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Topic starter
Good evening everyone!
I have been reading through all of the posts I can get my hands on here and still have many more to go! Thank you to everyone for all of the helpful information. Finding this site has been so much fun!
Me: My daughter (15) and I are contemplating a move to the USVI. Possibly a year from now, needing that long to plan. We have narrowed it down to St. Thomas or St. Croix. We are leaning toward St. Croix for a couple reasons but we won't rule anything out until a PMV. (We have visited St. Thomas but it was a brief trip on a cruise ship) Why do we want to move? Just because, to be honest. I grew up with a bit of a wandering, adventuring father, and my daughter has grown up with an adventuring grandfather and mother. We have moved a few different places within the states. We simply feel that the world is too big to be confined to one place and it is so hard to really get to know a new place if you only vacation there. We have been talking about moving to an island for awhile. Now that my daughter's dad is traveling the world on business (we are divorced) she stays mostly with me. Next year seems like a great time! I would love to have an island home base where we can make a life. Of course we are doing lots of research first, even though it is contrary to my adventurous, "build my wings on the way down" nature 😉
I have two questions right now. If I have missed the answers already provided, I apologize.
1)St. Croix: I keep reading about lots of trash on the island, although some of what I have read is old. Is trash still a problem on the island? I visited St. Kitts once and although the island itself was gorgeous, the trash took away from the charm. I am very into nature and hate to see it treated badly. Is the trash problem very pervasive or limited to an area? Are there coastal clean up programs? If I were to hypothetically start something like that, would it be well received?
2) Locals: One of the draws to moving to a new place (for us) is to get to know the local people, customs, traditions, etc. We don't want to move to an island and then socialize and interact only with other "transplants." Do any of you have friendships, relationships, regular interaction with island locals? Is this a realistic desire in the USVI?
Thanks in advance and know we have thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the info here!
Shannon
Posted : August 17, 2015 11:26 pm
1. Even though the government provides free dumpsters and rather extended hours, there is still some trash on the side of the roads and in some isolated areas. Pristine it isn't, but nothing shocking in my opinion.
2. It takes time. Success depends on individuals and sheer luck.
Posted : August 18, 2015 12:02 am
1) Trash is not that bad, since volunteers keep picking it up. If you started a clean-up, it would be well-received, and probably well-attended if you used social media to get the word out.
2) There is plenty of opportunity to meet locals through work, school, church, civic groups, hobby groups, festivals, beaches, bars, etc. Transplants tend to congregate among themselves, but it's virtually impossible not to meet locals, and you can be as sociable as you want.
Posted : August 18, 2015 12:57 am
1. trash on the side of the roads is shocking and overabundant. when you have a fire you can really see all the glass bottles. there is a beach we go to that always has a lot of trash. on my way to the big k out west, i drove through this neighborhood and with the drought we have had, it was amazing to see all the trash and crap in the woods.
i was surprised by the amount of trash on island.
2. meeting people through work, school and social activities.
Posted : August 18, 2015 10:35 am
and if you need to be redundant-be redundant
Posted : August 18, 2015 10:39 am
Topic starter
Thanks for your responses! I certainly won't let trash be my deciding factor, but I sure wouldn't mind being involved with or starting a clean up!
Posted : August 18, 2015 5:44 pm
every now and then groups do a clean up n different parts. would be nice if they made the inmates do it like in the states or if they had the adapt a highway thing here.
but it is way too much for sure
Posted : August 18, 2015 5:49 pm
Clean ups on Stt are few and far between.
We did not have this issue until VIWMA was created.
Much cleaner when public works had responsibility.
WMA manages contracts for waste haulers not the waste itself.
Fewer dumpster and garbage receptacles now than ever before equals more trash on roadsides. Not to mention, no recycling.
Posted : August 18, 2015 6:10 pm
true
Posted : August 18, 2015 6:26 pm
With the drought, St Croix looks more trashy than ever. There are many people - individuals and organized groups - continuously trying to clean up other people's messes. On STX, if you're on Facebook, check out these groups.
Hoping that seeing others diligently cleaning up will give litterers second thoughts. But not holding my breath. No matter how much they do, it won't stop until attitudes change.
Posted : August 18, 2015 6:53 pm
Topic starter
Thanks for the links. Will check them out. I am on Facebook and mostly for these types of connections along with keeping in touch with out of state friends and family.
Posted : August 18, 2015 7:16 pm
