Moving Checklist
In response to the recent question in my comments, which was "what's the cost of living in Anguilla, because I am considering moving there?" a short (but undoubtedly very dramatic) checklist of other items to consider before moving to another country that is about as polar opposite to Switzerland as you can possibly imagine:
(And for those of you actually interested in figures, my estimate is that the cost of living in Anguilla is approximately 85% of what it is in the US and 90% of what it is in Switzerland. Those figures are made up of exponentially higher housing costs, but very low other costs, since there isn't anything/much to buy or do in Anguilla.)
- Are you prepared to be the only person that looks/talks/grew up like/acts like you do and are you ready to be treated like an outsider at times and are you willing to change yourself, rather than attempt to change the situation?
- Are you willing to get frustrated by inefficiency, lack of organization and general dis-interest in precision (particularly important to those of you of Swiss descent) while also being envious of the locals' "joie-de-vivre" and priority set?
- Are you ready to be surrounded by the most breath-taking beauty, constantly caressing warm winds and soothing waves that will make you question most previous and future choices in your life?
- Are you prepared to flooded with an enormous quiet that will force you to listen to yourself including those uncomfortable whispers that are much more conveniently ignored?
- Are you willing to be amazed at the endless stream of smiling faces, open hearted conversations with strangers and random acts of kindness that will make you question the society you live in before and after you leave Anguilla?
- Are you interested in having most aspects of the life you've known before - your family, your culture and your way of life - questioned and scrutinized, by none other than yourself?
- Are you prepared to learn about adaptability (while running out of cistern collected rain water), creative problem solving (while you wait for days for more cooking gas) and test the mental flexibility and patience of the person that is YOU (while cursing the absence of such basic things)?
- Oh and if you're a girl - be prepared to drive down the street to tons of whistles and "hey, sexy white thang!"
(And for those of you actually interested in figures, my estimate is that the cost of living in Anguilla is approximately 85% of what it is in the US and 90% of what it is in Switzerland. Those figures are made up of exponentially higher housing costs, but very low other costs, since there isn't anything/much to buy or do in Anguilla.)
sounds great, but what about those mosquitos???
Congrats on successfully migrating Swiss people one by one to Anguilla!
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Lol, didn't I mention the mosquito's and humid heat?
And yes, it's all a secret plan of the Swiss government (for which I am a spy) to slowly overtake Anguilla. The plans call for successful completion of our task by 2175
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You mentioned it in the original post, but edited it out? I thought maybe you had rid the island of mosquitos (to make room for all the Swiss immigrants).
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You forgot about the "htsss!" and the "hey baby" catcalls oh and the really dodgy chatup lines (unless that's just a lucian thing!!!)
You also forgot about the lack of choice in the shops - so it's a case of just grab whatever you can, when you can.
At least one thing about living this way - going to the beach every day (near enough) is one plus AND it doesn't cost anything ;o)
p.s. have you started reading that book yet??????
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"The plans call for successful completion of our task by 2175" a funny one
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