Ok, so who hasn't experienced post Bonaire depression? This thread is for PBD self-care tips, things that keep you on an even keel, neutrally buoyant, well-fed, well-watered and happy till the next time you see Flamingo Airport.

Tip #1.
Recall your accommodations on Bonaire. Turn your deck, balcony, spare room or office lobby into a Bonaire substitute. You may have to wet your gear down, and spread it over deck furniture or hang it on pegs to dry. Move a few tropical plants in for extra effect.

Get your local dog, cat, donkey or parrot to help out.

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA...I am suffering already and I haven't left yet....

Meanwhile I am sick as a dog with some evil gastro intestinal plague....ughh..

Annie

Remember the best meal you had on the island? Try and re-create this meal. Invite your friends over for dinner. Leave your wet gear so that it drips on the deck.

Chicken Sate for 4 Recipe
4 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless, cut into strips
wooden skewers
1 tblspn soy sauce
1 garlic clove, peeled and chopped
1 tblspn lemon juice

Mix soy, garic and lemon juice in a bowl. Put chicken strips in to marinate for 1 hour or less if you're hungry. Skewer chicken strips and grill till the chicken is cooked right through. Serve with sate sauce on the side.

Sate (Peanut) Sauce

1/4 cup vegetable (or other) oil
1/2 cup whole peanuts
1 garlic clove, peeled and chopped
pinch of chili poweder
salt to taste, or use soy sauce
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1-1/4 cup water

Heat the oil in a pan or wok; add the peanuts and fry for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Shake the pan while cooking, remove from heat and let cool. Use an electric grinder to turn the peanuts into powder. (Quick step - You can just use 1/3 to 1/2 cup peanut butter and get the same effect).
Put a bit more oil in another saucepan or wok, heat it and add the garlic. Cook for a few minutes, add the salt or soy, chili powder and sugar. Cook for a few minutes more, than add the peanut powder or peanut butter and the water. Stir and bring almost to a boil. Add more sugar or salt to taste. Let sauce get thick, just like you remember in Bonaire.

Annie, that's terrible, maybe the next recipe will help. (You already know, stay hydrated...)

Well, food needs drink. Either fire up your home made desalination plant and put your water pitcher under the spout, or create your favourite coffee, tea or other beverage from beautiful Bonaire.

Margarita to serve one:
1 1/2 oz. tequila
1/2 oz triple sec or Curacao orange liqueur
3/4 to 1 oz fresh lime juice
crushed ice
lime slice
salt

Shake tequila, triple sec/curacao and lime juice with the ice. Moisten the rim of a chilled glass by rubbing it with the lime slice. Dip moistened rim into salt. Pour the tequila mixture into the glass. Repeat as necessary.

(Annie, this may not be the cure you're seeking...)

Still seeking tranquility? Donate your spare change or surplus goods to a Bonaire worthy cause. Jong Bonaire, Bonaire Animal Shelter, Donkey Sanctuary....I know I've left out a few, check the search engine...

Tip #6.
That log book must be good for some relief. Check back for the dive that most relaxed you, blissed you out or was extra special. Then, calculate your Surface Air Consumption Rate for each dive on this trip to see if it really was relaxing : - )

My padi manual lists the following handy table, your dive manual probably does this too...


Depth(ft)/ convert to surface rate
0 / 1.0
10 / 0.76
20 / 0.62
30 / 0.52
40 / 0.45
50 / 0.40
60 / 0.35
70 / 0.32
80 / 0.29
90 / 0.27
100 / 0.25
110 / 0.23
120 / 0.21
130 / 0.20

"Start by obtaining a record of you air consumption from your dive log. Determine your psi per minute surface rate with this formula:
psi used, divided by your actual bottom time, multiplied by the conversion factor from the table for your maximum depth for the dive, equals your Surface Air Consumption Rate"

Yes, I have too much time on my hands this evening.

Tip #7 Practice you Papiamentu.
"Masha danki, bon bini,
Ayo"

Smile

Contact your travel agant and book another flight.

Fiona, I like your prescription! I tend to look at my photos of Bonaire and lots of Ellen Muller's, too, when PBD hits hard...just let the pics fly by on the PC.....oh, to be on Bonaire!

Love the gear on the back patio!!! Ayo. Carole

I use my snorkel and mask to swim a mile 3 times a week. Now it has a whole different meaning when I put it on! I can't bear to even put my fins away and they're hanging out on the back picnic table since I got home on the 27th!

Whaaaaa....I wanna go back!! Great ideas though Fiona, love them! You put a smile on my very tan face!

Annie, hope you feel better. Did you get my email? Did you read my trip report?

Besides PBD, I am sure many of you have also experienced PBDDD - Pre Bonaire Departure Day Depression. Onset of PBDDD usually occurs as you leave the water following that last dive before you have to go home. Sometimes onset occurs during that last dive - perhaps at the safety stop. Symptoms are usually a long face of unhappiness and aching arms and back caused by bending over the rinse tank/tub cleaning your equipment before packing it, followed by having to drag it all back to your room or house. Additional symptoms are extreme jealousy for those lucky folks who are seen assembling their gear or entering the water, usually smiling, laughing and talking too loud - just like you were doing the day before.

As others have said regarding PBD, there are few cures for PBDDD except to start planning for the next trip, recalling this trip or reliving any of the dives. Sad to say, Maragitas, Amstel etc. only exaccerbate the PBDDD feelings, but most with PBDDD try these remedies nevertheless. Fortunately PBDDD lasts only about 24 hours, but then it transitions into and is followed by the much longer lasting PBD. Oh well!!!

fiona and mark, lol! Mine was bad for the first 6 months, more like Mark's PBDDD, then just moved to PBD, then a good dive vacation locally seemed to cure the symptoms...but then, they suddenly have reappeard, I have to wait until June now...sigh...so I have found myself logging onto the resort sites looking for a great deal...and yes, Mark, your description of watching folks gear up and getting in the water as you are leaving for the airport is the WORST!!!

Mark, that is fantastic! What a way to describe PBDDD....perfect! Carole

I have a case of PBD... PRE Bonaire Depression, that is... When I look to my left I see planes taking off at Schiphol Airport... When I look to my right I see dark skies that are about to drop another waterfall. I came to work in a yellow submarine this morning (my car is yellow ).

I WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE!

3 More weeks to go and this it's bye-bye to this country for 2,5 weeks...

Ciao,
Marc

We have 18 days until we're on the island and it is getting harder and harder to wait...

PBD....Present Bonaire Delight? For those who are actually still ON Bonaire! Carole

OH MY GOSH...we are suffering from both pre and post BD!!!! We went down 3 times last year (gave in to our addiction and fixing up the new townhouse), and it has now been almost a year since our last visit. We are scheduled to leave to return to our "second home" on Sept 25th...true hysteria will set in on that Sunday or Monday before...Any suggestions...I know that once I hit that tarmac at Flamingo, I will literally kiss the ground! (My gosh...already showing great signs of Pre BD stress!) Oh any BT folks who will be down, see the string regarding the get together..trying to get as many as possible for a blowout party...looking to be on the 27th of Sept!

OR, My way of coping with my ongoing case of PBD is to make my love of Bonaire's critters become permanent part of me. My search of seeing a Queen Angel fish for the first time is what lead me to the beautiful waters of Bonaire so I decided to get a tattoo of one to be with me all the time! She was nicely placed on my thigh as she looks like she is gliding amongst the purple stove pipe sponges and the waters of Bonaire!! I thought the name of Angel was very fitting.
I would like to thank Sue and Geoffrey Feldman for all their help and for putting up with my million and one questions!!!!!!

Wow! You did it, Darlene!! She looks like a beauty. You GO, girl! Carole

Didn't you say something about adding a tatoo of the BonaireTalk logo to? [grin]

Can't wait to see the real thing in December!

Jake

Jake, are you trying to put ideas in my head?

Oh! I got so excited about sharing my tattoo that I forgot to share my other PBD tip. I went to the NE Aquarium and stayed their for hours watching all the fish. I also took a lot of pictures to help capture the memory for a longer period of time!

I want to say that this actually looks even better in person. Also, Darlene spent about 5 to 6 hours under the needle in one sitting - something that is really impressive, particularly for a first tattoo.

You go girl, you're a trooper!

Darlene, you did it! It looks super... Did you manage to get it positioned and sized the way you wanted?

Faith

darlene, as much as you love fish, you will always love your tatto. very cool.

Faith, I left the positioning up to the artist and I was very happy with it's placement. It flows nicely to the contours of my thigh. The size was a little larger than anticipated in order to get the detail in, but I absolutely love it!