Trudy Nixon fell so in love with the Caribbean lifestyle that she gave up everything to make her dream come true, as she tells Emma Leask.
“When I was deciding to leave London to live in Anguilla, I suffered panic attacks for the first time in my life. Then I simply thought – what’s the worst that can happen? I fail to settle, I spend a little money and I come back and do the same thing again.
I was living alone with a mortgage on a pretty two bedroom flat on Clapham Common. I had a really good job as a New Media Consultant at branding consultancy The Team, and although it was interesting and very well paid, the challenge was gone. I found myself living for weekends away.
I went on holiday to the Caribbean for the first time in 1999 and just fell in love with it. I got off the plane and everything felt, looked and smelt right. When I got back I realised I didn’t want to live in London any more. Then things happened that changed my life – a friend got very ill, my mum had a big op and nearly died, I had a scare with my own health and I thought, ‘life is too short’.
I realised I needed a complete career break so quit my job and went on a six-week holiday to the Caribbean with a friend. Arriving by sailing boat at a perfect crescent shaped beach called Crocus Bay in Anguilla was just stunning: I was in love! My friend left and I stayed a few extra days. I cried when I left and I knew I had to return.
When I came back to the UK the decision to move was pretty much made – I had to do something or risk losing my happiness. I rented my flat out easily and arrived in Anguilla on a three-month ticket. As a UK dependent territory, Anguillians are eligible for UK Passports but UK citizens aren’t eligible for Anguillian passports. UK citizens have the same rights as any other ‘non-belonger’ so it was against immigration rules for me to look for work once I’d arrived. After three months exploring I knew I wanted to make Anguilla home.
Back in the UK I got a job as a rep for a singles tour operator and did contract work commuting between the Dominican Republic and Anguilla until I got offered the job as Executive Director of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association (AHTA) in early 2006. It’s an important and extremely interesting job. I help represent the interests of 170-plus association members, represent the AHTA at meetings locally and internationality and contribute to important committees that are impacted by tourism.
The job is as demanding as my job in London. I work equally long hours – often more. I’m often the only non-Anguillian in meetings. One adjustment was the formality of dress and protocol that was expected. I also got a shock when my first government meeting started with a group prayer/blessing to ensure the outcome of the meeting was well considered!
I live in a typical four-bedroom Anguillian house, which is concrete, one storey and simply built – it’s not on the beach and it’s no oil painting! It’s on one of the highest points of the island but has no views to speak off and it’s breezy – good job as we don’t have air conditioning! It’s 10 minutes walk to the nearest beach, work and the shops – nowhere is far away when you live on an island 16 miles long and 3 miles wide. Rental prices have risen dramatically here and our rent doubled two years ago.
Realistically only the wealthy can buy or build in Anguilla; a new project three bedroom house costs US $3 million. Local housing like mine would sell for US $700,000 but rarely come on the market as Anguillians hold onto their land and property for future generations. All non-Anguillians (Non-Belongers or Aliens) have to pay 17 per cent Alien Land Holder Licence on top of that, with the same on land purchases.
Read the full article in our January 2009 edition.
Images by Susan Croft.
