ETIRING TO THE CARIBBEAN

A different kind of book for those facing retirement; it concerns itself solely with the matter of where to retire, not with the psychological problems of those facing retirement. Granted this limitation, it is an extraordinarily comprehensive book, taking the whole reach of the islands from the tip of Florida's Atlantic seaboard (the Bahamas, not strictly Caribbean) down to the islands off the South American stretch of the Caribbean (Trinidad, Tobago etc.) Within discussion of each island or island group, he not only conveys a sense of the special quality and individuality, the advantages and the disadvantages, but he goes into matters of real estate, naming reliable agents and general prices. (Unfortunately, he dates his text by actually indicating parcels available which may well be unavailable within a brief span of time.) Climate, flora and fauna (including poisonous snakes and plants), type of beaches, problems of supplies and housekeeping, the type of house to build and again problems attendant on building, possibilities of making a living- or adding to a slim income -- these factors and more are competently discussed.