Wow. I was born in ’63. I think from the way you were raised Richard, it might have been a lot simpler. I only said to my wife today as we drove back from Scotland that we’ve just made it too complex. The simple, highly rewarding things I am finding at 50 are… great health, great family, special times with lots of good photos and memories and a way to buy/produce food that nourishes, rather than depletes our bodies. I think I could live without TV now. As long as I had a comfy chair, a warm fire in winter and lots good books to read when not chatting about the day with my wife.
I like the internet as a way of connecting with like minded folk and learning. So I would still want to be able to access that.
I would gladly save money on unnecessary tools for a better, more harmonious way of working with nature. Methods like No Dig gardening and permaculture work for me.
I could buy more books too with the saved dosh hey Charles! 
I still haven’t got your No Dig Gardening Course manual yet. I am hoping it will become available on Kindle soon as we have so many books to ship back to Australia…
My wife has asked me not to buy any more. 
If we are still here in May, I can make it to the weekend market gardeners course and I think one signed copy might be able to slip by her gaze perhaps.
Thanks for sharing your story Richard.