I was watching a documentary the other day.
Wood carvers living off the grid in the yupe.

I cant recall now. Finlanders I think?
Didnt speak much english. But dam dude. Their enclave was a slice of "slow it down" utopia.

Of course- what you see on the tele- theres always some level of performance art. What is actual truth out there in the sticks with the tree fairies? Lol- you'd know better than I.

Paradise- wherever we live. Its hiding in plain sight. Sometimes- most times. We just need new glasses. Some meditation on values, a change of perspective. Of course, it can also be true. That a person can look around- take notice. Realize they are living at the center of a powderkeg. It only takes one antichrist to strike a match- light the fuse. & Poof! Paradise disappears in a flash.

Like pappy always said. It aint about having what you want. Its about wanting what you have.
Perhaps? Instead of moving? Your resources are better invested in making your cabin more full time comfortable for you & the family?

I can only speak for myself. Im happiest with only a few people around me and as many critters wandering nearby as is possible these past couple winters- i been putting hay, apples & a salt lick out in a clearing behind my house thats surrounded by bramble & alder. I have both deer and elk coming in behind the house now that tge snow has deepened. I have seed feeders up in the trees. Sparrows, chickadees & thrush roost in the bramble nearly year round now. Ravens are all over the place. I want to hire someone this summer to build a rock wall that runs the length of the meadow. That will attract marmots. I run a game cam up there. Its become a cool little eco system. Its still on the far edge of city limits. An abandoned lot thats overgrown. So there no hunters cruising through. My land is the north boundary. The retired sheriff, current mayor is the east boundary. National forest is southern boundary. A fire road is the west boundary.

Knowing its there. Knowing i can go up & pull the memory card & watch the critters. Its a slice of paradise IN MY MIND.

Its hard to ignore all the signs of collapse. Societal, ecological, cultural & political. From the local level through the global level and every niche in between.
In my meditations. Ive come to realize. The only difference I can actually make. Is in the moment and in my backyard. Ive railed against the collapses. Written letters, talked my head off for years. All the way back to the mid 80's.
Ya know what changed? Fewer pwople listened as the greed & destruction accelerated at the same velocity responsibility & stewardship declined.
All the while- all we get in return is lip service.

As they say, the grass is greenest where you water it. WTH - Maybe the answer us to do so literally? In our own way- the critters and i have become friends - in spirit.
Oh, and in the process- theres now a red fox that wanders the hill side now & then. I hadnt seen a fox since my alaska days. Hopefully im not drawing in a cougar or wolf pack.