Living and Working in Vieques..
In the past two months I have been to two memorial services. The first was for
Jennie Benitez, a beautiful and talented woman who died of cancer... For the
benefit of the several North Americans present, the Priest and other speakers
spoke in Spanish and English. At the end of the service, we all held hands,
gringos and Viequense alike, paying tribute to a lovely woman who died much too
young.
The second memorial service was held at the old pier in Esperanza. It was for
Barry Lindberg, a chef, whose wife Diane spoke bravely and movingly of their
life together. Here in Vieques, death, as it is everywhere else, is the great
equalizer. Jennie and Barry shared at least one thing in common they loved
Vieques.
Loving Vieques is not like loving New York or Boston or even San Juan. There is
little economic gain or upward mobility to be achieved by living in Vieques.
People in Vieques do not inquire about your job or about how much money you
have. Of course, there are some rich people here; but rich people in Vieques are
no more or less useful or respected than people of limited means. What counts
here, I believe, speaks more to the essential person than does living in many
other places.
Self reliance, for example, is highly prized in Vieques, as is patience and
inner resources. You will need all three of these qualities in good measure if
you plan on moving here. Your status in Vieques may not depend on the old
reliable criteria of family, money and possessions.
Summer is here, in full bloom, but the island is different. There are many more
people renting houses and cars than ever before. It is almost as of we have a
year round season. It is, of course, not as congested as it is in the real
season, but still surprisingly lively.
You can come here to escape from many things; cold weather, urban congestion,
stressful office work. Vieques is, in its own way, paradise. Alas, the human
condition obtains and Vieques can not cure a broken heart or mend a shattered
soul.
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