Earlier quoted context omitted.
5 figures, not 6....
Total or per?
I would wager a guess that's it's total. He mentions island prices similar to land prices.
My Friends and I Bought an Island
31–40 of 405 posts
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#32I am curious about how and whether building or environment impact codes come into play with this kind of remote private island in Canada. Things like septic systems, building a dock or anything near the shoreline, and even putting in a mooring buoy can be significant challenges to get approved in many US jurisdictions.
I'm curious about this, too. We've done a little research, and it seems like building non-permanent things like sheds and yurts will be fine, but docks, septic, permanent buildings that cost over $5k will need permits.
Then again, there are some pretty janky home-made docks in the bay that seem to have been there for a while.
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#33Congratulations! That's a fantastic project and a very cool retreat. I'm curious about:
- Ownership structure. With 10 of you, how have you prepared for people falling out or wanting out?
- What are you allowed to build on it?
- How do you access it? Do you have to pay a boatman to take you out there?
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#34I wonder if indeed it's completely out of any state's control or it's technically still in a state's jurisdiction. I wonder what would happen if someone bought an island and started hiring people and making money there and not paying any taxes. My guess is that government agents would suddenly become very interested in that piece of land and would pay a visit.
Dean Kamen of Segway fame tried to do this once, albeit only half seriously: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dumpling_Island
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#35What about visa? Do I get some kind of resident visa if I buy an island in Canada?
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#36I am curious about how and whether building or environment impact codes come into play with this kind of remote private island in Canada. Things like septic systems, building a dock or anything near the shoreline, and even putting in a mooring buoy can be significant challenges to get approved in many US jurisdictions.
In lakes the rules are extremely strict, for an island in the ocean the rules are much more permissive. No matter what the rules you typically want to keep your impact as low as possible or your island feeling will soon be replaced by something more akin to living in a small polluted town.
Legally all your island really is is a bit of land surrounded by shoreline and that shoreline is the interesting bit. It may automatically be public access or not depending on where you are, you may be accidentally part of some incorporated town and there may be specific rules governing islands.
I would advice against issuing your own passports but if you happen to have an anti-aircraft gun and an old torpedo lying around you could even consider going sovereign.
And once you successfully pull that off you can do whatever you want with your island ;)
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#37What is it about islands that gives them their mystique? I don't think a post entitled, "My friends and I bought a five-acre plot of land near Halifax" would have garnered as much attention.
I would have never guessed that it would, either. I was pretty shocked to see it here when I loaded up HN on my phone.
When I was inviting friends to be a part of this, there was a big divide... half of them LOVED the idea and felt like an island was something special (as I do), and others just saw it as some difficult-to-access land. I've had a tough time articulating exactly why an island seems special to me.
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#38Lots of widowmakers there judging by the pictures, better be careful. One thing you learn quickly when you live remote is that the nearest hospital is very far away both in space and in time and stuff that is routine in a city can get serious (or even kill you) when you're living remote. Still, congratulations, I can really relate to how you guys feel. In case there are more island enthousiasts here: http://www.priva…
We're actually pretty close to a hospital. Five minutes to shore by boat and maybe 20 minutes to a hospital. Didn't see any scary spiders, but will keep an eye out next time I'm up there!
I think “widowmakers” doesn't refer to spiders, but things to watch out for, like falling trees, slippery ledges, sharp rocks, and so on.
They're one of the “five Ws”—a mnemonic list of things you need (or need to keep away from) to survive in the wilderness: water, weather, wigglies (which would include spiders), widowmakers, and wood.
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#39Lots of widowmakers there judging by the pictures, better be careful. One thing you learn quickly when you live remote is that the nearest hospital is very far away both in space and in time and stuff that is routine in a city can get serious (or even kill you) when you're living remote. Still, congratulations, I can really relate to how you guys feel. In case there are more island enthousiasts here: http://www.priva…
We're actually pretty close to a hospital. Five minutes to shore by boat and maybe 20 minutes to a hospital. Didn't see any scary spiders, but will keep an eye out next time I'm up there!
I suspect he meant "widowmakers" in the "bits of tree that can suddenly fall and kill you" sense, not spider sense: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widowmaker_(forestry)
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#40Back in the early 90's I ran across an island in a lake in British Columbia that was supposedly priced at $35k.