ejcrowe

oh, thanks, alya and greenie! I didn't realize how much I was actually counting on living there until it was turned down outright. My husband teaches college, so he wouldn't have been able to move there with me, but he would have had large chunks of time off to visit pretty regularly--about 5 weeks during the winter holidays, a week each for fall and spring breaks, and then all summer. Certainly not ideal, but manageable for a couple of years.

Anyway, maybe something else will come up. I just have to wait for someone to open a branch bookstore in Grenada, or maybe Nevis or the BVI!

camelbak

Sorry it won't work out for you in Cayman ejcrowe. It really is a great place and is a great place for a family.

I have a family friend down there (she's been down for about 11 years now) that has three kids and there are not enough minutes in the day for her, with work and running around with the kids.

I can imagine that a 5 year stint would be a tough go without the hubby. I spent two months away from the family and was about to go out of my mind! If we could have swung staying down there I would have brought the family down but alas...not to be...at least right now.

As for TCaymans comments about cheap Canadians - ahem! Maybe there are some somewhere in this vast land of ours - but Vancouverites have never squealed at spending $$...after all we have one of the highest costs of living around. *sigh* I wasn't shocked by the prices of things in Cayman (well, okay, except the petrol!) but food, dining out, etc., was pretty much online with what I thought it would be - and you can't beat the price of cheese there.

My "generalizations" are based on my, yes, limited time on the Island, but also from discussions with my friend that lives down there, and other friends that have gone down and worked there.

I found that some people aren't interested (either at home, or working abroad) in integrating into daily life and becoming involved and for them, yes I could totally see boredom setting in Cayman (and I saw it firsthand from some of the people I worked with). Of course, everything is what you make of it. If your going to set down roots, and have a family there, then there are a ton of things to keep you busy day to day. It's a great place to raise a family and lots of activities to check out if you are outgoing and go and get yourself involved.

Perhaps now that you have Cayman on the brain you will find a way to get both of you down there. You wouldn't regret it.

TomCayman

Sorry if my jokey generalisation caused any offence, it was pretty tongue in cheek, but, having said that (about to dig the hole deeper, I can tell), I agree that it comes down to how much one gets involved and immersed in the life of the island. Some people live in Cayman for 1,2..5..or more years and never change their mindset away from the thought process that they are just there for a while for the weather and the money etc...and, in my experience, those are the people who would find not just Cayman, but any overseas stint... boring.

I've got lots of Canadian friends here, but it is pretty much likely that anyone I'd be friendly with is someone who is in fact involved in life around the island.. and doesn't find it boring.

As to the OP, I'd remember that Cayman has great air service and is only an hour from Miami.... so why not come down and check it out in some detail for yourself, then you can work out what other options you may have to get down here to work.

camelbak

Agree with TomCayman that if you are close to Miami - take a quick flight and check out Cayman - you won't regret it!

I really do wish that we could have made a better run at it.....maybe someday - we haven't given up the dream of walking shelter dogs on 7MB on the weekends and visiting Rum Point for amazing sunsets!!!