Thank you for sharing your thoughts, @jeffbowen.

I think that as these decentralization trends develop, you'll see more and more people reviving the better aspects of traditional ways of living. We are moving into an era where most people will work remotely, and not be tied down in cities. Internet access to rural areas is improving at a pretty impressive rate (although I can commiserate with you on the spottiness of that access--I live in the backwoods and have to rely on expensive satellite internet that hobbles my speeds after 10 gigs per month of usage.) Also, young people in developed nations are less interested than previous generations in settling down and getting a mortgage, while at the same time more interested in things like gardening, reusing, crafting, and self-sufficiency. Meanwhile, it is easier than ever to travel the world and connect with foreign places and cultures. I think it is all culminating toward a balance between the slow enjoyment of life/connection with community/nature that our ancestors experienced and the fast paced technologies that lengthen and improve our lives in the modern age.

I'm going to cover lifestyles more in depth in the third part of the series, but that's my feeling in a nutshell. Thanks for taking the time to write such a long and thoughtful comment. I've followed you, and am looking forward to reading more of your stuff.