We live on one of the most isolated but beautiful islands in the US... and now life is going to change forever

For most people, the idea of living a 45 minute boat ride away from the US mainland would be a daunting concept.

But for the 55 or so permanent residents of Maine's unbridged Isle au Haut, this is their daily reality.

And the remoteness of the tiny island is part of the appeal for those who now call the six-mile stretch home. 

With just a handful of businesses serving the tight-knit community, the island can feel a bit like stepping back in time.

But recently, it has been given a major technological boost with the installation of subsea cables, which will eventually bring universal broadband to the island.

While the upgrade is set to 'transform' the community, locals claim the community already has a lot to offer.

'I don't have many minutes to sit around,' Stevens, who was the island's Selectman for nine years, said. 'I have a huge garden, so I grow pretty much all my own vegetables and berries.'

With just one small grocery store on the island, gardening is more than just a hobby for Stevens and other residents.

'We have a store, but it doesn't have a lot,' Stevens said, explaining locals have to send out for medicine, pet food, clothing and shoes among other things.

She said things have improved since the dawn of Amazon delivery and islanders can even get 24 hour drop-offs if they are willing to pay the premium.

Typically, Fedex and UPS both ship to the island six days a week. Recipients must go and collect their packages from the Isle au Haut dock.

Sending parcels can be equally tricky to navigate. The island's only post office has a postmistress on duty from 7-11am and residents can access mailboxes Monday through Saturday between set hours.

'It's easier than it used to be because of Amazon,' Stevens explained. 'It used to be if you needed a few screws, you'd have to go off and get the exact things you needed, now you can order so much stuff online.'

'Some people do just live off the store,' she added. 'It takes a lot of coordination to live on an island and if you're not coordinated, services suffer.'

Brenda Clark, who was the island's librarian for many years, agreed and explained permanent residents on Isle au Haut, 'have to wear many hats' to keep things running.

'In small towns you get out of a community what you put in, and you often have to do a lot of little things, so the wheels are always turning,' Clark said.

She explained that locals on the island often turn their hand to various jobs dependent on what needs doing at the time. 

As well as her librarian role, Clark worked on her husband Bill's lobster boat, helped balance the town's books and as a clerk in the island's gift shop.

She described the librarian role as 'pretty laid back'. The Isle au Haut library is open three days a week in summer and two days in winter.

But, 'almost every permanent resident on the island has a key to the library,' Clark explained to documentary maker Noah Anderson.

Similarly, the island's mail boat is often called upon to double up as an ambulance since there is no hospital or year-round doctor on Isle au Haut.

'If it is an emergency, and during the day, Life Flight of Maine can be called, the mailboat will come for an emergency trip in the night to pick up patient and take them off, then an ambulance would be called to meet them in Stonington and take them to closest hospital,' Stevens explained. 

While the island's population expands to about 300 during the summer months, winter sees it dwindle to between 55-60 according to Stevens, who said previous census data which suggests 90 was off.

She said it is during the colder months, where temperatures plummet down to 17F that the community really pulls together.

'Winter is harsh, it's cold, it's isolated, but for some, that's a plus - not everyone, but for some people,' Stevens said.

'It's probably more like I think of Sweden or Norway. You know, you get out, if there's a day you can skate, you all get out and go skating or, you know, we try to stay fit and there's communal dinners.'

But Stevens, who hails from New York City, insists that winters are no worse than in the Big Apple.

'Here, we're dressed for it,' she explained. 'But in Manhattan you're trying to look fashionable all the time so you're freezing your behind off, not to say we aren't fashionable, I'm sure we are.' 

Still, she concedes the island is not a place for those looking to dine at the trendiest restaurants or catch the latest movies.

Isle au Haut has just five independent businesses: A gift shop, lobster roll shack, general store, chocolate shop and weekly vacation rental.

However, many of the businesses shut up shop or reduce their hours drastically in winter. 

Ferry trips to the mainland dwindle down to just two per day in the colder months, with no service on Sundays.

But the installation of the subsea cables is expected to bring a welcome boost to businesses. 

Currently, the island has broadband which uses existing phonelines, but the signal can be patchy.

Current speed near the town is 35Mbps download/7Mbps upload, with slower speeds on the east side and Head Harbor. 

'The impact of this is direct, especially for those who do not live right in the center of town,' local Donna Hopkins of the broadband committee said.

'For example, a small business owner who lives at the far end of the Island attempted to make updates to her website and reported that it took ten minutes to upload one new picture. 

'Regular digital updates in this situation become impossible. Similarly, while the school has service closer to the existing microwave tower, the students live on areas of the Island with less robust service, so online projects and research cannot always be completed at home.' 

The project has come to fruition thanks to the tireless effort's of the island's broadband committee, who hope better connection will attract more full time residents - especially families. 

Although, with a three bedroom home listed for $925,000, it may be out of reach for the typical family. 

Despite its tiny population, Isle au Haut boasts one K-8 school, which is one of about 400 one-room schoolhouses remaining in the US.

But, 'hardly a museum piece, the scope of the curriculum belies the building's size,' according to the Isle au Haut Community Development Corporation.

Over the last year and a half, the school has managed to boost it's student numbers to seven.

Among them is Flynn Watters, whose parents Dakota and Hannah Watters recently moved to Isle au Haut with him and his sister Amelia. 

The couple work multiple jobs and grow their own food, but say the lifestyle affords them quality family time.

'We have so much more bonding time with the kids,' Dakota told CBS. 'It's indescribably wholesome.' 

Beyond eighth grade, locals help contribute to tuition or transportation costs when a graduating student goes to a nearby public high school or boarding school.

This community spirit translates into governance, where almost everyone has taken a turn helping out. 

'People would say, 'when are you open?' thinking it was like a town hall and we have offices or something but it is a 24/7 job,' Stevens explained.

She said the island would love to see more families and young people to ensure Isle au Haut's survival, which is currently entrusted to its active senior residents.

'I walk my dog, I go for a swim, we all like to stay fit. Most seniors on the island have retired, but we are still very active,' Stevens explained.

'There's not many of us and you depend on each other. Even if you don't always like each other, you ride the mail boat with these people, you have to learn to be neighbors and in today's world, I think that's a good thing.'