Complicated Simplicity by Joy Davis

Author:Joy Davis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heritage House
Published: 2019-03-13T16:00:00+00:00

And Eric Nicol, on Saturna, reflects that “no matter how much you allow for unanticipated costs, these always exceed the estimate by roughly $100,000. But not to fret. You are choosing a very satisfying way of going bankrupt.”26

With all this to keep in mind, it’s not surprising that some prospective islanders are put off by the complications of actually building even something simple on their perfect island. But almost everyone who builds on an island describes the task of settling in as deeply satisfying. It’s the “perfect excuse to be out in this pristine environment,” according to Chic, and Kathy adds, “I will try anything if it is helpful.” Roger speaks of the immense pleasure of getting jobs done, while Judith comments on her deep sense of integration with the land. For Elizabeth Arthur, it’s also about better understanding how buildings work. “A house used to contain any number of secrets in its walls. Why did the water gush from the taps, just so? How did the floor support my weight; what was really beneath its surface? At what point had the doorways appeared in the walls? When I walked into a house, a peculiar weakness beset me. Because I could not fathom the reasons behind the shape of things, they had power over me.”27

Rob Wood sums up the pleasures of building on island, particularly when creativity is not inhibited by mainland norms. “Dwellings made from local materials that blend into their surroundings with elegant simplicity invariably possess a timeless quality that expresses unique, personal joy and pride in the instinctive process of human nest building.” He goes on to say that “fantasy alone could not possibly have replicated the depth of pleasure the actual experience would turn out to be. It’s almost as if all my previous adventures had been preparing me for this. What an incredible bonus the Canadian wilderness offers for those brave enough to commit to living beyond the grid. It allows absolute freedom to manifest this basic human impulse unfettered by all the conventional codes and standards intended to protect us from our own mistakes.”28 Sy shares Rob’s pleasure in creating an island home near Nelson Island. “It’s a labour of love.”

There’s a wonderful reciprocity about building a home on an island. Even as you make your imprint, the island changes you. All the stories I heard about the creativity, ingenuity, learning, and satisfactions inherent in building something special were really stories about people beginning the process of becoming islanders.

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