The Movers.com Blog

Living on an island can be the perfect life - or nothing but strife

The desire to move to a remote island is definitely understandable. Who wouldn’t want to get away from it all and live in a place with very little crime and pollution?

As inviting as it sounds, there are many challenges one must face by living on faraway piece of land. Many of things you take for granted in a more populous area won’t be found on your potential new island home. Though you may become part of a small, closely knit community, there are several things you won’t be able to find on a remote island, like a supermarket, bank, or even a job.

If, after weighing the pros and cons, you still wish to move to a remote island, understand that you probably won’t be able to get a moving truck out to your island. Even if your future island home is connected to the mainland by a bridge, there may be a weight limit preventing a moving truck from crossing.

Therefore, your belongings would probably have to be delivered by ship. Depending on how remote the island is, and how far away it is from your present home, this may take a long time. As it can take a while for a shipment to go between two populated areas, it can take an even longer time, and involve several stops and transfers, to make it to your island.

Even if your island is closer to a more populated area, you still may have trouble moving your things over. For instance, if you wish to move to an island close to the mainland, you will have to find a ferry service to transport your goods.

Once you have taken care of the logistics of your island move, you can get everything else in order. For instance, unless you are retired, you will need to find a job. Since the most isolated islands can have internet access these days, you may even be able to work remotely. If you have kids, you should research the school situation. If you are moving to an island with an exceptionally small population, your kids may have to go to a boarding school on another island or on the mainland.

There are several other things you will have to get used to as you adapt to island life. Again, depending on how isolated your island is, you may have to wait a long time for deliveries - not just mail, but all other shipments like food, gasoline, and other supplies. Furthermore, these shipments can be delayed due to weather or a variety of reasons.

Another area that can make living on a remote island difficult is healthcare. Many remote islands don’t have hospitals or medical facilities of any kind. Instead, residents have to take care of themselves and their neighbors. If you have a history of health problems or don’t like the idea of not being able to obtain emergency medical service, moving to a remote island might not be the best thing to do.

There are certainly many factors you have to consider before moving to a remote island. As long as you understand that life won’t be as convenient as it was before, and if you don’t mind “roughing it” a little, living on a remote island can be an incredibly rewarding experience. You will probably develop closer ties to your neighbors, have a less stressful life, and enjoy being away from it all.