I live on an island off the coast of America - ask me anything

[catofdoom]

As requested @IdaBWells

There was a thread before but I can't find it. When Mumsnet has its brain fart a few months ago I could never get back in to my old account.

I live on a little island off the coast of Maine. I moved here after living in London for 15 years.

Have you met Martin Clunes?

I’m imagining it to be very much like The Affair. Not that I’m questioning your lifestyle in that way, like!

@TheoneandObi this year we've grown cucumbers, yellow summer squash, courgettes, aubergines, Thai aubergines, chillies, salad, garlic. spring onions, radish, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, watermelons, okra, peppers, carrots, a few types of beans, and peas.

We've got some fruit trees so get blueberries (the big ones), plums, peaches, raspberries and blackberries.

I make jam from the fruit and can cucumbers, okra and beans. Make loads of tomato sauces for the winter too.

When I moved here and people asked me if I could 'can' I was horrified. I wondered what 1920s hell dh had brought me to.

@user1486131602 there are plenty of lovely men here looking for a good staunch British woman to warm their cockles. Or clams.

@FaithHowellsYellowCoat hahahhahahahaha. No. No cinema. There used to be one I think in the 30's or 40's. And a bowling alley. When they had a steamboat landing.

I took no persuading at all. DH wanted to leave!

@CurlyhairedAssassin haha no! I still haven't managed to watch that! We've gone to some of the further out islands. They really are something else. Two ferries a week. No store. Beautiful but very lonely and bleak.

Not sure I’m coming out then!
I’m divorcing one here and just need some solace and clams! Lobsters too !
I’m looking for someone to look after me, not the other way round , again!!

Most people drink way too much here too. Alcoholism is a huge problem. And opioid addiction. I don't think we have a problem on our island but maybe I'm just not seeing it.

Drug use is rife in the fishing community especially.

Just done a tour via Google Earth and it is an amazing place by the looks of it - very forested. I am very envious although I am not sure I could deal with the spider!

@fourquenelles we don't have the spiders down here. I've not seen one yet but they're apparently a mutant, much bigger wolf spider!!!! Which are HUGE!

You should write a book. I'd buy it.

And then it could be made into a TV series. London city girl moving to the backwoods with her hunky man. It will be a massive hit!

Eeek! But glad to hear that you haven't seen one and that they stay in up the island.

Why can things rather than freeze them? Just wondering as freezing fruit and veg would be my first thought.

If the ferries are so infrequent, how do guests holiday makers get out and about dining wise?

@BoreOfWhabylon hunky is a bit of a stretch. He's not so bad I guess.

I'd LOVE to write a book about my old jobs but I'd be hit with a libel/lawsuit before you could breathe.

Put it this way, The Nanny Diaries are tame compared to what actually happens as a nanny for wealthy US families.

@fourquenelles I'm petrified of spiders. I got bit by one this summer and it turned in to cellulitis and then sepsis and I nearly got blue lighted to the ER. Now I'm beyond scared of them.

Then write a novel with suitable disclaimer

"Any resemblance to any person is purely coincidental...” etc

Marking my place for later

This is a great thread.

I'm sure I read on another of your threads that you have lots of snakes though? Albeit, harmless ones?

Another question do you have bears on the island?
Do you ever get sharks in the water or have I been watching too much Jaws
And thank you again for a fascinating thread!

op thank you for answering. I love the thread!

I’m so impressed with your lifestyle, I feel a bit swoony!

Please tell us a nanny tale! I used to sit for rich families when I worked in a fancy town in Colorado. It was an eye opener for sure. The grandmother had me drive to Walmart but a DVD player and some films to play the children and she paid me £30/hour. This was 20 years ago! I couldn’t believe it.

This is absolutely fascinating! Thank you OP! Your life sounds idyllic, but not without its difficulties.

What do you miss the most about the UK?

Love the thread OP - have friends who live on Isle of Man and Guernsey and love hearing about island life from them

Sounds great to me.

Found you at last catofdoom! Just read through and really love this thread. You should write a screenplay, no really, it's a perfect blend: romance of Brit moving to marry Yankie Islander, year round charming/hardship life, plus three months of the super-rich and famous! It has it all! And spiders. And lobsters. And clams.