Indeed. I wish I could have been born in a world where I could use my skills for survival in the forests and die younger but have a more fulfilling life. Modern technological society is a disappointment, even if I am more comfortable.
It's not the dying that matters. It's the opportunity to live in the forest that I would like. Life and death are part of existence and we should not try and escape that. It is only the pathological dream of modern technologists to escape death, which creates a rather abysmal life.
> It is only the pathological dream of modern technologists to escape death
It's not only their dream, it's also the plot of one of the world's oldest works of literature (The Epic of Gilgamesh). Distress over the inevitability of death is not a modern phenomenon, but we have succeeded in extending our lives further than any previous generation.
Consider taking up backpacking as a hobby (e.g. follow the /r/appalachiantrail subreddit,) or maybe volunteer with a scout troop that keeps an active hiking/camping schedule.
Do you do any outdoors activities? One thing I’ve learned over the years, and was somewhat surprised by, is that I find type-II outdoor fun more fulfilling than my hobbies or work. For me, it’s a mix of 1) nature is awesome and indifferently brutal af, 2) having/improvising/gaining knowledge and skills to handle situations you haven’t before, and 3) pushing yourself physically beyond some limit. I don’t like exercising and went far too many years not doing so, but when I have a trip on the calendar I tend to get out of my chair to stretch and strengthen regularly. If anything, using my skills for survival in the forests (and deserts, snow, etc) will help me reach death later and with a better quality of life. Otherwise, I joke with my wife that if I lose my faculties, she can leave me at the edge of the Grand Canyon in my wheelchair and maybe I’ll just simply forget to set the brake.
Maybe I replied too hastily. I reread your comment and it seems you lament intertwined societal/technological changes rather than simply wishing to spend more time hanging out with the trees.
Not really. There are very few wild areas left, especially in warmer areas. Much of the natural resources of these areas are contaminated such as water. Natural areas are often government-managed or privately owned. Gone are the days where you could wander off into the wild and just live as some of the indigineous tribes used to.
Nomadland documents the writer and an entire subpopulation (working, not going to die) moving along BLM lands to seasonal agricultural jobs and warehouse jobs and National Park service jobs, it sounds kind of exhausting and precarious, not very different from struggling in a single day job.
Sure, but if you wanted to detach from the modern economy and trappings of modernity like supply chains and life-extending healthcare, you could save up some money, get some remote, off-grid land, and live a subsistence life. It’s not free, but startup costs would be less than a year of city living.
