For anyone who hasn't, I recommend reading Helen and Scott Nearing's books and checking out their life's work.

The Good Life

The Good Life Center

Scott died at the age of 100. Not because there was particularly anything wrong with him, but because he felt that 100 years was long enough.

I was a part of the back to the land movement some number of years ago, and I would guess that we were probably about two-thirds self-sufficient. I had to move into town when my ex-husband and I split up and I found myself raising my son mostly on my own. It is a good life, and I would do it again if I could. I especially like the approach taken by Open Mike and people like her.