In My Side of the Mountain, why did Sam think about going back into the woods after he saw his father at the end of the book?

Young Sam Gribley has been living off the land for more than a year, in the Catskill Mountains north of New York City. He initially ran away from home and his large family so he could live on his own. But gradually, over the months, people have been learning about him and his whereabouts. Photographers and reporters have come up the mountain to see him. It’s obvious that his time here – at least, his...

Young Sam Gribley has been living off the land for more than a year, in the Catskill Mountains north of New York City. He initially ran away from home and his large family so he could live on his own. But gradually, over the months, people have been learning about him and his whereabouts. Photographers and reporters have come up the mountain to see him. It’s obvious that his time here – at least, his time alone – is in jeopardy. In the last chapter, “In Which The City Comes to Me,” Sam hears his father’s voice calling him from the woods. He can hear lots of other sounds too, like many more people crashing through the brush to see him. Is this what he wants? Does he want to be taken back to civilization and dependency? Or does he want to retreat even further back in? He runs away for a few minutes, then decides to turn back strictly because he wants to see his father again. It turns out that his mother and brothers and sisters have come along, too. They have a joyous reunion. His father tells him they are building a house and will all be moving here. Sam’s emotions are torn over this news, but in the end, he may understand that he now has the best of both worlds.