Hello from Sint Maarten--Phase 3 of our Faux Retirement Begins!

We're now back out of the New Hampshire weather and happily settled in our timeshare unit at Divi Little Bay Beach Resort. Well, that is as happy as we can be without Maggie. It's hard to believe that we bought our first unit 16 years ago, a mere 6-8 weeks before Hurricane Luis flattened the island. How's that for timing?

But while other timeshare resorts here (Mullet Bay, Dawn Beach...and now apparently Pelican) were not able to make it through the rebuilding, renovation and re-sale process, Divi has always been there.  We are grateful and love it here.

More about the island's response to the need for improved infrastructure later, but now let me just say that each year we try do something new--a bucket list activity, or something that stretches our horizons.

Last year it was the zip line at Loterie Farm on the French side.  Noreen and I were the brave ones, and Steve and Bud did the photography. I did a piece on it for the Concord Monitor (click here for the slide show) which shows the level of challenge.  Fun!! To read the text click here.

This year, we're going for something less physical and more...elegant, perhaps.  While reading the Destination St. Maarten magazine (a great publication put out by Christine de la Cruz, who lives over on the French side of the island), I noticed an article on a new place over in Grand Case (also on the French side), where you can take classes in perfume making and actually make your own perfume. It's called Tijon, St. Martin (http://www.tijon.com/). How cool is that? We are definitely going to do that before our three weeks are up!

Here's another shot from this morning...if you're more interested in taking in the view than taking aim with your cannon, there are a number of spots to sit an contemplate the exact color of the water.

We'll see if this entry actually posts to my bog.  I am working from a WiFi connection in our room, and all the directions seem to be in Dutch!