Why I gave up Sh8.6million job in New York to sell ice-creams at the beach

US: A high-flying writer has explained why she gave up her Sh8.6million job in New York to sell ice creams in the Caribbean.

Noelle Hancock, who earned a whopping Sh13.6million as a journalist in the big apple, made life-changing move after feeling overwhelmed and isolated.

But inspired by a holiday to St John - the smallest of the US Virgin Islands - the 35-year-old opted to live the beach life.

Writing for Cosmopolitan, she said: “New York is a competitive city; you have to spend most of your time working to afford to live there.

"And a downside of living among so many ambitious people is they're often over scheduled.

“Sometimes I didn't see my closest friends for months at a time.

"Trying to negotiate a time to meet a friend for drinks was harder than getting into college (and the cocktails about as expensive).”

Ms Hancock described herself as “stressed, uninspired, and disconnected”.

She took an impulsive trip to the Caribbean and six weeks later she cancelled the contract on her flat, sold everything she owned and booked a one-way trip to the tiny island.

Four years later, she's still there - now working as a bartender - and says the move has exposed her top a different approach to life.

She says there are no traffic lights on the island, no chain stores and hardly any Internet access.

Footwear is optional, she adds.

"People gather on the beaches at dusk to watch the sunsets together," she said.

"I see my friends every day.

"On our days off, we hike the local ruins, dive, or go boating to the nearby British Virgin Islands."

But her idyllic-sounding life still leaves her with doubts, especially when old friends and colleagues go on to become incredibly successful

"One of my friends from college started a little website called Pinterest," she said.

"Another just won an Emmy for a hit television show she created.

“But I have an island. I live in a charmingly ramshackle one-bedroom apartment on a hillside overlooking the sea."

New pace of life: Noelle says her bold move has exposed her to a new way of living       PHOTO    ;   COURTESY