Could you live on an island?

Scenario:

500 acre island. Location can be either Tropical or Temperate. You can have as many guests as you would like, but cannot leave for 5 years. On the island you live in the same house you live in now.

There is one 4 legged animal ( goat/ sheep , pig, deer ) that is available for hunting ( keep in mind population is limited as your on an island, so you wouldn’t want to hunt every day ) fishing is an option along with whatever wild fowl comes across. Internet, TV and all that exists and you will have 3 hours access daily to be online, phones during this time and books at your disposal are whatever you currently have in your home. Food and dry goods are delivered bi-weekly, but you’re not lacking for modern items or having to catch/kill your dinner as your only means to eat. Hunting and fishing would be more recreational than survival.

Could you do it comfortably?

Assuming I don't have to work to pay the bills, and I can fish, sign me up! Ive got a pretty good library and I assume I could download ebooks during my daily internet time. I lived in Alaska for about 3 1/2 years with no TV, so I'm sure I'd be fine.

No working for income, whatever labor you do is to improve the situation on the island. Tools at your disposal is whatever you currently own. Fishing is an option 100% of the time from the shore.

I would pay a significant sum.of.money for this arrangement.

Absolutely. You can keep the internet and tv too. And I’d prefer to enact a very strict limitation on guests.

Do I have to allow guests?

I’ll go days without talking with anyone in person right now. I have found peace in the silence and solitude. I think I’d do just fine on the island.

Yes I could do it. I go weeks without seeing or talking to anybody other than the wife and we don't talk very often. The older I get the more I turn into a hermet.

This sounds a lot like retirement. We love to travel and eat out, so not doing that would probably get boring on occasion, but if I could have my house and family I would be pretty comfortable and plenty happy. I'm not saying I would want to do it, but I could if I had to.

I could easliy do it and would not want phone or internet.

Your post sounds kind of like a prepper post, which fine. I would say no to the 500 acre part if I was the only one there. That is too much to guard.

I would be leery of the IT reliability.

I would rather be wherever ntxtrapper is, west TX ranch, etc. than on that island.

It's not very appealing to me. Many places I still want to go see and history to visit.

Why is this a question? Yes. All my Caribbean trips are baby step practice runs.

What's the catch?

I'll call it Fantasy Island

Include a mute Mary Ann who can cook and this scenario would be absolutely perfecto.

What's the catch?

Easy peasy

Can I stay longer than 5 years.

Is this a real question Well heck yes

Lol how do you get that this is a prepper post?

There is no catch. It’s just to see how many people, given most of their modern comforts, would be content staying in more or less one spot for an extended stay. 500 acres isn’t a postage stamp but it isn’t sprawling either. There would be no change of scenery, can’t leave the island. Visitors are allowed, but they have to come to you and not vice versa. Travel would be on them to get to the island and on them to get off the island. So think of your current friends/family and who would actually make that venture?

Personally, I would have a harder time with it, after a certain amount of time I would start to feel claustrophobic I think. Might take 6 months but I like to travel around and see different things.

This is the THF, expect the unexpected when you post

I try to stay inside 70 acres for four days straight.

And when it's time to leave, I don't want to.

Whole lot of old Police and old Firemen get a major distain for people in general.

wait i get to spend everyday with my wife and kids for five year, with out BS democrat brainwashing

hell ya Im in!!!!

Agreed, sounds like heaven on earth.

500 acres isn't a very big land mass. The term island fever comes to mind. Could probably do it for a year. Five years is a long time. Would Jerry Jones still be GM after five years?

Yes, and Keith Richards is still with us as well

So would your wife and kids be ok with that arraignment as well? My kids would go nuts. My wife would be ok for awhile I think.

A friend from high school was dodging a grand jury for participating in the " White Oil " scandal up in the panhandle, I believe this was in the
late 80's.
He lived on a island off Belize ( no facilities of any kind, he arranged for someone bring out drinking water and supplies) for almost a year. He said it was fun for a while .

There is a lighthouse about 30 miles off the Belize coast, I was on a fishing trip many years ago and we stopped at the lighthouse for lunch.

The island was maybe 2 acres with a 1/4 acre cleared and a small hut built at the base of the lighthouse. The old man whose was the light keeper
would build a fire from coconut leaves daily about lunchtime. Charter boats in the area would stop and cook a shore lunch. I struck up a conversation with
the old fellow . He had been doing this since WW2, He looked ancient , but said he would go to the mainland about once a month to visit his girlfriend.
the fishing and dive charter boats would bring him beer and other supplies. He seemed very happy. there was a dive boat there at the same time
we were. I overheard on of the divers say " it is beautiful , but how long could you be happy living here ? " About two weeks would be enough" was the answer.

MO

Could.
But not for me.

X2

Sounds like retirement to me, at least I think something similar is what I’ve been working my life towards…

I’ve stayed a week at my place once without leaving. It’s enjoyable but there is a big difference between 7 days and 1800 plus days

It’s not the people part that would necessarily bother me, it’s the labeling confined to a certain place.

That’s why I said 500 acres. Not tiny like a 5 acre island but not huge like one of the Channel Islands (50k acres plus)

May seem big at first but I’m sure it would shrink on you pretty quick

Yes but in the scenario you provided we don’t worry about work income etc. either. I could easily stay at the ranch and occupy myself… if I have to have the wife and kids it might be a no go.

I could do it in a heartbeat. I used to think my wife wouldn't, but the longer we go into some things the more she might be willing to do that. It would need to be a warm beach for her, nice white sand.

My ideal would probably be a more temperate island, but I would do just fine on a tropical one with her as well. Plus we would get some visitors with a nice beach.

Yep, count me in.

no, you don't have to worry about work, income or anything else. For simplicity's sake, lets say you will continue to receive your current salary each year for every year you stay.

You can choose to have the wife and kids with you, but they are free to come and go ( or not go to the island at all ) but you cannot leave.

May work for some of you youngsters, but us olds need to regularly see Dr's.

that's how I live here at the lodge. I just have a lot more tech access. lol on my 9th yr. too.

I really think I would be fine. Since I'd have all the tools and equipment I have now, I would never be bored. Cutting and hauling timber, making roads, hunting and fishing.

Wish I could test this theory and let you know 5 years later my thoughts on it.

Really cool story! Thank you for sharing!

Old Soldiers too! We just want to be left alone. I would absolutely love this! I hate my cell phone. I remember all those years I didn't have one. I search for solitude in most of what I do. I have lived on islands in the past So no problem there.

Yes

Whats the longest you have gone without leaving the property?

This scenario simple sounds like me on vacation.

yes in a heart beat. Both kids are young so its an easy transition. No post pandemic/biden work stress… When do we start

Im already looking for property in Montana. I thought about selling out ranch and everything and just getting out of this rat race.

When do we leave?

I mention this to my wife just about every day. Having two high school age kids makes it tough

Curveball…..there is one other inhabitant of the island….Texas Dan

Does ganja grow wild on said island

For about 5 minutes.

4 years and 9 months I will be living on one like this. Selling everything I own.

I have known 4 people that lived on various islands. They all eventually got island fever and couldn’t wait to get back to the mainland. Those islands were St Eustacious, St Croix, and Oahu.

Ditto - guess I am weird but I enjoy being around friends family and people - I enjoy interacting with those around me - I could do an island for a vacation and love it but for 5 years?? Nope --Butt ............. to each his own - if you are into it then more power to you

Sounds more like a vacation to me, Im in

I don't know...I remember that congressman who was concerned Guam could get overloaded and turn over. If Guam can turn over... I'd be very hesitant on a smaller island...

That was classic. Wish someone would repost that. We all need a good laugh.

...nah, that's not really what I meant... y'all didn't understand me...



PS And he's still in office!

I did a deal with an agent about a year ago who sold their place in Del Rio ( nice live water property with some rental cabins ) bought a sailboat and now her and her husband are sailing around the world with their two young kids. I think they are around the French Polynesian islands currently.

Pretty wild stuff but imo those are people who are truly free.

Mickey, thanks so much for reposting that. I dont think I ever laugh at anything more than that. I dont know how that Admiral kept a straight face. Him struggling to try and describe the size and shape of the island was as bad as the tumping over part.
And TxTro, this is very pertinent to your thread. A 500 acre island is much smaller and the risk of capsizing much greater.

I seriously think I could do it , I cherish the time alone . Totally quiet and no one else around. Of course after a few months that feeling may change but I’d love to give it a try

Island fever is real. Theres a refinery on kuai. They cant keep workers there longer than 2 years before they have to get off the island permanently. Its a revolving door .

i think id be alright on wildhorse island

Me too, my only alone time is Fri and Sat nights and I really look forward to them

I will stay up to 1-2 am reading...its the only time I get without my phone ringing or someone wanting

I am tellin ya, I could do it

Oklahoma rifle season is my only other time all year where I can turn the phone and people wants off, I love it

That would be a cool place to go. It’s a bit bigger at 2100 acres, but with Mule Deer and sheep, the fall season would be fun.

Would spend my time trying to kill a slammer Muley with my recurve.

the lake is beautiful also.