Bajan Citizenship Anniversary

A gentleman at church asked me if I was putting everything in my wife’s name as we were talking about our ongoing move from Boston to Barbados. Knowing what he meant, I said “No, I’m a Barbadian citizen,”  he said “Oh, oh, oh,” and we both laughed. Last week was my one year anniversary as a citizen of Barbados!

As a Bajan, I have adopted this culture as my own! I feel so comfortable here that I wonder if there is some West Indian blood in me. I have made some friends and many acquaintances. I see people that I know practically every where I go, especially in Oistins.

Over the past year, I have been in Barbados more than I have been in the United States. The end of March will make 7 months that I have been here and I have loved every minute of it! Of course I love it, I’m “Retiring in Paradise” where it’s summer and vacation time all year around!

I can hardly believe that I just went through an entire winter without shoveling or seeing a flake of snow! A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post about how some Barbadians think it is cold here because the night temperature can reach the low to mid 70’s. Bajans Don’t Like Cold Weather

I referenced a pair of senior citizens that get cold at night. Later during the week when I reread the article, a funny thing hit me, I’m a senior citizen too! Tomorrow, my birthday, makes it official because I can file for social security. I don’t plan to file now but the fact is, if I wanted to, I could. In a few years I’ll be eligible to get a Barbados senior ID with the red background and be able to ride the bus all over the island for free!

I rarely celebrate my birthday. I went out to dinner with a few of my friends when I turned 60 and I must have done something when I  made 50 although I don’t remember. Oh wait, I think my son Calvin Glenn took me out to dinner at the Outback Restaurant and I ordered the most expensive meal they had! When the waitress tried to help us save some money by combining certain items, I stopped her and said “We are not concerned  about saving money today, he’s paying.” It was a hilarious good time!

Back to my point, March 23, when I became a Barbadian citizen after waiting 5 years to complete the process is a cause for celebration and I’ll be doing it EVERY year!