Can I do it?

Do read all the information in the drop-down menus top of the page, too. There's a huge amount there to absorb. Best to work for someone else in your chosen field before starting any business here - there are myriad island-peculiar ins and outs to familiarize yourself with. All the best!

Welcome Freedom! Yes, you can do it. Lots of people have done it. 😉 Ask away. My first piece of advice (even though you didn't ask for any...LOL) is: Don't abandon ship in the states. When you do come down, leave yourself a life line, just in case. You can always cut it once you are sure this is for you.

Or you can cut the line completely like I did when I was right around your age. The big difference is I had a job lined up with accommodations. I wouldn't have been so brave without those assurances.

We did the same as Sparty and the choice was the best decision we ever made!!!

However, we know people who move back to the states just as soon as they got here.

I agree with Old Tart, read everything here. Then keep in mind that you cannot escape your problems or woes. They will just follow you here.

Also, if you are a single person you MUST dive into the community/culture any get out there. Everyone we know who hightailed it out of here came here and isolated themselves. They thought the Crucians were rude and disrespectful and couldn't stand the "island time." But they never took it upon themselves to immerse themselves in the culture and community and became miserable.

So good luck and I hope you find what you are looking for.

No, you can't do it. Unless you have been to the islands before and get an idea of what Island living is all about and not like some TV show that only shows paradise and not the inner working of daily life. Are you wealthy, retired and have a decent income, have your own health care (there ain't no Obama care in the Islands) Yep you can get a health insurance policy if you can afford a couple of thousand a month. Very few employers offer health care in the Islands because of the high cost. Do you have a skill set that would benefit the Islands?

Not wanting to burst your bubble, but just giving you food for thought BEFORE you make that jump. Things are never what they seem on TV.

mike

Mike, in at least 20 of the over 30 years I've lived here, affordable individual health insurance hasn't been available. Group insurance coverage yes, individual no. This is nothing new and I don't know anybody who's been deterred from coming here because of it. Not to say there haven't been some.

This whole subject has been recently blown out of proportion because of the emergence of AHCA which none of the US territories subscribe to. Local companies (including many smaller entities) are still providing coverage for their employees and those covered by BCBS (which has departed the territory) are having their policies transferred to an alternate carrier. There's no question that the group plans cover way less than they used to and the deductibles are much higher but that trend has been going on for years. It's simply not true that, "very few employers offer health care in the Islands".

The OP was quite clear in saying that he's simply doing research at this point and isn't in a "jump ship" mode, nor is there any indication that his thoughts about moving here have been powered by TV shows. It doesn't suit you to live here, nor have you lived here for donkey's years but jumping on someone and giving them half-truths of such a dire nature isn't really helpful.

Many contributors to this forum have always and for a long time cautioned prospective newcomers about the lack of affordable individual health insurance coverage but it's just lately (again since AHCA came into effect stateside) that an element of hysteria has overtaken rationality.

you can read as much advice as humanly possible but you will never know if its the right choice for you until you actually do it

Be brave...make the move. Damn the torpedoes...full speed ahead.

I successfully cut all ties, and moved here (STX), i did have a job lined up and i moved all my stuff and cars and the family down. so far so good 5 years later, just bought a house too. But I did work here for a few weeks at a time for a few years so I had the advantage of not living like a visitor

you can read as much advice as humanly possible but you will never know if its the right choice for you until you actually do it

Hope you don't mind that I'm stealing this comment - such amazing perspicacity is so rarely encountered.

you can read as much advice as humanly possible but you will never know if its the right choice for you until you actually do it

Hope you don't mind that I'm stealing this comment - such amazing perspicacity is so rarely encountered.

Talk about "snarky!"

How about:

"control yourself and save the snarky retort in favor of ignoring if you can't manage a simple and civil response."

What's snarky about a compliment?

Yeah, right!

Yeah, right!

Meaning what? :S

Figure it out.

Figure it out.

Obviously I'm unable to do so which is why I asked. If you're going to throw out what are presumably barbs then at least be prepared to explain them if they're not clear. Speee1dy neatly encapsulated in one simple sentence what has been repeated many, many times over but in much greater detail.

Perchance your numerous belittling, facetious and overall snarky comments in the history of your posts directed at speee1dy, myself and many others may have something to do with it. I'm sure you can figure it out.

Oh dear, seems the paranoia and perpetual negativity run amuk again and not even a "perchance" about it. If Speee1dy was offended I'm sure she's perfectly capable of questioning the comment and doesn't need you to gird your loins on her behalf over a perceived offense. 😀
Hold the popcorn, folks ...

😛 Hope you enjoyed your popcorn, folks!
Now to get back on topic.
Apologies to the OP for the slight detour.

These exchanges are not appreciated and have no use on this relocation board!

Mike, in at least 20 of the over 30 years I've lived here, affordable individual health insurance hasn't been available. Group insurance coverage yes, individual no. This is nothing new and I don't know anybody who's been deterred from coming here because of it. Not to say there haven't been some.

This whole subject has been recently blown out of proportion because of the emergence of AHCA which none of the US territories subscribe to. Local companies (including many smaller entities) are still providing coverage for their employees and those covered by BCBS (which has departed the territory) are having their policies transferred to an alternate carrier. There's no question that the group plans cover way less than they used to and the deductibles are much higher but that trend has been going on for years. It's simply not true that, "very few employers offer health care in the Islands".

The OP was quite clear in saying that he's simply doing research at this point and isn't in a "jump ship" mode, nor is there any indication that his thoughts about moving here have been powered by TV shows. It doesn't suit you to live here, nor have you lived here for donkey's years but jumping on someone and giving them half-truths of such a dire nature isn't really helpful.

Many contributors to this forum have always and for a long time cautioned prospective newcomers about the lack of affordable individual health insurance coverage but it's just lately (again since AHCA came into effect stateside) that an element of hysteria has overtaken rationality.

Who pissed in your wheaties? I posted a response whether you like or don't like it is up to you. I never asked for your opinion. If you go back through the records, you will clearly see a rise in people wanting to throw caution to the wind and move to the Islands especially since the current TV shows have been showing all the good point. I just try to be adult in the room and show although there are good points to living on and Island, there are also bad points as well that rarely get shown the light of day on the forums. Where most respond "well sure, come on down and live the good life in the Islands no worries mon". I was probably living in the Islands before you were even a twinkle in your mothers eye and go back two to three times a year to visit family that has lived there for generations. As far as I know you have not been named the queen of St. Thomas yet nor the Queen of the forums, so back off take a pill, smoke a joint, sip a beer or what ever it is you do to relax. That is what Island living is supposed to be about, isn't it? or at least that what the TV shows claim.

By the way, Alana gets my vote for queen of St. Thomas and the forums.

mike

PS: Mic drop!

It happens from time to time.
Apologies Betsyshaffer and other forum members.

Mike, simply correcting misinformation. Sorry that that offends you.

Come on now. Quit this senseless bickering and help me figure out what health insurance on the island has to do with US hockey coaches, highland cattle or afghan hounds. 😉