Biologist and Writer Edward O. Wilson talks about his new book The Creation. Wilson's appeal to preserve biodiversity is written in the form of letters to a Southern Baptist minister. Talk of the Nation, September 8, 2006

I caught a bit of this. What interested me was when he was asked about the ideal living situation or something to that effect. He mentioned that the Savanna was the place we developed. So a high spot with a view of nature and a body of water. They commented on how expensive Manhattan apartments fit this description.

My lifelong desire to live rurally feels partially explained by this comment. Now I think that desire to live rural means using a lot of gas with the need for driving long distances to visit friends or run errands. Also natural areas get divided into small farms in a way that is not good. For me, this desire seems to be able to be fulfilled by gazing at a park, botanical garden, or natural areas (occasional trips) without actually living in a rural area. That is better for me and I don't think I would like the hard sustained work needed to live in a rural area.