A different take on coming to the Islands

What is with everyone wanting to live in gated communities?
It seems rather elitist to me. If you wish to isolate yourself from the commoners/locals/natives, then please, do us and yourself a favor and stay where you are now. Everyone will be much happier.

I've lived here for most of my life and never in a gated community.
I've been perfectly safe.
I've never had a burglary or robbery or break in.

It's funny you mention that.... I had never thought about the gated community idea, until I came to this forum and started reading and everyone was suggesting that people live in gated communities if they want to be "safe" from robbery and home break in. I think it has a lot to do with the picture of doom and gloom people paint here in the forum about crime in the VI.

What is with everyone wanting to live in gated communities?
It seems rather elitist to me. If you wish to isolate yourself from the commoners/locals/natives, then please, do us and yourself a favor and stay where you are now. Everyone will be much happier.

I've lived here for most of my life and never in a gated community.
I've been perfectly safe.
I've never had a burglary or robbery or break in.

It's funny you mention that.... I had never thought about the gated community idea, until I came to this forum and started reading and everyone was suggesting that people live in gated communities if they want to be "safe" from robbery and home break in. I think it has a lot to do with the picture of doom and gloom people paint here in the forum about crime in the VI.

A gated community is only a deterrent. if someone really wants to come in, they can (I have crashed some gates). But it does cause problems when you want to load up a van load of someone else's household goods and drive away. It also limits the number of people driving and walking through, which has an impact on our liability and maintenance costs. There's not much isolation in our gated community. Locals live here too. And we have the option of going outside the gate whenever we want too, and do. We're not prisoners.

I'm just shaking my head in bewilderment that someone thinking of moving here is so hung up on an apocalyptic meltdown. I would think there are a lot more important issues to worry about.

People who are well off think differently from people who are not.
As the OP indicated, he's got money to protect/buffer himself and his family from what's considered "important issues" by others, such as high cost of living, corrupt government, crime, job security, public schools, and natural disasters.

The only issue that remains is the break up of the contract between the rich and the poor. If the contract is broken by some apocalyptic event, such as financial meltdown, chaos may ensue. Wealthy people have a lot to lose in such scenario, so capital/property/life preservation is the top priority for them. The poor folks, on the other hand, have nothing to lose but their chains.

To the OP, I'd say that his boat would probably be the safest place to stay on, while the Armageddon plays out.

There is often a perception that the USVI is a small-town lifestyle. It is, yet it is not.

Um what??? It TOTALLY is. When I drive down waterfront friends would yell out SQUID (my nickname) and i'd pull over and have a beer out of the cooler in my car. That never happened for me in a big city lol. Here in STX I walk down to the farmers market and get eggs and veggies. I eat cattle that are raised 100 yards from my house. Those are all things I associate with a small town feel. In STT I knew all the guys at Coki and they watched out for me - I would walk into hulll bay and know 90% of the people there. I guess thats all possible in a big city but coming from born in a small town in TX where I rode my horse to the "soda shop" then living in Austin and then living in PHX... I feel these islands are a TOTAL small town feel. You may not even know the people but I bet you'll see the same faces at the grocery store often.

The OP talking about STJ.... well thats the "smallest town" of them all. I have best friends who live and own a rental villa there. Everyone knows everyone else business. That is the epitome of a "small town" lol.

When is the last time you went to a post office in a big city? before moving here I literally never did... not once. Not to mention one that when you walk in they give you a good morning and greet you by name lol. I love the small town feel of these islands.

There is often a perception that the USVI is a small-town lifestyle. It is, yet it is not.

Um what??? It TOTALLY is.

You've totally taken the poster's comment out of context.

What is with everyone wanting to live in gated communities?
It seems rather elitist to me. If you wish to isolate yourself from the commoners/locals/natives, then please, do us and yourself a favor and stay where you are now. Everyone will be much happier.

I've lived here for most of my life and never in a gated community.
I've been perfectly safe.
I've never had a burglary or robbery or break in.

It's funny you mention that.... I had never thought about the gated community idea, until I came to this forum and started reading and everyone was suggesting that people live in gated communities if they want to be "safe" from robbery and home break in. I think it has a lot to do with the picture of doom and gloom people paint here in the forum about crime in the VI.

Well........ I live in a gated community. It's not high end it just has a gate. Before the gate there was a ton of break ins and robberies. Now its considered a safe neighborhood. Theres only a few white people in here, the other residents are super awesome. We made sure to knock on a few doors before we moved in and chat with neighbors. I don't live here because I feel elitist - hell I bet Rambo pays more in taxes than I make in 5 years lol. My reasoning is that I want to feel safe in my home. Frederiksted is a bit hard core and the gate does make me feel a bit safer. Maybe a false sense of security but ever than nothing. While I know a gate is easily driven over - its not that likely. My place is also in the hills and not near to other people. If I can't walk naked on my patio I don't wanna live there HAHHAHAH. Overshare - sorry 🙂

Theres only a few white people in here, the other residents are super awesome.

Haha. If not for the white people, it would have been a paradise!

HAHHAHA. Didn't mean it like that! Just saying that not all gated communities are snooty rich white people lol. Funny thou!

The gate is a deterrent. No, it's not Fort Knox but it's better than nothing. Adding the gate to our condo complex did help with the explorers and non-belongers and eliminate the possibility of the drive in-grab-drive out scenario. It's not that high-end either.

HAHHAHA. Didn't mean it like that! Just saying that not all gated communities are snooty rich white people lol. Funny thou!

Is that your new place, or the same one with the infestation problem? Too bad the gates do not stop ants and mosquitoes.

Salt Lake City is much better for apocalypse preppers, and you can strut around openly with your guns there. Please go there, I'm sure the beaches on the lake are very nice.

HAHHAHA. Didn't mean it like that! Just saying that not all gated communities are snooty rich white people lol. Funny thou!

Is that your new place, or the same one with the infestation problem? Too bad the gates do not stop ants and mosquitoes.

YES! UGH! The ants are gone thank god. One spray from Oliver Exterminating. The gnats are OUT. OF. CONTROL. I've given up cleaning them until it gets cooler. Its pointless. There is less this week. I did a crap ton of reading and still can't figure out what kind they are. I thought I had it pegged as fungus gnats - I do have indoor plants but those are way bigger. These are half the size of a fruit fly. Very very tiny. The gnats don't bother me, I never see them at all, they don't buzz me or anything. They just get stuck to the ceiling so its inconvenient but not the end of the world. So weird.

Hmmm Prepare to grow your own food! I believe that is a great idea! Maybe a few chickens or a few goats may not be a bad idea either. It is healthier living anyway. That is the movement now...organic! I know a few people who basically get almost everything from their yards and sell some of their produce. Even my 87 year old father grows spinach, eggplant, bananas, island cucumbers (they look different from the one you are used too), mangoes for days, and much more! I get spinach and eggplant from him to cook with sometimes.

Any disaster will be a disaster, but you are right. An island may be better especially if you make the land sustain you. So come to St. John (or St. Thomas) and bring your friends.

Oh, and I plan to retire soon and set up curricula for parents who want to home school. So if you know anyone...Thanks in advance

Good Luck!!

Amen to that. Perhaps you should take a look at some of the news reports and footage of the island after Hugo or Marilyn. It doesn't take a meltdown in the states to cause havoc on the island...just a good, old fashion major hurricane. And hurricane season happens every year!