I live on a remote island with 15 other people and it takes EIGHT HOURS to get groceries
Island life conjures up visions of white sand and palm trees, but for this woman it’s just the opposite.
Dom Nobes, 32, lives on a small outcrop called Island 203 in Lake Temagami, in northeastern Canada, with 15 other residents and for much of the year she must endure temperatures as low as -40F along with consecutive days of darkness.
On her TikTok account, @readbetweenthepines, the islander describes what life is like from a distance, with everything from her beauty routine to her workday captured on camera.
In one clip, she captures a run to the grocery store with her husband, Rielly.
Dom Nobes (pictured with her husband, Rielly, and dog), 32, lives on a small outcrop called Island 203 in Canada’s Lake Temagami
Dom moved to the Canadian wilderness with her partner and his parents in 2018. For much of the year she has to deal with temperatures as low as -40F
She says the biggest draw of Lake Temagami — which is home to 1,259 islands — is the scenery
She says the journey – which they do every two weeks – can take up to eight hours, as they first have to cross the lake to the mainland by boat or snowmobile, and then the nearest shops are an hour and a half away.
At the store, she explains that groceries are “so expensive” even at the discount store, and she pounces on a pile of lettuce with a price tag of $8.99 each.
Dom moved to the Canadian wilderness with her partner and his parents in 2018.
The couple wanted to start their own business company and they started to set up a small business renting out cottages on the island.
They also have a number of bungalows on the ice that they rent out at Lake Temagami in the winter for ice fishing enthusiasts.
While Dom says it’s “easy to romanticize the idea of living on an island in the middle of nowhere,” she insists it’s not for those who like convenience, as you’re “far away” from everything.
There are no restaurants, bars or clubs near Island 203.
In one TikTok, Dom reveals the pros and cons of island life.
On her TikTok channel, @readbetweenthepines, the islander describes what life is like from a distance, with everything from her beauty routine to her workday captured on camera
Dom and Rielly own a number of bungalows on the ice that they rent out on Lake Temagami in the winter for ice fishing enthusiasts
She says the biggest draw of Lake Temagami – which is home to 1,259 islands – is the scenery and “it’s so damn beautiful here” with “water and trees and nothing else.”
Another advantage is the peace and quiet that island life offers and Dom says it is always very ‘quiet’, with no deafening fire trucks whizzing by as she experienced in the city.
Her latest “pro” is the sense of community she’s found on Lake Temagami.
The outdoor woman explains, “When you live somewhere so remote, even though your neighbors may not be next door, you have a great sense of community because you have to rely on each other when you live in these remote areas.
At the store, she explains that groceries are “so expensive” even at the discount store, and she collaborates on a stack of lettuce priced at $8.99 each
While Dom says it’s “easy to romanticize the idea of living on an island in the middle of nowhere,” she insists it’s not for those who like convenience.
During the winter and spring months, when the ice on the lake freezes or melts, the Nobeses cannot leave their home for up to two weeks.
In preparation for their bi-annual “ice-olation,” the pair must stock up on supplies and get enough produce to get them through.
There are no restaurants, bars or clubs near Island 203
Despite not being the easiest place to live, Dom says it’s “definitely worth being an islander”
“I like the sense of community I have here. I’ve lived in nine places in Ontario [and] I’ve never had such a sense of community as here.’
Turning to the “cons,” Dom says her biggest gripe about living on a remote island is the lack of convenient food options.
When she’s exhausted, she can’t “just order Uber Eats” or “takeout.”
Because of this, Dom says her cooking has improved” and “of course we have cheat stuff in the freezer… but it’s not the same.”
The food situation gets worse during the winter and spring months when the ice on the lake freezes or melts, and for two weeks the Nobeses are unable to leave the house.
In preparation for their bi-annual “ice-olation,” the pair must stock up on supplies and get enough produce to get them through.
There is never a dull moment when you live on an island. Sometimes I rescue someone because the boat broke down and sometimes I deliver flowers with a canoe…
The second thing Dom struggles with is how “mother nature dictates everything you do here” and “when the wind is really blowing, you don’t take your boat across the lake unless you have to.”
Finally, a flip side for Dom is that “emergencies are much more dire and you really have to be prepared to act.”
Because of this, she always carries a first aid kit and resists the urge to take risks or unnecessary risks.
In addition to being armed with first aid skills, Dom says that as an islander in Canada, he may also have other useful skills, such as being able to operate a boat and a snowmobile.
Meanwhile, carpentry and plumbing skills can come in handy, as it’s not always easy to call a contractor.
Despite not being the easiest place to live, Dom says it’s “definitely worth being an islander.”
She concludes: ‘There’s never a dull moment when you live on an island.
“Sometimes I rescue someone because the boat broke down and sometimes I deliver flowers by canoe…some days it’s water sports…some days it’s a nap on the boat after a 12 hour work day, but generally , life on an island is quite nice.’