We Homestead An Island

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At one time or another, almost everyone has dreamed of living in his or her own private island paradise. Maybe it's because TreasureIsland or Robinson Crusoe once captured our imagination. Maybe it's because we've just become fed up with the pollution and crime and constant hassles of modern society. Or maybe it's just because. Whatever, it's nice to know that the more adventurous souls among us are still making that particular dream come true.

My greatest content would be to desert all human society. I would retire ... to a solitary island in the sea, would build a boat and shut upon my retreat the flood gates of the world.
Shelley

If you've ever wanted to own and live on your own island ... well, stop dreaming about it! My wife and I are proof positive that such an idle fantasy can be converted into delightful reality. Or, to put it another way: If we could buy and homestead our very own island, anybody can.

WE WERE PENNILESS WHEN WE MADE THE JUMP

A few years ago, when I was still a penniless theological student, Cindy and I and another couple fell in love with McLeod's Island ... a 90-acre chunk of North American wilderness off the coast of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. Although the asking price for the water-bounded piece of property was only $5,800, or $2,900 per couple ... that was about $2,900 more loose cash than Cindy and I had to our names at the time.

Still, it never hurts to ask. And we did ask a local banker (we lived in Now Jersey at the time) about the possibility of a loan. And he did take pity on a couple of poor Mother Earthers. And we did get the money! Hey! We were home free! We could buy our island! Buoyed up as we were by our incredible good fortune, we had no trouble putting in the necessary time at YMCA odd jobs (everything from pool attendant to camp counselor) to earn the dollars we needed to make the monthly payments on the loan.

By the time I graduated from school (June 1974), we had received our Canadian immigration papers ... and we were ready to retire to McLeod's Island (our island!) for a summer of diving, foraging, and tree chopping.

It was a glorious summer. But we did still owe $2,000 on the property, so-in October-we began a now phase in our lives: For the next one and a hall years, we slaved away the weeks in the city (Sydney, Nova Scotia) and spent our weekends finishing off a log cabin out on the island.

Finally, In May of 1976?at last!—we had the bills all paid and were ready to live on our island full time. So we packed a tailless cat, two ducks, and ten chickens into a two-place kayak ... and paddled off to paradise.

PARADISE HAS A PRICE ...

Lost I make our current way of life sound too Idyllic, let me point out that certain dues (in addition to the original purchase price) must be paid by anyone who attempts to live as we now are able to do.