I read another diary online from a man who lived alone on one of the pacific islands. I want to to say that it was in the 1970s but I can't be sure. I think he was originally a New Zealander.<p>It was fascinating reading, describing how the wild pigs on the island would eat his freshly planted vegetable garden and how he hid up a tree at night until they showed up before leaping down to kill one of them. Also the regret he felt after killing the animal.<p>At one point he pulled a muscle in his back and just by chance someone landed on the island a day later and helped nurse him back to health.<p>I've Googled for it now and again but never been able to find the original side (I read the story around 2008).
For those interested in this story, you may also like the documentary "Alone In The Wilderness" by PBS. It's a great story of a man that lived alone for 30 years in the Alaskan wilderness.<p><a href="https://shop.pbs.org/alone-in-the-wilderness-dvd/product/ALWL401" rel="nofollow">https://shop.pbs.org/alone-in-the-wilderness-dvd/product/ALW...</a>
> During all his years on the island, Morandi says he has never gotten sick, a quality he attributes to "good genes."<p>I bet reduced contact with other humans helped as well!
He appears to interact with tourists, so although the island doesn't have any other permanent inhabitants he does interact with other people, so not alone for 28 years.
Also, a Japanese guy has lived on an island “alone” for roughly the same time:<p><i>Japan’s Naked Island Hermit: VICE INTL (2014)</i> <a href="https://youtu.be/ZBtBePnUOZU" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/ZBtBePnUOZU</a><p>The thing is there are varying degrees of hermitage and a true hermit obviously doesn’t give interviews. ;)
At a much lower level, HN readers may enjoy this guy's blog.<p><a href="https://primitivetechnology.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">https://primitivetechnology.wordpress.com/</a><p>He started out with stone tools (that he made himself) and is now up to the level of experimenting with smelting iron.
You don't know how many times I've been tempted to become a monk (not hermit) in a cloistered community and just forget the world entirely. The world is ugly, complex and full of things designed to drive you nuts. But I would have give up programming, so I soldier on. Simplifying your life is very difficult if you have to participate in a world that expects so much of everyone. I have no desire to be alone all the time though which is one reason I refuse to work remotely. If I did ditch everything it would only work if I truly left everything behind.
The article definitely appeals to anyone with a Robinson Crusoe fantasy. Framed less generously, you could be reading about a squatter on public land supported by bi-weekly food shipments.<p>Somewhat related, the homesteading culture is pretty vibrant and full of tech savvy folks like Jaimie Mantzel. His island fortress series is fascinating:
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1p7jFXjL7Q0qMii08oAeAQ" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1p7jFXjL7Q0qMii08oAeAQ</a>
This man was not alone on an island for 28 years. He may have lived by himself but that's no real feat, especially considering he was not alone. People live in big cities "alone for 28 years" or even longer.<p>People live like this without being in a tropical paradise, why is this getting attention? People are fascinated with the idea that they too could live on a deserted island (but of course this island wasn't deserted when he landed).