The creativity of self sufficient living...

I feel in life that the most important thing you can accomplish is a constant quest to live a self sufficient life. I of course don't mean this in reference to hiding yourself in the middle of nowhere and not being a part of society(although in some incidents that has its place too, i am not judging..) but more in literally being able to do things yourself and if you can't do them , build a sense of community and network of people where you can trade services. For example I can not sew and I brake any machine I touch, but I have other skills like I sell junk for a living and make art so I have a network of friends that can sew and when I have something they need or want I can trade for their services.
Building and developing a self sufficient life means you have to have a constant quest for knowledge and willingness to learn new skills and information. How and why creativity is important as a part of this should be obvious becuase it is a key problem solving skill and must be nurtured and encouraged to always keep that part of your brain working.
I could literally go on about this for hours standing on my soapbox which I know you don't want so I won't but what I will do is share a great book I have been reading which is just one in hundreds of great DIY books out there. The one I am currently reading is called Recipes for Disaster by crimethinc. workers' collective : www.crimethinc.com  and is available locally through Chris Provin.
The book is subtitle "an anarchist cookbook" but this isn't the one folks remember from way back where kids were making bombs and "cooking" up mayhem. This book tries to teach honest and peaceful ways to be self sufficient and encourages you to contantly plan, even when plans fail, plan some more and to not continue living a mundane life. It talks about building things from junk, getting involved with proactive groups like Food not Bombs, screenprinting, mental health and peaceful ways to protest( which of course many of these are still considered crimes by government so partake in those activities at your own risk). One of my favorite quotes from this book is taken right from the beginning..." You cannot make a revolution that distributes power equally except by learning firsthand how to exercise and share power-- and that exercising and sharing, on any scale, is in itself the ongoing, never concluding project of revolution. "
 I also love the quote on the very inside of the book "....to create, by any means necessary, a situation that goes beyond the point of no return. "