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For three major personal reasons I have made the decision to return to the US.
1.I have not been able to raise myself to a level of econmic stability that would have afforded me the opportunity to improve the lower standard of living which I had accepted.
2. I miss close friends scattered around the US, whom I could not afford to visit.
3. a recently identified health issue.
There is no blame to be affixed, other than to myself perhaps, in that I could not somehow have made better things happen. I tried. I really tried.
Nothing of my experience with the people or the place that is STT have compelled me to leave. There are certainly many things to which one needs to get used to and/or adapt - and in this area I think I did pretty well. Driving on the left is absolutely no big deal! LOL ! There are personal negative things which were hard NOT to see, and there are many irritants, that could for intelligent good and econmoic reasons, and for the sake of all, be improved. The deplorable condition of most roads, and the inaccessiblity to less expensive gas from nearby STX, even though the recent task force identified viable solutions to this problem, are two that leap to mind.
Folks on this message board, with Islander being at the top of the list, have been instumental in my ability to understand, and appreciate more aspects of island life than one could possibly gain on their own. My hats off to all of you in your knowledge, and your dilligence in nailing down what the heck someone is REALLY asking, your sharing and your friendships.
Ronnie gets a special deepfelt thanks for being there for me from the first moments I stepped off the seaplane from my tumultous 20 days on STX. He remained someone who always had my "island back" and someone who would honestly answer any and all of my many questions. At one of the get-togethers he introduced me as, "his oldest kid"! Thanks Ronnie, I hope I learned my lessons well.
Onika and Petrus, Chris and Teresa - you guys were real treasures to me, and in your families you have treasures beyond measure to nuture you in your lives. I wish you the best of health, happiness and prosperity, and my love to the kids I met, and to the one lovely young miss, that I did not.
Jeff thanks for being at all the get togethers, and Ansen, thanks for tirelessly answering my many web design questions and for coming to my BBQ. You guys are a great credit to vinow.
I look forward with great excitement to new vistas and different complexities in my life ahead. And as a famous fictional character once said, "God bless us each and everyone."
If we don't look out for each other, who will?
Posted : September 11, 2005 3:44 pm
I'm sorry to see you go, Paul. I hope you enjoyed your time here and will think the best of us for years to come. Make sure you monitor 'the board' to keep abreast of the latest island happenings! And maybe we will see you on a visit? All my best.
Posted : September 11, 2005 4:06 pm
OMG! I just started bawling!
Sad to see you go - you've contributed alot to this board. And even as you say your farewell - you help others.
God Bless on your next chapter. Please keep in touch and let us know how to reach you.
Linda
Posted : September 11, 2005 4:12 pm
And thanks for all your support. Best of luck to you my friend.
Posted : September 11, 2005 10:25 pm
Paul, as I said before, it was a pleasure knowing you. You are quite a character young grasshopper! Farewell my friend. Hope all goes well for you in the future. Keep in touch, will be checking your web site for updates!
Ronnie
Posted : September 11, 2005 11:21 pm
Paul, sorry to see you go. More sorry we never met.
Linda J
Posted : September 12, 2005 2:23 am
Dear Paul,
A relative newcomer to this board (albeit a 21 year resident) and one who (I think) never had the opportunity to meet you, I wish you all the very best from the bottom of my heart.
Your first two points in making the decision to leave I can very well relate to. Fortunately I haven't yet faced the third although that may well come some day as I think we're not too far apart in age and, unfortunately, many of my older friends and compatriots over the years have had to leave for that reason.
The island loses so many wonderful people - both locals and long-time transplants - for all the reasons which you give and that's all too sad a reflection on something sorely lacking in this community.
I'm sure you'll continue to be a voice on this forum and. please, what is your website address? Ronnie mentioned it and Teresa, before she just left here tonight, also mentioned it.
Cheers, dear, and bear in mind this memorable (at least to me) old quote: "The 'isness' of things is well worth knowing but the 'whyness' is much more interesting."
Posted : September 12, 2005 3:10 am
Topic starter
Linda J, I believe you are on STX and were actually the first person that tried to rescue me from a difficult situation I was in while on STX, by suggesting that even though you were off island at the time, that I could find your husband at such and such a bar for sunset time. Right? I thanked you then, and I do so again. Your kindness was the first outright stranger stepping forward that I truly experienced here. I was remiss in not mentioning you in my farewell statement but I didn't want to dredge up my STX stuff.
Posted : September 12, 2005 11:18 am
Topic starter
STT Resident - yes, the "whyness" is ALWAYS more interesting. Sometimes I have found we never ever can get to the "whyness" of a thing, especially when the "isness" has not been good.
Posted : September 12, 2005 11:23 am
bastenphoto.com
Posted : September 12, 2005 12:55 pm
But you haven't had a chance to meet Zaya yet?
Petrus will be sad to see you and your creative genius go.
And I, of course, will miss your steady head and positive vibe.
When are you leaving...do we have time to plan a get-together in your honor?
Posted : September 12, 2005 1:45 pm
Ok, I'm amending my previous post to the extent I see that you, Island Paul, are already on the RSVP list for the October get-together.
Guess that means we'll be there too!
Posted : September 12, 2005 1:55 pm
Sorry, dear! Hopefully I will see you today.
Pamela
Posted : September 12, 2005 2:32 pm
Hello Paul,
I wish you all the best. Definately keep in touch.
--Islander
Posted : September 12, 2005 4:44 pm
Dear Paul - do you have a firm exit date?
Posted : September 12, 2005 4:51 pm
Topic starter
Sept 29 or 30th. Still to be determined.
Landlady due back next week - will be discussed upon her return.
Posted : September 12, 2005 5:43 pm
Paul: I am sorry to hear about this, and hope that your health issue resolves. I still love your photograph of the Secret Harbour flamboyant tree!
All the best to you.
Posted : September 12, 2005 9:09 pm
Island Paul,
We are all sorry to hear that you are leaving. We wish we had visited with you more often this past year. Time flies and we sort of lost touch. More my fault of course. Let's definitely get together before you leave. I will PM you.
Teresa
Posted : September 12, 2005 11:37 pm
Paul -
Very sorry to hear that you are departing! Irene and I have enjoyed knowing you, and we wish you all the best back on the mainland. We especially hope your health gets where you want it. Perhaps you'll run into Roger back home - if so tell him Hi. See you when (not if) you return!
Max and Irene
Posted : September 13, 2005 12:34 am
Paul,
Thank you for you kind words... I am sending you a PM message as well... Jeff
Posted : September 13, 2005 3:31 am
Wow, such a short stay on the island and look at the messages. What a testimonial to you, Paul! And, to your Island friends and neighbors for being so wonderfully responsive. -- We welcome you back home to the states and look forward to seeing your smiling face as you visit us once again.
Mark H.
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Posted : September 15, 2005 1:46 am
Island Paul-
I know that I am new to the site and we do not know eachother, but I am still sorry to hear that you are leaving. No one knows what the future holds, so hey, you might be back. Hope that your health issue gets resolved. You will be in my prayers.
Joony
Posted : September 15, 2005 4:03 am
Topic starter
Mark, joony and all my known friends and unknown supporters, I thank you all for your kind comments and best wishes.
Yes Mark, I am surprised at what posting a few words from time to time on this board over the past two years has brought me - truly an embarassment of riches.
I always see the glass as half full, and find hope in every new day. Don't get me wrong, I can be as sad, angry and depressed as the next person, but somehow.......the new day dawns, and my spirit turns to..... "what if.....???!!!!"
Have a wonderful life, all of you, and thank you again for your kind and thoughtful comments.
Posted : September 15, 2005 11:44 am
Paul:
Even though we've only met once or twice (at get-togethers) I hate to see you leave. Your contributions to this forum will be missed.
Best of Luck on your future endeavors.
F.I.
Posted : September 15, 2005 4:35 pm
