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What's life REALLY like on a tropical island?


Plenty of people dream about moving to a Caribbean island, but Chrissann Nickel has experienced the real deal on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. In some ways, it's paradise, and in others, it's...shall we say interesting? Chrissan has recruited her fellow writers to form a brilliant blog, Women Who Live on Rocks, all about the fascinating stories and hilarious anecdotes emerging from life on a "rock" (i.e., an island). Thank you, Chrissann, for telling us about your blog and how it came to be. We Island Runaways are big fans!!

(Some of the women who live on "rocks," in other words, islands)

Women Who Live on Rocks is a collaboration of funny women writers who reside on tropical islands blogging all about the unique quirks of the island lifestyle. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to actually live on a tropical island? Most of us have allowed that daydream to pull on the kite strings of our minds whilst on holiday at some point in our lives. You find yourself glamorously soaking up the sunshine in your idyllic hammock du jour, gazing out from beneath your over-sized shades upon the turquoise sea and there it is – with a definitive exhale, you think, Yeessss, I could do this forever.

(Yes, we all think, I could do THIS forever.)

It is this stream of consciousness that compels tourists to marvel upon us on an almost daily basis, HOW do you LIVE here? They want the full story – the inside track, some magical formula that will get them from their comparably drearier existence onto the Path to Paradise. But, as women who have actually seen that fantasy all the way through, we’re here to confess: It’s not all sunshine and umbrella drinks. At least not all the time.

Women Who Live on Rocks was created by me, Chrissann Nickel; I currently reside on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. I've lived on a couple of different Caribbean islands for a total of nearly 10 years as of 2014 and was itching for an outlet to document my decidedly wacky island stories since Day 1 of my Rock Life.

(Chrissann, Editor-in-Chef of Women Who Live on Rocks, practicing island yoga)

As it turns out, many other island women out there felt the same way. With a slew of talented writers spanning from Fiji, the Hawaiian islands, the Western Caribbean (Honduras, Belize, Caymans, Cozumel, Dominican Republic) to the Eastern Caribbean (Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, Barbados, and more), and as far South as St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Curacao, and Bonaire, no matter the rock, the funny fodder (just like the rum) never runs dry.

(Working on the blog, Women Who Live on Rocks)

Some of the site’s most popular posts include:

You Might Be an Island Girl If… Part 1:

Adventures in Island Banking

Island News: Hot Off the Press!

Tacky Tuesday - Island Fashion in Photos

Rock Life Realities: Outdoor Showers

If you’re a fellow woman who lives on a rock, the site is always looking for fresh perspectives. You can contact Chrissann for details on how you can join in on the fun at chrissann@womenwholiveonrocks.com. For daily funnies, fresh from the tropics, and to connect with our community of island women around the globe, visit our Facebook page. And to shop for our signature island life swag, visit The Women Who Live on Rocks Shop.

(A cute t-shirt from the blog's online shop)

From the Island Runaways: Thank you, Chrissann, for telling us more about Women Who Live on Rocks! Once you read their posts, you can't help but get hooked! We personally follow the blog's Facebook page so we never miss one of the blog's terrific posts or pictures. For a brief bio of Chrissann, check out our Island Experts page.

Cheers, fellow island fans!

(All photos (c) Chrissann Nickel)

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