desert island on your own, could you survive?

Answer 1

Yes. It would be bliss.

Answer 2

Maybe for a few weeks. I used to live at the Sussex coast as a child and have some vague idea of catching crabs and eating shellfish - which incidentally, do not run away. Done that anyway. Other thing, what if the fruit I eat, you know those big shiny red berries, turn out to be poison. Better keep away from them. And, what about that mob of head-hunters from the next island? Are they going to make a visit? Better start making a few spears and a bow with arrows. All this is gonna take a lot of my time. First thing is shelter because you know any day now a big storm is coming which will probably wash half the island away. Raft, think raft, hang on until it's lifted up by the storm and thrust out to sea. What then?

Answer 3

Yup.

I go solo wilderness camping whenever I can. I'm required to take (and use!) gear as no wilderness campground can withstand the load of folks like me who would love to challenge our skills.

But I have NO doubt I could do so. I try to keep my survival skills sharp and I love being alone - Two things you need on a desert island.

Orion

EDIT: For those of you pre-planning, the order you find/make things is this: Water, Shelter, Food, Tools.

You can only live about 3 days without water and you're not terribly functional the last day. Environmental concerns (temperature) can kill you within a day or two without shelter. Food you can go a month or more without and still function effectively. Tools are a force multiplier - They're useful, but they come last (or concurrent with food for catching it Other tools can wait).

Orion

Answer 4

you know i seem to have this really powerful drive to make a go of things. I keep trying to give up and i can't. I feel like i would completely collapse and be useless on a desert island, but probably actually i would be quite competent - after the first little while.

Answer 5

Yes
It would depend on the local natural resourses, natural food sourses may include coconut which is good for the water, the husk can be woven to make very strong string and the nut itself makes a very nice sweet food when pulped and slow roasted over a natural oven. Banana`s are a good sourse of iron and the leaves can be used for a shelter. Local fish should be plentyfull. Dead coral can be used for the flooring of a shelter with banana leaves on top.
Local tree`s would supply the wood for a canoo which would be essential to reach the larger fish beyond the surf. Volcanic rock is best for maintaing heat in a natural oven. There is all sorts of things you can do with a little common sense and the will to survive, its just a shame we cannot live like this in todays society.

Answer 6

Yes, if it was large enough with a fresh water catch basin, and perhaps a few square miles, with plants, to make weapons, clothing, a raft, etc, etc.

A small spot of sand, washed over by waves, would be a lot tougher. Catching fish by hand or with simple rock traps can be done, it's not easy. You'd at least need something to build a shelter from sun, and wood or plants for the ability to make fire.

It all depends on what you have at hand.

Answer 7

I'm always curious as to what's really meant by a "desert" island? One with just sand, like desert? One with no people or animals (other than insects maybe), as in "deserted?" One made of treacle or pudding, as in "dessert?"
Anyway, YES I could survive on my imagined assets on this imagined island....

Answer 8

Physically I think I could survive but mentally would be hard if I was alone because humans are not meant to live alone for long periods of time. I would need someone (preferably somebody female for obvious reasons) that I could talk to. I actually wouldn't mind if that person had to depend on me for physical survival because I would need them for mental survival.

Answer 9

Yea I reckon I could, I'm quite resourceful and good at building things and I've seen all of lost ;). Its interesting because I would like to learn some survival / hunting skills.

Answer 10

I wouldn't because I don't know how to start a fire without a match nor do I know how to use a compass-assuming I would have one.I just have absolutely no survival skills it makes me wish I'd joined the girl guides or some such organisation.

Answer 11

i could probably survive ie food heat water but would not survive being alone, i remember watching that film with tom hanks "castaway" and his only friend was the soccer ball "wilson" what a fab film but i dont think i could be on my own completely.(ok so i tell my kids frequently just give me a desert island.... but only for a week)