Have you ever thought of retiring here....

[Vince]

IMO, When we go, I get away from the tourist. I hit up da hills and just blend in. No worries up der mon!- Living there is for some people and most not. IMO. When I get some in order, Capt. I would LOVE to come up and check it out. I'm more of a hills person. If I need da beach, i'll go to a "local" beach, nothing against tourist,(like myself). But I prefer to the "local style".JMO

[Accompong]

My advice would be to not listen to anyone living in Roatan Honduras about what it is like living in a place like Jamaica!

Here is what I think......

Peace and Guidance

1. The heat can be unbearable.

Not when you live at 3,500’ feet above sea level with pretty much a constant cool breeze.

2. The bugs. Oh, the bugs!

I lived in South Florida and get bitten more here than at my home in Jamaica. Sand fleas?? Not in the mountains. A few mosquitoes but that is what repellent and screens are used for. Cockroaches? We just call them Palmetto bugs and that doesn’t sound so icky! Ants? Well, they just give me a chance to play Army General where I use my “shock and awe” power to contain and destroy them!

Tarantulas. They are everywhere! Well, perhaps if you live in Roatan, Honduras but I have never even seen a tarantula in Jamaica. And, I have no reason to go there to see them either!

3. The infrastructure may be lacking.

Not “may be” but “Is”. Nothing to obsess over but a constant irritant.

4. Island life is like small-town living. Everyone knows everyone and everything.

Yeah, a real negative that is, right? When I got sick last year and 10 neighbors came to dress me and carry me down to a waiting car for a ride to Black River Hospital, I only had to reflect on living in a big city and screaming “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” for a month before anyone noticed.

5. Acquiring things can be difficult on an island.

“Things” are sometimes not so important. I just wait until someone comes from affaren and brings it or I go back for a visit to get them. Things you really need to survive are available. You do learn to live without some “things” and go on living a happy life.

If you want to complain about the length of time between sending a letter and the person in Jamaica receiving it then don’t send it in the first place. That is what phones are for and if it has to be sent as a document, send it UPS, FED-EX etc. and then it will get there. Costly but promptly. Don’t be a cheapskate!

6. There are stray dogs and cats everywhere.

Well, this is a problem where I live. The same two dogs seem to be constantly engaged and producing 6-8 puppies at a time. Sorry to say that at some point people get tired of the barking and fighting at night and then a rat block does the trick. Cats? Well, they take care of the problem around the house by taking the cats into a ganga field to manage the rat problem. Typical. They use a problem to solve a problem and then create a bigger problem (like the mongoose!)

7. Tourists. Tourists everywhere!

Get out on the island and they are not so plentiful. I happen to live in a “touristy-type” town so we do get 3-5 a week average but like a case of indigestion, it will go away in a few hours.

8. Storms happen, and they can be gravely serious.

****ttttt happens! When not in Jamaica, I am in South Florida and since 2004 I have experienced Jeanne, Dennis, Wilma and a touch of Charley so hurricanes are survivable if you live in a concrete structure like they build in Jamaica. They even fill the cement blocks with cement!

9. Island life can be isolating.

Duh. And that is a problem? I have my Kool 97 fm, my two channels on the TV CVM and TVJ and can get a Gleaner or Star without too much difficulty. Do I care what is going on around the world? Not too much. After 90 days in Jamaica, the world looks about a screwed up as when I left it in the first place.
If you've read all these reasons and think that island life sounds horrible, you most certainly should not move to the Caribbean. Take a vacation and then go back.

[MilwaukeeMike]

Think about healthcare. It gets more important as you age.

[Rob]

I'd visit often and long but not move. If you are in perfect health with both parents living until 100, you could consider it. Most are not that lucky. It's a 3rd World country and health care in one is not the same as the States or Canada. As you get older thing start to wear out. People confuse visiting and living in a country; there is a difference. Jamaica is being sold off and Negril is a great example. When some of us old timers first visited Negril was Jamaican. True, some of the first hotels like T-Water were foreign owned but the vast amount of lodging was run by Jamaicans. All of your restaurants and cook shops were Jamaican. Jamaicans used to swim in the ocean; how true is that now? That has turned around. If everyone foreign retired here it could be a South Beach farther south. Sitting 7 days a week x 52 weeks in a bar while retired is no way to live and you already know that Negril life is not really Jamaica life. So come visit, come often but don't move here. My 2 cents. (and that article was stupid)

Here is an alternative take by someone who does live here. And the Jamaican owned cook shop we ate at last night would be surprised that some people dont think they are Jamaican. As would Shields, Travellers, Errols, Ansell's, Bar-B-Barn, Roots, Firefly, Sun Beach, Fun Holiday, Rooms, Beaches, Sandals, Couples, Red Dragon, Jah B's, Canoe, Seastar, MXIII, Erika's, Oasis, Jenny's, Tayon's, MiYard, Sunset After Dark, Chicken Lavish, Jay's Hideaway, Swordfish, Natural Mystic, Sandra's, Spyda's, HiLo, L&M, No Limit, PeeWee's, Gas, Bankmark, Lighthouse Inn and Dr. Quality's just to name a handful. All are Jamaican owned.

There are substantially more Jamaican owned businesses in Negril than non-Jamaican owned. I know this because after 20+ years running a business here you tend to meet all the business owners. Even Negril.com is Jamaican owned. And T-Water was Jamaican owned by the Segree family. It got its name before it was built because the owners young daughter always asked to go play in the "t water" having an issue with the word "sea".

Jamaicans swim in the sea (the Caribbean is considered a sea, not an ocean) on the holidays. During the Christmas/New Years holiday they were playing in the sea everyday. And when they come to Negril on vacation, you will find them swimming. Many folks in Negril now have jobs or attend school so they no longer have the free time to play in the sea. Negril is transforming from the sparsely populated fishing village it was 50 years ago into a prospering resort town. There are hundreds of Jamaican owned businesses that keep the locals employed.

The health care is not the same as the US or Canada, but the same can also be said that the healthcare in the US is not the same as Canada's. I live with the realities of the healthcare every day and while not the same as North American, you can receive excellent healthcare on the island. You learn how and where to go when necessary. It is not the same, but that does not make it bad, just different. Even if you have serious medical issues there are places you can retire safely in Jamaica.

And Negril is every bit Jamaican as is Kingston, Porus, Black River, Ocho Rios, Accompong, Mandeville, Santa Cruz, Montego Bay or Sheffield. Those born in Negril are Jamaican citizens every bit as much as a Jamaican born anywhere on the island. Negril is different than say Kingston, but that doesnt make it any less Jamaican. If I said Iowa is not really USA living, New York City is the real USA, how much sense would that make? Both are equally American.

When I first visited the island in the mid 80's (about the same time Capt D was leaving the island), there are places I visited then that I can still visit today. Red Dragon, Erika's, Archway and Rainbow Arch were places I went then and can go today.

To me , the article was meant to be somewhat tongue in cheek - reading the author's own "rebuttal" demonstrates this. Sitting in a bar 7 days a week 52 weeks a year is no way to live or retire, I agree. If you would not retire like that in your own country, why would you do it here?

I found the article humorous.

[MilwaukeeMike]

I understand your point(s). In fact I debated deleted my response. OK. I changed my post but did caution healthcare needs. Peace

[Vince]

Good thread though!

[negrilsand]

Why are so many Jamaicans trying to get to the US? Many Jamaicans with any sort of wealth have a home in Florida and retire there when they can. Returnees from abroad face being robbed and killed. Their homes have bars on every window and door. Many returnees go from the airport to a resort where they stay a few days so that they cannot be easily followed by thugs from the airport to their home. I'm fairly certain that there are many Jamaicans that would agree to exchange homes with those Americans that want to retire to Jamaica. I suggest that those of you that want to live permanently on the island take a visit to Cornwall Hospital so as to see what sort of healthcare that they will receive. I was,myself, an unfortunate patient that hospital. Just recently my good friend died there after suffering an affliction that should have been quickly diagnosed and treated. Another friend's teenage daughter died a painful death from appendicitis after going home alone from a local clinic where her father had been assured that she just had indigestion. Her father had gone on to his job. Still another friend had to move from his home after a women was chased into his living room and shot to death. He was terrified that the killers would return to wipe out any witnesses. Jamaica is a great place to visit but few of you would enjoy living permanently on the island.

[captaind & Linston]

Why are so many Jamaicans trying to get to the US? Many Jamaicans with any sort of wealth have a home in Florida and retire there when they can. Returnees from abroad face being robbed and killed. Their homes have bars on every window and door. Many returnees go from the airport to a resort where they stay a few days so that they cannot be easily followed by thugs from the airport to their home. I'm fairly certain that there are many Jamaicans that would agree to exchange homes with those Americans that want to retire to Jamaica. I suggest that those of you that want to live permanently on the island take a visit to Cornwall Hospital so as to see what sort of healthcare that they will receive. I was,myself, an unfortunate patient that hospital. Just recently my good friend died there after suffering an affliction that should have been quickly diagnosed and treated. Another friend's teenage daughter died a painful death from appendicitis after going home alone from a local clinic where her father had been assured that she just had indigestion. Her father had gone on to his job. Still another friend had to move from his home after a women was chased into his living room and shot to death. He was terrified that the killers would return to wipe out any witnesses. Jamaica is a great place to visit but few of you would enjoy living permanently on the island.

Well ain't you a ray of sunshine.

Cap

[frankk]

I do not agree with any of the negative views of Ja. I would love to move there but I'd miss my family and friends at home. So I'm good to visit whenever I can.

[Rob]

Why are so many Jamaicans trying to get to the US? Many Jamaicans with any sort of wealth have a home in Florida and retire there when they can. Returnees from abroad face being robbed and killed. Their homes have bars on every window and door. Many returnees go from the airport to a resort where they stay a few days so that they cannot be easily followed by thugs from the airport to their home. I'm fairly certain that there are many Jamaicans that would agree to exchange homes with those Americans that want to retire to Jamaica. I suggest that those of you that want to live permanently on the island take a visit to Cornwall Hospital so as to see what sort of healthcare that they will receive. I was,myself, an unfortunate patient that hospital. Just recently my good friend died there after suffering an affliction that should have been quickly diagnosed and treated. Another friend's teenage daughter died a painful death from appendicitis after going home alone from a local clinic where her father had been assured that she just had indigestion. Her father had gone on to his job. Still another friend had to move from his home after a women was chased into his living room and shot to death. He was terrified that the killers would return to wipe out any witnesses. Jamaica is a great place to visit but few of you would enjoy living permanently on the island.

If all of what you are saying is true, why are there any returnees in the first place? Some of my best friends are returnees and their stories are quite different.

Going to a resort first is an interesting twist since returnees can be identified by the amount of luggage being brought in, otherwise they look like anyone else arriving. If they are being followed, there is more to the story.

What is the issue with bars and gates? As technology improves they will be replaced by alarm systems that are so popular in North America. Also, you can find those same bars and gates in the US. I have seen them in many States. Jamaica did not invent them.

Sorry to hear about your good friend at Cornwall, to lose anyone is tragic. But we have also had a good friend receive care that saved her life in an emergency. At Cornwall. She is thankful for the doctor and her favorite nurse. And to point out the obvious, you are here to discuss Cornwall. They must have done something right.

I have been misdiagnosed, but it occurred at Riverside in Columbus, Ohio. I suppose people should avoid moving to Ohio now.

And how does some woman run into a guy's living room with all those bars and gates on every door and window? Once again, there seems to be more to this story.

I guess I have just been lucky the last 20 some years...