What is living in Roatan like?
Why would someone choose to live in Roatan?
Roatan is close to the US; it's affordable, there is a multitude of charitable groups that would love the expat help, and the expat community is fabulous. Aside from those reasons, Roatán is a vibrant green jewel surrounded by the clearest blue water you will ever see. The colors vary from a pale turquoise to a deep dark purple, and it is crystal clear and warm.
Living in Roatan offers a different quality of life. There is very little grandeur. People live simple lives, and give up competing with the neighbors. You become a much simpler person living here. You realize quickly that very little material goods are needed. If you expect instant gratification, finding exactly what you want at the first store you enter, next day Amazon delivery, etc., that's not how life rolls on Roatán. People live on Roatan because it changes your thought processes. You know beforehand when you go looking for a certain type of something you need that probably none of the stores have it, it will come on the next ship. You learn to stop asking "Why?" and "When?" You realize it takes a long time to get things done around the island of Roatan, and learn a new patience, a new pace, and to let certain things go, which can be very mentally freeing (or frustrating, if you can't figure out how to "let go").
Roatan is more laid back and less frantic than the US or other developed countries. There is less immediacy on Roatan. Things will happen on Island Time. If you're not prepared for it, Island Time can be terribly frustrating. But it can be a wonderful thing if you keep in mind that is one of the main reasons people move to the Caribbean! Roatan is not for you if you were hoping for upscale dressy events, theaters, Galas to attend, and excellent shopping.
Actually it is quite the opposite lifestyle here. While we do occasionally have more dressy fundraising events, and you CAN receive an Amazon package if you're willing to wait 2-4 weeks and pay $16+ for shipping on the boat, the majority of folks here relinquish heels for cheap flipflops, and Gucci bags for canvas totes, and resign the fact that their gas grill will rust within months, and that's OK. We quickly realize that the salt air, humidity, and sand make the glue on fancy shoes disintegrate, and the sea air makes our metal buckles rust, and that synthetic fabrics just make you sweat. But, if what you're looking for a place to chill out, meet people from all over the world who want the same simple things that you do, and you are ready for a less stressful existence, you're in the right spot. Roatan is for the tranquil.