Are you happy

STTsailor brings up some important points which is why those of us who live in the Caribbean often say life is not necessarily better or worse than any place else, it's just different. That difference is hard to explain to someone who hasn't actually experienced it and often results in the "Yeah buts" I mentioned yesterday.

Anyway, just so add to what STTsailor says, there will ALWAYS be something you have to fix. I tell friends and acquaintances that I consider it to be a great coup if a week goes by when I don't have to fix something. More often than not you are fixing something every couple of days. For example, I just returned to the island after a vacation trip (yes, we who live here go someplace else for vacation). Since I returned I've had to fix a leaking water heater, replace a few burnt out light bulbs in my landscape lighting, get a new modem for my internet (the old one got fried by a power surge while we were away) and reboot the receiver for my satellite TV system - not bad for just 4 days. I have no idea what's in store for next week but I do know I'll be fixing something.

If these types of issues don't bother you then they won't affect your state of happiness. On the other hand, if they do then you'll have to either learn to cope with them or have them diminish your own personal level of contentment.

Thank for responding again and adding some very useful information! I’m not technically deficient however I’m not overly mechanically inclined either. My husband is much more so than me thank goodness! I will definitely let him read over this thread since it will be him that would have to be responsible for most of the mechanical repairs. I really appreciate everyone giving me detailed information and scenarios so that we are more aware of extra responsibilities that come with island living. (tu)

I've done more "running here and there" here on STX than I ever did living in the states.

I don't do much driving in the states either. Funny thing is I rather like doing the running here and there now and then on STX as long as it's not around Sunny Isle at rush hour. Maybe the difference is in the states the unlimited boundaries can be overwhelming whereas on STX you can only go so far here and there.

That's great advice. If you can, vacation in a place with a kitchen and go shopping, go to a few local restaurants, you know, the one's that don't have $14 hamburgers, etc...

Whaaaa?? There's someplace on STX where hamburgers don't cost $14 other than Monday night at Eat? Get your lunch at the Killer Tacos truck and dinner at Singh's or Chocolate when you're not cooking it up yourself during that PMV.

Or take out from La Reine Chicken Shack & bring home for later!

I've read your posts, HopeB, and you sound like your in my head!
We are retiring early to St Croix in a few years also.
We will going there in a few weeks,8/4, to start looking for a home.
Now that you've pointed it out, I will definitely pay attention to whether people seem happy or not and get back to you.

Well now I know why I fit right in on STX. Last week I replaced a broken 30 yr old faucet, replaced the seals in my leaky 30 yr old shower valve (that one was much easier than I feared), added a main water shutoff valve so I could work on that shower valve, replaced a section of supply pipe that sprung a leak, repaired the leaky dishwasher drain hose, and replaced the water heater that sprung a leak while fixing the pipe (it was due for replacement.), in between doing some wall dives and going to the beach.

Being handy and having some MacGyver'ing skills makes life a bit easier here for sure! Great point! Things break, getting someone to fix them can be a bit of a challenge or take a lot of time waiting. Also the whole availability of what you need to fix it can be a problem. People who can learn to live 'without' and people who like routine but not schedules tend to fit in here better. In a way it is a simpler life, but the simple things take much much longer to achieve in the VI.

I've read your posts, HopeB, and you sound like your in my head!
We are retiring early to St Croix in a few years also.
We will going there in a few weeks,8/4, to start looking for a home.
Now that you've pointed it out, I will definitely pay attention to whether people seem happy or not and get back to you.

Listen to the local call in radio stations while you are here and you'll get a feel for whether the people are happy or not.

I've read your posts, HopeB, and you sound like your in my head!
We are retiring early to St Croix in a few years also.
We will going there in a few weeks,8/4, to start looking for a home.
Now that you've pointed it out, I will definitely pay attention to whether people seem happy or not and get back to you.

Listen to the local call in radio stations while you are here and you'll get a feel for whether the people are happy or not. Or listen to them on line before you make the trip.

Listen to the local call in radio stations while you are here and you'll get a feel for whether the people are happy or not.

Lol - that may tell you a lot about the happiness of people who call in to radio shows, but I’m not sure that’s the best overall indicator!

I've read your posts, HopeB, and you sound like your in my head!
We are retiring early to St Croix in a few years also.
We will going there in a few weeks,8/4, to start looking for a home.
Now that you've pointed it out, I will definitely pay attention to whether people seem happy or not and get back to you.

Thanks, that would be wonderful! I hope you find happiness and joy in the next stage of your life!

Yes, i’m Happy and have been in the Caribbean long enough to understand, soon come and tomorrow as part of the experience.
Life here can be simple and fulfilling or for a type A person a living hell.
After 3 weeks in New England and dealing with all the Me people that don’t look you in the eye, or return your greeting i’m Glad to be back and feel like part of a community.
I ‘m fortunate to have enough skills to resolve most of my home maintenance and vehicle problems but do at times resort to Crusian engineering for fixes.
Don’t worry.. be happy

I am looking at the islands as well. I live in a high housing cost, high tax, expensive place now. Somehow, I make it. I sniffed out the cheap places to get things. I eat what is available in the neighborhood. Different from most of the rest of the area. Nine more years and I will be free. I grew up in the country with little. We were not rich. We made do. We did it ourselves.

What I am hearing is don’t expect luxury. Own the simple. Simple, older cars and things that can be fixed without a master’s degree in mechanics. Know how to live in the 19th century if necessary. Cook over a fire, read a physical book by lantern light, know how to sew, live without the noise of recorded music or a tv. Know basic building skills (saw and hammer stuff). Know how to drive on less than perfect roads...or dirt roads...or mud tracks. If you aren’t expecting travel brochure ideals, you could be happy. If you don’t mind everyone knowing your business, you could be content.

As a retiree that I will be I will have to make sure any medical issues can be handled with limited resources. Stock up on asthma medication (although my asthma may disappear there as it does at the beach here. The town I live in is highly polluted).

I wonder about the safety of a woman living alone. Here I live in a neighborhood that can be dangerous. Last week we had an assault down the street. Car break ins are common. Before this neighborhood I lived in a place where gunfire was common. How is the crime rate there?

I snorkel, stand up board, kayak, hike and love gardening. I can fix things when they break. Right now I am waiting on a pump for my washing machine. It’s a ridiculously simple swap. Why hire someone for that? I can put it in.

It would be nice to live in a place that doesn’t get to 100 degrees for weeks on end. We saw 120 a few times this year.

I would probably fit in? Maybe?

Yes, I love to spend my days on the island. As per my views, being on an island is much fun than a normal life.

The only way you will know if you will fit in is if you try. Give it a go, but don't burn your bridges back home. If it doesn't work out, have a plan B.

You say you want to read a physical book by lantern light, but that gets old after your power is out for awhile. Also there is no book store (on St Thomas) to buy physical books, and the library is woefully underfunded.

You are waiting for a pump for a washing machine? Here you may wait...and wait...and wait...

But the weather is glorious. You can be outside all year comfortably. The views are tremendous. Until they put in the new streetlights, the stars were also glorious. LOL

As I said, just try it on for six months to a year and see how it feels to you.

Bonbi, "Crusian engineering," love it!

If you're on STX and want to be Happy don't miss Kurt Schindler.
This video is a great example of how he "Loops" by recording a bit and playing it back with his foot pedals. Pure talent!!! Bahn here....

Kurt Schindler-Happy-Solo Guitar (Pharrell Williams)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDSkj2NcMZs

How important is comfort to your happiness? I ask this because some of us can not go back to the home we had been happy in. if you NEED the sound of the waves, or heart melting beauty in a quiet place a bunch of $$ can get it. A storm can blow it away. Living in whats left is really stressful for who knows how long.

If you're not happy in with yourself, you won't be happy anywhere.
There are always challenges, with anywhere, anyplace or anything you do.

Met many people that are negative, rude, belittling to others, constantly critical and complaining.
I avoid.

If they took a good look in the mirror, they'd see their problems begin and end with them.

So true Alana33.

I don’t like to admit it, but I’m from NY myself.

The positive attitudes, smiles, and overall general friendliness of the vast majority of people here still blow me away nearly everyday.

It’s like living in an entirely different universe compared to NY.

Where abouts in NY? Just curios, we live in a small town just outside of Buffalo.

Nothing wrong with N.Y., singlefin.
Been there and many other places and countries.

It's all in the attitudes with exploring, the acceptance and facing challenges and changes plus trying to make things a bit better, whomever you meet and wherever life takes you.

Long Island Boy

You say you want to read a physical book by lantern light, but that gets old after your power is out for awhile. Also there is no book store (on St Thomas) to buy physical books, and the library is woefully underfunded.

We have lots of used physical books for sale on STX at the animal shelter thrift shop.

Ditto for STT Humane Society plus other places.

Long Island Boy

Nice was just there visiting friends, used to live in Babylon and South Huntington for 3 years. Loved it there, but yes the attitudes of NY are much different and even more near the city. Unless you experience it, you cannot imagine. I have to agree with you on the attitudes, good or bad, they are nothing like NY. One reason I can't wait to leave besides taxes and the government here. (corrupt everywhere but on a bigger scale here)