A self-confessed nomad has revealed she’s been living alone on a remote island in British Columbia for the past two years after landing a job as a caregiver.
Amanda, who goes by the social media handle @amandaoffgrid and doesn’t share her last name, talked about her unconventional off-grid lifestyle in a YouTube video for Exploring Alternatives.
In the short documentary, she explains that she never feels lonely and that she is usually afraid to drive to the next town to get supplies or go to the doctor.
During the summer months, the island’s owners visit for four to eight weeks, but otherwise Amanda’s only company is her dog Peaches and the local wildlife, including “bears, cougars, wolves, lots of deer and humpback whales.”
Amanda, who goes by the social media handle @amandaoffgrid and does not disclose her last name, has spoken about her unconventional lifestyle on YouTube in search of alternatives
In the short documentary, she explains that she never feels lonely and that she is usually afraid to drive to the next town to get supplies or go to the doctor.
In the summer months, the island owners come to visit for four to eight weeks, otherwise Amanda’s only company is her dog Peaches.
Local wildlife includes “bears, cougars, wolves, lots of deer and humpback whales.”
Amanda lives in a small cabin on the island that was “probably built about 25 years ago.”
As for how she ended up on the island, Amanda said she burned out after living in downtown Vancouver in her 20s and bought a 28-foot boat to escape city life.
She lived on her sailboat in Vancouver for about ten years, but when her previous dog, Buttercup, got older, she decided to return to the land.
The caretaker job came about after she posted an ad on Facebook, and the rest is history.
As for accommodation, Amanda lives in a small cabin on the island that was “probably built about 25 years ago.”
The traveler says about the house: “It’s beautiful and cozy and it’s just perfect for me.”
“There is a nice kitchen [and] There is a small dining area…and there are two bedrooms.
“The cabin is heated 100 percent with a wood stove [which] Keeps it nice and warm in the winter.’
In addition to Amanda’s cabin, there is another on the rock that is rented out by Airbnb in the summer, and there is a larger property where the island owners stay when they visit.
There is a boat on the island that she can use to go to town for “doctor appointments and grocery shopping,” which she can use in the winter with a neighboring island because it is covered.
To supplement her income, Amanda works as a freelance web designer. The island has satellite internet so it can connect with the outside world.
To keep her friends in Vancouver updated on her escapades, Amanda decided to start YouTube and TikTok accounts.
In addition to Amanda’s cabin, there is another on the rock that is rented out on Airbnb in the summer, and there is a larger property where the island’s owners live
So that she can go to town for “doctor appointments and grocery shopping,” there is a boat on the island that Amanda can use
Their duties include chopping firewood, mowing the lawn and maintaining the greenhouse
Since the island is protected, Amanda is not allowed to cut down trees, so she cuts down trees that have already fallen, or she says that many pieces of wood are washed away with the tide.
In the winter, temperatures drop and the island gets snow for about two weeks and has big storms, which Amanda says “can be a little scary.”
There is cell service in certain parts of the island, but Amanda says she can’t remember the last time she called.
Going by what her daily routine looks like, the islander says she works on the website for about three hours every morning before moving on to her web design work.
Their duties include chopping firewood, mowing the lawn and maintaining the greenhouse.
Since the island is protected, Amanda is not allowed to cut down trees, so she cuts down trees that have already fallen, or she says that many pieces of wood wash out during high tide.
In winter, temperatures drop and snow falls on the island for about two weeks. There are big storms that, according to Amanda, “can be a little scary.”
Another terrifying aspect of living alone on the island is the bear population. That’s why she always has bear spray with her in case they meet up close.
Thanks to the additional solar panels, the island is almost completely self-sufficient.
There is a well that provides drinking water and some vegetable products can be grown in the greenhouse.
In the dark months, four generators keep everything going.
Looking ahead, Amanda says she plans to stay on the island for a long time.
She muses: “I think I’ll try to get off my sailboat this summer and explore this area because it’s so beautiful.
“I’m a bit of a nomad, but I really enjoy being here.” I can definitely see myself staying here for the next few years.
“It definitely taught me that I don’t need much to be happy…The isolation is something I really enjoy and I love the solitude. ‘It’s so peaceful, so quiet, so quiet.’
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
