Phew, what a brainteaser. Living, working, and thriving on Bonaire: emigrating. It’s a dream that now seems closer than ever, yet still far away. Because what a big decision it is to make. Not just for ourselves, but especially because the kids will, of course, come along too. They’re three and six years old, so still young enough to adapt relatively easily. But on the other hand, you’re taking them away from their safe world, their familiar school and daycare. And from their grandparents.
A year ago, this dream wasn’t really on our radar. With Sabrina just starting a new job and Alexander having a stable position, we weren’t seriously considering it. But the feeling of getting little fulfillment from our work had been there for a while. Emigrating, or at least working abroad for a while, had crossed our minds, but we never got beyond vague plans. Then, when the job turned out not to be Sabrina’s dream job and the company Alexander worked for was on the verge of collapse, emigrating became a more concrete idea.
Questions and Doubts
Starting something new together, deciding your own course, and really building something while living outdoors a lot—once the seed was planted, we couldn’t shake it. Living in a warm country where the transition would still be manageable for everyone. Could one of the Dutch Caribbean islands be an option? And if so, which one, and based on what would you make that choice? And can you actually make a living there, for example, by running a B&B? Won’t I miss my friends and family too much? And isn’t it unfair to the kids to have them live 9,000 km away from their grandparents (no matter how beautiful it is there)?
But on the other hand, it’s an adventure. We could build something beautiful together. It has a wonderful climate, and if we want to make the move with the kids, we need to do it now…
The thought of Bonaire as an emigration destination is becoming stronger. The smaller, more laid-back sibling of Curaçao and less Americanized than Aruba. As a special municipality of the Netherlands, it offers high standards in education and healthcare. Focused on water sports and sustainability, which we have a strong affinity for. The more we read and see, the more excited we get.
So many questions, so many ideas, not a decision to make lightly. Lots of Googling, reflecting on our feelings and feasibility. Where the ball will land, we don’t know yet.
