Hello, fellow adventurers! After what feels like a lifetime of planning, packing, and paperwork, I can finally shout from the (literal) mountaintops: I’ve made it to Saba! But of course, the journey wasn’t without its fair share of chaos. Feel free to pour yourself a coffee first, because this is a long one.
Saturday started with a vet visit for Albus to get his travel health certificate (because apparently, even dogs need a passport these days). Then, the cavalry arrived! The amazing Dori and Kim swooped in like packing superheroes, turning my chaotic mess into something resembling organized chaos. They were truly lifesavers, and I owe them both a debt of gratitude (and maybe a lifetime supply of wine).
Sunday was Moving Day, which was supposed to start bright and early at 8 am. Mother Nature, however, had other plans and decided to throw a surprise snowstorm into the mix. Albus enjoyed the snow; the rest of us, not so much. The movers finally arrived around noon after a delay to give the plows time to clear the roads, and the race against the clock began. Dori had to head back to NJ, but not before making us promise to keep her in the loop (which, of course, we did!). Kim and I wrestled with the movers, I battled JetBlue over flight changes, and I navigated the labyrinthine world of Albus’ travel arrangements. Let’s just say, my stress levels were reaching new heights. The big question: Would I even make my connecting flight? Stay tuned…
Monday was all about loose ends. First, I dropped Albus off at Perfect Imperfections, his temporary home until his luxurious (and very expensive) VIP cabin transport to Saba was arranged. It warmed my heart to see how excited he was to see Trisha, his caretaker. The little guy has been through so much, but he’s a resilient pup.
The junk removal crew arrived around 9 am, and by 10:30 am, the house was officially empty. Carvana was scheduled to pick up my car at 11 am, so I squeezed in a few last-minute errands, including returning the unused crate we’d bought for Albus. Selling my Hyundai Santa Cruz to Carvana was surprisingly the smoothest part of the whole move. Once that was done, I packed the last of my belongings, including some electronics Dave had been patiently waiting for.
Later that afternoon, Samantha and Andy came over to collect some items I was rehoming and whisk us away to a hotel for the night. Saying goodbye to Samantha was tough; we’d become so close. Fingers crossed she’ll visit me in Saba!
Kim and I enjoyed a nice evening at the hotel tavern, but we didn’t stay out too late. Our airport shuttle was scheduled for a *very* early 4:30 am. We were flying out of JFK, so the extra time was necessary. Of course, we hit traffic, and my attempts to check in online were met with error messages. After a 30-minute wait in line, I finally got things sorted. Then came the security line, which felt like it stretched on for miles. We made it to the gate with only 30 minutes to spare, just in time to learn that our flight was delayed. But hey, who needs sleep when you’re chasing a dream, right?
We finally landed in Sint Maarten and sprinted through security to catch the shuttle to the tiny plane that would take us to Saba.
The flight to Saba was…memorable. Imagine a 12-minute flight that lands on the world’s shortest commercial runway. Yeah, it was *that* exciting. To add to the drama, my suitcase containing all my clothes didn’t make it on the flight. But hey, at least *I* made it, right?
Dave had arranged for Cyril to taxi Kim and me to the house, which was a lifesaver because I had absolutely no idea where I was going. Once Dave arrived home we headed into Windwardside to grab dinner at The Hideaway, the spot we had enjoyed on our first visit to Saba. There I finally met Anise, who I had been introduced to virtually before arrival. It was funny to see how Dave knew everyone already, but I was fairly exhausted from the flight, and after we ate I asked to head back to the house.
Back at the house, my missing suitcase was sitting right in the living room waiting for me. Cyril had kindly gone back and picked it up for me. Due to the long day, I was out cold by about 9pm, although I still woke up every hour throughout the night.
Wednesday I awoke for the first time on my new island home. The view was absolutely beautiful, and after Dave attended a couple of meetings in the morning, he took Kim and I to The Bottom to show us his office, grab some lunch, and then head into Windwardside. While there I visited the necklace I spoke about in a previous post called “Holy Moly, I’m Actually Moving to Saba“, and took some time browsing all their jewelry. The Jewel Cottage has such unique pieces, and I really loved checking everything out. We stopped at the bar at the bottom of one of the trails, and enjoyed some margaritas and the beautiful day. We also did some grocery shopping, as the fresh produce arrives on the island on Wednesdays.
Once home, Dave & Kim decided to take a walk down Booby Hill to Windwardside to pick up the towels we forgot to purchase. It’s an intense walk, and I happily declined. I’ve been absolutely exhausted due to stress and lack of proper sleep for weeks, so a relaxing afternoon was just what the doctor ordered. We opted to cook dinner at home and just enjoy the evening there.
So, that’s the story of my epic journey to Saba. It was stressful, chaotic, and at times, downright absurd. But I made it! And now, I’m ready to embrace this new chapter and explore everything this beautiful island has to offer. Stay tuned for more adventures!