My PMV Journal

Great journal - no litter??

Day 6 - Sunday

Got to swim at two beaches and do a bit of basic shopping.

Lindbergh Bay Beach: immediately south of the Airport. Quiet. Park just a few meters from beach. Join local families. http://www.threebestbeaches.com/centralamcarib/usvi/2006/05/

Brewer's Bay Beach. On UVI grounds. Park on roadway, a few meters from the beach. Local families. Soft sand to the low-tide line. Then a band of stones.

K-Mart: Lockhart Gardens. Has just about everything.

I hear much more Spanish than I had expected.

Trying to manage my sun exposure. So far, no burn.

Short rains followed by brilliant sunshine.

Looks like my total required wardrobe could consist of 2 each of T-shirts, shorts, socks, and swim suits; one pair each of sandals and walking shorts; and one hat.

K-Mart: Lockhart Gardens. Has just about everything.

You really are low-maintenance! Good for you.

The frequently heard Spanish is more recent. Years ago there weren't as many Santo Domingans as there are now on STT it seems to me.

Glad you're happy here, Edward. I admit I am surprised you haven't seen any litter. I hope you'll continue to post in this journal.

Day 7 - Monday

After a rather windy morning with occasional rain, I visited Bolongo Bay, where my 1st and 2nd condo choices are located. Iggy's restaurant was closed for a private party, but the Lobster Grille was open. I had a good grilled fish sandwich. But restaurants are definitely out of my regular routine. I can have 3 meals at home for the price of one restaurant meal.

Well, it's been a week. Enough time to make a decision? Yes! This move is right for me.

Of course, it all depends on one's point of view, where one is coming from.

For me, this is a completely different lifestyle: No pressure. No meetings. No obligations. No timelines. No neckties. If I don't get to the beach today, there is always tomorrow.

Litter? I come from a place where people drop their trash as they walk along the sidewalk and throw trash from their cars.

Traffic? I come from a place where no driver ever stops for a pedestrian in a cross-walk, where one is only slightly safer on the sidewalk.

Shopping? K-Mart has Ritz and Saltines. Haven't seen them for years.

Telephone? I can make toll-free and collect calls.

I expect at some point to encounter something negative. It just hasn't happened yet.

I've enjoyed it Edward. I reall hope you continue to post and that one day I may be as simple as you are. Good luck and God bless.

How refreshing!!! Yes! Ritz and saltines can be a luxury.
Thank you very much.
Cheers

Edward you havent posted today. I really have enjoyed your daily post. i will be moving to stx in a few months and you really have given me a different perspective. Thank you.........

Day 8 - Tuesday

Drove up to Coki. They say the snorkeling is good. A bit too busy, with Coral World traffic.

Dockside Bookshop at Havensight Mall has a very nice selection of Caribbean literature, including collections of poetry by Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott.

It is indeed a more simple life than I have known for many years. The beauty of the land is enough extravagance.

When I arrived in the Caucasus six years ago, I had the feeling that it would be a place of inspiration. It inspired Pushkin and Lermantov, and it inspired me to write several collections of poetry.

I have the same feeling here. Mountains and beaches, skies and seas, and the people. They have inspired painters and musicians through the years. They are inspiring me.

Day 9 - Wednesday

Beautiful, sunny day.

All before noon:
Drove to Bolongo Bay, Red Hook, Sapphire Bay West, re-visiting potential home areas.
Dropped in at Tutu Mall.
Filled my Toyota Yaris tank. $23.
Broke out my new snorkel gear. U.S. Divers. All-in-one kit from K-Mart.
Swam and snorkeled at Brewer's Bay. Not great for snorkeling, but very nice beach.
Goldilocks water temp. Clear as crystal.
A few brown fish, 6" to 8"; the blend well with the vegetation.
Thousands of tiny nearly transparent young fish.
Pelicans diving into the water - I'm guessing for the brown guys.
Mask was a perfect fit.
Back to the Green Iguana and a fresh water shower.
Started reading _The Bounty_by Derek Walcott

And the day is still young! What a place!

You've spent a lot of time on various beaches for someone doing a PMV, but I'm glad to hear you're enjoying yourself.

Day 10 - Thursday

My real estate agent said one day would be all I needed to see the available condos meeting my requirements: Quiet, Beach, View.

After reading posts on this board, I added Safe. Turns out that most of the units are gated.

We looked at about a dozen that met my criteria. All but 2-3 would be great.

But for me a PMV is not only about real estate. I wanted to see and experience more of island life - pluses and minuses.

I've walked and driven, shopped, visited government offices and beaches, and talked with lots of local people - the kinds of things I expect I'll do when I move.

In short, if you are considering relocation, come and do the ordinary things, the things you might do after you make your move.

Edward, this was a delightful read and reminded me of my first few weeks on St. Croix. And almost four years later, I haven't lost the initial love for this island. I still find so many of the people delightful and willing to help when you need it. I still love going to the beach, I still love the simple, pared down, way less stress lifestyle. So, thanks for this journal, it was very sweet. Let us know what happens! 🙂

Hey Beth,
I will be there next week with a couple of friends to go diving. Maybe we can all meet at Norma's for lunch. One of my friends will be there a week and the other two weeks.
Annie will be coming March 11th. She's staying home three extra weeks working, but says she won't send me money:S
We will be there until the 27th of March.
Terry

After 2 weeks in STT, I traveled to Florida. Someone told me Sarasota might be the best choice for me.

From what I have seen, Florida is too crowded and too flat. Air temperature is cold, even in Miami. No one is in the water; it's too cold.

Sarasota has a ballet, opera, and symphony, but they aren't enough.

All in all, VI is well ahead in my choice for a retirement home.

Edward,
Have you considered St. Croix? You sound like you might fit in very well over here on the big island. We are the "relaxed" Virgin Island. We have plenty of cultural activities, entertainment, outdoor activities and dress up affairs. Check it out.

We are moving to the islands in the summer. We moved from the Sarasota area last Feb. There really is a lot to do all around Florida, we had something to do every weekend. If you'll be in FL for a bit I can tell you some really neat places to go. Its a better place to retire than try and raise a family there, the economy got hit hard there over the past few years and drove us out, my husband is a custom home builder, no one was building. We have been to the islands a lot and have decided thats were we want to live and raise our family.Good luck to you, I have been reading your post since you started. I admire your outlook.

Juanita,

Would love to hear more about the "cultural activities, entertainment, outdoor activities and dress up afairs" as one who has little experience of your island and had a hard time finding much info on that while we were visiting.

Thanks in advance for the info 🙂

Cheeseheads got to www.gotostcroix.com and check out their events calender.