I live in the present myself. But I practice a trade that many would term obsolete.

I admire the fortitude. Self sufficiency is under appreciated today.

If it is working for him (and it must be to do so for so long) I would hardly call it denial. Seems a bit judgmental to call it artificial. I would venture to say it is more real than what most of us do and call "work". I would live such a life myself, were it practical for me to do so. It is not, for me.

I feel like a 19th century guy trapped in the 21st century sometimes. I would love to talk to this man.