6 months

August 15, 2021. We have lived on Bonaire for 6 months! 

We moved from the US to Bonaire in the Dutch Caribbean. We bought a house and we have been granted residency. We are living our dream.

Here is what we have learned:

• We love island life.  We love warm weather,  walking on the beach and playing in the ocean.
• We like living the indoor-outdoor life style. Being outside 90 percent of the time is perfect for us.
• Exploring a new place is a worthwhile passtime.
• Experiencing a new culture gives you an expanded look at the world. 
• We can live in swimsuits and flip flops.
• Trying new things keeps you interested in life and interesting to others.
• Everything happens on island time no matter your schedule or how much you try to make it go faster.
  
• When the trade winds stop blowing it gets really hot.
• There are seasons and weather changes on Bonaire.
• You can see the Milky Way in all its       glory when there are no city lights.
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• It doesn't matter when you go to sleep or wake up when you are retired.
• Efficiency and innovation are not worldwide traits.
• We miss Amazon.
• We miss "tex-mex" food.
• There are a lot of countries that are not trade partners with the US.

• Donkeys will pose for photos.  Flamingos and parrots do not.
• Dealing with the government is hard regardless of the country or the government.
• If you want mangos, you have to get them off the tree before the parrots steal them. 
• Fluency in a foreign language is probably never going to happen for us. If it does, it will not be Dutch.