What It's Like To Live In The Middle Of Nowhere

I live in a city now where even nestled in bed in my apartment with my windows closed, I can't escape people. Right now, people are washing cars outside my window, moving furniture above me, and having loud conversations near bus stations. So maybe it's just me, but reading this Reddit thread where people talk about what it's like to live in the middle of nowhere made me want to get up and move to, like, a remote town in Alaska or something. I mean, seriously: "I live in a roadless village of 50 in Southeast Alaska," one commenter says. "It is accessible by boat or seaplane. We get together on the beach or at the dock and have fire, food, and drink. We play music, we hike around picking mushrooms and berries, we fish and hang out at the lake. We have potlucks and birthday parties. We have dinner parties where everyone brings something they have grown, foraged, fished, or hunted. Good times."

Doesn't that sound better than hearing random sirens constantly?

It's not all fun — some people complain that their small towns are boring, or that because it's so far north (many remote settlements are at the poles of the earth) that winters bring on serious depression. Many people in small communities also say their towns suffer from poverty and drug and alcohol problems, especially with meth. But even in these struggles, the way of life is fascinating to me, as a city dweller. Here are some of the best stories from the thread; head on over to AskReddit for more.

1. From An Iñupiaq Woman Who Lived In Kotzebue, Alaska:

She also said, predictably, that you pretty much have to ask your family if the person you have a crush on in the community is related to you. Because chances are, they are.

2. From Someone Who Lived In Brier Island, Nova Scotia, Canada:

The population of the community was about 400.

3. From Someone Who Has Stayed At A Research Base On One Tree Island In the Great Barrier Reef:

According to the poster, it takes three hours and two boats to get there.

4. From Someone Who Grew Up In Punalu'u, Hawaii:

In case you're wondering, this is what a glass float looks like.

5. From A Poster On A Remote Indian Ocean Island:

Ice = meth.

6. From Someone Who Lived On An Indigenous Reservation Near Ontario:

Images: Dale Carlson/Flickr