moving

zandra,

We just moved to St. Croix a few months ago. It took a lot of planning and a willingness to adapt to a whole new way of living, but it's the greatest thing I've ever done for myself.

Good news for you -- in addition to the hospital on STX, there is also a very large rehab center outside of Christiansted, in the Beeston Hill medical center. They offer a wide variety of services, including aqua therapy. You can give them a call at 340-778-8888 to see if there might be positions available.

There is also a yellow pages listing for Schuster Rehab Services. Their number is 340-778-6350.

The hospital's contact info is:

Juan F Luis Hospital
4007 Estate Diamond Ruby
St. Croix, USVI 00820-4421
340-778-6311

The cost of living is higher here than in most US cities. Read the section of the web site on cost of living for a detailed breakout of current prices for typical goods. Insurance for cars and homes is also high, as are utilities (except water, which most homes get for free by collecting rainwater in a cistern).

I also strongly recommend that you make a premove visit here for as long a time as you can afford so you can check out the various areas on the island for places you'd be comfortable living, and to get a small feel for island life. We keep saying it because it's true -- life is different here, and it's not for everyone. It's cheaper and less stressful to try it out before you make a permanent move, sell of your belongings, etc. You can do a search of the board to read others' pre-move stories, and check out the expanded listing of relocation stories that are linked to on the site's home page at https://www.vimovingcenter.com

Best wishes to you, and welcome to the board!

HipCrip

I think you will find prices to be a fair amount lower here than in notoriously expensive San Francisco. However, wages and salaries are also lower.

Here is the phonebook: www.viphonebook.com

I have recently accepted a PT job on St Thomas at the hospital here. From the other PT's that I've talked to here, you should be able to live in the USVI fairly comfortably as long as you budget. I am planning to move in early Oct so if you have any questions about being a PT here, feel free to email me! hint - (the licencing process is long and you need letters of recommendation, so get started soon - the mail is very slow here!)