After six years of dreaming and planning we are in the final stages of moving to Bonaire!

We put our house in Minnesota up for sale and have the first showing this weekend. It snowed today...not much, but enough to remind us that warm salty water is much better than cold frozen fresh water. This winter will be our last in Minnesota and really hard to take!

If all goes well, we will close on our home as early as Jan. 15th and head for Bonaire in late March or early April. We plan to apply for residency during our trip to Bonaire in Feb/March...then ship our belongings shortly thereafter.

It is amazing how much we still have to do and think about after planning everything for so long.

We will keep you all posted as we close a chapter and start a new one!

Scott

Good luck Scott, looking forward to reading on your progress :-) What are you planning on doing on Bonaire? Just living on your savings or are you going to work there?

GOOD LUCK IN YOUR VENTURES....
it certainly is alot to do when you want to move, especially to another country/island, but when dreams become reality the waiting will certainly be worth it......are there room in your bags for all of us too .

Scott & Sharon,

Good luck and congratulations! I admire you both for reaching for your brass rin. It takes a lot of guts to go for it, but you'll be glad you did.

Kudos!

Scott and Sharon, I don't post much, mostly just a lurker! But I had to add my congratulations... it's just amazing that you get to do what every one of us dreams of! I am so envious! Enjoy your new life and much happiness to you both. I'm sure everyone on here echoes my sentiment.

Thanks all!

Marc,
Sharon and I started a non-profit ocean camp for kids on Bonaire and will focus on administration of the organization...no income for us...just a way to give something back. It should be a great way to provide unique experiences and education to kids from many different cultures. As part of our non-profit charter on Bonaire, 10% of the "ocean campers" will be kids from Bonaire at no charge. We also plan to open up the facility for use by organizations on Bonaire focused on youth (Jong Bonaire, Maria Hoppner home, etc.).

We hope to start operations next October. We will use local dive shops for dive training and "adventure" tours involving kayaking, biking and hiking! Should be a "win-win" for everyone.

Check out our progress renovating the facility at www.ocean-adventures.org

Scott

Scott and Sharon, I am privileged to have met you both and know that your kindness and positive feelings towards the community and cultural framework of BON will be certainly a win win for all. Now, do you need a cook? Driver? Personal counselor??



Annie who is very jealous..

Oooooh...I'm green with envy...well, that's not a good thing to be, so I will just be very happy for you in being able to live your dream. Our dream is to live on Bonaire someday, too, but don't know how realistic it will be. What a change for you both...from Minnesota to Bonaire...talk about extremes! That's just wonderful that you will be where your heart is and that you are going to be able to give so much back to our favorite place on earth. The best of luck to both of you...I really mean that, too. Carole

Scott & Sharon,
Congratulations and best wishes as your new chapter begins.
Debbie

Special Olympics has also benefitted greatly from knowing Scott and Sharon. Happy to have you here!

Wow!
Thanks for all the positive words of encouragement!

Annie...yes...we need everything you mentioned...mostly a way to get you on Bonaire for good!

Mike..the real special people are those Special Olympians and those who assist them everyday...we are just happy to be a very small part of it.

We are looking forward to being a permanent part of the Bonaire community...we'll keep everyone posted regarding our progress.

Scott

Wow, moving from MN to BON?! I love hearing that you are getting out of those harsh winters and into paradise Scott & Sharon! I hope to meet you someday. I'm going to be on Bon most of Dec and it's my second trip in just 4 months after just discovering Bon this year!

You will be blessed because you are giving back to the community and helping children....always a great way to further the development of your soul!

Sha and Scott...I too are envious...oh to have your dream come true...good luck to you both...I'm sure you won't need it! Looking forward to seeing you and your development on Bonaire soon....whats your moving date?

I wish you lots of happiness in paradise!!!!

Thanks Mercy, Meryl, and Darlene,

Meryl...not sure what our moving date will be. It depends on how fast our home sells here and how quickly we gain residency on Bonaire...will make application in March. Probably earliest move date would be April...latest is Sept 2003!

Hope to see all of you on Bonaire!

Next time you are down...stop by the ocean camp facility...Frans is usually there working on things and can let you in for a tour. The facility is located just two lots north of WEB (power and electric facility). It is on the same street as Jake and Linda...south about 1/4 mile.

Scott

Can't wait.....you are both about to "live the dream"!!!!

Scott and Sharon.

You are both blessed. Your new lives and your love of nature and young people will bless many others. Ocean Adventures is an idea whose time has come.

Bud

Hi Scott,

Just came across the postings about you and Sharon moving to Bonaire. We do not know each other, but I have plans to move to the Caribbean myself next year, maybe Bonaire. Let me introduce myself: My name is Stephan. I have Bachelors and Masters in the fields of respectively Economics&Communication (5 years of management and agency work) and Hypermedia-Multimedia (3 years web design).

One year ago (and after 3 years of thinking) I have decided to invest my competencies into projects of community-based marine biodiversity conservation. I am currently registered in Environmental studies at McGill University here in Montreal, Canada (marine ecology) - adding to that PADI Dive Instructor level right now.

Why am I telling you this? - well, I am gathering information about places like Bonaire - and reaching out to people which seem to be close to my mindset. Your personal project, dear Scott, dear Sharon, seems to be in that mindset, and your words, Scott, of "...just a way to give something back" hits close home to me...

My ideal job in 5 years from now: Combining marine park management & Science & Eco-tourism (diving & education in marine ecology)... just to give you an idea.

My questions: How is Bonaire in general? What is the Bonaire mindset (acceptance by local community seems most important to me)? Who should I talk to about in regrads of additional funding through thoroughly planned and managed eco-tourism, involving diving, education, science, park management and local communities?

Best wishes for both of you,
Stephan

You can also write back at: beckerstephan@hotmail.com

Hi Stephan,
I will email you! Sounds like we have a lot of common interests.

Sharon and I have visited many places in the Caribbean over the past 15 years, and my dad lives on Grand Cayman...so when we first visited Bonaire about 6 years ago we had a pretty good perspective regarding other places.

We knew we wanted to retire in the Caribbean, and had developed a fairly extensive checklist of criteria (out of hurricane belt, stable country, low crime rate, little traffic/hassles, great diving, friendly people, get by with English, easy living, affordable, good infrastructure, etc.)

We knew within three days of our arrival on Bonaire that Bonaire fit our criteria. We purchased a house the first trip.

Describing Bonaire in general is tough to do. It is different for different people, depending on the activities (or lack of activities) one pursues, the people one meets, and the attitude one brings to Bonaire. Obviously Bonaire is our home...emotionally and soon physically so we are biased!

We have developed friendships with many different types of people on Bonaire, across every racial and economic category you could imagine. We have found most of the people of Bonaire to be welcoming, encouraging, and genuine. We have never felt unaccepted. On the contrary, from the first day we spent on Bonaire we felt accepted.

That said, you really need to spend some time on Bonaire to establish your own perspective and see how you relate to the local community. It is really difficult to express exactly what makes this little hunk of lava and coral such an appealing place to be.

Sharon and I do not have any business plans on Bonaire, so others who have moved there and started businesses might be able to give you a better perspective of what is required.

The organization we founded Ocean Adventures is a not for profit Foundation on Bonaire, and the activities such as diving, kayaking, biking, etc will be supplied by local dive shops and naturalists...so...we probably won't be able to provide much guidance regarding your desires to work in the area of marine park management or Eco-tourism. There are several dive business managers and employees who read Bonaire Talk regularly...so maybe they can give you some advice! I think the Bonaire Marine Park is still looking for a manager...so you might want to make some contacts there!

I'll email you...best of luck...and make sure you visit Bonaire for a few weeks before you decide where to move!

Scott

Thank you Scott!

Really nice that you took the time to respond. I will definitively come see Bonaire before I decide to settle down somewhere... your description sounds encouraging though.

My plans are to spend somewhere between 3 month and one year in places which seem suitable for perfectioning my professionnal experience and my long-term project (not for profit foundation as well...).

I will reread your message in more detail later (am about to prepare exam for wednesday), and would be delighted to keep contact.

Cheers,
Stephan

Hi Scott,
I am getting in on this thread a little late but want to add my congratulations to you and Sharon. Ocean Adventures sounds wonderful, something every island could use, you may be starting a huge ball rolling!
My husband and I are hoping to move to Bonaire in 7-8 years. We are going in March 2003 and are planning on looking at real estate to hopefully purchase. We are wondering about the procedure, loans, taxes, etc. We live in Maine and like you, are tired of long cold winters (although ours are not as bad as yours :-)!) Any information you can give me would be very much appreciated! Congratulations again, Mary Lou

Hi Mary Lou,
I'll email you on the process we followed to buy our home on Bonaire! Hope to meet you in March...we'll be there from 2/28 to 3/16.

Scott

Hi Scott and Sharon,

I too live in MN, in St. Paul. I purchased a home on Bonaire a year ago in August. I would love to talk with you. I am planning on going to Bonaire 1/30/03 and spend 3 months deciding if I can stay full time or not. I have just left the banking world and am now a massage therapist. Perhaps we could get together in the Cities before we all leave, or else in Bonaire.

Hi Ann,
Looking forward to meeting you! Just started getting sleet/snow in Prior Lake...so really missing Bonaire!

Scott

Since it is easier to let all our Bonaire friends who are active Bonaire Talk "lurkers" know about our progress through this post rather than email...here goes.

We accepted and offer on our house Tuesday and close on May 28th...so six weeks after Sharon's knee surgery we will move to Bonaire (mid-July).

It is amazing that after 6 years of planning, we are so behind on the final details. It will all come together, but getting everything packed and loaded into the containers will be a stretch.

Everything with Immigration was a breeze...took just over a month to get residency on Bonaire. The women in Immigration were great...they didn't get at all frustrated with my calls three times per week to check on the status!

We sure can't wait to wake up to Bonaire weather instead of Minnesota weather every day!

Scott

Good luck to the both of you on your upcoming move and on Sharon's knee surgery. Congrats on selling the house in Minnesota and I'm green with envy at your starting a new life on Bonaire! Congratulations to you both...you will be living our "dream". Go for it! Carole

Scott... "containerS"?? What the heck are you bringing?? This is a small island, remember?

Marc,
Got to have my pool table and motorcycle! See you in July.

Scott

Scott

I hope everything goes smoothly for you both. Perhaps we'll get together in December?

Thanks Sarah,
Make sure you and Hugh give us a call when you are on Bonaire in December...we'll get some nice dives in from our boat.

By the way...did you find time to get certified in that cold Atlantic ocean?

Scott