5 Reasons Why I Love Living In Grenada

“How could you leave big big Jamaica and go and live in one of those small islands?” Grenada, the small island I chose, measures just 12 miles west to east and 21 miles north to south. In 1997, this Jamaican added to Grenada’s population of approximately one hundred or so thousand people at the time. Originally intending to spend two years then move on, 18 years later, Grenada is still captivating and feels like home.

Here are five reasons why I think living in Grenada is great.

1. Almost no crimeSafe haven for peace-loving souls

Picture this: an island where crime rates are so low that people often misplace their house keys because they haven’t needed them in years. That’s the reality of living in Grenada! Forget about those crime-filled headlines; Grenada is a sanctuary of tranquility. While petty theft exists like in any other place, serious crimes are a rarity. So, bid farewell to worries and embrace the freedom to walk home late at night without a second thought.

When Grenada had 18 murders in 2008, a few eyebrows were raised. Normal annual homicide statistics are usually between 8 and 12. In fact, during 2004 when Hurricane Ivan hit, only 6 persons lost their lives by murder.  

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“So what do you do for fun?”

Today is a holiday here in Grenada. As I was driving home from the office this evening, I saw my neighbour dressed up and about to leave home. She had some dishes in her hand. I imagined she and her spouse were going to a friend’s home, to be joined by other friends. I silently asked myself why had I been at work, when I no longer work in a hotel, but in the financial sector, which operates Monday to Friday from 8 to 4? It reminded me of a recent conversation which had got me seriously thinking.

A few Sundays ago, I was out to lunch with a friend from overseas and her friend who lives here. As it was a few years since I had seen her, we were catching up on what each other had been doing in the intervening years. Naturally, that included whether there were any developments in the romantic arena. “Nope….no boyfriend,” I reported. Why? Well, mostly because I have always been in work situations where I work many hours, even on weekend and holidays.

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What Makes Living In Grenada Great!

**Yamfoot’s note** I originally wrote this article in 2015 for a website, which then had some technical issues so it is no longer available there. I thought I should re-produce it on my blog.

At the end of the article, I will add some updated notes.

“How could you leave big big Jamaica and go and live in one of those small islands?” Grenada, the small island I chose, measures just 12 miles west to east and 21 miles north to south. In 1997, this Jamaican added to Grenada’s population of approximately one hundred or so thousand people at the time. Originally intending to spend two years then move on, 18 years later, Grenada is still captivating and feels like home.

Here are five reasons why living in Grenada is great.

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Old Habits Don’t Go Away Easily

I just threw away 2 batches of cooked Steel Cut Oats which I had had in the freezer for about 2 years. A few years ago, I used to eat Oats often, especially in 2016 when I was working out like a beast with Caribbean champion body builder, Grenada’s Damion Daniel. See evidence below!

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Cricket, lovely cricket

Listen to Phil Simmons on training day Saturday January 11, 2020 at the Grenada National Stadium. The West Indies plays Ireland in the 3rd and final ODI tomorrow.

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“Begin with the end in mind”

I have deep thoughts in unusual places. Most often, it is while washing dishes. On Saturday March 16, 2019, it was as I was taking a shower. What was on my mind? Death. It was the same day of Tony Becca’s funeral and since he transitioned to the great unknown on February 28, and especially that day of his funeral I thought alot about the ‘D’ word. This article I read recently, also got my mind going.

Every opportunity I get, I remind people that, the fact that we will all knock on death’s door, dictates……compels us even…….to live the kind of life that we are not going to be disappointed with, when we go “knock, knock, knock,” or when the Grim Reaper comes for us.

As a Trainer, I have a platform and I try and capitalize on it by encouraging deep thought and introspection.

One time in a session with quarrelsome people, you know, people whose natural tendency was to find fault and just complain and quarrel about EVERYTHING.

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New Habit: Wake up earlier – Day 2

I am not going to go the self-betrayal route because I woke at 7:45 this morning, 45 minutes after the goal time.

Last night’s achievement was that I made it into bed by midnight, when it was shaping up to be later. I had shut my computer at 8:30 ish, then washed the dishes to continue the new routine of not waiting until just before bed to do it.

My ankle was sore so soaked it in warm water with Epsom salts, then applied ice while watching The Voice then When Calls The Hart. Before bed, I again put the yamfeet (or is it ‘yamfoot dem’?) back in warm water.

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My 52nd birthday

NB. Click on links to view videos

Today is my birthday! Always excited to see the #Twitter greeting.

I’d had initial plans to check into a guest house in Western Grenada Sunday and stay till today, but they quoted more than I thought I should pay. Then a second option came up and I decided not to do that. Yesterday I drove up that side and came back to my flat, all in quick time. Twenty-one x 12 miles enables that.

What should I do on my birthday then? I decided to make no plans, except for the 1 pm physiotherapy appointment. One of the best ways for me to spend a day is not to have a schedule. I value freedom.

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Shaking off my Friday Night Funk

“And so what if I just remain fat?”

This was the message which set off alarm bells and caused some to ask “what’s wrong?”

What led me to feel this way and resulted in me turning into the KFC drive-thru?

Work. More specifically, continuously feeling like I am hitting my head against a brick wall for initiatives which will make the employees better.

So I left work Friday pissed, so pissed that the only thing I felt could help me blow off steam was junk. (I paid dearly next day for having eaten the crappy food.). And I felt like I wanted to detach from the world.

After a few messages and calls Friday and Saturday, I did the self talk, dusted myself off and decided not to wallow. The other thing which shifted my perspective was overhearing a conversation between two ladies on Saturday night. 

“[Name of man friend] is always drunk. Drunk every day. He is verbally abusive to me.” 😔

Well, life is not so bad for me then.

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Gym episode 20/03: Last chance workout…on my own

Damion Daniel was unavailable to train me on Sunday. Although I was accustomed to working out on my own all these years, I have come to rely on him pushing me to, as he told me, where my body has never gone before. Let’s see what I could put together for this “last chance workout,” still under his watchful eye as he was in the gym.

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