Tag Archives: Virgin Islands

2013

Financing the lifestyle

The reason I share with you the cost of airline tickets and other expenses is to show how relatively inexpensive it is to do what I’m doing. It costs $197 to fly from New York to Jamaica. $157 from Kingston to Miami, etc. I stay at hostels, couchsurfers, or with friends. While not for everyone, it’s a lifestyle that is within financial reach of many people. All you need is the freedom.

Yes, the freedom comes first–at least it did for me. I’d like to suggest to you that freedom is not dependent on money. Money provides options, sure, but freedom is something you can claim at any time depending on your level of courage, and freedom is something you can maintain as long as you wish, depending on your level of discipline.

Between the Sunday that I decided to quit my civil engineering job, and the Tuesday when I actually handed in my resignation letter, nothing changed as far as my financial status. I was still broke! What changed was my level of commitment to live my dream. That’s what made the difference.

It’s not all “perfect” yet. The tides of revenue ebb and flow. The pendulum of profitability swings back and forth. There were ups and downs, and there continue to be ups and downs. However, the freedom is still there. The freedom is still there because I have the discipline to weather the tides of outrageous fortune.

My journey has been chronicled and made into a step-by-step guid in the books I’ve written:

I quit my job even before I had my Ducks in a Row

I was therefore able to execute and develop a Turn Your Passion Into Profit philosophy and formula,

and set an example of what Living True To Your Self means, that others can follow.

So, when you share my adventures as the Jamaican in Wherever, know that anyone can do this. I’m just an bordinary guy who simply wanted freedom bad enough.

With that said, here are some scenes from the past few days of freedom hanging out with Heru, a friend and fellow rat race escapee and nomadpreneur on the island of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

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Heru takes me to THE coconut vendor on the road by First Car Rental, Wayne who also sells irish moss, coconut oil and other coconut-derived drinks and products

And special thanks to Wayne’s son, Eli (pronounced ALLI), who reminded his dad to make me a special batch of honey-sweetened “coconut moss” (irish moss seaweed and coconut water)!
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It’s a four-cruise-ship day!
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Ital Glory sidewalk cafe!
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I am now officially addicted to Judy’s cooking! Clay pots, square dumplings and moringa juice $10 for a large plate with HUGE portions!
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Health Food Store
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Blurry shot inside health food store
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Heru is “The Whole Body Consultant” on island and has a “Lunchtime at Livity” workshop at Natural Livity Kulcha Shop & Juice Bar every second Thursday of the month
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Hanging with Al, Heru’s Tai Chi instructor
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Heru also does two radio programs on WUVI 1090 AM, “Avenues of Healing” which airs Thursdays from 4-5:30pm Eastern Time, and “The Music & Culture Experience,” which airs Friday mornings 10:00am to 11:45. Stream live at: https://wuvi.am
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Being interviewed. (on both programs)
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A new friend on the University of Virgin Islands campus
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Did I mention I’m a cat person?
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View from the hills
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2013

The Jamaican in ……..

1 Comment

As a nomadpreneur, I typically only purchase one way tickets.

Once I discovered that my Jamaican pilot friend, Ron, was heading to Jamaica, and once we agreed to meet there and hang out together, I wasn’t sure exactly when I would depart the island, so I purchased a one way ticket from New York to Kingston. ($197 on Fly-Jamaica)

Once I landed in JA, and as the days progressed, I decided I would leave at the same time Ron would (May 7th), My post-Jamaica plan was to visit another Rat Race Escapee and nomadpreneur friend on the island of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

After doing a bit of research from back in New York, it seemed that I’d have to fly back to Fort Lauderdale on the US mainland and then take a flight through Puerto Rico on my way to St. Thomas. The arrival and departure times of the connecting flights weren’t working out conveniently, so it seemed that I might have to spend a night in Florida, and perhaps use that opportunity to visit a college friend.

Fortunately, however, while searching again in Jamaica, I found a flight from Kingston to Miami ($174.48 on American), and then a few days later, I found a direct flight from Miami to St. Thomas at a great price and purchased that ticket on April 27th. ($157.20 also on American). Woo hoo!

So, I left Jamaica on May 7th, (I booked myself on the same flight he had arranged months before), Ron headed back to Macau, and I did a little island-mainland-island hop:
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Kingston to Miami and then to St. Thomas

Now, the ticket agent in Kingston had told me he wouldn’t be able to “tag” my bags such that they’d be routed all the way to St. Thomas because of the fact that I had made two separate reservations for the two-stage journey. He also told me that since I’d therefore have to re-check my bags in Miami, that I’d be charged the $25 domestic-flight baggage for my checked bag. (I, however, had no intention of paying this fee).

Once I landed in Miami, got through the huge immigration line, picked up my bag at the carousel, made my way through customs and then headed to the ticket counter, I explained my situation to the check in counter agent and she got her supervisor, Gina, to come over. I explained to Gina that my trip from Miami to St Thomas was all one international flight originating in Jamaica and not simply a single domestic flight, and therefore, requested that my baggage be treated according to the international flight baggage allowance. She agreed and waived the $25 charge. Woo hoo!

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Sometimes all you have to do is ask. Thanks, Gina!

and, so, at 8:55pm on Tuesday, May 7, I landed
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Nighttime on St. Thomas

….and am now the Jamaican in St. Thomas! (Um, not sure for how long. Only bought a one-way ticket)

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Morning in Fortuna….The view from Heru’s place in the hills

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The view

And, after being on island for 24 hours, my first question for everyone is:

Why did the iguana cross the road?

Stay tuned