Stripping away the distracting BS, this is what it all boils down to. (In my opinion.)

[davidthegnome]

70. Not long ago...

in desperation, so overwhelmingly depressed and frustrated with modern society... I sought out a way to live differently. I looked into different Abbeys, thinking perhaps to spend time in quiet reflection with some monks... perhaps they'd have work for me, things I could do with my hands to help people. I'm not the religious sort, but I was looking for a way out. In the end I didn't really have enough money for that adventurous notion to come to fruition.

Then I started thinking about learning how to farm, what I would need to do, how I could perhaps, acquire my own land, or even maybe work for a farmer until I could. I think what convinced me to give up on all of my ideas for rebuilding my own life, was the fact that I would have to pretty much leave behind everything I knew, and that there was no way I could convince my family to come with me.

You are right about our little boxes... my own is becoming more lonely and more sad with every passing month. Some times, I wish someone would shake the hell out of it.