"Local" entrance fee at Lindquist and Magens

If your a senior, you can get a local discount card, that should work

They do the same thing at the ferry. You have to show a local ID for the $6 fare. I think they are going by your legal residence. If you live in MA for more than half a year, you aren't a resident.

Looking at the glass half full, at least as a MA resident, you can get your tax refund. Seriously though, try your WAPA bill or VI car registration....Don't know if they'll work, but no harm trying. Good luck.

In your situation, it is true because you are clearly a resident of MA (part time resident of USVI).
There is not an official definition of "local" when it comes to such 'local discounts'.

There are many people who live in USVI all year, but keep their connection to residency stateside. It happens all the time for various reasons, but mostly to get the best of both benefits (unless they are have a situation like senator elect who was replaced over conflicts about residency).

Idlewood4, that is one of the benefits of living in MA, but I can't remember the last time I got a tax refund. At least there, it's not because the government refuses to send it out!
Thanks for all the info. In the US, when we have owned property in various states, we got various benefits from the towns or states where we held property.
Getting a small amount off on the entrance fee to a government run beach is a small thing here, but since we have invested our money in property here as well as paid multiple fees to bring my vehicle here, it seems that extending that discount is a small way to encourage investment in the island for vacation purposes.
Some places, like Antigua, encourage investing in their island by giving people who buy property over a certain amount the opportunity to have dual citizenship with Antigua. Seems a little unwelcoming that in order to be a "local", you have to have been born here or live her full time.

Residency for the purposes of income taxes and requiring a VI drivers license is defined as something like 180days or more so it doesn't have to be 365 days a year.

Order a replacement MA driver's license and then go get a VI drivers license if they won't take your WAPA or property tax bill at the gate.

At least they don't require a VI DL in order to register a car like some states do now (due to out of staters trying to get better deals on car insurance than where they actually live.)

As Gumbo mentioned, you can get a local senior citizens card which you can get discounts at local businesses, ferry services, movie theaters, bus transportation, Pueblo and the market out at Tutu Park Mall, etc.
Many places don't advertise it. Ya gotta ask. I've gotten local and senior discounts for lipstick, perfume, and at some pharmacies.

You can also buy a years entrance to Magens Bay at reduced cost.
Don't know if they have reciprocity with Lindquist/Smith Bay or same deal there. You can call Magens Bay Authority to inquire.

Best is get a duplicate license from MA, and get a local VI drivers license.
Good luck.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Getting the duplicate MA license first is a good suggestion. Didn't want to surrender that license here to get a VI once since it's the only one I have. Many thanks!

Just a thought but in actuality, local discounts are indeed for locals.

I think you need to check the legality of having two licenses.

LOL yea better watch out for those drivers licenses police! They gonna getcha! *-)

No local ID no discount, makes sense to me. You're not a local - technically. I still have a AZDL and a VIDL. I have has my VIDL refused in the states which is why I have both.

I think you need to check the legality of having two licenses.

.

Just a thought but in actuality, local discounts are indeed for locals.

Why does paperwork and laws have to make a difference? If you support illegal aliens entering the US and being supported by taxpayer dollars then how can you not support this persons right to get a discount at the beach that everyone else that lives here gets.

Never said I support illegal immigration.

If the VI gets Real ID you won't be able to have 2 licenses.

If the VI gets Real ID you won't be able to have 2 licenses.

if you maintain two residences and have utility bills or whatever else they want to show residence at both addresses then how does that prevent two licenses?

As I understand it, you have one legal residence. When the EDC thing was big several years ago, people were claiming they were VI residents because they owned a $5 million home here. The Feds made them prove they were physically here for (if I'm remembering this right) 6 months + a day.

Think it was minimum 180 days with the old EDC law which skyrocketed prices on property until 2006 -2007. If newcomers think prices are high now, they'd have been flabbergasted back then.

I can't get residency in FL without giving up my VI license and take advantage of other perks of residency until I do so and other things tho
I now own a home here (and have for over a year now but just moved end of January) and plan on living here, full-time for at least 2 years with occasional trips back to VI until I can figure out if my move is permanent.

Think it was minimum 180 days with the old EDC law which skyrocketed prices on property until 2006 -2007. If newcomers think prices are high now, they'd have been flabbergasted back then.

I can't get residency in FL without giving up my VI license and take advantage of other perks of residency until I do so and other things tho
I now own a home here (and have for over a year now but just moved end of January) and plan on living here, full-time for at least 2 years with occasional trips back to VI until I can figure out if my move is permanent.

After buying a home in Florida after having always lived in the VI. I know a part of your move was about being close to family. Some it seems was the thought of cheaper electricity, better cheaper food , conveinence ect. Now that your there, how does life stack up? Do you like it better?

There were many factors to my decision to move.
Family and being able to have affordable healthcare, which I now have, were my 2 main concerns plus being able to explore my options while I was still physically ready, able and willing to do so.
I figured nothing ventured, nothing gained so have at it, while I can.

Honestly it was a very stressful decision, as much in deciding to move as in the carrying out the move and all that entailed.
Buying a home in a completely new place I basically knew nothing about except it was close to sisters, one of whom is only here 5 months out of year while the other lives here year-round. (the home actually suited my needs, perfectly, as it turned out even tho I purchased with the intention of moving with 3 dogs so didn't want carpeting and needed a big fenced yard.)

Getting my home ready to rent in STT, painting, getting every single thing that needed doing, done, or repaired, getting everything cleaned up and out, figuring out what to pack, what to get rid of, what gets donated, given to friends, hauled to dumpster, what stays, what goes, having a timeline that was dependent on other people/workers who'd be "no shows" then
get pissed off because I'd find someone else to do what needed doing while weather was uncooperative, having 2 of my 3 dogs dying and having to be put to sleep within 2 months of each other, the last one just a month before I finally made the deadline for us to fly out, had home rented, moving company come and gone, etc.

I felt like I was living under Murphy's Law/O'Reilly's postulate the last couple months in STT.

The physicality of just getting stuff done was daunting and difficult.

Unlike getting house ready in FL. I flew up Nov. 1, met painter 8AM, Nov. 2, had entire interior of home painted and garage floor resealed and redone within a week, furniture I'd ordered arrived on time and set up, utilities, included, (they made it so easy!). EVERYTHING was in place to fly up, get shuttle service with dogs in tow and move in, ready to go, including having a car to purchase within a week of my arrival. All I had to buy was fresh produce and wait until my belongings I planned shipping arrived.
Everything there was done and waiting for me.

6 months in..I love my house and property here.
I've got tomatoes, basil, spring onions, habenero and jalapeno peppers, green and yellow sweet peppers, cabbage and romaine lettuce planted and growing.

The .60 acre property has lemons on a tree that are the size of grapefruit, limes in abundance, pineapple plants soon ready, small orange trees, mango, avocado, guava, banana, pigeon peas, crepe mertyl, magnolia, hibiscus, periwinkle, roses, huge oaks, lillies, lots of other plants I've had on my property in the VI and many stateside ones I'm just getting to know. I've seen black snakes and a tiny banded snake that I rescued from pool. Black with a fluorescent orange band on neck and underside.
Harmless.

My biggest hurdle was getting used to driving on the right hand side of the roads/over 30 mph. Honestly, first time out, not really knowing where the hell I was actually going, driving with everyone switching lanes and going 45 -50 mph, I was shaking and trembling. Don't laugh. Y'all need to remember, I've driven once in the states previously, a couple decades ago which scared the crap outta me then and never lived there except for a few periods.

So...I can now speed along with the best of them, make sure I'm always on the right........well, except for that very 1st time that I drove, got to the light at intersection to turn onto street leading to my house and turned into the left lane and scared the crap out of my nephew and myself and probably anyone else who might have seen me. Luckily,there wasn't anyone there. Took me a few days afterwards to screw up my courage to get back on the road.

Making friends is more difficult than in VI, I think.
But, all in all, so far, so good.
It's definitely different from what I've experienced in the VI after my growing up and decades there even with all the traveling I've done and experienced.
Many things are easier. I'm still learning.
I've given myself a minimum of 2 years to figure it out and see if it works for me.

Basically, you're the only one that can decide what will work for you but if you have something in mind that you want to do, I say, GO FOR IT!
If you don't like it, move on.

Alana, Thanks so much for the excellent summation. I just retired, and effectively cut my income in half. Looking to downsize and stay on island, but also considering the possibility of a move to Florida, North Carolina or Tennessee,

I think it'll come down to if I can find an reasonable one bedroom apartment here. Been checking around and so far no luck. My lease here is up 9/30.

Who did you use to ship your stuff? What was the cost? Thanks again for the recap of FL move.

Very intresting, I think more opinions will form about which life suits you better when the new wears off. Just like moving to the VI I guess. Their are things too miss about both lives. Enjoy all the good cheap fresh produce. That and fresh Gulf shrimp are what I miss the most. I kind of feel like a stranger when I'm in the states though.
Thank you for sharing

Gumbo, I agree, I just spent 2 months stateside, but I really missed the VI. Saying Good morning to people caused them to look at me like I had 2 heads. LOL.

Actually, Idlewood, we've met!
I picked up some of your packing boxes when you moved here last year.
Ended up using Viking which you recommended.
They were great. It wasn't cheap but I didn't want to leave the majority
of personal belongings behind.
Did leave all my books tho until I decide if move is permanent.

Check out Island Trader for rentals. Well, you know the drill.
North side is much nicer than your southwest location.
Also check bulletin boards at north side grocery stores, Hull Bay, etc.
Surprised you decided to retire.
Good luck, let us know how it goes!
Maybe someone on forum will know of a rental or I can look on MLS and see what's available and turn you onto a realtor friend. Just depends what you want, price range and where you want to be if not working where you were. PM me.

Yes, Gumbo.
That's why I'm giving myself a 2 year period of time.
I have definitely been enjoying the fresh, cheap produce 2lbs of strawberries-$3.29, 2lb of black cherries for $1.99, peaches that you can smell and ripen gorgeously, bananas for 29¢ a lb, etc. mail delivery to your door, garbage pu, smooth, well maintained roads, no outages, cheaper rates, really nice customer service and services and many other things so far. It'll take some getting used to!

It's easy to feel like a stranger up here when you practically know everyone and move and you never run into (not literally as in driving) anyone you know to stop and chat with, no matter where you go.
Will see how the pros and cons weigh out over time.
I'm really just settling in.

Hershey is acclimating to life as an only dog and she's been as good as gold, loves her new home and yard, luckily ignores the pool so no mopping up after a soggy pup.