Personally I’ve gone a week without sunlight and rather enjoyed it.
Personally I severely underestimated the effect of large periods of time without sunlight, before going through it myself
I’m not suggesting that SAD isn’t a real thing either. Clearly there’s even a lot of research into it. In fact I have a few friends who suffer from it. But SAD was never my point.
the point behind my point was just stating that plenty of people do live without the sun for extended periods and thus this article isn’t an isolated incident.
And literally the only reason I made such a point was because the GP seemed surprised that someone might live that way.
I do enjoy sunlight, but a lack of it isn't the end of the world for me. The world keeps on spinning, I don't become dysfunctional from a lack of light, though my mood is elevated by it like anybody.
Thinking about it for a few hours, yes, I would happily go and live in a cave for a few years. Wouldn't want to spend my entire life there as I feel I'd miss out, but yes, wouldn't bother me much. I'm very comfortable with being on my own.
I suspect this is something that researchers would be interested in regarding the person in this article as well, given their statements.
But regarding those communities which do have extended periods of missing sunlight, they do have bars and other places where they meet and feel some warmth, and will always have the thought of this state being over in a couple of months. I guess they mostly do it because the nature imposes it on them.