There weren't any restrictions on movement for the yeomanry, who did have material wealth in the form of property. You're thinking of the serfs, which were actually in some regions and periods of Europe very rare.Broomstick wrote: Well, yes, like wasn't TOO bad - except for the complete and utter lack of medical care and sanitation, restrictions on movement, lack of material wealth, lack of heat in winter, lack of cool in summer, lack of reliable clean water, maurauding criminals...
Life goes on. And there is something beautiful about farming, all things. For all its toughness as a life, to nurture the food of the world and see the Earth so close around you is quite pleasant really.Sure, people CAN be happy even under such circumstances - but their lives will be shorter, with more illness and pain. In part, they didn't suffer because they didn't know anything else, but someone accustomed to 24/7 climate control, modern medicine, year round fresh food, and other modern luxuries will suffer until they adjust. And some won't ever adjust.
I think I could adjust - I live a pretty frugal life as it is, aside from aviation (which, in this hypothetical world, won't be happening for me anyway) but there sure as hell would be a lot of things I'd miss.
Me, if I'm well-to-do enough to put a sauna and a Japanese hot-bath on my house (both of the pre-modern designs, of course, not the modern ones ridiculously sold to people, but... http://www.cyberbohemia.com/Pages/sweat.htm More like the ones this fellow tells you how to build in your backyard), and the near presence of a few intimates (by which I mean close friends), and I shall consider myself happier than I am today, even without the sundry modern luxuries.
But really, we're not looking at things getting that bad. Total electrical loss of service is highly unlikely, except for a few years of temporary disruption. A slight majority of people should be able to at least maintain their positions in society if not improve them.This is more going to become the era of the 70-hour cross-country train trip, not of some sort of neo-serfdom.