some space...

What are the necessities for creating a closer and more intimate relationship with nature? A walk or hike is a nice temporary escape and exchange that can last from a few minutes to months but I am interested in making a permanent change to have a relationship that is continuous and ongoing. What does that take? First and foremost for me, it means living on a piece of land that accommodates the ability to feel the weather, know the season, have your daily life be affected by your natural surroundings and more importantly, see the hopefully positive effect you have on those same surroundings. I can only speak for myself but I just need space big enough to feed my family, have some privacy, and be able to stand outdoors and not have the sound of society interfering with what all of the other inhabitants of the world have to say. I have never liked the idea of land being something that you have to buy or own. How does one own a piece of land? I have always felt that, if anything, the land owned us... but I digress. Unfortunately, the days of homesteading are over and squatting is not an option here in the states. Depending on what your needs are, a reasonable piece of land where I live doesn't cost a whole lot. Not to shortchange the colossal act of buying a piece of property but I am going to skip the technicalities here and jump ahead... So you buy some land and then what? I figure at first it is a place to go camping on weekends. Perhaps you explore and experience the space for a while and see how it lives, how the seasons come an go there, where the sunny spots are, and so on. I think a responsible tenant of the land should live with the land for a little bit and get to know it. Only then would you know where your place is in its space. And thus, the relationship begins...