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I have a job at UVI-St. Croix beginning in August. Neither my husband nor I have been to the Carribean, but we've moved around and we're looking forward to the adventure. I'll move first without our pets. We have two dogs and two cats. Our beagle is currently dieting so we can get him under the seat on the plane. My husband will move in February or so. I'm hoping we can get him a job before he comes down. I'll have a place to live, hopefully a rental, for us all when he moves with the menagerie. We've received the Handbook and reviewed the postings. We need to be frugal about this. I'd like some guidance on specifics.
I thought it might be better to ship our 1993 jeep cherokee - tons of miles, but it runs great - rather than buy a car when I got there for a couple or three thousand dollars. I estimate the cost of shipping it to be in that neighborhood. What do you think? Is there an advantage to taking the cars to Florida from Iowa for shipping, other than cost? I understand when we bring the pets that might be the thing to do.
We're caught between selling the vast majority of our stuff or shipping it. Any advice for strategies to help make that decision, e.g. it's hard to find.....? We'd like to bring personal pictures, etc. Would it be better to sell things like flatware, dishes, coffeemaker, small applicances like microwaves, TV, DVD, etc. and buy it there? I guess my dilemma is paying shipping and tax on old, beat up stuff versus buying new or semi-new, aka yard sale items. We've been told its better to sell our furniture. So we won't bring any of that.
This board has been a huge help! Thanks for all of the insight.
Posted : June 10, 2004 9:42 pm
Onika, East Ender, Linda & Ric... what did you guys do when deciding what to bring? Good topic!
--Islander
Posted : June 12, 2004 7:53 am
Well, when I moved here, in my mind it was for a year. I put most of my stuff in storage, brought bare bones household goods, things I really didn't want to part with for a year, bought all the little appliances as needed. There are lots of "leaving island" sales, so you can get those things you listed fairly cheaply.It is also a good time to reconsider what you must have to live. You would be surprised at the number of things that are really extraneous to a good life! I would not burn any bridges- keep enough of your things in storage in case you change your mind. Someone very recently posted that they wish they hadn't gotten rid of all their goodies as they had to start all over again on their return. I shipped a 5 year old car, sold it when it was 7 years old and I still see it driving around at 15 years...
Posted : June 12, 2004 3:01 pm
Before we came down we divided everything in three "piles", sell, store and bring. We sold a LOT of stuff. We decided what we couldn't live without and either mailed it or packed it into the van. The rest is still in storage. We've been here a year now and in a few weeks we're going back to get rid of the storage unit, SELL MORE STUFF and finally ship the resf of our stuff down. We have a few things ( a bed room set and my late mother-in-laws china cabinet and good china) that we're leaving in my Dad's apartment. We stay at Dad's when we visit, so we need and bed, and I'd die if anything happened to the China, so it works out well.
I've not done any formal entertaining and see no prospects in the future!
Hope this helps.
Posted : June 12, 2004 9:15 pm
Topic starter
Thanks East Ender and Linda! You've been a great help. Anymore input would be appreciated.
Posted : June 12, 2004 11:02 pm
Something to help with your decision. There are enough places to find inexpensive, economy type furnishings and necessities. Basically Kmart, miniature Sears, Rent to Own, and other more limited variety places, are the level of quality that if you are fine with, I wouldn't worry about the added cost and headaches involved with shipping items over. If you are in need of quaity, and specific types of furnishings, I would definately suggest bringing all of those type of items over with you. For me, because I move so much, what I bring or buy here, stays here. I am a very light mover. My two prized possessions that have been everywhere with me, my mountain bike and snowboard were both left in the states with my parents. My plan when I leave here is to only leave with what I wear on the plane.
Hope that adds another dimension to your move.
Steve
Posted : June 13, 2004 12:47 am
Mark and I read the moving stories submitted by Linda J. We decided that was the best thing for us to do also. We now have the St.X room, the garage sale room and the garage is basically the throw away room. The garage has big garbage bags ready to go. the StX room has boxes and packing material and Packing slips to use. Haven't started on clothes yet.
Posted : June 13, 2004 2:03 pm
Topic starter
Thanks Eve and Steve. We're trying to stay unattached to things since we've moved so much. I think this trip will be a big step on that continued road. Back to the hefty bags....
Posted : June 13, 2004 4:08 pm
