DH and I have been talking and we have always wanted to move some place tropical, we were going to live on a sail boat with a condo in Mexico (little island off of Cancun, Isla Mujeres) 12 years ago but the day after we bought the boat we found out I was pregnant. So all the living on a boat was on hold until the baby was a little bigger, while 6 more kids later we are still wanting to move south, just not living on the boat.

I have been doing a lot of looking at different places to go but just don't have a clue where to go. We think it will be about 2 years before we can move so we have time. I want to be ON the beach, a sand beach not a drop off cliff.

So if you could move to the beach in a tropical place where would you go and why?

Anyone have any thoughts on St. Maarten-St. Martin?

Uh, just a thought but you have to put all these kids in school.

Before I moved ANYWHERE, I'd find out how the schools are, how they are rated, etc.

Mel

Wish I could help...but like Melody said...you'll have to consider schooling (as well as other things) for your kids, use that as a starting place....oh and the heat! I thought you had trouble with the heat in Texas...can't imagine how it would be any further south. Whatever you do check all options first.

Most of the islands are not as hot as it here, most of them are in the 80's year round. I can't handle this 90's-100's that we get every summer and really can't handle the winters, below 70 is too cold for me.

And we are thinking about the schooling part.

You know that's the key. Heat and humidity just kills me, but too cold is rough on my MS too. Many of the islands are just more temperate and don't get those horrible spikes in humidity. My one sister has been to St. Maarten's and St. Lucia and just fell in love with them. She said she'd move to St. Maarten's in a heartbeat if the opportunity arises.Sorry I can't be of more help, my fat behind has never been further than the Canadian side of the Niagra Falls, and I was too little to remember! LOL

I absolutely loved the Virgin islands. St. Maarten's and St. Lucia are breathtaking and St Thomas is awesome too. St. Thomas is a US island if that helps.

I must say that when we traveled in May, years ago, the weather was pretty hot for us. Jim and I were sun burned pretty fast but then again, we were on a cruise around water the whole time. lol

Don't forget about visa restrictions. Some of these countries limit how long you can stay there, some you can't buy property, etc. Access to medical care would be a biggie too.

Yep, Greta is right. Jim and I looked into buying a house in St Thomas and the healthcare is limited. There wasn't a VA hospital for Jim but they did have little clinics. We decided to stay where we are.

Kona Hawaii...no other place for me.