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Everything Else Bonaire: How hard or easy is it to become an ex-patriot on bonaire?
Bonaire Talk: Everything Else Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999 - 2004: Archives - 2002-03-27 to 2002-12-01: How hard or easy is it to become an ex-patriot on bonaire?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By stephen brace on Saturday, May 4, 2002 - 12:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I love Bonaire.How hard or easy is it to become an ex-patriot on Bonaire? We all have dreams about our version of paradise and Bonaire fits my dreams.I woul love some comments to help feed my desires to call Bonaire home!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Sunday, May 5, 2002 - 3:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Stephen,

I have a problem with the term "ex-pat", since I am still a U.S. citizen, and not about to renounce my citizenship, even though I prefer (for the foreseeable future) to live and work on Bonaire. That said, if you have means (a reasonable savings or investment account) you can become a Bonaire resident retiree pretty easily - they just want proof here that you will not be depending on government support.

There are tax issues, of course, and if you want to work here, you either need to start or buy an existing business (takes time and money), or find someone willing to hire you and get permits for you.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kate Hickson on Monday, May 6, 2002 - 12:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

PS- It's ex-patriate, not ex-patriot. Sorry, but the teacher in me couldn't resist.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lorraine Meadows on Monday, May 6, 2002 - 7:26 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

OK, How many of us have not dreamed of such a thing after just one trip?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem on Monday, May 6, 2002 - 10:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ah, the fine points that make the difference. My dictionaries show the word as 'expatriate' w/o the hyphen. Also they include renunciation of allegiance to the native country as part of the matter--I suspect that is what Jake is objecting to.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Tuesday, May 7, 2002 - 10:00 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yep. That would be my objection.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lorraine Meadows on Tuesday, May 7, 2002 - 12:11 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I can always count on Glenn to watch the "p"'s and Q's ;)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem on Tuesday, May 7, 2002 - 5:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Loraine,

After that, I can't resist pointing out the spelling of my name!! :–))

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kate Hickson on Wednesday, May 8, 2002 - 11:50 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Glenn-
Thanks for the correction. Didn't have a dictionary in front of me (like you did); I was just fixating on the "patriot" part! Stephen, you might first want to check into establishing permanent residency on Bonaire. I tried it, and gave up for now. Will try again later. It's a pain in the neck: you have to show you have enough money to support yourself (bank statement, I guess), or that you are gainfully employed, a letter from your most recent local police department stating you are a member, in good standing, of the community, with no police record. Proof of health insurance. And (for me, the final straw.....drum roll please) PROOF that I am a single person, never married. Ok, as if it's not bad enough, now they pour lemon juice AND salt in the wound to make me "prove" I've never been married! "Uh...no such document exists in the US" I said. "Get something from your local town hall saying you're single" she said. "Like I said. Doesn't exist. I could have gotten married in Vegas, and they don't know that! So, even if I were to cajole someone into writing up such foolishness, you do realize it's meaningless. Right?" Response: "You'll have to get one". So, I blew it off for now. I guess the point of it might be to prevent deadbeat exes from skipping out of the country with all the child support and/or alimony money. Thoughts anyone??

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Wednesday, May 8, 2002 - 12:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Would you believe they will accept a notarized letter from your clergyman saying you have never been married? As if that really proves anything.
I have heard of letters from a mother, banker, lawyer and even insurance rep. all being used.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Greg Lambert on Wednesday, May 8, 2002 - 1:15 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Kate -

You always have a dictionary in front of you when you are online:

http://www.dictionary.com

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kate Hickson on Wednesday, May 8, 2002 - 3:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Greg. I'm just too low tech. Plus, in addition, I'm old school: nothing beats the weight and heft of pulling out, and leafing through the mother of all dictionaries, the OED. (which I don't have here at school)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem on Thursday, May 9, 2002 - 12:49 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I think, too, that the term 'expatriate' has softened with time, as so many things do. My definition above came from the Oxford Universal Dictionary of 1952. A Webster's College Dictionary of 1991 includes simply 'dwelling in a foreign country' along with being exiled and renouncing allegiance. I suspect the 'dwelling' def was what was intended at the start of all this.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lorraine Meadows on Thursday, May 9, 2002 - 2:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Masha danke! Glen.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem on Friday, May 10, 2002 - 8:38 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Most welcome! Lorraine.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Friday, May 10, 2002 - 6:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Glen, isn't it so nice to have Lorraine back on board with us?! She is such a sweetheart. Glad she is back with us. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem on Friday, May 10, 2002 - 11:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Agreed.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By sherry baker on Friday, May 24, 2002 - 3:26 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

lorraine, i will try to email you from home this weekend. marion and the girls send their love.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Candace Epps on Monday, June 17, 2002 - 1:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Love Bonaire and everything about it!! Interested in starting a new business there, retiring from the rat race called "home", and enjoying the simpler pleasures of life. What are rules and regulations, how and where do we start? Any and all help appreciated!

 


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