Living and Working in Vieques..
The first year of post Navy is almost over, and it has been, in many ways, a
remarkable year. The departure of the Navy and the opening of Martineau Bay
resort has brought many, many more people to the island and depleted the
inventory of real estate, both houses and land. All of the positive things that
one might expect from this have resulted, including our gourmet food store, Chef
Michaels, more restaurant business, car business, etc.
Of course, many of the negative things one expected have also happened. Prices
have risen fairly rapidly and one has to worry about the implications for the
Island. The boom is not at the beginning, but it is not at the end, not yet. I
believe there will be an end. I do not believe that people will pay hugely
inflated prices to come to Vieques, which remains a fairly simple island, one
where people must fend for themselves. This is, as I have said before, not a one
stop shopping place. It takes some work to live here, some work and a good deal
of patience. Money can solve a lot of problems, but in Vieques it cant solve
all your problems. No matter who you are, you still have to wait for the
refrigerator repair man or the dish TV people, and you must know (or learn) how
to negotiate the systems peculiar to vieques (medical care, buying veggies,
where to find the automobile a/c repair person...and on and on)
On the bright side, I awoke yesterday to discover that a foal had just been born
outside my bedroom window. Standing guard were four horses, the Mom was resting
and the Dad was standing over his foal, which was lying down also resting. This
is not a sight one sees everyday, even in Vieques. It is getting warmer, the
first blooms of the frangipani are just opening, and the water temperature is
perfect (soon to become a little too warm).
People often write to me about moving here. The very first thing I tell them is
to come and visit. Vieques is not just a place to live; it is a state of mind;
in some ways a parallel universe. Already there have been some people who rushed
to buy houses and have them on the market for resale. If you are thinking of
coming here to live, or for a long winter season, try it out first. See how you
take to the people, the way of life.
Vieques isnt for everyone. Its not that were so special; its just that it is
different here. One must have inner resources to survive here. There is not a
lot of external stimulation. But then, one morning, perhaps you too will see the
birth of a foal, and that surely makes it all worthwhile.
Sheila
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Webmaster's Note * Sheila has many hats and is Co-owner of Crow's Nest Realty with Eli Belendez.
Sheila can be reached for a brochure through her web page at http://www.crowsnestrealty.com