You can still recreate that life right now if you want, but people are choosing not to (I also choose not to so I'm not saying it's some requirement to do so).

You can still recreate that life right now if you want, but people are choosing not to (I also choose not to so I'm not saying it's some requirement to do so). You can get a piece of land and have a simple house on it, get a wood stove, stop buying things that generate trash (grow your own food, etc. and compost all scraps). Raise animals like chickens and goats. Put in a well. There's a ton of guides and YouTube videos out there about people who homestead. I know people who do this on 1-2 acres and are a couple hours from a major city. The reality is that it's a ton of work and there's downsides, it depends on what kind of person you are. (This is responding to your specific comment, I know that choosing to do this in the developed world is different from people who have no choice and no options in a developing country/place).