We’re diving into the everyday realities of island life-the things we never thought twice about back in the U.S. Back home, one store does it all. In Anguilla, you might visit 3–5 shops to complete a list, and prices run higher because most items are imported. Produce days matter (think Thu–Fri after shipments), meat selection is small, and planning ahead saves the day. We’ve even started bringing some frozen meats in a cooler when we visit.
Island homes often collect rainwater in large cisterns. It’s great for everyday use (showers, dishes), but for drinking we refill big jugs at the “mega store” where water is filtered on site—budget-friendly and reliable. City water exists, but pressure can fluctuate and most neighbors still prefer bottled/drinking jugs.
There’s no Prime next-day here. We pack carefully, palletize boxes, and ship via freight, paying duties on arrival. Receipts matter, timelines stretch, and patience is a superpower. The upside? We buy better, less, and choose pieces built to last in the salty, coastal climate.
Reality check: even street directions and seasons work differently—tourist spots can close for weeks during hurricane season. Following street directions sometimes go like “go to the orange wall and make a left” so slowing down (and being flexible) is part of living in Anguilla.
Make sure to watch the full video—we’ll take you behind the scenes of what living in Anguilla really looks like (and why we’ve learned to slow down and laugh along the way). And stay tuned to the next video in our series to see all the things that made us fall in love with Anguilla. I can’t wait to show you!
