The Only Three Things You’d Want on a Desert Island
I love desert island questions. Yes, I realize they’re completely facetious, but they can still be thought-provoking. After all, desert island living is the ultimate exercise in simplicity! So let’s hear it:
If you were stuck on a desert island, what three non-necessities would you want to have with you?
(I’m giving you food, water, first aid, and sunscreen.)
I’d want
- A companion
- A journal and pen
- A crate of rum
As I created my list, I didn’t set out to do so, but I think I came up with a few basic requirements for long-term happiness: companionship, self-expression, and whimsical indulgence.
What do you think? What couldn’t you live without? What items would turn out to be unnecessary?
And does desert island happiness translate into real world simplicity? Please swim over to the comments and drop your opinion.
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This post has 40 comments
August 1st, 2008
Hi Sara, I would add to my list of necessities shelter and clothes. The non-necessities would include a companion, board games, and reading material.
August 1st, 2008
Am I already in a bikini?
If so, then mine is pretty much like yours. A companion, pen and paper, and corona. I’m not sure which one I am willing to forfeit for the bikini though.
August 1st, 2008
A boat.
A GPS.
Plenty of fuel.
August 1st, 2008
friend/companion, art supplies, and a library–if I could add a fourth, music
August 1st, 2008
Nice answers, Ron! Seems I’d be happier to stay stranded than you would
August 1st, 2008
Mark: Ooh, board games is a good one. I’m really curious as to what games you enjoy. After the rum was gone, I could see wanting a deck of cards.
Emily: Once again, we think alike!
Ron: Pure genius! You don’t fool around. I’ll be sure to address the S.O.S. shaped in coconuts to you!
J: I was also on the verge of adding music to my list. I figured that as long as could remember my favorite songs, I’d have music in my head whenever I needed it. I love the idea of a desert island library!
August 1st, 2008
The desert island debate does have one good thing about it. I was once teeter-tottering on whether or not to ask my girlfriend to marry me. A friend of mine gave me a very useful test. She said, “If you were trapped on a desert island and could only bring one person with you, would it be her?”
I loved her question and it gave me a lot of clarity because my answer was no. I was so glad for the desert island question and will always remember that.
But to answer your question, my list would look a lot like yours
- My journal and a pen
- A companion (sounds like a good idea)
- Peanut Butter (it can make anything taste good)
August 1st, 2008
I’d also have go to with:
1. Journals (Moleskines, preferably) and pens (Pilot G-2 05)
2. My family (wife and son)
3. Either tools (axe, saw, hammer, nails, etc.) or extra changes of clothing… I can’t decide.
August 1st, 2008
Can I be left on a dessert island instead?
I don’t really know what I’d want outside of food, shelter, first aid. I’m not really sure there is anything.
While it might be nice to have creative supplies. Or some for of entertainment. But I’ve always been able to entertain myself, and I can write in the sand and build sand castles.
Perhaps in the long run, just a enjoyable companion of some sort.
Of course… come talk to me after I’ve been stranded on a desert island for a year or so… and I may sing a different tune.
August 1st, 2008
1. Music of some sort
2. A horse so I could get around the island and not have to walk everywhere
3. A raft
August 1st, 2008
OK, what would I want on that desert island…
1. My family (would they consider it a privilege that I picked them, or would they think they would be “stuck” with me…)
2. Rum – that’s a good one. Have you been to Jamaica Sara???
3. Water toys – hey, if I’m stranded, I want to at least be able have some fun in the water (well, maybe the rum would provide enough entertainment value…).
August 1st, 2008
I think Ron cheated!! Or was he just thinking outside of the box? You know when you go on workshops and they make you do some out of the box creative thing on the spot? I HATE those! However, the next time I have to do one, I want Ron on my team.
Okay:
1. must must must have the Urbane Lion with me
2. must have an endless supplies of paper and pencil…so I can write and draw
3. my guitar, with a laptop with internet access to guitartabs.com…or is that actually 2 or possibly 3 things. What the heck! Ron cheated.
August 1st, 2008
Lots of sunscreen, scuba diving equipment, and lots of books.
August 1st, 2008
Hey Sara,
The deserted island questions always take me while to get right. My choices:
1.My fiance and son (family)
2.Complete tool box (I mean the works)
3.Books galore
August 1st, 2008
I need only 1. – my family.
)
2 – friends & 3 – extended family (both are like treats/bonus
August 1st, 2008
I enjoy playing Scrabble, Monopoly, and Sorry. There’s another one I used to play as a kid called Risk. I can remember a single game of Risk taking four hours or so to complete so it would seem perfect for a desert island. Games with cards (other than poker and pitch) I enjoy include Skip-Bo and Yahtzee. The important thing about these games is you don’t want to play with a sore loser – there’s nothing worse as far as I’m concerned.
August 1st, 2008
Ron doesn’t play around…I’m stickin’ with him! LOL.
But really, if I had to choose three things… I think I’d be in line with you: a companion, something to read (or pencil and paper to write)…
August 1st, 2008
This is a tough one…Can I count my family as one? If not well here it goes:
1. I must have my Babe with me
2. A Laptop with solar power and internet access so that I can keep blogging.
3. A Solar Cell Phone with unlimited minutes so that I can call my children everyday.
Ok, what if you can only have one? Well, this is no contest…I’d like a boat! LOL
August 1st, 2008
Chase: Wow–what a poignant desert island question. Did you give the friend who asked you a big “thanks”?
LivSimpl: Aha–I see we have another Moleskine fan. I’ve never tried one. I’m afraid I’m become addicted like everyone else!
Hyrcan: I want to take Ron’s boat and fuel and go look for a dessert island. I could happily be stranded for quite some time!
Katie: Ooh–a horse is a good one! Companionship, recreation and transportation all in one.
Lance: Rum and water toys! That’s the kind of island neighbor I want!
Urban Panther: I also find it hard to go out-of-the-box on the spot. My panicked answer usually runs along the lines of “Cheese! No, I mean, um… Client-side support… Um… Synergizing analogies… no… uh… Cheese?”
Marelisa: I like the scuba gear! Have you been?
Tiffany: Looks you’re in good company. Lots of folks are listing family and books–and I don’t disagree one bit.
Avani: You’ve got a point. Your life is who you surround yourself with.
Mark: I love those! Although Monopoly is a good way to guarantee a sore loser in my house. My husband has Risk; we’ve never played each other, but his description sounds just like yours. We have a family tradition of playing Aggravation, so that would probably be my game of choice.
Ricardo: I know. Can I change one of my answers to “Ron”?
Chris: Aha–now we’ve got the brains cooking! Solar power is the perfect solution. Bonus points for crafty thinking!
August 1st, 2008
Ok I think Ron has it right. LOL But if I really had to pick three things I would say
1.Family – hubby and kids
2.Boat
3.matches
August 1st, 2008
Love this post.
1. My family.
2. My ipod (which is forever charged in this particular fantasy island).
3. Chocolate.
August 1st, 2008
Rachel,
You’re the first person to think of matches! Smart move; how else could we roast coconuts?
Vered,
I debated between rum and chocolate. Rum won. Love the perpetually charged iPod. When they can make one of those, I’ll pay whatever it takes!
August 2nd, 2008
Getting stranded on a deserted island sounds like a nice thought.
1. My family.
2. My laptop (has to be working with internet access and all).
3. Camera.
August 2nd, 2008
I love these questions
1/ NIV bible w/ pencil
2/ family
3/ a real bed (that naturally would be protected from the elements) Sleeping on the beach would get old fast!
August 2nd, 2008
Hey Sara, I’ve been snorkeling in Venezuela and here in Panama but I’ve never gone scuba diving. It’s on my to-do list though, so I figure that while I’m stranded on that deserted island would be a great opportunity to take it up
August 2nd, 2008
1. Someone to talk to
2. A radio
3. Something to write with
I couldn’t ever live in complete isolation, I think having another person around is the number one most important thing for being on a desert island. Actually, it’s so important, I might consider it a necessity.
Music and writing, though, I could also never live without. I need my audible art, and I need a way to record things I see and experience in the vain hope some future person finds my thoughts interesting.
August 2nd, 2008
Evelyn: It does sound nice to be stranded for awhile. I think that’s the universal sign to look into a vacation.
Dana: A real bed is brilliant! I could get by on a hammock for quite some time, but a comfortable bed is something I really value.
Marelisa: Way to be productive while stranded!
I haven’t tried scuba yet, but I’m fascinated by it and hope to learn someday.
Eric: I know exactly what you mean about having another person. I can be alone for a very long time, quite happily, but it’s often because it feels like a respite. If I were forced to be alone, I think I’d hate it.
I definitely love the idea of a radio–I really wanted to have music somewhere on my list, but it got bumped for rum. I figured I’d be able to sing to myself, especially once the rum killed my inhibitions…
August 2nd, 2008
1. Food source.
2. Rum (a shipload)
3. Solar-powered combination desalinator, fridge, ice maker, satellite tv system with huge screen HD TV (package to include all available pay channels).
That’s it. I’m happy.
August 2nd, 2008
1. 1 Paper clip
2. 1 bolt
3. 2 inches of fishing line
Oh, trust me these will come in handy!
August 3rd, 2008
Why is is a desert island, shouldn’t it be deserted island?
Not much grows in a desert.
My picks are:
A beautiful, intelligent woman who adored me.
A lifetime supply of chicken wings.
Refrigeration for the wings.
August 3rd, 2008
Dexter: Okay, can I change my list to one item? “A way to get to Dexter’s island.”
Frye: I’ll just call you McGyver.
Tom: I actually debated using the term desert island. I ended up going with it because it’s become a common term for this kind of question. And your list rules! It’s nice to realize how simple our needs are. Enjoy the wings!
August 3rd, 2008
somebody to lean on, opposite sex
laptop
chocolate chip cookies
August 3rd, 2008
Natural: Chocolate chip cookies… drool… need… cookies… now. Will… trade… rum..
August 4th, 2008
I love this, stripping it down to the basics.
I would have to say:
1. My boyfriend
2. Something to write with/on
3. Something to open the coconuts. (Cleaver, rock…?)
I love your palm tree picture, it just makes me want to drink some fresh coconut juice right now.
August 5th, 2008
1. Laptop with solar charger
2. Big ol’ stack o’ books (or iPod loaded with tons of audiobooks… solar charger again)
3. Someone to pick me up eventually
It’d be good for a few weeks because I’d have nothing to do and would crack down and get a novel or a book written, but eventually I’d either have to get off, or I’d end up talking to my solar charger (or volleyball if one floated past).
Solitary confinement is a punishment in every human culture, ya know.
August 10th, 2008
Nathalie: Ha! Way to be resourceful!
Lindsay: I love your #3! The enjoyment of downtime is often in direct proportion to how long it’s going to last.
August 12th, 2008
Let’s go for fantasy, since the chances of my being marooned are just as unlikely. I’m also going to cheat and assume my family is there, ’cause I go everywhere with them anyway.
1. The holo-doctor from Star Trek Voyager, with whatever goodies he needs to keep me healthy forever and his special badge0thingy that allowed him to move around freely.
2. A replicator from Star Trek (whichever program was latest and had most sophisticated version).
3. A computer capable of storing, displaying and replaying all literature, art, film and music, with a matching solar generator to keep it going.
On the other hand, assuming that none of these fantastical things is possible:
1. A solar-powered generator.
2. A quartet of specialists: GP, plumber, electrician and gardener.
3. Games such as Trivial Pursuit, Word and normal Yahtzee, Scrabble, cribbage, Canasta, Probe (no longer made but very good and no, not involving anything medical or sexual).
August 12th, 2008
Nicola: The quartet is smart and sneaky! And when they come up with that computer, put me on the list to go live alone in the woods somewhere!
August 24th, 2008
LAPTOP,SOLAR GENERATOR TO RUN LAPTOP,ENDLESS SUPPLY OF RIZZLA\CIGARETTE PAPERS
August 24th, 2008
1. American Medical Encylopedia. Hollowed out. Inside, waterproof matches. Beet seeds. Iodine tablets.
2. An inflatable raft.
3. A book on “How to Make Paddles out of Sand”.
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