The Expat Life

If you, like me, retired to a country other than where you had lived prior to retirement, then you are an expat. The word can be neutral or carry some negative connotations, depending on who is using it. I choose to assign a neutral interpretation to it.

As an expat, you have many choices as to how you will live in your adopted new home, and none is right or wrong but simply a function of your comfort zone. Nor is a choice set in stone. It is possible to go from one mode to another over time.

Some people will seek to associate with people similar to them, be it from the same country or a particular community. They will live where other expats live, shop in a supermarket, buy items familiar to them, attend some local entertainment events, eat in restaurants that serve eclectic food. They center their activities around their compatriots, and they are not usually involved in local civic or cultural groups. Many maintain homes in the countries in which they lived before retiring and will spend part of the year there, part in their new home.

Others will choose to become active in some civic project to help a particular segment of the local population. In Grenada, there is a group run by an expat with several expats as well as local people who do an ongoing program to teach swimming. Another group raises funds to assist students of limited means to further their education. Yet others, will establish small businesses, making jewellery, catering, or IT consulting.

I decided early on that I would find some meaningful activity, not just meaningful to me but something that in some way gives back to this lovely island which welcomed me. The first of these was a 4-year volunteer service with the Grenada Association of Retired Persons. Then followed membership in the Grenada Green Group, in which I am still active, then joining the Willie Redhead Foundation dedicated to advocating for the preservation of the built history of the island. I am now President of the Foundation.
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In addition, I maintain an active social life with friends both expats and Grenadians. I shop for local food at the farmers’ market, I buy my meat from my local butcher, my fish at the fish market and often eat in restaurants that serve local food. My life in retirement is rich, interesting, and challenging. I would not have it any other way.