Skip to main content

24 years in the making, this handmade floating island is the stuff of dreams

Off the Grid on a Homemade Island
Catherine and Wayne King don’t mess around when it comes to living off the grid. They built themselves their own private island in a secluded cove off the coast of Vancouver Island in Canada, and they have been enjoying this alternative life for over twenty-four years.

As a child, Wayne built treehouses. As an adult, he put those talents to good use. Wayne built the entire 500-ton floating structure by hand, with his chief tools being a hammer and a saw. From above, the man-made island looks like a jumble of buildings surrounded by a sea of plants. The Kings even have their own dance floor and lighthouse. The home is tethered to the shore and only accessible by water.

When asked if he ever gets seasick, Wayne humorously replies “No, but when I go on land I get land sick.” The couple, who are artists, weren’t able to buy real estate, so they had to create it themselves. They soon found that subsistence living was a great option for them. It allows them to have all their basic needs met and to create art and be independent.

Catherine grows the couple’s produce in four floating greenhouses. Clayoquot Sound, where the couple set up their floating paradise, has abundant natural resources.  On nice days, Wayne paddles his canoe out into the cove and fishes. When the water is rough or the weather doesn’t cooperate, he is content to fish right from the living room through a fishing window in the floor.

Away from the hustle and bustle of city living, the couple has thrived in their unconventional surroundings. They couldn’t imagine having things any other way. In regards to their lifestyle, Catherine says “I feel completely fulfilled.” Wayne joked, “That’s great honey. I’m working on it.”

Editors' Recommendations

Anthony Thurston
Anthony is an internationally published photographer based in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Specializing primarily in…
The best smart thermostats for 2023
A person operating the Google Nest thermostat.

Adding a smart thermostat to your smart home is an easy way to save money. Not only do many of them offer suggestions on how to lower your electricity usage, but they can adapt to your schedule and automatically change the temperature based on your preferences. They’re a powerful class of smart home products – and in 2023, there are dozens of options to choose from.

However, not all smart thermostats are worthy of a spot on your wall. If you need some help narrowing down all the options, here’s a look at the best smart thermostats. There’s an option for all budgets, along with picks that play nicely with HomeKit, Google Home, and Alexa, so there’s a good chance one of the items below will be a perfect fit for your home.

Read more
The best video doorbells for 2023
A person pressing the Arlo Video Doorbell.

Ring, Arlo, Nest, and Wyze are making the best video doorbells of 2023. Whether you’re shopping on a budget, don’t want to deal with wired connections, or need something high-end to guard your front door, it’s easy to find the perfect video doorbell for your needs.

It’s hard to go wrong with any products from the manufacturers listed above, as they’re all churning out high-quality devices that work exactly as advertised. But if you’re hoping to find the perfect fit for your smart home, here’s a closer look at the best video doorbells available today.

Read more
There’s a big sale on Ring cameras and security devices today
Ring Video Floodlight Camera and Alarm

Ring cameras have become ubiquitous when it comes to home camera systems and smart doorbells, so we're not surprised to see some great Memorial Day sales on a variety of different Ring systems. In fact, there are about 23 different Ring sales you can take advantage of, from the basic doorbell Ring cameras to ones that you mount on the wall and come with floodlights. In fact, you can grab something as cheap as $45 from Amazon, so you should absolutely click on the button below to see all the deals available.

What to shop for in the Amazon Ring Memorial Day sale
Probably one of the most well-known Ring systems is the , which has a $30 discount that brings it down to $95 from $125, and is great if you want a basic smart doorbell for your house. It not only comes with a door chime, but it also has 1080p video, better motion detection, and privacy zones, and is relatively easy to set up if you have a couple of basic tools. Of course, you can likely grab those on Amazon as well if you don't!

Read more