"I bought an Island" ... on a blog about minimalism...
Hehe I had that exact comment written, then I hit ctrl-f and it happened that you beat me
My Friends and I Bought an Island
221–230 of 405 posts
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#222Congratulations! This is something I've always thought would be cool too. 5 acres is a good size, large enough that you can feel "away" when you are in the middle of it, but not so big that you can actually get lost. Some suggested next steps. Get a good aerial survey done, with pictures. This will help in planning, in disputes, and later in figuring out what it looked like before that thing that just happened, happe…
Random tips from my own private island experience… People may visit when you are not there. In the US, the shoreline up to some strangely defined highwater mark (which is higher than you expect) is public. Canada has a similar deal related to crown lands (you may own the island, but the bit under the water, not so much). These visitors have every legal right to hang out, have a picnic, play jarts, whatever. When you…
Maybe you could install a remotely/motion activated speaker system that plays the smoke monster noise from Lost to scare away visitors (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-M8P14u_G8)
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#223In sweden you dont have to buy an island. All the island are free to camp at. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_to_roam
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#224Just for people new to who Tynan is, he's a pretty far out guy. Some things I recall (sorry haven't kept up over the years) 1) Ran a successful professional online poker playing business, actually hired employees and trained them to predictably win. 2) Was one of the main characters in the book The Game (yes, that PUA one). 3) Did polyphasic sleep experiments in earnest (was it a couple months or so?). 4) Had a giant…
He's also been living out of an RV for a while.
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#225It sounds like you guys really thought this through (with the LLC, etc), however I can't shake the feeling that you're going to find this a bit like owning a boat: it sounds like much more fun before you actually do it. Five acres is slightly more land than I have (in the exurbs of Toronto), and is almost certainly much more awkward, with less usable space. I mention that because I can't imagine trying to facilitate…
I can't see the appeal of this at all. Random list of why:
Inevitable fights/headaches when one person wants out -- yes, you planned for it, but it's still a hassle.
All the pains of homeownership (leaky roofs, pipes, HVAC problems, etc.) x 1000 due to difficulty of getting a construction crew to the island.
Lack of a police force to enforce basic property rights against squatters/hunters/other "intruders" with different ideas about the meaning of "private propety" than you
Water: is this all being brought to the island, or do you have a plan for on-island desalination? Are you prepared to regularly service the desalination plant and/or haul giant jugs of water to the island constantly?
Medical care: when someone breaks a leg, steps on a sharp stick, etc., where is the nearest hospital?
This article reminds me why we live in a market economy, because tastes and preferences differ, and there's no way I'd buy this, but great if you guys want to.
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#226What about visa? Do I get some kind of resident visa if I buy an island in Canada?
No, but US citizens and green card holders can visit Canada for up to 6 months as a tourist without a visa.
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#227Earlier quoted context omitted.
It depends entirely on the size and power of your military.
How so? Then I can buy any kind of land and claim it as my own :)
Yes you can, you still have to have a powerful enough military to defend your claim. In fact, given a large and powerful enough military you don't have to buy the land before claiming it.
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#228Lots 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…
For people who are confused: A widowmaker is a dead tree that could fall, and kill somebody [in the namesake a probably-male logger]; thereby creating a widow.
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Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#229Not all Canadian Islands are so cheap. Here's a single family island for 14.4 Million in Muskoka - http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=133556...
Muskoka is right in cottage country in Ontario. huge, huge difference from an island near Edmundston.
Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island
#230I 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.
Everything depend son the municipality and province you live in. I can't speak for Halifax area, but on Lake of the Woods and surrounding unincorporated area, Ministry of Ontario is the governing body. Floating docks do not require a permit, but for the most part, you aren't allowed to modify the shoreline, except under direct permission from Ontario and/or the Department of Fisheries (Federal). You are allowed to bu…
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