> This pings something about modern existence that bothers me. If you want stop participating in the rat race, the only accepted way to do that is to have acquired enough money to retire. You can't just go find an unused plot of land to exist on. And if you did you'd be there illegally.

Before modern times, you couldn’t just “exist” on a plot of land. Ask the Native Americans or any other indigenous populations what happens if you try that. All animals have to participate in the rat race, lest someone higher up the food chain comes around.