Am a first time user to any chat/discussion group,(not real computer literate). After reading everyones responses, found this was a very informative sight. Thank you.

My question is this. My husband & I are retiring in 2 years to either Bonaire or Aruba from Florida. Have been going to Aruba for 25 years now and have seen the rapid growth of the island. Have only been to Bonaire 3 times, but have noticed its changes/growth within those 3 times. Am sure that Bonaire will grow the same as Aruba did, that's called progress.

Has anyone had the good fortune of experiencing living on both islands? We are familiar with the costs of housing, the language, etc. Just wondering if anyone can comment comparing one to the other actually living there? Good or bad.

Thanks for any response.

With out the glamorous beaches, Bonaire will never grow like Aruba. Some things you need to consider, (among many), if you're retiring here, are your health-care needs and what you want to do with your free time (I notice you don't dive). You have a lot of research to do, as living on an island is very different than visiting--if you can, try renting a home and living on both islands for 3+months each, before any major life decisions.

Hi, Ruth, excellent advice!

Judie, We watched them "destroy" Aruba over the years and now visit Bonaire. As Ruth stated, Bonaire will never end up as developed as Aruba but there has been some growth, of late. It has to be put into the right perspective.

I love that idea, Ruth....maybe I can do that while Joe continues to work...he is much younger than I am...what a great idea! Carole

Sounds like a good retirement plan Carole-marry young (them)!

I would like to be a boy toy to some rich lady living on Bonaire. Thank you very much.

Good advice Ruth.

Carole, I'll join you We can leave Michael and Joe home to work until they get to "retire" and we can spend a few months a year on Bonaire when we retire before them...hadn't thought about that advantage to marrying a man younger than myself (actually, I can't lie, I have thought about it)...lol!

Count me in ladies, Ravi is 5 years younger than me, so it works for me! Jerry, I'll keep a look out for you, except from what I hear Louise is a lovely lady and you might want to reconsider. Anyway, I don't think anyone will put up with Bob.

Rosanne, we know a good thing when we see it don't we

I'd have to agree, Jerry, you would need to get rid of Bob, he might make things difficult....lol! OH MY, have we gotten

Put me in the club too...by the time I found Eric,there was nobody my own age left. Offf Topic, Off Topic...HAHAHA.

I am in the club too (4 yrs difference).. this is too funny. Sorry Judie to add to the off topic chatter.

The idea of living 3 months on each island to see which best fits your interests is good.

CB...lol...

Hey! can I join this club. Dave is 11 years younger. If you get them younger you can "raise" them up like you want. I was like CB by the time Dave came along the men my age were either married or "old". We will celebrate 20 years together this June. Love ya! Andy

Hey, me too. John is 2 years younger! We just had our 32nd!

Hey where is Darlene while this younger man topic is raging?? lol ! And Steve is all of 2 months younger than me. But I still get to retire first. ;)

Darlene and her younger man are on Bonaire!

Ladies, I think we need to form a "society" and arrange to all be on Bonaire for a few months of the year at the same time whilst our "younger" men stay at home, continue working, etc. in order for us to live the life of leisure! We would ask them to join us on occasion, too! LOL.

We could be the "GYYM" Girls Society...."get yourself a younger man".....what color hats??? cb

PS Joe is 12 years my junior....LOL. Yup, I robbed the cradle. Right on about the "training" too.

Uh, Oh.....we really don't want the fellas to read this thread, now, do we?? LOL

Carole, definitely PURPLE hats !

Carole, I think that the concept is great but why limit it to women? GYYM (getting yourself a younger mate) might entitle us to federal funding. I know that my wife who is 21 years younger is looking forward changing roles in a few years. I will start driving the children to school while she works for $$. Our home on bonaire should be completed by the time I reach retirement age. Would purple hats be optional?

I like the purple hat idea but can we incorporate something leopard print? LOL!

Open forum, kids...we love input, suggestions and participation! LOL.

Way to go, Garrison! You may join the Purple Ladies....should be fun! LOL. cb

PS Just don't ask me to go for the purple thong...don't think they make them that big and I don't want to scare the rest of the club members away! LOL. cb

Only two responses to Judie's question. I don't understand why so many people went off topic. It certainly doesn't help Judie very much. If you want to talk about "boy toys" why isn't it discussed in a more appropriate place?

Judie, I have not lived on both islands, so I can't really give you any input on that.

Anyone out there who has lived on Aruba and Bonaire? I can't think of any, myself.

Michael...do you know of anyone who has lived on both islands?? Annie?? cb

Haven't lived on both islands, just Bonaire, but I have a hard time conceiving of anyone that would narrow life down to Bonaire or Aruba. The islands are very different places. Aruba has ten times the population density of Bonaire, an active night life, dozens of casinos, and multiple shopping centers. Bonaire has exactly none of that (well, I guess that a few bars stay open until 1, Divi and Plaza pretend to have casinos, and Bonaire SuperStore is pretty big). There are a lot of islands more like Bonaire than Aruba (think Saba and St. Eustatius, for two), and there are a lot of places more like Aruba than Bonaire (think pretty much any of the wealthier islands).

I THINK ANYONE THAT'S "ON THE FENCE" SHOULD MOVE TO ARUBA.

Kelly, Andy, Carol, I can join the group too by six months.

I got a year on my hubby!

I've lived on both islands and agree with Kevin's assessment. The thing I would like to add is that we get very used to being able to access (by driving) a variety of activities and places that you soon run out of on an island. Myself, I love that, but many of my family and friends prefer a lot more diversity than island life offers. Yes, Aruba has a lot more variety and the social, academic, shopping, medical entertainment and culinary areas. Bonaire still has the gentleness that Aruba has lost most of, but, IN MY OPINION, at the expense of the wellbeing of the local population - and that's central politics (Curacao). Breaking away from Curacao is, again, in my opinion, going to be an extremely positive move for the local population - schools, career training, infrastructure,police, medical, day care, etc. I'm sure I could think of many more things, but I can only say that for someone who wants to enjoy the ocean life, and a quite, tranquil lifestyle, Bonaire is the place, but you have to be healthy and well grounded and able to enjoy "entertainment" in a different way than is available to you in the US, but is more available than Aruba in Bonaire. Ah, just thought of one more thing, some also find it confining the lack of variety of places to worship on an island. Again, less so Aruba than Bonaire, but to some, it becomes an issue. We have many more choices here in the US and become used to having it. I love the languages, the people, the topography, the ocean, the pace of life, etc. on both islands. Aruba, however, has a very damaged ocean life, but has a very active social life. All that said, I would give anything to be able to retire to Bonaire (as it has more of the gentleness I grew up with and love), but find it medically impossible.

The Casino at Plaza is presently closed

Oops, forgot the "," after medical, so it reads right now : "medical entertainment"!!! I don't want to imagine what that image conjures up!

What about the medical? Is there a lack of medical facilities on Bonaire?

Bonaire has a very adequate medical community/hospital and a recompression chamber, also has good dental care. From what I understand there just isn't the specialist care that other places have. You have to go to the bigger islands or Venezuela for specialist care.

Hello everybody. I am the new guy in the block. Please bear with me.
I certainly would like to know more about the island, and, perhaps, even go over there to have a look.

Hi all! Does anyone know of an apartment or house to rent longterm? I will be coming down in late July with two kids (12 & 13yrs) and haven't had much luck yet with finding somewhere to live. We will be there for approximately 18 months while I attend the medical school. If anyone knows of something available please let me know. I'm trying to find either a 2 or 3 bedroom (possibly less than $750 US a month and walking distance close to St James med school)

Christina - have you tried working with any of the real estate companies on the island? I know that several of them do long term rentals.

Yes, I've tried several of them and they all tell me they have nothing available.

Christina, have you tried looking in the Bonaire Reporter, or maybe placing an ad in the Bonaire Reporter www.bonairereporter.com? What will your children do for school?

good luck,

Cynde

I am an Aruban native medical doctor who studied at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana at Bogota, Colombia, fully licensed in Colombia as a general practitioner, and a 4yr work experience. I'm currently living in Aruba, but this island is getting too crowded and I was considering Bonaire as an option to move my family to. Is there a need for general practitioners in Bonaire? Who and where do you have to turn to? I would greatly appreciate if anyone could give me any additional information to orient the necessary actions to make this happen if possible.

Cynde, I look there every week but can't get through to the two apartments I saw listed this week. My kids are going to be schooled through a cyber charter school here in Pennsylvania since they don't speak Dutch. They get to attend classes and do all of their homework online. This way they can keep up with their schoolwork but get the freedom to experience the island as well. They want to volunteer at the donkey preserve and animal shelter and try to go to Jong Bonaire..so we are hoping they can make friends that way since they won't be at the school.

Well, you wonderful ladies sure have answered Judie's query very well. LOL Either get a younger man or marry a sugar daddy. Sage words for sure. LOL

Why don't you call Doctor van der Vaart and have a chat with him re working on Bonaire 717 7140. He can give you lots of information. Also, the medical schools are always in need of teachers.

does he has an email to contact him???

is Dr van der Vaart a family physician? or does he have another job??