I have lived in small towns twice before, watched the grass grow for fun, fresh air, more personal interaction.
I have even read quite a bit about abandoned towns online, it was interesting. I used to prefer small towns. Now I am ok with big City. Actually most in big City have busy lives as life is expensive, demanding. It is hard to meet, make new buddies, specially when one belongs to the bottom heap of life. There are more services and products in a big City. With old computer I can bring the past, country side to the City.

It is all about how you approach your life. Not your environment, though it usually plays a big part.

I ride miles and miles on my motorcycles. Destinations are a daily thing with me. I have the good enough tech to stay in contact with the rest of the world . To see how the others live and and set up meets with people I wish to to hang out with. I am picky on who can hang with me. But I think in good way. I favor the down trodden. The picked on. The ones that need defending. The loyal. The Kind. The Strong like me, who think like I do.

I eat good < Local Home cooking > without eating out. Back when I was even more isolated on my ranch in Esperanza Texas. Population 6. I was more free, connected, enjoyed life, more friends and acquaintances < 70 miles west in Elpaso Texas and New Mexico > than in this small town I live in now.

Bad Neighbors can make my skin crawl. Give me bad thoughts. Make me sleep bad.

I Used to live in Southern California when I got out of the USMC. People everywhere. But my mind was not right yet. Lot of hate in my heart. I had my reasons.
I found Big cities strangle my inner self. I need to be alone on my motorcycle in no traffic to be at peace with the world and myself.

But everyone is different. You thrive in your surroundings. Which is as should be for you. I admire that. Just like I do in mine. Money and means are not the key to self worth and being comfy cozy with ones self. I learned that long ago from my Dad. A concentration camp survivor.

I read and reply in your thread because of my druthers mentioned above.

Some interesting terms to know:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_rage
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technostress
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Media_Equation

Do you listen to sermons by any chance ?

Anywhere there is big economy, there is lots of competition and busy life. No wonder you didn't like S.Calif. However, if one has a good job and can manage to live there, then it is ok for some time.

Tom Thomson was a very big Canadian Landscape painter, he loved the wilderness and nature. However, few years ago it was found that a lady he met in the wilderness killed him.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Thomson

So even remote, in the country there can be dangers. One has to be careful.
http://listverse.com/2015/08/21/10-t...e-killing-you/
http://listverse.com/2015/01/25/10-s...erial-killers/
With art, one can bring the country side to the City and vice versa. Knowing this is a big bonus.

I am kind, but not totally loyal, I am not strong also. Prefer to be sincere. We both share the same values.

Check that out, bet there is old IT waste in this:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/10/w...i-garbage.html

Edited to add more related links:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/pl...eace-1.4499858
https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/03/asia/...ags/index.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...es-phones.html

https://www.theatlantic.com/technolo...veyard/383922/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_waste_in_Guiyu
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_waste_in_China

https://www.wired.com/story/internat...e-photographs/

This is good reading, says that most net users are impatient, this is good for the corps.
as they will buy more new PCs that are faster:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psycho...f_Internet_use

Report: Amazon destroys large amount of new, returned goods:
http://business.financialpost.com/pm...returned-goods

Wonder if these returned electronics can be used by the needy but this will create less demand for new goods.
One thing for sure is that at this stage, the world doesn't have the power to use all the electronics around, so
discarding the old makes sense in this regard as they are less efficient.

https://brightthemag.com/the-next-tr...t-226d4aba17f6

Watching short youtube videos about travel to other countries, places is enough for me. This way linux and old computers are super helpful for me. No need for me to actually travel to another place. Staycations are awesome.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_wandering
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_thinking

I have the above two challenges that can be pretty intense at times, they however are very helpful to create art.
Hence, striking a balance with these two will be awesome. Using old computer, Linux and metacognition,
I hope to achieve this balance in future.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metacognition

https://biblereasons.com/temptation/

Using older PC with Linux in CLI mode greatly reduces exposure to temptation online.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/14/healt...rnd/index.html

This is great use of tech to solve mental health issues. Old computer with android OS on it can also help for this.

If one wishes to go super retro by even turning off old PC with Linux then these are the possibilities:

1. Personal sketch book with crayons, oils pastels, color pencils.
This is like a very personal blog. Here are some related links below.
Crayon Collection:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUBX-Y1Q6bc
Crayons help with depression:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7sAP23f8rk
https://www.cnn.com/2016/01/06/healt...lth/index.html
http://www.jennyscrayoncollection.com/p/crayons.html
http://www.crayoncollection.org/collection.html
https://crazycrayons.com/recycle_program.html
http://www.crayola.com/

2. Just pencil and a notebooks for small sketches and thoughts.

3. A journal in mind. Record things in it mentally. This needs very good memory.
In case there is brain injury etc., the data maybe lost.

It helps to keep such activities low profile, as if society discovers you then you will be considered a tech shamer
even tho you don't do this readily.

I explored well and came across these links below:
https://thecrayonartist.com/collecti...n-collectibles
https://thecrayonartist.com/pages/about-us
http://www.jeffreyrobert.com/2011/01/blog-post.html
http://www.jeffreyrobert.com/2011/03...nspire-me.html
http://www.jeffreyrobert.com/p/bio.html
http://www.jeffreyrobert.com/p/blog-page_8827.html
http://www.jeffreyrobert.com/p/news.html

This is super impressive, didn't know that crayola crayons were so effective and amazing.
Absolutely stunning, fun and convincing.

Now how does all this relate to old computers and Linux ? Crayons are cheap and like old computers
also, make them have a positive, stunning impact so that folks find them useful, fun and not like
they are being tech shamed. No one likes to be shamed, so avoid coming out as a tech shamer, this
serves no purpose and creates deep divides like the Berlin Wall.

No. Not recently anyways. I was parochial educated though.

When I ride. I wave at other riders. Not caring if they are Muslim, Jew, Devil Worshiper, Black, Hispanic, Gay, Man or Woman, Right Wing, or Liberal.

Too bad the rest of the world does not live like this either.

Yes, we need to be kind to all, help all when possible.

I wish to get a nice pack of crayons now. The crayola crayons are marketed as for kids but they are professional grade from what I have learned so far.