Hi Doug,

>Are you on an island? If so, which one and why there?
Yep, Saipan, in the CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands). Saipan is one of the three inhabited islands in the group (along w/Tinian and Rota, south of here). It's dimenions are about 16 x 8 miles. Population is about 60,000, w/a few thousand Americans. We're at GMT + 10.

[Tinian has the distinction of being the island from which the Enola Gay took off for Japan...there were some big WWII battles fought around here...and now the island is very dependant on Japanese tourists.]

We're over 1000 miles east of the Philippines and 120 miles north of Guam (if you've heard of Guam - it's a US territory)...at about 15 N 145 E.

I'm living here because I love the tropics (I sailed around the Pacific on a 40' sailboat for 8 years) and it's easy for US citizens to live and work
here - I just needed to arrive and buy a $50 biz license. I do some work in other countries (American Samoa, in the south Pacific, and Palau about 800
miles southwest of here).

A bit more CNMI history and current events, if you're interested:

The CNMI was part of the Trust Territory, (and the capitol) formed by the UN after World War II...most of the islands in this part of the Pacific were in
the TT...then eventually opted for independance or association w/the US in some form or other. These islands chose to be in a Commonwealth w/the US.
We get a lot of grant money, like states (some call it "drip-feed" aid), but also have some independance.

The tax situation is very advantageous. ;-)

You MAY have heard about the garment industry here...it's been on Nightline (or 60 Minutes or one of those shows). Part of the original deal w/the US
is that we control our labor and immigration (and hence, can set the minimum wage), and we can also put "Made in USA" tags on items. There has been a
lot of controversy lately about this...many workers from China and other places come here to work in factories at less than US wages (mostly, I
think, they are GLAD to have work - as long as there are no abuses). The US garment industry does not like this...and a lot of designer label companies
have clothes made here.

Take care and happy Friday! J