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Topic starter
I was hoping someone on the list has done a similar thing in the past several years and can lend some insight.
I am 34 with a wife and a 9 year old daughter. I have the nice job here on the mainland, but in the past 3 years we have realized that we are increasingly unhappy with the daily grind of life. Just goofing around on the internet, I got a job offer from the USDA office on St. Croix (veteran’s preference thing). The job starts between 32K and 42K per year (pay cut from my current job). We are trying to evaluate making the move to STX under the following conditions:
1. Hit the ground with a $32K (minimum) job.
2. Hit the ground with $100K of savings in the bank.
3. Sell all my junk on the mainland and net another $100K (hopefully rather
quickly).
The questions are:
1. What kind of place can I realistically find to live in for around $150K –
$200K?
2. Is a condo or house better? What are the pros and cons?
3. Is there a dollar threshold where you all of the sudden get more house for
the buck?
4. We were looking around Christiansted any suggestion on condos or house
developments?
5. We were looking at Country Day School for our daughter…any opinions
there?
6. Assuming I have no house or car payments….are other expenses
reasonable enough to live on the $32K per year?
7. I have an 18 foot Star Craft (75 hp), is it practical to use that to island
hop….or am I asking to wind up as a headline in tomorrows paper?
8. Is there a mainlanders group that kind of meets in STX once and a while?
That would make life easier for my wife.
If it was just me I would be there tomorrow…I have lived in Holland, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain….I know what living in a new environment is like….but my wife has never lived any where but UT and TN, I don’t want her to hate life once we get there.
Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Drew
Posted : February 24, 2005 8:39 pm
Country Day and Good Hope are the two best schools on the island. You should check out Good Hope too, and see how that is before making your final decision. I graduated from Good Hope, by the way.
Posted : February 25, 2005 2:44 am
Have you been to the VI? If not, you should SERIOUSLY consider a 2-3 week pre-move visit.
Posted : February 25, 2005 5:26 am
Topic starter
No, we haven't been yet. We were going to make a 2 week visit before I accept the job. A look before you leap kind of trip.
Posted : February 25, 2005 6:46 pm
Topic starter
Thanks for the heads up. I will put both schools on our list to look at while on a visit there. If you had to objectively examine the schools....what would you say the major differences are?
Posted : February 25, 2005 6:47 pm
Hello Drew,
I'd suggest renting for at least 6 months to get a feel for the island, see what areas you like, what is close to work, grocery stores, school. For ideas on prices/market take a look in the MLS for homes, condos, land that is for sale. If you go to the Real Estate section on this site there is information, and you can visit the realtors web site(s) and look at featured properties and also scan the MLS for all listed properties.
Country Day is a very good school!!
The making due on $32K question... is your wife going to work as well? Are you going to use some of your savings? If you rented an apartment/house, then between the costs of rent and paying the full** Country Day tuition that's about 20K. You said to pretend you have no house payments, in doing that then yes you could make due; but you'll need to be frugal.
**I know Country Day has financial aid, so not sure how much of the tuition you might end up paying.
There aren't any islands to island hop to from St. Croix in an 18 foot boat besides Buck Island. I am not familiar with the boat you have so not sure if the St. Croix-Buck Island trip would be a smooth, easy one of not, but its a popular trip for day charters from St. Croix. St. Thomas is 40 miles away, sometimes a rough trip even in large boats.
I don't know of a mainlanders group, but there are other groups. Linda & Ric on this board attend a trivia night once a week, they might be able to fill you in on who attends and what type of networking goes on there. There is an environmental association, hiking, theatre, kids sailing, soccer, swimming groups... so definately there are community activities to get involved in that include both transplants and locals.
--Islander
Posted : February 28, 2005 12:24 am
Drew,
Had not seen anymore from you - were you able to make your visit? Have you decided island life is for you and the family? Was curious about your findings. Good luck and keep us updated please!
Posted : March 6, 2005 7:35 am
Topic starter
Linda,
We are still looking at things. We were planning on visiting the end of this month (March). The job I was looking at was with the federal governement and who knows how long it will take them to come back with an answer about the job. I am kind of at a cross-roads in life, so even if we just come down for one year, it may be a fun "working vacation".
Drew
Posted : March 10, 2005 5:17 pm
