If you are like most people, then you have probably dreamed about how wonderful it would be to live on an island somewhere. Living close to nature and the beach, away from noisy crowds and people, and enjoying beautiful weather year-round. While there are tons of charms to living the island lifestyle, there are also a lot of drawbacks that might make it less than appealing for some. Here are eight things you should consider before choosing to live on an island.
Why Island Life is Great
The first consideration is a very positive one. Before deciding to move to an island, you should think very carefully and in-depth about the joys and beauties of island life. Having beaches available to you twenty-four seven is a major benefit to living the island lifestyle. You also have great weather to look forward to year-round, as most islands are in tropical areas that get warm and sunny weather most months of the year. There is also plenty of beautiful flora and fauna that is unique to island life. Consider deeply what you love most about island life that makes you want to move; it is a good thing to know specifically.
Medical Treatment
While many islands, particularly larger islands, have decent medical treatment, they are not necessarily the greatest places to get medical treatment in the world. This is not to say anything negative about their quality, but they are often smaller and don’t boast specialist care that is often necessary in today’s medical world. You should consider your needs for intensive medical care or specialized treatment before making the leap into island living. Knowing what your medical needs are will help you plan for the move and understand what islands are the best options for you.
Distance from People You Know
Unfortunately, the people you know, and love are not likely to take the dive with you and move their lives to an island. This means that you will be relatively isolated from your friends and family when you choose to live on an island. This means you may only see the people you love the most once a year, or less. You want to make sure that you are okay with this sacrifice when choosing island life. Flights or other travel to and from islands is often very expensive and not easy to get, particularly around holiday times when plane tickets can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars round trip. Just know that when you choose island life, you are choosing to distance yourself from your current friends and family.
Think of Extra Home Repairs
Islands may boast warm weather most of the time, but the reality is that the rest of the time, islands frequently experience extreme weather, and lots of rain and other water. This can do a lot of damage to your island home, and this means more home repairs. This can be especially apparent in your driveway and other paving in your home space. You should always be repairing your driveway and paving anytime you see any type of damage. Cracks let water into your paving, weakening it and causing further damage. Help yourself out by taking care of damage to your paving as soon as possible and keep your paving seal coated when you can to prevent damage.
Culture Shock
There are not many islands that have any sort of cultural similarities to whatever homeland that you are coming from. Even islands that are a part of the same country you currently live in will have strong cultural differences from what you are used to. This can cause new movers some growing pains, and even some discomfort in their new island home. Whether it is new foods, languages, customs, or expectations, just know that things will likely be different in your island home. Do your research on what day to day life is like on your desired island home to get a good feel for what things might look and feel like in your new home.
More Expensive Necessities
Things tend to cost more on island than on the mainland, and often, they cost a lot more. Everything from food, to gas, to transportation and entertainment costs a pretty penny on islands. This is because of a few reasons. Firstly, everything that is not made and produced exclusively on the island you live on must go through a shipping process, and boat and air shipping cost more than truck delivery. This cost of extra shipping ends up being paid for by the consumer. The other reason is that many islands’ economies are dependent on tourism. This means that many tourists type expenses, like transportation, restaurants, bars, entertainment, etc. cost a lot, to make more money from tourists who will pay whatever price to experience the islands. Just know that you are likely increasing the cost of your essentials when moving to an island.
Expensive Real Estate
It is not going to be easy or cheap to find housing on your new island home. Because islands are a very desirable place to live, and there is limited space on islands, this means that property typically costs a ridiculous amount of money to buy or rent. If you don’t budget properly, you are looking at a very expensive cost of living when living on an island. Make sure that you are ready to pay a premium for island property
Be Ready for a Slower Pace of Life
If you are a busybody who likes to always be on the move and taking care of your business on time, then island life may not be for you. People tend to move slower on an island, there is less pressure, less bustle, and less punctuality when living on an island. If you are bothered by this change of pace, then maybe stick to vacationing on islands rather than living there. Make sure you try it on for size first, with an extended vacation, before making the full dive into life on an island.
Living on an island can be a dream come true. Beaches, warmth, the sun, and the beauty of the islands are certainly perks. But there is also a lot to consider when thinking about moving to an island. It isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Consider all these eight things before making the leap, and you will know if island life is right for you.
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