By JIM KENNEDY (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #199) on Friday, October 14, 2005 - 12:03 am: |
This may be a stupid question but sometimes I feel no matter where one lives daily problems arise to ruin the feelings........ Isn't that the same in Bonaire? Does the newest wear off after the "honeymoon period" is over with? When the bills and troubles begin to come to light? When diving freedom becomes a "job" instead of a freedom........
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By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1948) on Friday, October 14, 2005 - 8:44 am: |
I have lived here for 20 + years and still wake up sometimes in a cold sweat after dreaming that I still lived in Conn. It take a special type of person to live here. Sure, it is the same as anywher when it comes to the hum drum..but the magic is the people and the fact you don't have to wear shoes!
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3290) on Friday, October 14, 2005 - 8:47 am: |
Maybe so, Jim. That's why many folks who live there (and a few who don't) advise you to stay for an extended length of time before making the move. You should ideally do this several times, maybe making your stay longer each time.
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #415) on Friday, October 14, 2005 - 3:08 pm: |
I agree with Michael and Kelly.
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By JIM KENNEDY (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #200) on Friday, October 14, 2005 - 9:28 pm: |
Ok it was a loaded question but I wanted to see if anyone would respond negatively... I for one can't stand Illinois anymore and waiting for the day to part ways with the "Land of Lincoln". Retirement is nearing closer each day.. I want the oceans or at least the rivers. I'm a wannta be live aboard person - for years I wanted to live on the water. Maybe finally that dream will true........ Any live aboards in Bonaire?
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #417) on Saturday, October 15, 2005 - 6:50 am: |
Nope. Not if you mean dive live-aboard boats.
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By JIM KENNEDY (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #201) on Saturday, October 15, 2005 - 10:36 am: |
Tish didn't mean dive live aboards but "home" live aboards. As far as shore diving I would rather use diveboats. I'm not crazy about walking in the water with divegear anymore, I'm much too lazy and would rather take one giant step for mankind :>) I have been trying to get to Bonaire for quite some time but something always seems to get in the way. Other family affairs; health issues; lack of money or time, something gets in the way. I now have a very special friend that opened her house to guests that I could stay but I don't have enough vacation time left this year to spend in Bonaire :>(
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #418) on Saturday, October 15, 2005 - 1:31 pm: |
Well, then, hey, you need to visit Bonaire!! Come on down!!
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3300) on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 10:07 am: |
Jim, while recently visiting Bonaire, I met a very nice couple from New York. They sold everything and bought a sailboat, and have lived on it for over five years. I met her in the outdoor shower at Wannadive.. lol.. She said she has never regretted it for a moment. They thought about it a lot before doing it, and just took the plunge, so to speak.
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By pat murphy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #249) on Friday, October 21, 2005 - 1:41 pm: |
i agree with kelly. we bought our condo a little over two years ago with the idea of spending 2 or 3 months at a time there. before we bought we rented a place for about six weeks to see if we'd like being on an island for an extended time. i found that it's even better than vacation. sure there are problems that you have to adjust to but once you get your body on island time like everyone else it's great.
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By Joseph Dobson (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 10:43 pm: |
Has anyone now living on Bonaire tried Curacao? Or Aruba? Any comments?
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #448) on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 9:34 am: |
Different strokes for different folks.
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By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #707) on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 11:33 am: |
Thanks, Tish, for your comments. I think you pretty much summarized the reasons those here on BT continue to return as visitors.
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By Joseph Dobson (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 11:16 pm: |
Tish -- All I can say is "Wow." What a testimonial for Bonaire. I have been there once and to Curacao once. The lady in my life loves Bonaire above everywhere else on earth, but I am wondering about other places for us to buy a vacation/second home. Bonaire is expensive compared to Curacao, and Curacao has other more cosmopolitan attractions for me (in addition, I know to more urban problems!) But everything you say about Bonaire appeals to me very much. Thanks for your post.
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By Dave Goodwin (BonaireTalker - Post #49) on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 11:45 am: |
Jim,
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By JIM KENNEDY (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #219) on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 7:24 pm: |
Dave~
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By Dave Goodwin (BonaireTalker - Post #50) on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 10:30 am: |
Jim,
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By JIM KENNEDY (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #220) on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 5:19 pm: |
Dave~
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By Anke Schulz (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Tuesday, December 20, 2005 - 9:43 pm: |
Hi everyone! I'm new to this discussion group, but I just got back from a wonderful trip to Bonaire, and my husband and I are now thinking of buying a house there. I have a question about residency: does anyone know what the rules are for people who want to retire on the island? I read somewhere (I think it was Tish who mentioned) something about a pensionado status? Is that a reference to pensioners, and do they have a special residency classification? My husband and I were thinking of visiting Bonaire for 3 months every year until we retire, but then permanently moving to the island. We both have European citizenship (he's Dutch and I'm German), but we live and work in San Francisco.
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #552) on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 6:39 am: |
Anke, welcome to BT!
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By pat murphy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #498) on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 11:49 am: |
tish, i figured that they'd be going to the euro. in a way, that's too bad. i like the currency on bonaire. first they changed the great flamingo passport stamp, now they'll get rid of the birds on the paper currency. i guess change is the only constant.
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #554) on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 12:10 pm: |
Pat,
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By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2658) on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 5:56 pm: |
Pat, I remember when I bought my place and looked at the tax rates through SunBelt and Remax. Unless I was buying a mansion, I didn't qualify for it, so I am in the same boat as you, things could change, like Tish says, let's hope so for the better and I really don't want the Euro to take over on Bonaire, but time will tell I guess.
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By Patrick Janssens (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 7:02 am: |
Hi,
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By seb (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2640) on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 10:45 am: |
Unless you are Dutch, I don't think you can work on Bonaire. You can start your own business, if you can get a business licence. Or if you have a skill that is not available on the island you might get permission to work (I'm thinking of your wife)There is lots of info on working on the island, try a keyword search.
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By Patrick Janssens (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 11:46 am: |
Hi Seb,
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