is this feasible?

dev,

"Would i be able to walk off the plane from the airport during the ealry afternoon in St Thomas and have plenty of places( safe,clean and affordable)to choose to stay the night while i look over the local paper to find long term accommodations?"

It sounds like you've never been here and most folks on this board would urge you to consider visiting here before moving here. To answer your question, it depends on the time of year and what you consider "affordable." In high season there is little available and if you find anything it will be expensive. In low season there may be more available but then again a lot of places close for repairs. I don't know what you consider "affordable" but there are no Motel 6 type places here.

Coming without a reservation is risky because it there are only a couple of "name brand" hotel/motel chains that aren't resorts and even those can run $150+/night in the off-season, especially for walk-ins as they'll know you have few options. The least expensive alternative will be places like Villa Fairview (340-777-2277) and Rochelle Ellick's Rooms by the Sea (340-715-3588 or 340-775-1155) and those places require reservations and are frequently booked.

From this and other of your posts I get the sense that you're impatient and just want to go for it and I understand that feeling but this is a very remote, very small, very expensive place and it is risky to move here without any planning. People have done it but more of them have come and gone than come and stayed. Also, it can be easier to find long-term accommodations in the low season but more difficult to find employment at that time.

There's a rhythm to life here and I know you're anxious to experience it but I still recommend a pre-move visit. If you opt to arrive on island sight unseen, I recommend that you line-up a place to stay before you buy your plane ticket and be sure to bring plenty of cash to get yourself settled (first, last and deposit for your rental and deposits for utilities) and to tide you over for a couple of months in case you experience some difficulties finding employment.

Moron.

OK, OK, I was kidding!!! dntw8tup is absolutely right. Take his advice and plan well and bring lots of cash... the more to 'pluck' from you! LOL Just kidding again!

dev,

i came here last year with a one way ticket and no reservation.

i didn't have very much money.

i got a taxi into town. got a hotel for a night or two. found a place to stay for the first month. (would have slept on the beach if i had known better)

got a job within a couple days. no problem.

stayed for 6 months. got flown back down again this year.

i doubt youll have too much trouble.

there are always lots of jobs and lots of rentals.

just talk to everyone you see and be friendly.

thanks everbody for taking the time to break it down for me.great advice dtw8up! and triple thanks for all that typing :)(thanks for caring )plus your assumptions are right on! I'm so anxious it's crazy! I will do as you recommended though(my theory is plan for the worst,hope for the best), and to Island Ed you'd be proud , i used the STAR method as i tried many different ways to get these answers in past posts but didn't give up until i got MY DESIRED RESULT! ( ya lil'plucker! lol) . . and to you Ian thanks brah(bro), the encouragment was needed and much appreciated!

p.s. pura vida!

The best of pluck to you.

FYI re: plucker - see EDGEBO post Hurricane Homes to understand... LOL.