Wonderful post. Thank you for taking the time to write it. Your writing style is delightful.
About "critical but stable" I believe we are on a verge for a macroscopic change and getting closer day by day. I don't think it will be world war III yet but it will be "pre-ww3" meaning a circa 10 year long time span when we can either fix the non-sense currently ruling our life and society or we perish.
Call me crazy but I'm longing for this to happen. This "hang on" feeling is excruciating.
Thank you for your kind feedback. You may be crazy and you may be right too. The times we live in are enough to drive one crazy with uncertainty and insecurity.