Once Upon an Island

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Once Upon an Island is a non-fiction book written by David Conover Publisher: Crown Publishers Inc., New York (1967) The book is a first person account of how one man followed his dream of owning and living on his own island. Conover and his wife risked everything they had and even went into debt to pursue their dream. In spite of countless warnings and predictions of disastrous outcomes, the southern Californian couple purchased an uninhabited island off the British Columbian coast and set out to turn it into a summer resort. Equipped with absolutely no know-how or experience, but with a supply of tools and books purchased before leaving Los Angeles and a resolute determination to realize their dream they headed off to their Eden in the wild which, on more than one occasion in their first year almost left them defeated.

The book is an account of an earnest but amateurish effort to perform plumbing, carpentry, well digging, and boat navigation, which produced nearly fatal results, and financial ruin. The story is told with a good humor, sensitivity, and insightful philosophy.