For legal purposes, our advisor wants us to clarify that this is a work of fiction. No real people were harmed in the making of this story. Any similarities to real people, places, or events is entirely coincidental.
In response to increased food and rent prices, many people have decided that a modern life of luxuries is both unattainable and unsustainable. In response, they are literally running away from their problems. CRY News reports that the number of people who have quit their jobs to build communities in rural, unpopulated forests has skyrocketed since the beginning of this year.
When these rural communities first formed, there were 350 psychologists who were sent to study the people living in these communities. Only 13 chose to return, with the rest choosing to remain in these communities for “further study.” The 13 psychologists who returned reported lowered stress levels, a high appreciation for nature and greater overall happiness in those living in these communities than those they surveyed who lived in a city.
These communities, which feature a large community garden at the center, are entirely self-reliant. Many individuals keep livestock such as chickens and cows, as well as maintaining their own personal gardens. By adopting a barter system in place of monetary transactions, these communities have entirely eliminated any need for money. As one resident puts it, “Who needs money when you can haggle over how many eggs a gallon of milk is worth?”
In fact, these communities typically consist of exhausted corporate workers who have become dissatisfied with the current increases in cost of living. Daisy Meadows, a member of one of these newly established communities, expresses that she’s happy with her decision to leave the well established corporate world behind, stating that, “When I was working at Villa Inc, I had to worry about rent and grocery prices. Now, I don’t even need to worry about money!”
Companies have felt the impact of this shift, and some have adapted the work environment to try and prevent employees from leaving. The Blithe E. Vil Foundation, for example, has taken extreme measures to ensure their employees don’t feel the need to connect with nature. Instead of working in an office building, the foundation has bought a windowless warehouse in the middle of New York City. Dr. Christopher Smith, the CEO of the foundation, describes the decision to shift all of their workers, even those working virtually, to New York City. He believes that “living in the city will make these employees realize that the best things are man-made. People are meant to live in cities, it’s a natural instinct.” Despite this, during our interview, Dr. Smith had a flower vase on his desk and a large plant near the door.
In spite of the droves of people moving out of the city, many CEOs are refusing to accept that a life lived in nature could possibly be more fulfilling than an existence in urban, polluted cities. After all, in the words of Dr. Smith, “Who doesn’t hate bugs?”
