Why men love to live on islands

 

From Robinson Crusoe to modern-day reality, some men love the idea of isolated islands. So what's the appeal of a solitary existence?
The papers are calling him the "Yorkshire Robinson Crusoe". But the difference between Brendon Grimshaw, an 86-year-old originally from Dewsbury, and Defoe's fictional castaway is that Grimshaw chose to live on his desert island.
And despite advancing years, Grimshaw has no plans to leave the 22 acres of forest and sand that he has called home since he bought it for £8,000 in 1962.

On Bing Maps: where is Moyenne island?

Moyenne, in the Seychelles, is surrounded by islands housing the luxurious retreats of billionaires and playboys. But Grimshaw is happy with a wooden hut and the company of the 120 giant turtles he looks after.
And he's not the first man to seek the solitude of a desert island hideaway. So why do some men love the lonely island life?
The romance of islands
The fact is, men do love an island, even if they don't intend to live on one. Recently newpapers reported the story of Piers Casimir-Mrowczynski, an IT teacher from Berkshire who snapped up a remote and deserted island off the west coast of Scotland as a final resting place for himself and his wife.
"I love the sea," said Casimir-Mrowczynski. "When I found the island just off the coast of Islay, it seemed ideal. The beauty of it is that there's not much there.
"The attraction was the wildlife and the beautiful setting, and the fact it is undeveloped."
All of which might seem a bit strange, given that the teacher will spend most of his time there, well, dead, but it just goes to show the appeal of islands. Particularly, perhaps, one just off a major Scotch-whisky producing island...

On MSN Him: why men are living longer