Making a move to the USVI! Objective assessment needed..

There's lot of info on shipping a car on this forum.

As far as rentals go, your best bet would be to work with a local realtor as rentals are fluid. Plus, they know the island.

What's available today (or when you're ready to begin to look)
may not be available a couple weeks/months from now.

You can also check the Cruzan Trader which is a free weekly advertising paper or check on the Classifieds on this forum or on Craig's List.

You may have to chose a rental location depending on proximity to work and kid's school so that would be something to decide. STX is
a much larger island so driving distances are greater.

Use the search feature to bring up numerous threads with info on shipping a car. basically, you have to get your car to one of the main ports then it's put in a container for shipping. Once on the island you'll have to clear it through customs, pay the required duty and get it registered in the USVI's - all this will take time & money.

One thing that's very important - most, if not all, stateside lenders WILL NOT let you ship a car off the mainland unless you pay off any liens on the vehicle so factor that into your plans if you currently don't own the vehicle "free & clear".

Good night soccer,

I am the mom that came down from California 4 years ago with my 3 kids. My hubby had to wait until he turned 50 to retire from the fire department, so we were here 3 years without him. I am a physical therapist, and employment has been good for me. I am currently working part time doing home health.

I was afraid to put my kids in public schools, so I went private. If I were to do it again, I would go public. I see great things at the public schools, and there are good schools here.

Cost of living is higher than in California, but not too much more. Food costs are higher, but there are ways around that, by using quality foods and bulk ordering, or merchants market, or STX direct for SAMs club orders. I cook all from scratch, so it is much cheaper to cook that way than use processed foods. I have a great garden, and grow a lot of my herbs and veggies. There are many organic food opportunities and farmers market weekly. Food is abundant, and we have no problems putting gourmet meals together. I do have all my visitors bring yummy treats from trader joes and coffee from peets or Starbucks, however.

We shipped a container last year with a car inside and a good deal of our belongings from California. My hubby drove a moving van to Florida and dropped it all off at paradise freight. They were awesome and very helpful with invoices, and waybills, etc. I think we paid about 3k for a full container with a car included. They cleared all customs and were very helpful.

We started out living on the east end, then rented all the way west in frederiksted for a couple years. We bought a home mid island right above salt river, and we are really happy with our choice. We are central, have an amazing view, live in a mixed community and feel very safe. I feel safe here on the island. We are not out late at night, but I do drive I to every housing projects on a daily basis. I have never had any problems. We live carefully, but had to do the same in California.

I have so much to say about this island. I love it. My children are very involved and love their life here. The sense of community is amazing and it is our forever home.....we hope. It was hard at first for me to accept the offers of other moms wanting to help me, because it seemed too generous. We all trade clothes, toys, pick up everyone's children if someone gets stuck. It is not at all like it was for me back home.

Private message me with any questions, and I would be more than happy to share.

Shannon

Hi Soccer! Yes I was wondering about that essay as well. I hope they weren't' expecting it in cursive because my neatest writing is in print. The only thing I could think of is maybe they do a handwriting analysis of it.

We are doing the move from San Diego, CA. But are originally from MA. We are doing the move in all the ways people tell you not to. We have not been to the USVI, but have been to different carribean islands numerous times. The PMV is going to be just me when I am granted an interview. I plan on staying w/ friends and traverse all over the island researching neighborhoods, banks, stores, etc.... We will be putting our 2 children in the public schools and have no second thoughts about it. We are the type of people who know that every place you live has its benefits and drawbacks. We know their will be things about STX that will probably drive us bonkers. But there were things about MA & CA that we hate. Did it make us miserable? No. We made the best of it and found the positives. We believe that if it is meant to be and God's plan has us in STX, then it will all work out.

If you don't mind me asking, how far along in the application pro ess are you?

@Shannon. Thank you very much for your story and experience. Promising, informative and insightful.

@klomtm. Completed my application a few days ago. Submitted everything electronically to a contact person in the USVI Dept. of Education. She told me that she'll make certain it is reviewed this coming week. We'll see. My essay was in cursive. I also attached a typed copy. 🙂

I say, go for it!!!!This could be an amazing experience for you and your family whether you stay for one year, three years or forever.

The Caribbean Islands have been dealing with issues regarding the Chikungunya Virus. It is contracted through the bite of a mosquito, No cure exists and prevention is the only means of self protection. Please familiarize yourselves with the virus. Enjoy the beautiful US Virgin Islands!
Swan

http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/index.html

After going through the usual cycle of new viruses, chikungunya is no longer in the "epidemic" category on any of the Virgin Islands and the incidence of new cases is now so low as to have slipped off the radar. Its still around and will be in the future, just like dengue has been for decades. Unpleasant to deal with but not fatal, the one "advantage" it has over dengue is that once you've had it you're immune to it in the future!

That is good to hear. I thought it was still in the epidemic category. I also thought that once you had dengue that you were immune to that specific type.

from what i hear there are 4-5 types of dengue. once you get one of those you can not get that particular one again but you can get one of the other 3-4. i have heard both 4 or 5 types. dengue can be deadly, especially those with already compromised health

Dengue fever is caused by any one of four dengue viruses spread by mosquitoes that thrive in and near human lodgings. When a mosquito bites a person infected with a dengue virus, the virus enters the mosquito. When the infected mosquito then bites another person, the virus enters that person's bloodstream.

After you've recovered from dengue fever, you have immunity to the virus that infected you — but not to the other three dengue fever viruses. The risk of developing severe dengue fever, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, actually increases if you're infected a second, third or fourth time.

Here's a link:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dengue-fever/basics/definition/con-20032868

i had always thought it was 4 but others have said 5

i had always thought it was 4 but others have said 5

A fifth was isolated in 2007:

http://www.upmc-cbn.org/report_archive/2013/cbnreport_10252013.html

Just keep the mossies off you as best you can and observe the usual precautions!

How did we get into a conversation about dengue and chikungunya??? Lol! I didn't think either were an issue in the area.

Thanks all!

Hi all,

When making my move to PMV, any ideas where I can stay? Looking for inexpensive, but not rural, remote.

Can anyone tell me about Jasmine Manor in Fredericksted?

Thanks.

How did we get into a conversation about dengue and chikungunya??? Lol! I didn't think either were an issue in the area.

It makes a nice break from the usual discussions (high cost of living, crime and corruption, etc.). Dengue and chikungunya are definitely an issue here. I know about ten people who recently had the "chicken" virus, as it is sometimes called. And that's just the ones I know of from casual conversation.

Yes they are definitely an issue. My son has had dengue and it is no joke. Anyone considering moving to the VI should be aware of these viruses. I was a bit worried about chikungunya until Tart said it was on the decline.

And here in California we've got the measles "outbreak" going on.

At least, you can get vaccinated to prevent measles.
Not the case with dengue or chikungunya.

had Dengue after 2 weeks on STX. Not fun! I swear that every mosquito that came on the island bit me first!

Mosquitos and noseeums always go for the fresh meat. I've had dengue twice and its really no big deal unless you get the hemorrhagic type which is often fatal. Chik, although painful, is "one and done" so you're protected from getting it twice.

Hi all,

When making my move to PMV, any ideas where I can stay? Looking for inexpensive, but not rural, remote.

Can anyone tell me about Jasmine Manor in Fredericksted?

Thanks.

We may want to get back to this question before we completely morph to tropical diseases.*-) It's been known to happen!

Sorry, but, I just glanced through the thread for times sake.
I shipped two and a half years ago, my car using International Logistics to STX through Jacksonville, FL. Mimi was very helpful.

I eat only non-GMO and organic. You can get grass fed beef here at Annaly Farms as well as chicken without antibiotics or hormones. I buy only labeled organic at the store or farm stands. There are several at different times throughout the week. I also buy gluten-free products. We eat at home 95% of the time. I figure my grocery bill, only including food for two adults, to be around 1k per month. I do include beer and liquor as part of that bill but, not paper products and cleaning supplies.

We are now in a house share situation and pay 1250 + utilities per month. Which is down by half from our first rental. Our total living expenses last year was over 60k. The year before, our first year here, we spent over 100k. We don't even begin to live as well as we did in the states, but would not change a thing.

This is our second time living here as we lived her during the 90's and left to take care of parents and came back. This is home not matter what.

Thank you. We will be moving away from organic/non-GMO so as to lower our food bill. We will continue to make our diet as healthy as fiscally possible of course.

We are aware of the weather down there. We've spent some time in the Caribbean vacationing and have lived in the Hawaii in the past, so will do our best to keep those utility bills down.

Thank you again.

Sorry, but, I just glanced through the thread for times sake.
I shipped two and a half years ago, my car using International Logistics to STX through Jacksonville, FL. Mimi was very helpful.

I eat only non-GMO and organic. You can get grass fed beef here at Annaly Farms as well as chicken without antibiotics or hormones. I buy only labeled organic at the store or farm stands. There are several at different times throughout the week. I also buy gluten-free products. We eat at home 95% of the time. I figure my grocery bill, only including food for two adults, to be around 1k per month. I do include beer and liquor as part of that bill but, not paper products and cleaning supplies.

We are now in a house share situation and pay 1250 + utilities per month. Which is down by half from our first rental. Our total living expenses last year was over 60k. The year before, our first year here, we spent over 100k. We don't even begin to live as well as we did in the states, but would not change a thing.

This is our second time living here as we lived her during the 90's and left to take care of parents and came back. This is home not matter what.

wow rosie, 1k a month for 2 people for food? holy cow. gluten free products though are at least twice the cost of regular but wow.