My parents bought an island in Maine. I spend my summers there, away from civilization and without running water.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Scott Kern. It has been edited for length and clarity.

From June through September, my days revolve around the tide and the sun. When the sun sets, I know it’s time to eat and rest. When the tide touches the bottom of my mooring buoy, it’s time to work on the rock wall I’m building to help fight erosion.

That’s what days are like on Planet Sand. That’s my preferred name for the 1.5-acre island in Casco Bay, about a 15-minute boat ride from Portland, Maine. The island — officially called Sand Island — has no running water, electricity, or reliable internet. It’s my home for three months out of the year.

I rely on a generator, a deep freezer, and a grill

While I’m on Planet Sand, I live in a structure I call my Garden Shed Tree Fort. It’s built from recycled construction trash that I collected from dumps on the mainland. How big is it? It’s perfect. That’s the measurement system we use here on Planet Sand: too big, not enough, or perfect.

I have a gas-powered generator that I use to power a deep freezer. I don’t fish, and I hate the taste of seafood, so I prefer to grill chicken or a burger. I’d like to add a crock pot to my supplies next summer, but I’m not sure how I’ll power it.

I go into town as little as possible. My boat is small and slow, so Portland, the nearest city, is a 45-minute boat ride for me. My record is eight weeks, but it’s more typical to go get supplies every three to five weeks. I collect water from a café on a nearby island, bringing over 30 gallons at a time.

People love to ask about the bathroom situation. I say, “Next question.” I’m out here doing something extraordinary, working to save the world, and you want to know where I pee?

I was an outsider, but felt at home on the island

My parents bought a half-ownership in Sand Island back in the 1990s. We lived on another island in Casco Bay, but that one was populated, paved, and connected to the mainland by a bridge.

Sand Island is different: it’s essentially a wasteland of sand and poison ivy. There were no structures or docks. It takes about 15 minutes to walk the shore of the island, including time to scramble over rocks. Still, I’ve turned trash into treasure.

My parents owned a 30-foot sailboat and loved to come to Plant Sand. I enjoyed camping there, and my stays got longer and longer. In the real world, I was an outsider, but on Planet Sand, I felt at home. The island called to me.

The island helped me get sober

Unfortunately, I didn’t always hear that call. I have some health issues and have struggled with drug addiction and alcoholism. For years, that made me forget about the island. But when I started getting healthier, I knew where I wanted to spend my summers.

When I first returned to Planet Sand for the summers, I was still drinking. I would wake up at noon, so hungover. We allow day visitors to the island, so I would see families playing together in this beautiful place, all while my head throbbed.

I thought, “What am I doing to myself”? I have this beautiful spot, and I’m throwing it all away. That’s why I stopped drinking, too. This November, I’ll mark seven years in recovery.

Being here improves my mental health

Being out here is not a vacation. I work all day, building a rock wall or repairing my winch system. I document my projects on my YouTube channel. While I work, I listen to songs on my battery-powered radio. I love ’90s hits and oldies from the 1950s and ’60s. Those songs are just so happy.

I like to socialize with the boaters who come by. Most of the time, it’s just me here, but on one day this summer, we had 60 people on the island. I love watching people laugh and explore with their families. There are kids here making memories that will last their whole lives.

I’ve heard there’s research about nature being good for mental health. If they say 15 minutes in nature can improve your mental health, just imagine what three months can do. For me, the island — my planet — is magic and medicine.

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