Very interesting article, I had heard nothing about this previously. I am going to be in N.C. sometime soon, I will have to add the swamp to my destination list.
I was recently thinking about what my life would be like if I grew up in Europe in the Middle Ages. Statistically, it is likely that I would have had a poor, unsatisfying life (maybe this interpretation is incorrect?). But lets say I somehow processed the same attitude that I do today, I almost certainly would have disapeared into the vast wilderness.
From what I could tell though not many made that choice. But perhaps they just weren't documented? Is there a term for these "off the grid" societies that have existed throughout time? I would certainly like to learn more about them...