[dpatru]

The natural state of man is poverty. It is trade and specialization, division of labor, that allows people to have enough to eat, be comfortable, and have some time in which to do things other than trying to survive.

The prosperous homesteaders on YouTube make their money off of YouTube.

I would view a comfortable life in the country as a luxury. You finance the luxury with a lucrative, specialized job/business that only takes a small portion of your time.

George W. Bush famously liked to spend time on his ranch with a chainsaw clearing brush. Clearing brush, like blacksmithing, woodworking, fly fishing or homesteading, can be a fun way to spend time. But generally these are luxuries that have to be financed with work. Bush could not have survived by trading in his job or business for clearing brush.