Ian Usher, a British man who famously sold his entire life on eBay, traveled the world, and began anew on a Caribbean island, has revealed the “biggest danger” of living there. Many dream of escaping modern life for a simpler, more peaceful existence, but for Usher, this dream became a reality.
In 2008, following a divorce, Usher, now 61 and originally from Barnard Castle, made a bold move. After relocating from the UK to Perth, Australia, with his wife, the couple separated, prompting Usher to list his “entire life” for sale on eBay. His story garnered global attention, with Usher telling BBC News that he planned to leave with only his wallet and passport.
Usher’s fresh start took him on travels around the world, eventually leading him to purchase an island in the Caribbean. His journey continued to attract interest, and six years later, he was featured in an episode of “Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild.”
Despite the allure of island life, it came with challenges. In a recent interview with The Daily Star, Usher talked about the primary risks of his secluded lifestyle, noting that he had sold the island in 2015 after spending the past nine years traveling.
Usher reflected on the experience, saying it had its highs and lows, but he learned valuable skills such as Spanish, boat handling, and homebuilding. He was not too concerned about personal safety but admitted that theft was a major issue.
“The biggest problem was theft if you weren’t there to watch over your belongings. The local Indigenous people didn’t quite grasp the idea of someone going on holiday, so if you left for a while, they might assume, ‘He doesn’t need this roofing material or furniture anymore.’”
He humorously referred to the situation as a “very active recycling program,” adding that “as soon as your back was turned, things would start to disappear, so you had to keep an eye on your property rather than worry about physical threats.”