By Ann KuffnerFrom The Escapologist

It’s another languid, relaxing Sunday on the little island I call home. Settling in at Estel’s Diner on the beach, we order our favourite breakfast—huevos rancheros with homemade salsa. Then it’s back to a blissful reverie, gazing out over the mesmerizing Caribbean Sea. Sitting here, I wiggle my toes into the diner’s soft, warm, sand floor—no shoes needed…

The scene outside is idyllic. Rays of sunlight skitter off the sparkling surface of the calm sea… Local children giggle, frolicking in the clear, tepid waters… Several friends, out for a Sunday morning beach walk, stop by to share the latest island gossip…

This is a typical Sunday on this island. Here, Sundays are dedicated to R&R. Sometimes my husband and I head north to lounge on a beach, or join a catamaran trip to snorkel at a marine park. But most Sundays we join friends at a popular beach bar BBQ. After indulging we settle in to enjoy the rocking tunes of a local band. It’s our chance to brush up on our West Coast Swing moves while cooled by the ocean breeze… There’s always free live music playing somewhere on the island.

These days the intense stress of my previous corporate life is but a faint memory. It didn’t take me long to settle into the island lifestyle; my blood pressure dropped by 20 points almost immediately. These days, there are no more 6 a.m. conference calls, hectic travel schedules, or high-pressure corporate politics… I certainly don’t miss eight-lane freeways and road rage… And we feel no pressure to keep up with the Joneses…

Knowing this idyllic lifestyle is affordable helps to keep my blood pressure in check. We spend less than a third of what we did in California…without sacrificing on lifestyle. Despite retiring early—in our 50s—we’re getting by comfortably. As gourmet cooks, we still enjoy fine food and quality wines. We live on about $3,000 a month most of the time. Other island expats we know, who watch their pennies, spend $2,000 a month. (Most of us own our home or condo, so we no longer pay rent.)

These days my stress level is low…but don’t get me wrong: I choose to stay busy in paradise. Whether engaged in writing, volunteering, reading, or socialising, it feels like play to me…

As a writer, I sometimes have deadlines that loom large. But as soon as an inkling of stress starts to creep in, it’s time to head out for a beach walk…or for a delicious lunch at Wild Mango’s, my favourite beach cafe. The Caribbean Sea is my touchstone—a calming presence. Everything else seems insignificant when I gaze at the never-ending waves breaking on the surface of the offshore reef. Any feelings of stress just melt away…

These days I also take time to practice yoga in a natural environment. It feels special to share a yoga class on a palapa over the sea, or in another open-air island location, with your friends. I also have all the time in the world now to walk the beach…snorkel…or go to a wine-tasting.

They’re known here for their “live and let live” temperament. Fortunately, that attitude tends to rub off on us expats who choose to live on the island long-term. After all, what’s the hurry? Living here, I’ve learned to appreciate the island’s pace and easy-going atmosphere.

Editor’s note: Searching for your own island in the sun to enjoy your retirement? Let International Living Australia help you find your dream destination. This article comes courtesy of our friends in the US. Visit www.internationalliving.com to read more.

IMAGE: by International Living

For more on this story go to: http://escapologist.com.au/2014/11/hard-stressed-caribbean-island/