Housing, Employment., life

Hello Phoenix,

Many apartments are furnished in some way or the other. Meaning some are completely furnished and some are semi-furnished. You can pick up microwaves, tvs, furniture at stores on island if you need them.

There vets on the each island so pet care is not an issue. There are also doctors, dentist, clinics, hospital. There are some medical professionals that don't exist here, so if you need a specialty you might ask about it in particular. There are pharmacies.

--Islander

St THomas has quite a few Architecture Firms that would probably appreciate your experience. Good help is hard to find 🙂
www.viphonebook.com

I think St Thomas is a great island to live on if you need to work (ha! despite my other postings, lol) because St John is sooo close and you can "get away" to St John on the weekends so easily. The real estate is MUCH higher on St John as well.

2 dogs are tough in terms of finding a place to live. None of the condo associations on STT accept dogs. SO you'll have to find a small house or an apartment below someone's house (very very common) to live where they accept dogs. We like our vet Dr Moore, he's so nice, our dog loves going there (too funny, she should probably hate it, but she gets all excited to see her "friends" there).

I sent you a private message.

Pheonix,
1. If I understand your subtle words, yes, Bill W. has many friends on-island. Last I heard, the island is like 80%+ Dem. Of course, we can't vote in the nationals, so being friends without influence can be a wee bit frustrating.
2. Don't fret over the poisoning issue, this is more of a concern for people who let their dogs wander unattended all day and night. Based on your post referring to yourself as a "caretaker" I don't imagine that you would let the labs run wild.
3. Dr Stewart at Imperial is our vet. Excellent service and excellent hours.
4. I too love the old Saab (pre Ford takeover), but I don't know how practical it would be to bring it. If you read Gasps recent post in her thread, you'll not the difficulties she encountered just getting parts for a Jeep Wrangler, one of the more prevalent island cars. Imagine trying to get parts for a rarer make/model!

I think you are thinking of a different Bill, Onika. The 'Bill W.'we are referring to has nothing to do with politics. Thanks, though!:)

See, I though I wasn't getting it! I think I do get it now...

Greetings, Phoenix...

As another grassroots organizer who came to the USVI (St. Croix, to be precise) to simplify and slow down, plus get away from the realities of living and working in Washington DC post 9/11, I can tell you that island life -- with all of its ups and downs -- has been everything I'd hoped it would. In fact, I've never felt more at home anywhere. I'd love to have you join us down here -- I think you and I could have some real fun helping the folks down here who are pursuing solutions to some of the problems found here. (I've seen more demonstrations, rallies, petitions, etc. here in the last nine months than I can tell you, and many were organized by high school and college students. Saul Alinksy would be proud to be a Crucian , let me tell you.)

Your anxiety is healthy and normal -- think of it as a tool to help you make sure you are as informed as you can be when you make this big move. Will try and give brief blips on your questions along with the encouragement that if I can do this, I'm sure you can too. (Everyone who knows my postings is laughing out loud right now as they know brevity is not my strong suit).

Basic medical care here is acceptable. We have some specialists who practice in the USVI (STX has a neurosurgeon and neurologist, plus MRI and CT scanners), but I travel to Puerto Rico to see a specialist for my complex health issues and pain management needs. I would probably consent to getting treated inpatient for skmething like pneumonia, which only required IV antibiotics, but I would get any surgery or advanced care needed on Puerto Rico. One of my first purchases here was air ambulance insurance which will fly me to PR for care that I cannot receive here (plus other benefits) -- it is a must for anyone with a serious/chronic health concern.

As with STT, the veterinary care on STX is great -- and so much more affordable than the last several places I've lived. Dr. Casey and his staff are fantastic people, but I have to admit that I do miss my last vet, who was a home-based vet that came to us. Anyone that desn't require you to pack up four cats and four ferrets and haul them down the freeway deserves goddess status. (We are cat only folks now -- three adults that came with us and two kitties that we adopted from the STX shelter after we moved here.) Your dogs will be fine as long as you supervise them and don't let them run about.

Can't offer anything of value on your desire to work at something that also gives back to the community except a big round of applause. I was lucky enough to have brought my job doing online organizing and activism with me when we moved, so I'm less familiar with the non-profit comunity now than I will be in the near future. (Unfortuantely, I've recently been forced to admit that I'm not the supercrip I want to be and "retired" on full disability a few months ago. My big struggle now is to find something to do now that was as valuable and gives back as much as what I did during my 15+ years as an activist -- am hoping to do some volunteer work for the causes I believe in.)

Best advice anyone can offer is to come here for a pre-move visit, and stay as long as you can to get a feel for what life is like here when you need to work, pay bills, do laundry and go grocery shopping, etc. That will give you time to check out different islands and different areas on each island to find the place that best suits you. Each of the three main islands has a very different feel and rhythm (can't speak for Water Island having never been there), just as each has different strengths and opportunities. It's almost impossible to understand the differences just from reading and talking to folks through this board because everyone has different needs, standards, ideals and priorities. What may be an unacceptable neighborhood to me because of its location may be exactly what you dream of -- so come down and see/experience as much as you can for yourself.

I second Onika's advice to read the thread started by *Gasp* about why she is moving back to the mainland. There is a wealth of info to consider in there.

Anyway, glad to see you here! Keep asking questions, and let us know how things are progressing.

All the Best,
HipCrip

BTW, Bill W. also has friends on STX. My dad had no problem looking them up and dropping in to say hello when he came down for a visit last fall.

Good someone please send me a PM To explain "who" the heck Bill W. is?
The curiosity is killing me...

thanks much - received & replied:-)

Bill W is the man who started AA. When people are trying to identify each other or locate meetings, they ask if you are a "friend" of Bill W.

Thanks for keeping it anonymous, a******. Wouldn't it have been more appropriate to have someone that is involved with this program to reply? I would have said something like: "Bill W. is the man that came up with the concept for a spiritual fellowship that I am part of."

Here's a better way. Google Bill W and see what comes up!
Ronnie

Hi!

I read that at about 3:30AM and thought about replying at that time and decided I would wait.

Marty and Ronnie - you're replies were more appropriate:-) At least maybe it helped someone who had been thinking about the concept and action.

Some good usually comes of everything.

Thanks for your replies, Marty & Ronnie.

Kindest regards,
Phoenix

Thanks Ric,
I for one, appreciate someone filling in the blank. I have been on many cruises and they always have meeting for friends of Bill W and have always wondered what that was and could not find out. Imagine how people would feel showing up for a meeting not knowing the real intent. I am very respectful of the euphemism and now am better informed. Again, thanks Ric!

I thought Bill W was the founder of Woodys 3-6 happy hour?

It's a wonderful organization. I used to attend open meetings with my uncle. I'm certain AA saved his life. I never felt it was anything to be ashamed or mysterious about.

As Ronnie pointed out, all you have to do is google.

Julie,

You are exactly right - It is a wonderful organization and has saved many lives from an isidious, incurable and rapacious disease. The folks in it are terrific and most have a great sense of humor.

There, of course, is no shame in it - only humility.

Anonominity (sp?) is the first guiding precept because most people first admitting and accepting that they want (or have to because of the courts) to be there (newcomers) go through a period of "Oh please, please, don't let let anyone I know see me at this meeting, please, please, pleeeeeeezzzeee, then everybody wakes up and says - Oh duh! If they're here too and see me, they must be here for the same reason and throughout the world a silent wiping of the brow along with a hushed "whew!" can be quietly heard.

It's not for mystery that it is called by different euphemisms, it is respect for other folks anonominity(sp? - I have a problem with that spelling obviously:-)

After all it's not place to tell you that Bill W. of Washington DC is a member is it?

Nor is it his place to tell you that Mother Teresa was (only joking let's lighten up a bit:-)

Kindest regards,
Phoenix