We say it every year: "I will move to an island." Need an extra push? We asked these expats for their advice on moving to paradise and how to make it happen.
Read more in our Ultimate Best Islands to Live On Guide.
Expats, Move to an Island: Marc DeLucia
Current Job: Runs a paddle-board tour company
Why He Moved: A friend invited him to visit the island after college. He came with $3,000 to his name. The natural and tropical surroundings persuaded him to make the move permanent.
Best Advice: Give it time. It takes about a year to get acclimated to a small island. Resist the urge to go back home for at least that long.
Expats, Move to an Island: Heather Evans
Current Job: Owns the Sugar Reef Inn
Why She Moved: To downshift, simplify her life and read books. Went from working at a Wall Street investment firm to running the inn.
Best Advice: The restaurant part of operating an inn is far more challenging than the inn itself.
Expats, Move to an Island: Andy Deuchars
Current Job: Co-owner of Renaissance Brewing Company
Why He Moved: To get a fresh start. He’d been laid off from his winemaking job in California and his sister had moved to New Zealand five years earlier.
Best Advice: It helps to have work experience and knowing people on the island where you move. Connections are important.
Expats, Move to an Island: Jamison Witbeck
Current Job: Charter boat owner and captain
Why He Moved: Living a simpler lifestyle. Our kids are learning a lot about how to do more with less.
Best Advice: Figuring out what to do with your stuff is often the hardest part of making a big move. I say give it all away. It’s freeing.
Expats, Move to an Island: Didier Zanette
Current Job: Artifact collecting and trading
Why He Moved: A former banker, he wanted to be closer to his ultimate adventures. For example, trekking through swampland in Papua to reach the Kombai and Korowai people. He ran out of food and had to eat grubs. He was the first white man the Korowai had seen.
Best Advice: Don’t make the move for money. For me it’s the adventure. If it were all about money, I would have stayed in banking.
Expats, Move to an Island: Paige Lansing and Carlos Valle
Current Jobs: Marketing and bartending for a whisky distillery (Paige); bike mechanic (Carlos)
Why They Moved: To pay less rent and work fewer hours with less stress.
Best Advice: Use the Internet to find a place to rent (for a bargain). Prior to
moving, Paige and Carlos utilized www.airbnb.com to book a fully furnished apartment for a month at just $35 a night. This gave them time to scout out apermanent living arrangement.
Expats, Move to an Island: Tania and Arnaud
Moved From: New York
Why They Moved: The grueling pace of work and life in The City. They were envious of expats they’d met on an around-the-world dive adventure, but they needed to keep their US Green Cards (he being French and her German). Partnering with local conch and lobster fishermen who know the waters better than anyone, they now bring divers to the island’s most secret spots.
Expats, Move to an Island: Nate Marr
Current Job: Captain, Marauder Sailing Charters
Why He Moved: It was supposed to be a vacation from his nine-to-five in financial planning. A happenstance joke about buying the sailboat he’d taken for a snorkel tour led him to owning the boat within the week.
Best Advice: On a remote island you can get everything you need, but not everything you want. Bye-bye brand loyalty, hello care packages.
Expats, Move to an Island: Buddy and Casie Stone, Vieques
Moved From: Arizona
Why They Moved: The expense of home ownership in St. John would be high. The cost of living and the expense of real estate in Vieques were far more attractive.
Best Advice: Come down and find a job that gives you enough to get by at first. Then figure out what the island needs and work your butt off to provide it through a business.
Expats, Move to an Island: Thom Denton and Kevin Cunha, Vieques
Moved From: Idaho
Why They Moved: They wanted the Latin experience. They even chose Vieques before the Navy curtailed bombing exercises. A former child psychologist and industrial engineer, they tried every odd job until they landed on property management and real estate. Alberto Munoz later became a third member of the team.
Best Advice: Don’t forget to smile. It opens doors.
Read more in our Ultimate Best Islands to Live On Guide.