Young Family's Move to Remote Island in Maine Has People Inspired

I consider myself something of a city slicker. I like going out to fun events and shows on the weekend, I love the diversity and culture that come with life in a big city, and I appreciate having essentials like grocery stores, doctor's offices, and post offices within a few miles of my home. But as the stressors of modern life weigh on me, every once in a while I start fantasizing about retreating to a remote, secluded haven surrounded by nature, free from the noise and chaos of the modern world.

One young family took that fantasy and turned it into a reality, going where few families have gone before. Their decision to move to a remote island off the coast of Maine initially shocked their loved ones, but the life they've built for themselves there is actually quite inspiring!

Steve Hartman from @cbseveningnews met with the Waters, a young, hip-looking family of four who made a life-changing move from central Massachusetts to tiny Isle au Haut in Maine. Located miles from the mainland in Penobscot Bay, Isle au Haut only has two businesses - a gift shop and general store - and about 50 year-round residents as of last year. That's when the Isle au Haut community put out an ad in the hopes of attracting some rugged new residents to breathe life into their tiny, dwindling community. The Waters saw that ad and, undaunted by the challenges of living on a remote island, took the bait.

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Understandably, their rather extreme change in lifestyle raised a few eyebrows.

"Oh, our whole family thought we were psychotic," admitted Hannah Waters. "They're like, a remote island? In the middle of the ocean?"

"[I'd] never even been in the ocean," added her husband Dakota, reflecting on their pre-island lifestyle.

The ocean was far from the only novelty of their new life. With only two businesses on the island, Dakota works numerous odd jobs to get by while Hannah keeps chickens and tends to their garden. The Waters' son, Flynn, is one of only two students in the island's K-8 classroom. There are no restaurants, bars, specialty shops, or even emergency rooms!

Living on the remote islands of the Maine Seacoast is challenging, which is why the hundreds of communities that once lived on these islands have dwindled to just around a dozen. But the Waters remain resolute in their decision to leave the modern suburban lifestyle behind.

"People have traded the good life for a convenient one," Hannah told CBS News . "And convenience isn't always the best."

"We have so much more bonding time with the kids," said Dakota. "It's undescribingly wholesome."

The Upsides to Life on Isle au Haut

People like the Waters are few and far between - a "new breed of frontiersmen," as Steve Hartman put it. But while the residents of Isle au Haut and similar neighboring islands have sacrificed the conveniences of life on the mainland, they're not exactly living Laura Ingalls Wilder levels of ruggedness!

According to Isle au Haut's official website , the town also has a post office, a town hall and town office, a church, a library, an electric company, and a volunteer fire department with an EMT on call. Though it may look unassuming, Isle au Haut also boasts "high speed internet, reliable power, and unbeatable boat service," keeping residents connected to the wider world. And while storefronts are few and far between, many of Isle au Haut's residents have started unique cottage industries as independent businesses.

Between these perks, the breathtaking beauty of coastal Maine , and freedom from the chaos of modern life, I can certainly see the appeal. While I don't have the temerity to follow in the Waters' footsteps, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a tiny bit jealous. Maybe I could visit Isle au Haut for a summer vacation someday...

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