> Looking back at my life while growing up

Do not go toward the light!!

Ah, you meant that metaphorically...

Your stories strike a familiar chord, even though they might take a different form in different countries (like shoe tossing over power lines, or stealing traffic cones to use as room decorations). 

> an average youth will actually find life in the rural areas to be more preferable

I think so too, and there's wisdom in returning to our calmer and less populated ways.

We got palm trees in Cyprus but I don't think I ever heard of palm wine. There's not even a Greek entry in the wiki article for it!