1) access to internet?? (doubtful but I had to ask)
2) fresh water reserves in case of lack of rainfall (for drinking)??
3) how expensive is it to ship items from sites like Amazon.uk or is there an Amazon site for New Zealand (which is closer to Cook islands)??
4) I look like a Polynesian - will my 11 yold daughter and I be treated differently or are the locals generally friendly towards foreigners/Americans?
5) about how much money would we need to live for 4-6 months? any way to get discounted air-fare?
6) what kind of visa is required for my daughter and I to stay for 4-6 months? If we decide to live there for more than that, what is required?
7) important foods we need to have access to OR even better, make/grow/raise ourselves: free-range eggs, seafood and fish, green leafy veggies, coconuts, tropical fruits and avocados. *Would like to raise or hunt wild hogs and make my own boar bacon.
8) If we stayed longer I'd need to either barter, trade, or else sell something for money to buy things I cannot grow (namely, electricity) or is there a way to be completely self-sufficient? I thought of trading my baked goods and fresh coconut products as well as coconut milk kefir for things I don't grow or raise myself. *If necessary, I have 16 years experience as a CNA in the medical field as well as childcare and customer service so I could find a job in any of those fields but prefer to be my own boss making and selling my own goods to locals - better yet, bartering and trading since I'm sure money isn't as big an issue (???)
9) If getting electricity is a big deal are there ways around this - like buying a solar powered generator or hydro powered generator? (Basically, I would only need power for charging my laptop which will have downloaded movies, music, and books that I don't want to ship or take with us.) We may decide it's not worth it but I also need power for my blender to make coconut milk.
10) odd question but, we want a pet while there and would most likely want to bring it with us if we left. What are our options? If it's necessary to go back home by boat/ship (even though it would take weeks) we'd do that just so our companion pet could come home with us. I think there are more restrictions when traveling with pets by plane than by boat.... *This would change our departure plans - which boats even service Cook islands and how much would it cost to travel by boat all the way back to Hawaii or Oregon, USA??
11) should a medical emergency arise, what are the options?
12) is cook islands really better than other islands? why yes or no?? THANKS!!