The other 'transplants' we have met come from all over the world, all walks of life; many are here to retire with a better lifestyle, others seek excitement or business opportunities.  Some have escaped a war torn homeland.  But what they all share is a love of the island and an understanding of the need to protect a simpler way of life.

I haven’t needed anything and not been able to find it here on the island.  The prices vary greatly and the quality may not be the same as you are used to, but if you need it, it’s here.  Clothing is one of the great passions,  so if you need to wear the most trendy, up-to-date clothes, you’re gonna love this place!  Shoes are also an obsession - every style, color, and whimsy can be found.  Believe it or not I was greatly disappointed by all of this.  I had expected more of a minimalist approach to clothing…shorts, t-shirt and bathing suits. Although this is fine, people actually dress to impress when away from the beach!

There is, as everyone has probably read by now, a strong Italian influence on the island and you will find this a constant theme throughout the food.  Seafood is not as abundant as I had hoped and as previous posts suggest, it pretty expensive.  One would think that with ten bazillion fishing villages shrimp and/or lobster would be plentiful and practically free for the taking.  Oh well, life goes on.  Other things though are very cheap to buy or even make - empanadas - tasty little pastry 'turnovers' filled with meat and/or cheese; arepas, similar to a Johnnycake-sliced and stuffed with whatever comes to mind, and eaten as a sandwich. The “typical” food dishes are like most Caribbean countries; beans, rice, plantains, salad, and an entrée (chicken, meat, or fish). 

House  prices here are still very low.  Because of the vast unpopulated, or scarcely populated areas, I don’t see the prices getting out of hand like Costa Rica…at least not anytime soon.  There are so many places that remain untouched…it will be quite some time before the island is “filled to capacity.”  During the tourist seasons the beaches are packed and rooms are difficult to find.  If you plan to come to rent a room long term, make sure it is well before the high season and that the price is fixed.  We are renting a condo and took a six month lease just to be sure to have a place during the busy time, but we hope to find a house well before then - better safe than sorry though.

There seem to be two schools of thought concerning housing.   Some people are pro condo while others are pro single-family residences.  he main argument is security the supposition being that in a condo you are more secure and have a better view.  Well I haven’t seen any evidence of that.  Typically in a condo the complex is gated with a wall surrounding the building…just like a house.  In a house all you can see is a wall…. if you live on the bottom floor of a condo all you see is the common area surrounded by a wall…just like a house! 

A condo has 24-hour security… if you want a security guard, at the wages here you can afford to pay one, or better yet, take the condo dues you are saving and pay him.  In a condo you must rely on other people to lock the security doors (ask anyone living in a condo if they have ever seen some of the creative ways that other people keep those doors from locking!) I’d much rather put my personal safety and security in my own hands…I lock my door every time, even if it means taking a key to the beach or pool.  I guess it comes down to personal preferences.  If you take normal precautions you are no more or less safe in a condo than a single family home.  The best thing to do is talk to the people in the neighborhood -find out if they’ve had any problems and seek a solution.  You shouldn’t feel like condo living is the only choice in order to feel safe.

If you want to get around, get a car!  There are taxis, buses, and rentals but bite the bullet, spend way too much money and get a car.  The prices of new cars are not too bad…especially compared to used cars.  Apparently the islanders are very proud of their cars!  The average price for a used car is about $7000…that’s a 7 to 10 year old car.  You can get a brand new Honda for $15,000.

With regard to personal safety -well, one of our friends said if you wouldn’t do it in your hometown don’t do it here.  So simple, but so true.  Would you go to the bad section of your hometown at night to take a midnight stroll?  Of course not, so don’t do it here.  Would you wave wads of cash around?  No, you wouldn’t so don’t do it here.  It’s just basic, common sense.  People in Margarita are just like the people in every neighborhood in America.  There are good ones and bad ones, some who are kind, considerate, and loving. There are also people who you can’t trust or would want to associate with. People are the same the world over.  Open your mind and heart when you come here and you’ll make some terrific friends. 

Prices are all over the board.  Some things are dirt-cheap while others are ten times the cost of the same item back home.  Prices vary wildly from one store to the next…unbelievable!  In one you may pay $10 for an item and in the next store that same item may be $3.  Go figure!  I found it odd that sunscreen is pretty expensive, in comparison to Florida’s prices.  The cheapest sunscreen back home is “NoAd” brand…$1 or $2 depending on type. At one of the grocery stores here the same brand was $10.  It was cheaper to get Hawaiian Tropic or Panama Jack! It’s somewhat amusing and at times can be maddening, but it is what it is.  Food is a good price if you consider that it’s organic.  Other goods are similar in prices to the States.  The really cheap things are booze and cigarettes (or so I’m told, I finally quit smoking and haven’t checked the prices).  A person can stay plastered here (although I don’t know why they’d want to) for a few bucks a day.  Electronics are pretty good bargains…not super cheap, but very affordable.  Clothes are about like back home.  One of my girlfriends did tell me that returns are not allowed…if you bought it and it doesn’t fit…you have a dust cloth!

I have been riding around, checking out the beaches for a place to call home.  I have seen one topless woman on the beach…and that happened to be a private beach.  Yes there is nudity and prostitution here, if you go looking for it.  f you are like the majority of people who are not into that type of scene you will be fine.  You do not have any of that thrust upon you.  Like I said, I haven’t seen it.  It may be different during the high season…that remains to be seen.  only caught the tail end of Carnival. In speaking with other expats they concur…it’s there if you go looking.  Men and women here wear thongs.  There is not as much emphasis on the human body as I expected.  I guess I thought perfect people with perfect bodies all 20years old….wrong!  There is every size, shape and age you can imagine.  I’ve seen firm 20 year olds and even firmer 60 year olds (great plastic surgery centre here!) and I’ve seen flabby, saggy bodies of all ages.. The point is, this is just like any other place.  There are all kinds of people and all kinds of bodies.  This isn’t where the Latin starlets hang out! Put your insecurities away, you’ll be just fine and probably have one or two people give you a wink and a nod!

Anyway, that’s how I see it.  This is a great place full of great people.  Yes there are one or two that I wouldn’t want to meet in a dark ally, so I won't go there.  Overall, I think with a sense of adventure and tolerance you will have a blast!