big thank you

Hello Linda,

You may still want to have your friend keep an eye on the paper for you. The on-line version of the Daily News is not complete. It doesn't include all the classifieds or all the articles - just a few of them, particularly for apartments/cars. The print version has more. And the Island Trader isn't on-line and is almost completely classifieds with some articles.

--Islander

Islander, thank you, I will ask my friend to send them, I wasn't aware this wasn't the whole listing.

Linda

That's why Islander rocks, Linda -- he knows the whole story while most of us soon-to-be islanders are still picking through a lot of bits and pieces that we've stumbled upon in our searches.

Thanks, Islander -- I didn't know that the online version only featured a partial listing either.

The HipCrip

to all the islanders, You all have made it so much easier, I can't wait to get there. Very excited, but also a little nervous, Its a big move.!!!

Linda

i totally agree, since I first vacationed to Jamaica as a kid, I knew it was my dream to live on a tropical island. You guys are helping to come true.

Hello,

HipCrip, Linda and Peter - glad the board is helping :-). Thank you for using the site and board and All the Best with your moving plans. Research as much as possiable as you are doing, if you have questions, no matter how silly they may seem - ask away!!Good Luck.

--Islander

Islander, I will ask, No question to the beautiful island is dumb. I have friends there that have been there for about 12 years now and obviously absolutely love it. I'm a lucky one that we have friends there to help us look for an apartment/car so we have this when we arrive. I have been to the island 5/6 times in the past 4 years and my boyfriends twice the amount. We have seen not just the "tourist" things to do, but how people live and we have learned alot. The place is beautiful and people think we are crazy for even thinking about such a move. But we are coming with a positive attitude that it will all work out. I've been told to give ourselves at least a year to adjust and get comfortable, and we are more than willing to do this. I have been saving for this move for over a year now and I'm ready for the adjustment.

Thanks again islander.

Linda

linda wrote:

people think we are crazy for even thinking about such a
move... I've been told to give ourselves at least a year
to adjust and get comfortable

Linda: You will find that your acquaintances will either think you are crazy or they will be green with envy because you followed through with something they couldn't/wouldn't do... The adjustment year is good advice. You will go through several phases in your "settling in" and it is really great if you tell yourself that you will try for a period of time. If you have friends that have been around 12 years, they will be very helpful in keeping you anchored. Best wishes to you.

Linda and everyone,

My husband and I were just talking about this subject last night. Everybody here (except my aunt who was just admitted to the psyche unit, how ironic, and my dad) thinks we're crazy too. You can almost see the looks of skeptism and envy in their eyes. I think the message board is great because it provides a solid anchor of people with the same thoughts, fears, ideas, experiences etc in touch. When I need a pick me up I like to sit and read all the things on line from all the other "crazies" like us. And lord knows, I'd rather be crazy in the VI than here.

By the way, when my husband and I openned our business here, everybody had dire predictions and thought we were crazy than too. Thats been successful so going by past experience, I don't pay it much mind.

But it does make you mad that people can't be happy and supportive of your adventures, Both friends and family.

Everybody here thinks we have gone MENTAL or off our meds for even thinking
about a move like this! It warms my heart to know there a others like us (wife& I )
who are adventurers and look for more out of life than working at Wally World
for the rest of our lives. I feel sorry for the rest who cannot experience life to the fullest.

JB

JB wrote:

> Everybody here thinks we have gone MENTAL or off our meds for
> even thinking
> about a move like this! It warms my heart to know there a
> others like us (wife& I )
> who are adventurers and look for more out of life than working
> at Wally World
> for the rest of our lives. I feel sorry for the rest who cannot
> experience life to the fullest.
>
> JB

I need a Wally World fix!
(Actually I need a new camcorder battery that I know WW carries, no place here does)

PH

Eve,
What business did you open? How long have you been at the VI? People do think we are nuts, and I agree most of them look at you with envy, others come right out and say I'm jealous (can I fit in your suitcase), while others, (like family) will be missed dearly. Those are the follks you can count on for a visit. I really look forward to moving there and getting settled in. I feel lucky that I have a few friends that have made it there, so I know its possible as long as you think positively. Things work out for a reason, one way or another, but I'm giving myself (and boyfriend) lots of time to adjust.

Linda

Linda,
Mark and I havn't made the move..... yet! We're in the same boat as you.
We openned an embroidery business. We're quite skilled in all types of commericial sewing as well... From Saddle bags to Canvas. I know just about all the regulations for military clothing also. The embroidery machines we run are about the size of a VW bug and can do anything a person can think of (except golf bags). We're also able to digitize, which is turning a jpeg or scanned image into an embroiderable file.

Hi PH
What kind of cam corder battery do you need, maybe we can bring one over for you?
we will be there the third week of April, will that be too late for you?

Also Linda
At least we know we will too have lots of family visiting, I guess I have to move to a tropical island to get them to visit me.. lol

Eve, That sounds like a very interesting job. I wish you the best of luck. Any idea when your going? Mine is the summer, june, july, august, as soon as we get some bites on selling our vehicles, we heading out, pretty much everything else is taken care of, (that is getting rid of furniture etc), Selling cars we still owe on is a biggy, its a whole timing issue, but I'm excited

Linda

I, like many of you that are not on island, visit this website to see what the different transition times are to the islands and how they transition. We are all in different situations from just getting out of school (just starting our adult life) mid career (not all it cracked up to be) late career (been there done that, been successful time to find something else). We have bought a place in St. Thomas and plan on moving in a couple of years. Do not want to worry about having to work, but plan on doing something. In hindsight wish we had done something just out of school, but at any stage in life it can and will be great with the right ATTITUDE, but it all works out.

Not yet 50 but plan to be on island in a couple of years and doing something.

Islander ,
This website is grrreat as everone has said!!! Ever think of doing a gathering on island at different times during the year?

skt,

Great question for Islander, i.e. whether he has thought of organizing "gatherings". I'd love to attend. I'm "scouting" the island for a move in the not-too-distant future, and am soaking in Islander's knowledge & advice, not to mention everyone else's on this website.

Ansley

The message board group does have get togeathers. Had one in STT on Feb28 or 29 I believe. I was in StX and didn't have the chance to get to StT but would have loved it. I believe Islander mentioned the July / August time frame and maybe StJ for the next get togeather. It will be fun to look forward to.
Linda,
Mark and I have a big ole mess to clean up in Toledo. Lots o crap to get through for the big move. Yikes! Three cars to get rid of one good used 4x4 to buy. Lots o stuff. We're playing it by ear. Mark has to be here through August time frame for sure. I can start the move next week if thats what it takes. We're a divide and conquer (strategically speaking) couple. Someone actually asked me how we could live apart for 6 months. I'm like dahhhh..... he's in the military. He could get deployed overseas for 6,9,12 or up to 24 months. Sorry I'm not following his hind end to The Desert. We'll have to keep in touch, though. I'm hoping we start the move soon. Within the next two months.

Hello Skt, Ansley and Eve,

Yes we had a get-together last month on St. Thomas. And the suggestions are to have one every couple months, 3 more votes from you guys to that suggestion! Right now I am thinking from dates folks say they are going to be on island perhaps a St. Croix get-together in the summer and one on St. Thomas or St. John around the same time. Stay tuned!!

--Islander

Islander and all -- count us in on that next gathering, too! After getting some bad medical news this week, Kelly and I have advanced our schedule for moving, too. Instead of an August/Spetember arrival, we plan to be on island around June 1. Our house here gets listed in 10 days, and we'll be in St. Croix in three weeks to buy a house, open a bank account, etc. Woo Hoo!

Just like Eve, we have got tons of stuff to take care of here - selling furniture and one car, seeing if our lending company will write us the note to ship the other car of if we need to pay it off, and PACKING PACKING PACKING. Anything small that doesn't sell here by May 1 gets packed and we'll sell it on eBay after we get down there.

Sounds like we may time it right to arrive just in time for the next gathering!

I CAN'T WAIT!

HC

All right HC and Kelly,
I'm sorry about your bad news...
But it'll be good to see you down there sooner. Now it sounds like you'll be there first...
I can't wait for you to get down there and post your impressions.

Eve, Hipcrip Kelly,
One vote for me on the gatherings, I would definitely be interested in attending. I myself got a little bad medical news yesterday and want to "maybe" take care of the foot surgery before I move, not that I don't trust doctors in puerto rico or STT, but if I can get it done now, thats one less thing to worry about. Thank God we didn't purchase any tickets and we are not on a strick timeline. Its minor surgery, but I intend on waitressing and being on my feet so theres really no option ya know.
Sorry to hear about your bad medical news hip crip, I hope all goes well.

Linda

I think there are as many pre-movers interested in StX as the other two islands. It would be nice to have a gathering in StX as well. I would think that as we get to the point of settling in on island, phone numbers, e-mails can be exchanged. I really feel like we're all supporting each other and in this togeather. It would be nice to set up a board welcoming committee for those of us arriving. I know when I'm there on island that it would be worth it all around. When somebody arrives from stateside and is feeling alone, disoriented and afraid; what better way to overcome this than by somebody with an on line relationship at the airport or at the first place you spend the night... Greeting you with a smile and a big hug, saying Hi! Welcome to the VI. My name is (blank) and I met you on the VI moving center board.

Great idea, Eve!

That's how I ended up in DC -- found my apartment through a woman I had known online for 3 years but never met in person. She scouted the available units for me and sent photos, and I ended up moving into her building.

When I arrived on moving day, I found a bottle of wine, and my fridge was stocked with eggs, oj, soda, and sandwich makings (she bribed our maintenance guys to let her in to leave the goodies). There was a big bow on the front door. That made all the scarey parts of moving alone to a big city vanish 'cause I knew I had someone to point me in the right direction and hug me when I needed it.

Count me in on hte new welcome committee!

HC