Being an island in the North Atlantic comes with its challenges. Over the years, the number of deaths on the ocean is staggering, especially in the days of schooners and dories. Virtually every family has lost someone to the sea. Newfoundland took a punch in the gut during World War One. 35% of the men aged nineteen to thirty-five enlisted. In many cases, they left the family fishing businesses for aging parents to run. Some of the brightest young minds in Newfoundland at the time were buried in France. Many of those who returned were permanently scared by PTSD. It was a generation lost and the Newfoundland government eventually went broke after supporting the war effort. Confederation with Canada had a strong impact on Southwestern Newfoundland. CNR became a major employer. Fishermen gave up the sea to become railroad men. Many outport people lived in isolated communities and wouldn’t have it any other way. They made a living from the sea. They enjoyed the freedom, tranquility and a close knit community. When government introduced relocation, it took a piece of fabric from Newfoundland. In 1992 Newfoundland and Labrador had the largest layoff in Canadian History. The cod moratorium took away fifty thousand jobs. Despite the struggles, Newfoundlanders have prevailed. Resilience is in the blood, passed down from generations. For the most part, visitors to Newfoundland give rave reviews on our scenery, hospitality, history and culture. There are a few that will say the island is about ten years behind the times. Is that such a bad thing?