My Friends and I Bought an Island • Hacker News Board

Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island

#321

Post by liotier » Tue, Sep 17, 2013, 8:20 AM UTC

eldavido wrote: post #225

corresation wrote: post #125

It 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 diffe…

> Water: is this all being brought to the island, > or do you have a plan for on-island desalination?

A that latitude, collecting rainwater and maybe sterilizing it is a plentiful source of drinking water

Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island

#322

Post by mcv » Tue, Sep 17, 2013, 8:25 AM UTC

Nicholas_C wrote: post #126

I hate to be the Debbie Downer but this seems like something that feels really cool and fun at first but then loses it's novelty after a while and then gets forgotten about.

If they cleaned it up and improved it a bit, they might be able to sell it at a profit.

Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island

#323

Post by icebraining » Tue, Sep 17, 2013, 8:30 AM UTC

base698 wrote: post #245

brandall10 wrote: post #157

Just 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…

Not common place before 2008? A lot of anti materialism propaganda started way before that: AdBusters, Culture Jam and lots of other films that were even main stream.

And much sooner than those there was the whole counterculture movement of the 60s. Anti-materialism is about as old materialism itself.

Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island

#324

Post by lostlogin » Tue, Sep 17, 2013, 8:43 AM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #308

lostlogin wrote: post #307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This always blows my mind. Our last house was 85 square metres and our current is 95. With a small child we need a little more, but any more than 120 is just too big. Too much crap accumulates, too much cleaning, too much maintenance (I could prep and paint the whole interior of our house in 2-3 coats in a week after work in pretty sure). Property taxes cost more with bigger houses and things get complex fast. For ex…

Those were the lot sizes, houses in the US/Canada are typically a little larger than those in Europe. Property taxes in the US/Canada are a small fraction of those in Europe.

oh, that changes everything.

Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island

#325

Post by tedunangst » Tue, Sep 17, 2013, 8:50 AM UTC

raldi wrote: post #250

tedunangst wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well defined borders. You're either on the island, or not. Neither you nor your neighbors are likely to wander across the border without noticing.

Nope, that's not it. Proof: Would you get excited about a story of someone buying a five acre plot of land with a fence around it? Or a moat-like trench?

There's an aesthetic appeal to natural vs man-made barriers.

Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island

#326

Post by jackgavigan » Tue, Sep 17, 2013, 9:03 AM UTC

ballard wrote: post #265

npsimons wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a SAR guy, I can say the big big thing is the first aid (plus CPR). It sounds like you're relatively close to civilization, but realize that if someone has to come to help you, they're likely not going to be there within the Golden Hour ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_hour_%28medicine%29 ). That, and just being prepared in general (ten essentials: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Essentials and knowing how…

Yep. Life is fragile. One subtle mistake can be game over (McCandless) Non-nonsense survival guide: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0762448180 Also: man vs wild (television)

> Also: man vs wild (television)

I would very strongly advise AGAINST emulating Bear Grylls' antics in 'Man vs Wild'. He often does things that are the complete and total opposite of what you should do. One example that stuck in my mind was when he (supposedly) needed to cross a mountain and decided, instead, to go through the mountain via a cave, which is possibly the most stupid idea I've ever heard. He arguably puts young people at risk by encouraging such dangerous behaviour. Lofty Wiseman (author of the SAS Survival Guide) has described him as an "idiot".

Also, while the TV show portrays him as roughing it in the wild, the truth is somewhat different: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-470155/How-Bear-Gryl...

Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island

#327

Post by Jugurtha » Tue, Sep 17, 2013, 9:20 AM UTC

This is amazing ! It crossed my mind but didn't put thoughts on how to actually buy an island.

Apparently this one cost less than 100k (which can't even buy an apartment in a crappy place). I shared the link with a couple of friends.

Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island

#328

Post by meerita » Tue, Sep 17, 2013, 9:20 AM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #3

Lots 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…

I've thought the same: no hospitals near = serious problem.

Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island

#329

Post by Jugurtha » Tue, Sep 17, 2013, 9:40 AM UTC

BrandonMarc wrote: post #306

worldsayshi wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a Swede; yes, that does sound a bit weird: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_to_roam

Sadly the US is a bit different. If a guest injures themself, they can sue you and win. If a tresspasser injures themself while you're not there, they can sue you and win. Heck, we even have reports of theives injuring themself and then turning around, suing the owner in court, and winning.

Are you serious ? What kind of nonsense is that and who invented those legal concepts ?

Re: My Friends and I Bought an Island

#330

Post by jacquesm » Tue, Sep 17, 2013, 9:48 AM UTC

Jugurtha wrote: post #329

BrandonMarc wrote: post #306

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sadly the US is a bit different. If a guest injures themself, they can sue you and win. If a tresspasser injures themself while you're not there, they can sue you and win. Heck, we even have reports of theives injuring themself and then turning around, suing the owner in court, and winning.

Are you serious ? What kind of nonsense is that and who invented those legal concepts ?

Yes, he's serious. On an Island where I lived (which was connected with a bridge to the mainland) a couple of teenagers in their car got lost dressed for a party in -20 celsius weather. They stumbled onto someone's lot, then got out of the car and walked around searching for help. (200 sq km island, lots of unmarked roads and nasty woodlands). By the time they were found one of them had frostbite and lost a couple of toes. They sued the owner of the land and the municipality because no 'no trespassing' signs were posted and won.

Pretty sad.