MOLI VIEW™

Heading to the Caribbean in the dead of New York City's winter, it's hard to be objective, but even a full day of travel couldn't sour me to my arrival at the Bitter End Yacht Club. Located near the north end of the island of Virgin Gorda and only accessible by sea, it's practically the last port of call until you get to Africa. Yachts have been dropping anchor here for over 30 years and now can refuel at the resort's Shell gas station, go to the spa, or get social at the restaurants and English Pub. Rich people and their yachts are sort of a mystery to me. From what I'm told, it literally costs a million dollars a month to keep a super yacht staffed and fueled and, occasionally, docked. But I suppose a yacht is the ultimate mobile home if you like to decide on a whim that you'd rather be in Morocco, or Norway, or French Polynesia next week.

And I'm sorry to say, I have no more insight into the yacht owners who frequent Virgin Gorda then when I got there. I saw the super yachts (they are hard to miss), but never met anyone from them. I also didn't meet any of the private island owners, though Necker Island was in clear view from my suite, which was newly renovated in Bali-style chic by legendary BIBA designer Barbara Hulanicki. I missed Google founder Larry Page's wedding on Necker by a whole month, though everyone in Virgin Gorda was still talking about it, and most of the guests did stay at the Bitter End. And I saw Mosquito Island, newly purchased by Richard Branson, which he has announced will be a future nature reserve and private residence.

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