One of the most frequently asked question I get, “Is it expensive to live on St. Maarten?”  The broad answer, is no.  Yes, you have to pay attention to power and water consumption but so far, our power bill has not been as high as it was in Charlotte.  You’ve seen me talk about the paradigm shift from “one stop shopping” in the US to shopping in several stores on the island to get the best prices.  I’ve quickly learned where prices are the best for any given item and of course, I watch the sales every week.  Here are a few examples of some of the sale prices at my favorite grocery store, Carrefour.  The entire island is only 37 sq miles so it’s not like driving “to the other side” is painful.  We typically combine grocery shopping for French-side items with our beach trips there so it’s very convenient.  We are continually reminded that this was the best decision we ever made 🥰

So many “firsts” for us on the island!  Having only visited here in November and July we missed so many festivals and events that happen in high season.  The biggie, of course, is the Heineken Regatta.  An island-wide internationally acclaimed boat race held in late February to early March every year.  This being our first, I could not miss going out on the water to be near the race.  We were on Quality Time and I cannot say enough good things about this boat and her captain!  The pictures will show you how close we got to the action.  If you’re on the island from March 5 through the 8th in 2020 this is not to be missed!

Yesterday I got all gussied up in my dress, cover up, and tennis shoes (😂) and headed over to the satellite government office in Simpson Bay.  This is located right across from McDonalds on Airport Road at the fish market. Upon arrival you enter the reception area to your left.  There, a digital device signs you in and you receive a number.  Since I’d never used this device before the ladies behind the counter talked me through it.  They were very nice.  Of note, I paid more attention to the clothing requirement sign this time, you must have covered shoulders, no shorts, open toe shoes, or hats 👍🏻

Once you receive your number you head out to the waiting area where there are plenty of seats.  The security guard will call your number and you head upstairs to the cashier office.  You’ll need your car registration, bill of sale, inspection, and proof of insurance.  No copies needed, they just need to put their eyes on them.  The cashier will enter your information and you pay her, USD $162.50.  If you go to the satellite office you don’t get your tags right away.  I have to go back on Friday to pick them up.

Overall, not a bad experience once I got the clothing thing right, lol!  There were 11 people ahead of me once I sat down with my number.  The entire process, from obtaining my number to paying and leaving, was 1 hour exactly.

Next up, car inspection, due December 2019.

Well, the first one was on me, I absolutely spaced that a local friend reminded me I had to have covered shoulders to enter the government building to get our tags.  Yes, the satellite office in Simpson Bay is still a government office and I walked in and right back out yesterday when I saw the sign stating “no shorts, no bare shoulders”.  I was in shorts and a sleeveless top, lol!

So today, I put on a dress, a coverup, and my sparkly sandals.  I looked like I was going to the ball 😆. Nope, just going to get tags for the car. I walk up and the first issue I see, the office is supposed to open at 1:00, it’s 1:15 and no opening and 7 jillion people sitting outside waiting to get in.  Island time, mon.  Having learned the “line procedure” at Telem (“who was last?”), I inquired and took my dutiful place.  Then the circulating security guard comes by and tells me I cannot get in.  Wait.  What?  I look like Cinderella at the ball and I cannot get in?  Nope.  You. Must. Have. Closed. Toe. Shoes.  Insert maniacal laugh here.  I saw the shorts and shoulders thing on the sign but must’ve missed the closed toe shoe thing 🤪🤪

So, next week I will don my dress, coverup, and *sneakers* (that’s a fashion statement for the ages), and try again.  I am officially laughing to keep from crying 😂😂😂

Remember several posts ago when I said I was all in for February for Telem to contact us to do our “site survey” to install our internet?  Well, good thing I didn’t literally go all in because we’ve never heard from Telem 🙄😶.

When discussing this with locals we were told over and over, “Oh, you have to keep showing up over there and reminding them.”  Alright, perhaps this is where my “spoiled American” comes out, but oh hell no.  If you want my business you deliver your product.  I am NOT going to keep “going over there to remind them” they need to install my internet.  What even?

So with that, and since we’ve been with UTS, we’ve been very happy.  There were a few initial hiccups, but their customer service is excellent with their technicians quickly identifying problems and correcting them over the phone.

Overall, this move has easily been the best decision we’ve ever made.  Telem aside, adapting to “island life” has happened quicker than I could have imagined.

Next up, we’ll see how easy this tag renewal thing is 👍🏻

On January 24 I lost my 15 year old cat.  He had been diagnosed with CHF a month before.  Realizing something was wrong, I asked a friend for a recommendation for a vet.  He recommended a man who I’m convinced is an angel on earth Dr. Glen Romney

From our very first visit to Dr. Glen (as he’s lovingly referred to by his clients) to Salt’s last breath, he is by far the most compassionate and caring veterinarian I have ever met.

Life happens and if you’re moving with pets you’ll need a good doctor for them.  They literally don’t get any better than this incredible man who eased my baby’s suffering and allowed him to cross the rainbow bridge.  I am eternally grateful that this precious cat got to live out his last 3 months basking in the sunshine and chattering with the birds and iguanas in the trees off our balcony.  I miss him horribly but know his spirit is soaring in paradise.

Of note, no one on the island does specific pet creamation.  You can pay the human creamation company the human rate ($1000) or you’ll have to bury your pet.  Salt is buried on a dear friend’s property overlooking Orient Bay and St. Barth’s beyond that.  It’s a beautiful location for his final resting place.

So I see a post on Facebook about the “new tags being in”.  New tags?  I have to get a new tag?  So I reached out to a dear local friend and inquired about this “new tag” thing.  Yes, in Sint Maarten you have to replace your physical tags every year (no stickers like in the US).  So I find out where to do that and just happen to see an article in the Daily Herald about the cost (pic enclosed) the same day.  You can either go to the government building and pay and get your tags all in one day, or go to the satellite office in Simpson Bay (where the fish market is on Airport Road) and pay them and go back in 2 days to get your tag.  Either way, I’m told it’s a “hurry up and wait” adventure.  Island time, mon.

When we first moved here a dear friend, a local, said to us, “You’ll know you’re a local when you appreciate a day on the couch.”  Until today (literally, the lightbulb went off today) I didn’t fully appreciate her statement.  I realized retrospectively that I have still kind of been in “not a local yet” mindset.  November and December were crazy busy on the island, friends here, the holidays, and on New Years Eve, Andy’s birthday.  My body was tired and our checkbook nearly spontaneously combusted 😂.

Witness this week.  I genuinely believe that this has been our first “we truly live here” week since we moved in late October.  If I had a blindfold on I’d have not known if I was here or back in Charlotte.  Andy is back at work, I’m at work, and when I’m not working I’m watching a TV show on YouTube, horizontal on the couch, or napping.  We’ve cooked dinner and eaten at home all week.  For the first time since we arrived I have not heard my brain saying, “But but but, the beach is right out there, you have to go!”  It didn’t even occur to me until I heard another friend say they’d been at the beach.  My first thought was, “Oh yeah, the beach.”

I think moving here late in October then essentially going right into holiday season didn’t allow our brains to just shut off and truly process everything that had happened to us since the fateful day in July when we decided to move here.  Now it’s quiet.  We’re settling into our routines.  Really, they look no differently than they did in Charlotte, the scenery is just different.  Occasionally we’ll start the day on the beach, but I realize now that, for the first time since we discovered this island a decade ago, I don’t hear my conscience tapping the inside of my brain reminding me that I have an “agenda” that I need to cover in 7 days, so “get up! We have to go!!”

I heard quite often before we moved, “Living here is different than visiting here.”  Yes, I believe I understand those words now.  Thankful for a week of what a routine is going to look like.  Thankful for a week of rest, as my body needed it.  And grateful for my dear friend who reminded me that, when that is the rule rather than the exception I’ll know it’s “real”.

The French Quarter has one of the best bakeries on the island, Le Fruit à Pains.  We happened in there one morning when the pain au chocolat had just come out of the oven and OMG!  Not gonna lie, about had a pastrygasm right there in the store!!  We always stop there for yummy sandwiches on their baguettes on our way to Orient Beach as well.  Try the tuna salad, delish!!

Doing a happy dance when I saw this!!  Grand Case is improving each day!