were swimming in the sea at breakfast. For 10 years after leaving home I seldom bought fish because I had no idea why fresh tuna, swordfish etc were so expensive. Then I caught on. You don't live by the sea anymore Chai, adjust or do without fresh fish. I chose to adjust.
I'm sure you can poo poo my examples of my lifestyle with "Yeah, but ya never mucked out a barn, did ya?" Well no, I haven't, but my brothers have. Anyway, this isn't a contest.
So how about if you become more interesting by sharing what you know, how you live, instead of condeming others for their lifestyle?