This is Exuma, not Nassau

When Bill decided to apply for the job at Sandals, we spent an insane amount of time Googling everything we could about what is now our new home. We pieced together a fair amount of information from the internet to feel comfortable with our decision to make the move. We understood the basic limitations and benefits of life in Exuma, and we continue to learn more about the island every day. Every trip into town, every afternoon on the boat, and every night at Fish Fry reveals a little something new about Exuma.

Before we even arrived on the island, we learned about many American’s misconception of the Bahamas. When we told people about our upcoming journey, we quickly found out most people associate the Bahamas with Nassau, the capital city of the country located on the island of New Providence. Cruise ships stop in Nassau dropping off thousands of tourists daily for a quick tour of the city. Nassau is also home to many large hotels and resorts, most notably Paradise Island, a tropical Disney World. We have not visited Nassau yet, but based on the accounts of others it sounds like the Bahamas equivalent of New York City, or at least Orlando. Exuma is more of a tropical Mayberry. The one thing we do know about the nation’s capitol is if you need something that is not readily available in Exuma, the next stop is Nassau. And if it’s not in Nassau, you have to get it from the states, usually Ft. Lauderdale or Miami.

I cannot stress enough that Exuma is not the same as Nassau. Exuma is like a small country town whereas Nassau is the “big city” in the Bahamas. The entire population of the Bahamas is a little over 350,000 spread across the 19 main islands. Of that population, nearly 250,000, or more than 70 percent, live in New Providence while a little over 7,000 are in Exuma. If you need shopping malls, movie theaters, Starbucks, and seven different varieties of ketchup in the grocery store, then Exuma is not for you. If you want beautiful beaches, clear water, a slower lifestyle, and are not a picky eater, Exuma could be your match.

Island living is not for everyone, and each island has its own unique characteristics and culture. I love living in Exuma, but as beautiful as other islands may be, I doubt I would feel at home on a larger or shall we say “refined” island. I’d rather have a beer while fishing on our little flats boat than sip champagne on a yacht. There are plenty of yachts and big fancy sailboats in Exuma, but those folks are rarely spotted at my hangouts.

Throughout this blog I hope to share some of the features of Exuma and the qualities that make it unique. Next stop: filling up the Toyota at the only gas station on the island.