I wonder, why do Swedes feel the need for independence? Is it a need for security? Or difficulty sharing life with others?

And why does this problem seem to get worse as people gain wealth? Why does increasing affluence seem to always engender greater separation, especially if it makes us less happy?

I don't think this is unique to Swedes. Other north european peoples seem to suffer comparably, like Norgewians. And I think it's common in America too, and seems to arise in communities of all ethnic origin. Wealthy americans of all regional and ethnic extractions seem to follow the same trajectory, I think, with essentially the same outcome.

Wealth seems to breed isolation, and unhappiness. Yet few with wealth ever choose to let go of Xanadu and return to Rosebud.