OBSESSIONS

of wildlife.”

You heard that right. Gale, a massage therapist who lives in New Jersey, wasn’t allowed to buy the island without proving to Millken that she could survive the night. Most extraordinary.

Stephen King tweeted, “ ere’s a novel here, just waiting to be written.”

“I think people are really interested in the ‘Why would she buy that?’ story,” Gale says. “I’ve had to say no to a lot of other magazines this summer because of this NYT article.” But she does let slip that, “I’m building gardens and redoing some of the inside.” In matters of design, “I like the element of surprise. It’s going to be magni cent.”

Let The Atlantic Be My Moat

Is it the pandemic mindset that’s stirring the surge, or is it something even deeper?

“Islands usually have low demand and low supply,” Milliken says. Recently this has been radically reversed. “Islands still have a very low supply, but the demand is skyrocketing.

“Trapped inside for so long, people are ea- ger to nd their sanctuary. Even though we’re able to travel and be with friends again, many of us still feel that draw to nd our own space. “ ere were countless people who reached out who just weren’t the right kind of person for Maine island living.” Where’s my 5G internet? Are those really just mosquitoes? “ ere’s a large di erence between envisioning your own island with a massive private house” and the stark economy of living on a small isle “completely isolated from society and having to live strictly at the tide’s mercy. It’s my responsibility to make sure the person I sell to can survive on these islands and become an island caretaker. If they don’t even want to take a boat trip out to the island for viewing...” you’ve got to wonder.

Unusual Suspects

Looking for a larger life project? “In the case of Fort Island in Harrington,” Milliken says. “ e guy was from California and eager to get into nature.” e prospect felt pulled o shore due to his strong maritime history. “ e dark, staggered roots of the cabin didn’t scare him o . Far from being nightmarish, the jagged rocks, looming trees, and crashing waves excited him. I knew right away he was the right person for Fort.”

Footprints In The Sand

“Most islands without luxury houses fall below $500,000. Sometimes you’ll nd these islands include ill-maintained structures” or simply the ruins of a forgotten family camp.

“If you’re willing to build your own kingdom from the ground up” with unencompassable silence and the ocean as your neighbors, you’re on your way.

Century City

North Twin Island in North Oxford has “only had two owners in the last 100 years,” says James Eastlack of Morton & Furbish Real Estate.

“My clients have owned North Twin since 1993, and it’s really hard for them to give

• FULL LINE YAMAHA OUTBOARD DEALER AND SERVICE CENTER

• BOAT RENTALS AVAILABLE TO EXPLORE THE BEAUTIFUL MAINE COAST

• HEATED AND UNHEATED INSIDE STORAGE AND OUTSIDE STORAGE it up. Traveling out here is breathtaking. e gentleman has a 14-foot, 6 hp aluminum boat to cover the half mile out to the property. He brings gas canisters, building materials, everything with him. A boat is the only way out in the summer until the pond freezes and you can walk. It’s like going back in time.

“There are only two islands in the Pond in the River. North Twin is the only one with buildings on it,” including a spectacular circa 1930 lodge with viewing porch.

“ e Pond runs into the Rapid River,” where the brook trout whisper to landlocked salmon. “We listed it late last season,” before ice-out—the only explanation for this dream island still being up for grabs.

Taxes are $1,726.

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Ospreys & Sea Smoke

Long Point Island in Harpswell is commanded by “a structured and renovated house,” says Bruce Davis of Engel & VÖlkers. For a cool $3.695M, you’ll get “two four-season cottages with septic, well, on-thegrid power, wireless internet, and a granite driveway that connects the island to the mainland,” tides permitting.

“You feel drawn to the outside here,” say previous owners Ann and Barry White. “It’s

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