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SELF RELIANT LIVING ON A REMOTE ISLAND (full tour)

There’s a lot to be said about self-reliance and minds far greater than mine have already written extensively on the subject.  But I think Gandhi summed it up nicely when he said, “Everyone wants to be strong and self-sufficient, but few are willing to put in the work necessary to achieve worthy goals”.

Soo damned true!

There’s tremendous freedom to be found in self-reliance, but it does require a lot of work.  Which is why we admire those who are working hard towards it.  And occasionally, we meet some truly inspiring characters who have indeed achieved worthy goals.

The Sheen family on the remote island of Nomuka are now among our faves.  Dave, Tris and Dior have built a unique off-grid, animal-filled, and self-sustainable home.  They are incredible sailors, explorers, nature lovers, and thankfully they are not camera shy.

Join us for a look into what life is like on the remote island of Nomuka in the South Pacific. Complete with climbing trees for food, swimming with horses, and cooling off with a cold coconut at the end of every day.

 

self sustainable living off grid

More Sheen’s

You can learn more about Dave, Tris & Dior on their website https://www.whalediscoveries.com/our-story and get social with them on insta:  https://www.instagram.com/whale_discoveries/

AND, Dior is a future award-winning chef!!!  She has an Instagram page dedicated to her delectable, island-grown yummy bytes you will want to check out.  That way you can say I discovered her in her early days, before she became famous.

Inspiration & Help Needed

As if the Sheen family wasn’t nice enough already, they have helped create the NICE Society (Nomuka Island Conservation Environment Society)

A community-run society created for the people and environment of Nomuka. They are undertaking huge projects to help tackle local issues like rubbish, animal welfare, and protecting the marine environment.  You can learn more about the society and inquire about donating or volunteering on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nomukaislandconservationenvironmentsociety/ 

The Comedic Extra’s

They may ask for a retraction but I am gonna share Tom and Cyril’s Instagram too.  Because if you find yourself in Tonga anytime soon, you should bring them a bottle of rum in exchange for a few stories.

🎥 CAMERA GEAR USED TO FILM THIS VIDEO

🎶 MUSIC IN THIS VIDEO:

 

🙏 THANK YOU!

Ups, downs and all arounds, we share it all. We’re able to do so because people like you show up each week, read, watch, comment, share, shop our gear store, and toss a tip in our production jar. If you like what you see, there are lots of ways you can show your support.

Hello there! I honestly don’t know what to say, so I am going to tell you a bunch of random facts instead. I'm a fish eating vegetarian who hates spiders and loves snakes. I almost never took vacations growing up. I wanted to be Pippi Longstocking (still do). I misspell about every other word I write and still struggle with grammar. I love splurging on a good high tea (which is really hard to find these days). And whatever you do, don’t tell me I can’t do something, because then I'll HAVE to do it!

Comments (32)

  • Lara Pape

    Definitely going to visit these guys as soon as we can travel again!!

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  • jean valiquette

    beautiful way of life….we envy you and are happy for you…..we love simple life in nature and this is paradise.

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  • jean valiquette

    how do we go and visit and spend a week with you quietly….
    Huguette et Jean from Montreal and NY…..

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  • Theresa

    What a great video! Love this one so much!

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  • Michael

    Thank you, thank you, thank you. What a wonderful video. The people are so nice. The setting was so wonderful. The animals were so happy. Thank you for bringing that to us. It makes me think about what the Earth made new will be like. Paradise all the time!

    (By the way, you need to know that cloudflare is starting this annoying problem with hCaptcha on your site. I must now jump thru hoops to reach your videos. Evidently they only want people from certain areas to view your content. So very sad. Take back control!)

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  • Emily Attard

    What a great way to live! I’m sure it has its challenges but well worth the hard work and ingenuity to overcome them. Especially with having horses! Do they have internet at their home, or do they have to travel into town to an “Internet cafe”? Thank you and to the Sheen family for giving us a glimpse of paradise!

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  • Alan Solomon

    Good day to you all, out at the Sheen’s.
    The Sheen’s really have it all where they are. What a great place to stay and live. ✨✨
    I just wanted to say that is an excellent picture of Nikki, Tris and the Horses in 4 or 5 feet of ocean water.
    I like the ocean and I like horses but I rarely see them together. I like seeing the horses deep in the water, where water is not their familiar environment and the trust they exhibit while in it.
    I find it energizing, exciting and I feel it is an Awesome event. That event probably happens weekly at the Sheen’s Off-Grid Homestead. 👍
    I did not see this picture before for some reason? I really like it though. Thanks much,

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  • Deborah Kerr

    wow i got lost in space & time immersed in this paradise 🏝 it was like “calgon take me away” i had to snap back to reality 😊 thanks for sharing – love the lifestyle

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  • Alan Solomon

    Incredible, inspiring story. I am easily influenced watching this. I wish I saw this or knew about this 10 or 20 years ago.
    They knew what they wanted and they went and got it. What a great, rewarding life. So many things to consider. I would just rather drop them all and go!
    The only thing that matters is making a move towards this lifestyle dream. Never saw a horse do that. It reminded me of a Camel on the way down.
    All those animals were having fun. Reminds me of an actual, old Doris Day movie filmed on a farm with happy animals.
    Congratulations, Sheen Family on your achievements there. You probably did not realize what you created gradually happened over the years. Awesome Reality…
    Thank you and Best to all,

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  • William Domb

    Would love to get a sense of:

    temperature
    smell
    bugginess

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  • JOHN SCHRETLEN

    What a story. What a video. What a family.

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  • Dan Ray

    What a great life you guys have!
    Keep on going and having new adventures!

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  • mary van

    It is hard to believe they started with nothing and built a beautiful home for themselves. Amazing!

    Loved the horses playing in the sand. I think that is a first!

    Safe travels. Hugs from Texas.

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  • sandra and frank

    so interesting…you hear and read about it all your life, but to actually see it is just wonderful, and they’ve apparently done it quite well! (living off the grid)

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  • Steve Gibbons

    Glad I got my weekly fix of THE WYNNS but man your making my feet itchy. I have reached out to the Sheen family & have promised myself to get my family to Tonga. Its been on the wish list for far too long. Now its at the top of the page.

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  • Marjorie Nehlsen

    What a wonderful, interesting, video. I certainly enjoyed the island tour. Paradise. Excellent.

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  • Chad

    As always, y’all continue to inspire. Thanks for sharing this with the world 💜

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  • Antoinette Pontes

    Totally LOVED this video! What wonderful people you meet on your adventures. Thank you for sharing. Made me smile for sure 🙂

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  • postiecat

    Loved this video. Amazing to see how you can really live off the grid with hard work. I checked out their website. That would be an awesome trip seeing whales on the live aboard. On my bucket list.

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  • Jeanette Brennan

    What a tremendous video!!!! So uplifting! Looks like paradise! The family are so environmentally aware and they have such respect for Mother Nature – just like you guys. Awesome way to spend a Sunday – Thanks for sharing. Stay safe! 💖⛵️💖🏝

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  • Pat

    Wow it sure is nice to see that some people have made life as perfect as can be…what a super place and thanks for sharing

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  • Christer Whitworth

    You have to wonder how long Dior is going to stay there. She looks close to being ready to move on.

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  • Jamie

    You guys appear to be really good at life. I may need to re-evaluate my own strategy.
    Thanks for the beautiful video.

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  • Bryan Hargreaves

    I hadn’t realised that something was missing in my life until just now. Watching two people discuss with obvious pride their composting toilet was a moment in time which will not easily be erased. Thank you !

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  • Craig

    Being thousands of miles from all the problems here in the US, it’s refreshing to unwind with you guys.

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  • Boyko

    Those horses…gorgeous. Free to roam, play in the water and brush off in the sand. True paradise.
    The composting “competition” in the bloopers was a keeper 🙂 Had a great laugh out of that one.

    Cheers to the whole group!

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  • Laura

    That looks live a lovely place and a great peaceful way of life. I am sure it is hard doing it, but the rewards look so amazing. The horses, dog, cat, chickens and people all look so healthy and happy.

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  • Norman J COOK

    NIKKI: I have stated previously YOU and your spouse are the perfect marriage in hand and mission, as you travel through life, and as your voyages on Tera ferma
    And now on the 3/4 of the blue fluid of H2O , you should next capture the Earth via The Wild Blue Younder! I suggest you
    Learn to fly Electric Gligers and film document the Eatrk from above. YOU BOTH have a amazing ability to capture our planet and Nature from a astounding
    Perspective. As a College Professor and a Certified Flight Instructor [CFI] would tell you that you two both were born to be
    “Journalists ” telling a story of US & Now.
    I worked with National Geographic to train their photo journalists in training them on such expositions as the photo documentations of the Ganges River and the Egyptian desert. Let me comment you both are over qualified to take flight
    Abs use that perspective to capture this World we live in. I ENCOURAGE you at the end of this voyage to consider you plot your next ship be an Airship on a new blue.
    PS I no longer teach FLYING at 74 but do
    assist younger students in both Sailing ( catamarans) and piloting their talents .

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  • John Taylor

    Perfect!

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  • Eric Hall

    I wonder about ownership of the property these self-sustaining islanders have. Are there taxes or leases or something?

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    • Curious Minion

      All land in Tonga is owned by the King and can only be given as a grant by the King or leased.
      Curious Minion

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  • About Creativity

    Very good.

    reply

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