Ian Usher sold his entire life and started to live ‘freely’, eventually buying his own Caribbean island
A man sold his life on eBay over 15 years ago following a dark point in his life, and has shared what he has done since the bold move.
Brit Ian Usher, 60, left Darlington after he managed to sell his ‘entire life’, which included his three-bedroom home and everything inside it, car, motorbike, jet ski, all in Perth, Australia.
This happened after a painful divorce, as he realised that he was sick of his job and his new life down under.
He eventually accepted a bid of AU $399,300 (£192,000 at the time), and though he expected higher bids, he admitted that he had ‘no regrets’.
Originally, Usher had aspirations to travel, saying that he’d ‘like to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower’ as ‘one of a huge list of things’ he wanted to tick off.
Ian Usher decided to free himself from the shackles of 9-5 life (Vanessa Anderson)
Just six years later, documentarian Ben Fogle caught up with him after he moved to a deserted island in the Caribbean, where Usher revealed that he was happier than ever in his new life.
In an episode of Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild, the Brit featured along with partner Vanessa on their tropical island, Bocas del Toro, just off the coast of Panama, where he explained: “I’ve always been a bit of an adventurer and so have always spent a lot of time pursuing outdoor activities such as climbing, canoeing and diving.”
Though he may not have had running water or electricity, he could pursue all three of his outdoor activities.
Usher shared: “We’re not completely self sufficient here on the island.
“We do grow coconuts, pineapples, yukka, sugar cane and almonds but we haven’t yet perfected the art of growing other vegetables on our land.
“We have 10 chickens who roam free on the island so our eggs are totally organic. Sometimes the local Indians will bring freshly caught fish to the dock for us to buy.
“Everything else comes from the supermarket in town or Ernie’s Jungle 7/11 – a small store on the edge of the jungle.”
Usher learnt to get good with hands (Channel 5)
Usher bought the tropical island in 2011 for $27,500 (£21,000) when it was overgrown and neglected, and spent four years working on improving it.
While living on the island, he spent time working on the land or sitting on the beach, revealing his simple life where he would snorkel on the reefs, read or swim – more or less whatever he felt like, whenever.
Usher also explained that every 10 days, they go into town for food and fuel, while saying that girlfriend Vanessa Anderson, who he met on a visit to London, ‘made a big difference’ in his life as she moved over to live with him.
Speaking about what he misses from home, he said that apart from family, it’s just jet-skiing that he misses, along with better WiFi and being out with friends and family at an English pub.
He added: “Vanessa still misses a London style cappuccino but I think she’ll get over that soon,
“I wouldn’t change anything – I really enjoyed building an off-grid home and living on the island. I’ve always thought life is supposed to be an adventure.”
Vanessa (middle) and Ian (right) have travelled the world since selling their island (Channel 5)
However, in 2015, he managed to sell the revamped island according to his official website, where he has shared every aspect of his journey since selling everything he owns.
He noted that he has nothing tying him down as he was debt free after the sale, and looking for a new adventure.
He and Vanessa globe-trotted for seven years, visiting countries such as Thailand, Nicaragua and Nicaragua to name a few, buying a property in Burgundy, France.
The couple chose to settle there and that is where they were based at the time of their last update, in 2021.
Featured Image Credit: Vanessa Anderson / Channel 5
