Sounds pretty anti-social to me, which is a bit surprising coming from a sociology teacher. I would have expected someone like you (left leaning) to be all in favor of seeking out others and giving to the society as much as you can, trying to find and maybe show that a different system is possible ... not to turn inwards and focus on your individual self ...

Trying to become self-suficient - isn't that the reflex of someone who is afraid of the others, of society, who is anxious that he won't be able to rely on the others or even that he might need to rely on others at moments ? Isn't that a rather mysanthropic reflex ?

Anyway, this post underscores neatly that "freedom" and "social engagement" (or "duty") are pretty much opposites ...