Heading down next week and wondered if there were anythings that you wish you had taken from home but didn't. Either forgot and didn't think of?

Now there's an interesting question. Since I haven't been to Bonaire since September I can no longer remember any of the many items that would have fit here but I'm dying to see how this thread pans out.

A small, lightweight set of tools. Swiss Army knives don't work for me. I've put a little set together now. It's cheapo quality, but won't miss them if I lose them. I've included an adjustable wrench, screwdriver with detachable tips that are both flat and phillips head, 3 hex, wire cutter and pliers. I can't think of anything else, normally I end up packing extra. Have fun! Coach Izzy

A couple of plastic bags from the grocery store. For use when shopping at Cultimara. Cultimara charges for bags (I think it's a good idea. It promotes use of re-usable bags).

More time on Bonaire.

{tool}
This is a kit I put together a long time ago and it just stays in my suitcase in a tupperware box. the box is probably 2x8x5. It has been very handy lots of times. I also include some gallon size ziplock bags (wet swimcase goes in one - never dry when you leave).

{tool}
The kit

another try

I bring several regular size kitchen trash bags to put wet things in for the return trip home. I also carry most toiletry items in large gallon size ziplock baggies.

Oh! And I bring the little packets of mayo, mustard, ketchup and horseradish that you get from restaurants for lunches in the room.

I do the restaurant sauces too! I also bring a sink plug, one of the camping variety that fits few sizes of plug holes. I have never stayed anywhere in the world where there hasn't been at least one sink without a plug.(Plugs seem to disappear into the same black hole as teaspoons and odd socks. Wonder where in the universe they come out and what the natives there think?)

cherrios...looked all over the island until Linda R told me they aren't available.

i always bring them, but ziplock bags are a must have to put leftover in the fridge or take food with you.

can opener....most Beer available does not have twist off tops. You have to pull over and open your beer on the car door hinge.

Wally,
thank goodness you use the car door hinge or else I would have thought of you as a red neck using your one good tooth.

thanks for the chuckle,

Mare

When we went to Bonaire a few years ago my daughters, 4 year old , did not have sun glasses. Because it was winter in the Netherlands we could not find them in Our home-country. But I expected it to be plenty to buy on Bonaire. But surprisingly:no children-sunglasses to find on Bonaire!!
So take them if you have children, the sky is very blue.

We now take a couple of fold-up coolers - one to keep drinks in and the other to use as a reg rinser.

- Bird seed - to feed local birds
- Duck tape - to fix anything
- salt grinder(like a pepper grinder) - tired of plugged salt shakers

wash cloth

empty space in bags for purchases

items for Bonaire non-profits (see Bonaire Talk/Support Bonaire/Bonaire Non-Profit organizations)

A few wrenchs of correct sizes (possibly metric) to fit reg hoses, plugs etc. so they don't get all mangled if you have to make some unexpected changes. Also appropriate hex wrench for plugs.
Mickey

My clones.

Then on return, a quick visit to the mental mind merge so that I would experience all that my clones had experienced.

There is just not enough time to enjoy the place.

Absent that fantasy, a boat.

15 gold bars and a case of Pims.

We brought (and will bring again)a real small bbq with us. 20 x 20 cm. Folded, only 2 cm thick. So, it needs very little space in your trunk. It's big enough for the four of us. Almost every evening we ate at the beach. Just sit and relax, watch the sun go down, swim and snorkel a bit, have a beer,.....

Can't wait, only 7 weeks to go!
Toos

Depending on where you're staying and what your sleeping arrangements will be, you may want to bring a length of rope to tie your mattresses together. It's not terribly uncommon for a "double" bed to be two single beds pushed together. Can be a little awkward if you roll over just the right way in your sleep and start pushing the beds apart... Sort of a sheet hammock effect.

Desitin, is a must for some of us. Leave the wet suit on between dive sites and the next thing you know you can't perch on a bar stool.

Disposable cameras, we had a nice camera but never wanted to leave it in the truck.

Kay, you touched on a sore subject;-{)} I actually found that medicated "Neosporin Plus Pain Relief" worked better:-{O}

Tom, thank you I will put that on my Bonaire prep notes for next time. I would have taken anything, possibly mud treatments after three hours on a bar stool at Karels. Once I consumed enough Amstel brights the pain faded.

So another must take, money for Amstel Brights!

Looking to take some of those battery powered break-in alarms. They are 4 for $10 at Frys. Little devices that take a 9v battery and have a magnetic switcht that sets off the alarm when they are moved. Gonna put them on the truck and doors/windows at night. Got broke into last time - nothing big stolen, but at least I want to know about it this time! Might take a motion-sensing plugin as well for the living room - flip the lights on if someone comes in....

Not really so paranoid as it is $10-$15 bucks for a easy to use deterent.

Okay, here's my list: 1) Thermal beer bottle cover for those Brights--keeps it cold till the last drop! Can insulators for the canned drinks. I like my liquid refreshments cold, but the ice seems to melt as soon as the trade wind hits the glass. This year I brought a travel mug and the ice outlasted the drink!
2) try to bring paper bags instead of plastic. Those things have a way of flying out car windows and end up stuck to the landscape. Most of the grocery stores provide paper bags for this reason.
3) Lots of sunscreen and a visor in addition to those sunglasses..
4) I found the mosquitos to be a little worse this year and needed to use a repellant for sitting outside in the evening. What also works well is the Off Lantern. Light it up and place under the table to keep those pesky skeeters off your legs at night. They seem to love me, but my husband had no bites.
5) The tap water is better than any bottled water I've tasted. I bring a couple of empty bottles, fill them up and freeze them. By the end of your first dive, they are liquified enough to drink. Crystal Light now makes individual packs that you can add to bottled water without the mess.
Have a great trip!

Extension cord and coax cable to move the TV into the nice cool bedroom at night.
...and cat food

Okay...I have had nearly every ailment known to man, but have no idea what leaving the wetsuit on between dives does to your-I'm assuming-hiney region. Please enlighten me and tell me why someone might need Desitin or Neosporin. Seriously, I might as well prepare for any ailments that might occur.

Hi Keely,
Dampness & Neoprene are a great breeding ground for a fungal infection. Yeah, go ahead and check out my profile, I'm a midwife, and deal with lots of this (well, minus the neoprene)!

Mary, is that a fungus? I just thought it was a bad case of diaper rash. Which maybe that is what diaper rash is. I never had kids so don't know much other then what it looks like and feels like.

Keely, a nice bumpy rash forms on your legs and hiney that burns slightly and then itches. However, if you keep it dry and have some type of cream it clears up almost over night. Silly me, I couldn't figure out why everyone always peeled off the wet suit after a dive. I am always cold natured and like letting the sun warm it up. But it sounds like, according to Mary I have started my own eco system in my wet suit.

Bandaids - I found some awesome one's made by 3M called "NEXCARE". They are waterproof and will stay on my blisters for 3 or 4 days even while diving, provided you seal them well. They are expensive but well worth the money.

Antihistamine - I usually take Chlor-tripolon but I forgot it on my last trip. The mosquitos reaked havoc with me even with bug spray on.

Anti-itch cream - So I could sleep at night. Never took this with me before but now a staple in my bag. I used several tubes and I cleaned the guy out at a little store on Bonaire.

On Bonaire, a small box of Bandaids cost me $15.00 and the anti-hystamine cost $30.00 for 10 pills. The cream wasn't expensive.

Did I mention Nexcare bandaids(bandages)!!! This is a laugh: Made in U.S.A., packaged in Mexico, imported by 3M Canada. (also en france). They are truly awesome. I've got several people here are home hooked on them. They don't come off even when you sweat. Great for construction workers who get lots of cuts.

For you people that like Bacon for breakfast and have a kitchenette we brought Hormel precooked bacon in a 60 slice package that doesn't have to be refrigerated. We brought sliced (good) roastbeef in 1 lb. packs in tupperware containers and rapped in newspaper and then frozen at home at least 3 days before you fly. When we get to Bonaire and open the meat packs there is still ice cristals in the packs. Have been doing that for years. Save alot of cash eating in for breakfast and lunch and then dinner where ever... Ron

You see JR, I knew this would be an interesting topic

Kay and Mary,
Thanks for the info, and I will definitely take off my wetsuit between dives. I am shocked that I have not gotten that ailment yet. It makes sense...especially if you have to relieve yourself in your wetsuit during a dive. Ewwww.

beer huggie...

Janis, Beer Huggie? Is that like a comforting hug when all the Amstel is gone?

Gary, you were right. The response has been tremendous. We arrive in Bonaire tomorrow feeling very prepared. THANK YOU TO ALL FOR THE INPUT!

This is a great thread. I'm putting my list together for my departure in 9 days! Drink koozies is something I hadn't thought of!

A small string of lights -- makes the place quite festive.

Heck I've even learned a few things here. Good job everyone.

PS. Target has flamingo string lights!

Oh Yeah!! I do remember one thing. I would bring something better to catch these little buggers with

For any ladies that are in the states (don't know about canada and europe), it is a MUST to bring something for yeast infections. Monostat, or equivalent. In the U.S., you can get it over the counter, in Bonaire it is perscription only. My wife found out the hard way the first time I took her down there... Being a guy, I never thought about it before so she spent a few very very unpleasant days until we left.

Hydrocortisone cream if you are prone to sun poison (as is yours truly). I itched so bad last time that my heart rate was quite accelerated! You can get it at the pharmacies but if you're prone to this, bring your own and save the time looking around for an open pharmacy.

For your collective amusement (I can hear Kelly now), several of my packing list in excel organized by:
1. A couple at a resort for 2 weeks
2. A couple house-sitting for 2 weeks
3. A kid (engineer student)for a week who has to fly home to an empty house, throw a party, find and pack his own gear and arrive in the middle of his folks vacation and Dad has to drag his gear home while he flies off to see his girlfriend back at school.

1 Winter Eden Bonaire checklist.xls (27.1 k)

2 Summer Housesitting Bonaire checklist.xls (48.6 k)

3 JK Summer 04 Bonaire checklist.xls (23.6 k)

Wally =

I bought some of those great flexible cutting boards mat thingies-- they are the BEST!

I brought them with me to a pal's house where I placed down my mats on the table outside and proceeded to make a fruit salad without even stepping into the kitchen. (It was crowded and hot in there!) I used the garden hose to rinse them off and a quick dry with my towel and I was DONE!

Mare

16x24 cutting board + high molecular weight polyethylene = darn handy 2 once thingee

you betcha!

green for veggies, red for meat, white for poultry, and grey for fish

Can you actually hear me chuckle all the way down in Florida? I love you Wally!!!

iceberg, goldberg, whatever.

I haven't ever been to Bonaire, but I have been to Grand Cayman several times as a diver.

One thing that I *ALWAYS* pack is a tube of "Arnica Gel"...for bruises incurred getting in and out of the diveboat or from shore diving. Arnica Gel can be bought at a Vitamin or Health Food store and is TRULY a wonder for those of us who bruise at the drop of a hat!

Yes, Neosporin Pain Free is a great product. That's also in my kit.

For those divers who have trouble clearing ears, I use a nasal spray ONLY when I dive, along with some Sudafed. One squirt of spray in each nostril and I'm good for a full day's diving!

Don't forget "zip ties" for regulator mouthpieces and attaching anything to your BC that you don't want lost!

Got back earlier this week. All of the input was extremely helpful. Thanks to all.

I trust you had a good trip!

I take stronger light bulbs!!