Have you ever thought of retiring here....

[rocknrollfarmer]

This post started quite the conversations! It is gripping! Keep it coming people! Retirement is something most of us think about, dream about. To reach the point of "not a care in the world" is wonderful. I know my Dad is at this point. 84 years old, but is losing a few marbles.... When I come down to Negril, that's where my mind is, actually my mind is emptied out. Almost total PEACE! Really don't need to get drunk or other substances either. Don't want to get sappy, but hey I'm being upfront how I feel. I'm being reflective right now, bear with me. We will be coming down to our "happy" place the end of Feb. It is our number 13 trip. As far as retiring in Negril....? sounds good...but gotta face reality, ain't gonna happen. But, sure could see in our later years of 2 months of staying somewhere there during the cold months of delightful Minnesota. {sarcasm...grin}. We'll see... life goes on, still gotta deal with the kid living in our basement. Thought we were going to be empty-nesters??? Bye. Oh , wait, here's something that I'm reminded of. Remember the Andy Griffith show? The episode, where Howard Sprague retired, and wanted to move to a island, and live on a beach somewhere? It just didn't work out for Howard, but then again, I don't think he really "got it".. Bye, johng, I liked your post.

[bigga]

Now look at what you have gone and done johng by being " the voice of reason" this thread has dried up. Your point is right on.

[Accompong]

When I first started staying for months at a time in Jamaica, a wise friend told me to continue treating each reach as a visitor on vacation and not to get too tied down to a location or property with the intent of living there. Over the years, I have lived for multiple months in Seaview Gardens in Kingston, Billy's Bay and Frenchmans in Treasure Beach, Port Maria in St. Anns and now in Accompong Town in St. Elizabeth.

I loved each of those locations for a variety of reasons but didn't lay down permanent roots in any of them except now in Accompong Town.

The reality of living in Jamaica is different for everyone but, I would bet, not very easy for anyone unless you have unlimited patience and money. It took many years and many reaches before I really understood what my wise friend was getting at with his advice. Every place (except Accompong Town) started out like a dream vacation but eventually little things and sometimes bigger issues soured my decision to live there longer term.

That's when I was glad not to have signed a long-term lease, bought property there or built a house. Even now in Accompong Town I have fashioned a way to walk away should it become necessary without losing my shirt in the process.

If the Jamaica you have in your mind is the Jamaica of more than a few years back, perhaps you need to reevaluate your thinking. The rampant corruption (although still existing), crime and violence and quality of life of the Jamaican people is being dealt with and continually improving. Unlike in the US, the Jamaican Government actually functions and continues to address issues like monetary policy with the IMF, improving major highways like the Highway 2000 project, working with the Chinese to open a Logistics Hub and lowering crime.

If you are happy just visiting once or more a year and then going back to your home then continue to do so. Moving to Jamaica is a big commitment and should not be done without an "exit strategy" should it become necessary. Jamaicans say, "Jamaica noh easy" and that, my friends, says it all. If it is living in Paradise without a care in the world you are looking for then continue looking but just visiting frequently (as I did) can possibly help you find what you are looking for in life.

Peace and Guidance

[jon c.]

I fantasize about the idea at times. Heat and humidity? It would actually be an improvement from conditions here in the summer (which I don't mind as I love heat and humidity).

Aside from concerns over medical care, the biggest concern I would have about retiring to the Caribbean is that it would be too costly. I live a modest life in the states and would be faced with significantly higher costs for housing, utilities, food and pretty much everything else.

[Lola]

The article didn't lie and I have been able to get along with the realities I've encountered thus far. There was a lot to absorb culturally the first couple years of long stays. When in the US now I live like I do in Jamaica. Family and friends offer me various gadgets and implements to take to JA, but I have learned it is easier to make do on the fly and avoid the clutter. I was recently in Florida for a month and the cost was sooo much more!

[Accompong]

I fantasize about the idea at times. Heat and humidity? It would actually be an improvement from conditions here in the summer (which I don't mind as I love heat and humidity).

Aside from concerns over medical care, the biggest concern I would have about retiring to the Caribbean is that it would be too costly. I live a modest life in the states and would be faced with significantly higher costs for housing, utilities, food and pretty much everything else.

Jon c,

I think that no one on this site lives any more modestly in the states or in Jamaica. I may be wrong but I live on less than $1,000 per month both here in So. Florida and at my home in Jamaica. It sometimes is less than that and very rarely more only if an extraordinary situation arises.

Medical Care cost me about $130 US for 5 days in Black River Hospital last year. I feel I received very good care for such a small amount of money. I did have to supply my own sheets, pillow and pillow case and towels and did wear my own clothes while in the ward. Of course, in the full disclosure statement, I do have VA Medical Care here in the states. I pay nothing for it and Ricky Scott pays my Medicare Part B because of my financial situation. I feel comfortable using the Jamaican health care system.

Housing runs me about $600 US per month in Jamaica but I don't live in Negril either. If you want to live there, maybe it would be too costly. Just saying.

Utilities: There is no pipe water in my town so we use plentiful rain water which costs nothing. Electricity costs me about $30 US per month average.

Food: Because I live on vegetables and fish, I can grow a lot of the vegetables and purchase the fish. I have to travel (usually by private car) to Santa Cruz to shop so that cost along with the fruits, vegetables and fish I require per week runs about $60 so a month is about $240,

That leaves me another $130 (or so) US to do "pretty much everything else" per month which is usually plenty.

Hard to find any place in Negril for $20 US per night that you would want to live in so living outside in the country is the key.

Hope this gives you an idea of what you could do on a limited budget.

Peace and Guidance

[negrilsand]

There can be such a thing as too much weed! I think that Accompong's post is very wise. I have given you the "hard" facts. If one is still inclined, after hearing the difficulties, to try living in Jamaica long term, read Accompong's post carefully and then plan carefully. As a Jamaican friend told me, "you do not want to be a poor white man living in Jamaica".Some people can live as Accompong does and enjoy it. I would not myself, with the other difficulties, call that living in paradise. A friend of mine lived 8 years in Laos under the communist government right after the war in Vietnam. He had quite an adventure. I had no interest in staying there that long. Most Americans would not enjoy retiring in Jamaica. I am not threatened by logical arguments, in fact I welcome them and try to learn from them, but they do have to be logical. I will take issue with Accompong's assertions about the Jamaican government. They were dictated to by the IMF. If they had not complied with the IMF dictates, the Jamaican economic system would have been in big trouble.Take a look at the latest exchange rate! The highway project isn't too bad. It is,however, a toll road and I wonder about where some of the funding went and how various contracts were let. Giving the Chinese carte blanche to establish a logistics hub is not at all wise. Already, there are serious labor problems with the Chinese. One only has to look at the way the Chinese operate in Africa to see how they will treat Jamaicans. I would like to know how crime is being reduced on the island. I have had friends from UK law enforcement that were seconded to Jamaica in an effort to reduce corruption. They left in despair and expressed little hope that anything could be done in the near future. My friends that were Jamaican police officers left to work in law enforcement in the UK. When they return to Jamaica for visits, they complain of being approached by former colleagues in the Jamaican police asking them to take part in money laundering and other illegal activities. When they retire in the UK they plan to take contracts in other Commonwealth countries as police officers rather than return to Jamaica. Their wives fear for their safety in Jamaica. Jamaica is a very corrupt place. I dream of the day when Jamaica will be similar to Hawaii and I think that someday it will. I just regret that I will not be alive when that happens.

[TAH]

There can be such a thing as too much weed!

I don't see what that has to do with living in Jamaica. There is a lot more weed around where I live in the states than in JA, and much stronger as well. Weed is everywhere, moderation can be applied anywhere.

[Heisenburg]

No thanks,i will stay in Canada.I enjoy three out of the four seasons.Going to my cottage ,boating and hanging out with my "real" friends.I like visiting Jamaica,smoking a hockey bag of weed,nailing a few chicks,spending a couple bucks and getting the hell out of there.

[jojo p]

No thanks,i will stay in Minnesota. I enjoy three out of the four seasons, going to my cabin in Sconie,boating,hanging out with my real friends. I love to visit Jamaica,drink
a whole lot of everything, dance, and flirt, and swim and float, spend a few bucks and get the heck out of there...................