Thank you for this brilliant essay! You added some very thoughtful comments and ideas regarding some issues I have been trying to wrap my head around. Wonderful job!

You didn't make much mention of population. Perhaps this will take care of itself. But there is no "simpler way" until the population is drastically reduced. This is an inconvenient truth that no one really wants to think about. It is difficult to see how this happens in a happy way.

Also, don't forget to allocate enough resources to defend your ecovillage. Otherwise, the 20% of humans who tend toward violence will eventually come through the village to rape and pillage. People are still people after all.

Finally, I am ok with all of the other simplicity, but please don't say no T.V. I still want my 65" flat screen connected to PV cells and a battery backup!! Thank you.