Dream/Fantasy/Reality

What, there is no Robbin Masters who estate I can live on and drive his Ferrari?
I must have the wrong ocean.

Seriously, Lizzard well put!

Well, how much IS enough? What say ye, the regulars on this board? What is the minimum cost of admission to paradise?

Steve

stxdreamer,
If you have to ask you can't afford it. No one knows the size of your family, the skills you have for employment, the wealth you have accumulated over your adult life, Pension, social security etc.. Cute saying minimum cost of admission to paradise, that can only be answered by you and your life style.

stxdreamer,
If you have to ask you can't afford it.

Now Lizard . . . you're the one that started this one, and you laid out some very definite opinions about whether $70,000 was enough or not. I just wondered what the others on the board thought.

As for me and my wife, we are definitely planning to come within the next 2 years, and we have adequate means to make the move and live comfortably, . . but remembering that most of those on this board "made the move at one time or another," they have dealt with those issues, and I think their thoughts would be interesting and perhaps helpful to those still contemplating the journey.

Steve

Maybe you missed that part with people with families (I did mention children No)! Cute!

... People with families that have little to no savings, no job and no real skills think they can make it...

Families with no savings and no job skills might not live a very high standard of living on the mainland, either, so living poor in the USVI might not be a big drop in living standards for them. People with no money and no job skills often have a tough life no matter where they live. Even so, they have the right to have a dream and to engage in the pursuit of happiness.

Yes, they should be fully informed before committing their children to a move. In the end, just telling them not to come is more likely to make them dig in their heels and come anyway, possibly without doing the research they should. I'd prefer to be welcoming to them on this board in hopes that they will stick around and participate long enough to truly reach a wise conclusion about whether it would be in their family's best interest or not to proceed with a move to the islands.

Spoken like a true Realtor on the hunt for more customers. I did not tell them not to come I suggested to stay where they were! That's my opinion with nothing to gain.

Alexandra has it right, "...they should be fully informed."

That's the beauty of this forum. We all have our own situations. One size doesn't fit all.

For anyone considering moving to the VI - or making any other major decision - take the time to become fully informed.

Hey Edward.
Who said they shouldn't be fully informed. Maybe you missed that reading comp class in Law schoo.l

Funny thing is most Crucians live happy lives on much less than what's being suggested as a minimum. Schooling is definitely the issue.

Lizard that's the problem with mainland US. Everybody thinks its all about how much you have. Everyone needs private school, nice cars, the best cloths and the biggest house. What is wrong with living a simple life. That is why I am making the move to the VI. There is nothing wrong with a family coming to the VI to enjoy a simple life and to live withing their means. As long as you have food on the table, a roof over your head, and clothes on your back that is enough to make many family’s happy. I didn't grow up riding around in a Ferrari or live in a mansion but guess what I was a happy child. You have no right to tell people not to live their dream. I promise all us average people wont bring down your property value. PS maybe you missed grammar in grade school, or Schoo.l as you would put it.

Lizard, This would be a much more useful forum without these kinds of remarks.

Funny thing is most Crucians live happy lives on much less than what's being suggested as a minimum. Schooling is definitely the issue.

How many of these "most" live on old family property, live in projects, live on welfare, are in their situation not of their choice.
Most of these "mist" would have more if they could.

Yes Money does not buy happiness but lack of money for basics can cause a lot of unhappiness.
It's one thing to subject yourself to lower standards but it is another to subject your children to it just because you grew up poor but happy. Not everyone does.
Many older people had happy childhoods during the depression but very few of those would want to subject their family to those standards.
And in those times, most people were in the same situation. Today if you put your family in that circumstance chances are that most of your childrens peers will have much more and you children will not be happy!

I moved here with barely enough money for deposit and rent.
I didn't do a PMV and gathered all information from this website.
I guess I'm living a dream/fantasy/reality!

me to

Hey Chefnoah,
You were a single according toy your 1st post on this forum not the same as I posted (families) makes a big difference!
Bombi,
You were a land owner before you made the move with intentions to build and had the financial ability and also had a job lined up according to you as a facility manager.

Did either one of you ever see a hungry Child, because Mom/Dad didn't have a Job in Paradise

1, If you have no job
2. Have no Job skills
3, Have kids
4. No savings
5. No Hospitalization for adults or kids
6. Have no idea of the costs for food and utilities

Again I SUGGEST They stay where they are.

.

That is probably good advice, Lizard, considering the economy. Jobs are scarce and wages are lower than expected.
I found my job after about 3 months on the island and yes I did have the foresight to purchase some land while visiting on vacation in the mid 80's. I agree that skills are important.

I think it's excellent advice. I think most are just balking at the perceived tone. Another big part that makes it hard is having NO support system. Usually stateside your have good friends and family that can help with the kids in a pinch. You loose that when you come here. I think it's unfair for a family of four to try to make it on less then what Lizard suggested. With 70k stateside there are so many places where you could have a good quality of life, not to mention things like good healthcare, schooling, etc...

I don't understand moving down here and working like a dog just to be on an island. It is beautiful here but there are many beautiful places. And happiness is really going to come more from your state of mind.

Spoken like a true Realtor on the hunt for more customers. I did not tell them not to come I suggested to stay where they were! That's my opinion with nothing to gain.

You are actually quite off base with that remark. While I am licensed as a Realtor, I haven't actively been working in real estate the past couple of years due to the market downturn coupled with some personal situations I've had to deal with. I'm not hustling up customers, but will help those who wish assistance and will give my opinion to those who request one... based on my experiences on this island for 7-1/2 years. I moved here with children, so I know exactly how it works. Apparently you believe your opinion is the only one with any merit.

If people decide not to stay where they are, that's entirely their right. They can move elsewhere or even here if that's their choice. Just telling people NO never did get the response the naysayer was hoping for... usually the exact opposite. I stand by my comments that the more informed they become prior to making a final decision, the better decision they will make according to their own family's needs.

Alexandra,
Being that my family has been here in the USVi since 1864, years mean nothing as to experience and know all. I Have an opinion as I see it. Others like you can have your own opinion. I made a suggestion not to come if no money,no job skills etc . That's not telling anyone not to come. If my blog effects your Real Estate fishing TB.

food on the table, a roof over your head, and clothes on your back that is enough to make many family’s happy.

Have you checked the price of housing and food and transportation????

I don't understand why so many people want to live here. Do other beautiful places in the US have such websites. Moving to a ski town in the Rockies might be just the same as moving here. In reality this is not the US. We need to drop the US and just be VI then no one will have pre conceptions of US living.

Alexandra,
Being that my family has been here in the USVi since 1864, years mean nothing as to experience and know all. I Have an opinion as I see it. Others like you can have your own opinion. I made a suggestion not to come if no money,no job skills etc . That's not telling anyone not to come. If my blog effects your Real Estate fishing TB.

I'm finding you rather pathetic with your inexplicable direct attacks. That's too bad. I've seen some good posts from you in the past.
You are also missing the obvious... Realtors aren't going to get rich off families with no savings, no income and no job skills. That doesn't mean such people should be shunned from humanity as if they were unworthy of life, which is the message I'm getting from your posts.

Even if I were "fishing" for real estate customers, which I'm not, I'm not sure why you keep stating that in the form of an accusation. You were the one who brought up the real estate subject, not me. I've been working as a boat captain and a scuba instructor.

What exactly is it you fear about my suggestion that people with an interest in the concept of relocation to the island should do a lot of research so they can make an informed decision? Isn't that the primary raison d'etre for this board?

Alexandra,
You better call the two owners of the rental listings that your are currently advertising on the classified section of this forum and tell them that you are a Boat Captain and scuba instructor now.*-)(Quote Alexandra said,that doesn't mean such people should be shunned from humanity as if they were unworthy of life, which is the message I'm getting from your posts.) Your problem seems to be that if my opinion is different than yours you will go to no ends to create a new meaning to what I stated. That is Sad!