Proenneke's story is a captivating one. I'd run across several short videos of his cabin-making and Alaskan wilderness experience on YouTube, and recommend them strongly. This profile offers more background on his life and philosophy.
As a software engineer who creates things that in a sense aren't 'real' - I have always felt the need to have another outlet in which I can create something real, something tangible. Watching the "Alone in the Wilderness" videos and seeing Dick create everything from his house to tools to utensils from hand is just simply astounding.
I've had the opportunity at times to work on tangible products and it is a very different vibe. There's also something about working at your own scale, and on something you'll use directly.
