I suspect that the true simple life begins and ends with hunter gatherers. The minute one spawns an agricultural life, so to speak, the accumulation of wealth begins, and with that you rapidly develop population density, organization, governments, specialization, taxes, standing armies, insurance, and trading stamps.
The simple life we are talking about 'here' is fine, but is dependent on a larger complicated society maintaining the roads, the borders, the value of our currency, and the cleanliness of air and water.

Not that simplification ain't a good idea. I am a huge failure at it, however, and am looking for a good woman to make me throw my life away.