Note: This idea is currently just a vision, and I am investigating whether it can be turned into reality. So this page represents my brainstorming, and not a fully-fleshed out project. If you have comments on feasibility and implementation, think you would be interested in participating, or are willing to contribute resources to make this happen, please send me an email.
10/9/07
I am working actively on a Seasteading book. Once that is done, I hope to start working on a prototype seastead. Ephemerisle still matches nicely with my vision of how seasteading will be developed, as having a festival seems like a great way to promote the movement. Also, for a similar idea, see Floatingman Island.
12/03/02
Sheesh, its been a year since I updated this! Well, progress on Seasteading has been slow but steady. We have the domain seastead.org, which has the current draft of the paper. We've been getting lots more work done lately, and I'm hoping to move from researching to gathering a group in 3-6 months. The initial numbers look extremely promising, a 3,000 ft^2 top deck, 9,000 ft^2 total prototype seastead, for 10 people, with tugboat, for $750,000. A 1 acre top-deck seastead for 120 people for $3M - $15M. That's only $25K - $125K / person, which is totally reasonable compared to housing costs. And the first Seastead will make a great central base for the first Ephemerisle. I'm going to keep Ephemerisle on the shelf for a couple more years until Seasteading is farther along.
12/19/01
I am working on a different project which dovetails nicely with Ephemerisle: Seasteading. Seasteads would be the perfect central bases for Ephemerisle, offering solid ground, existing infrastructure, and emergency shelter.
11/27/01
I am taking sailing classes and checking out local clubs, in order to get more familiar with the ocean and water-based transportation. Ephemerisle needs to wait until I have more skills, knowledge, and connections.
10/5/01
I am working on expatriating from the US to a country where I can achieve greater financial and personal freedom. Current top choice is Costa Rica, and I'm traveling there in a few weeks to check it out. I'm postponing any work on Ephemerisle indefinitely while I work on increasing my own freedom. If someone else wants to take the idea and run with it, feel free.
5/5/01
I've been extremely busy (working ~60 hrs/week), and haven't had time to give this project (or anything else) much attention. The tentative plans are for it to happen in the summer of 2002, with discussion beginning this summer/fall. Plans for getting there remain the same: once I have more free time (this summer/fall) I'll send out email requesting comments. If responses are positive, I'll create a discussion medium and publicize the website. If you have brief comments right now, feel free to drop me a line, but be aware that my email discussions currently have a several month time delay.
2/16/01
The webpage has taken shape, and the idea is pretty well sketched out. Time to put it up and send out a few emails asking for comments on the idea and its feasibility. If the responses are positive, I'll start disseminating the information more widely.
2/14/01
I had a great idea. I'm going to whip up a webpage sketching out the idea and send out some emails to see what the world thinks. Haven't found a perfect name yet, but Ephemerisle will do for now.