Tetiaroa, the French Polynesian atoll

"On the beach I walked to the end of one of the islands. Extending from it was a long, narrow sandspit stretching five hundred yards into the sea, and at one end, near the water's edge, was a small palm tree only a few feet high. It was dark by then, and I decided to lie down under the tree.

Coconuts were scattered near its base, and I noticed they were triangular-shaped. I picked one up and realized that by working it into the sand, I could make a wonderful pillow. I lay back with my head on the coconut, my feet in the water, and looked up into the sky while a sensuous breeze blew across me.

The temperature of the water was almost exactly the same as the air around me. Then for a moment, I remembered the great, worn face of Mr. Underbrink scowling at me from behind the principal's desk at Libertyville High School as he lectured me about how I would never amount to anything.

If you're so smart, Mr. Underbrink, I thought, why don't you have an island?"