Q's on Adjusting for those that moved to VI

Palmetto, three issues here.

1. Why would you go to an IKEA in the first place?

2. It's impossible to get lost. There are lines directing you in every which way direction.

3. You have to own a screw driver when you shop there.

Becky R--by residents forum do you mean the community section?

Palmetto--I LOVE IKEA!!! It is the picture of efficiency and design. Follow the arrows, a.k.a. yellow brick road, and all is well, Dorothy. BTW, I was poking around your site. Did you recently move here from Culebra or? Interestingly, I used to live in PNG and considered a job in Amer. Samoa. The world is too small.

edited to add: my mom is an anthropogist. hence, our time in PNG.

Hey Joanne,

LOL! Yes, that is very true. You can get cruzaned anywhere.

Take Care

Onika,

We have lived in the (B)VI for four years...we are moving to Culebra (just purchased a guesthouse there).

PromoGuy,

Regarding getting lost, I guess that is what happens when you only leave the 12x3 island every two years 🙂 I start hyperventilating when I am forced to go into K-Mart on STT.

yes, the guesthouse, I see it now. sorry, believe it or not, reading comprehension was my strongest testing subject.

Onika, IKEA is a plot by the socialist country of Sweden to make us dependant on tools and self reliance by forcing us to "put our furniture together".

To love IKEA is to love a tool box.

Perhaps that is why my husband (from the People's Republic of Holland) and I bought each other gold allen wrenches for our anniversary? DIYers Rule!

Ok, enough hijacking the thread. Sorry, but I really needed a little levity. 😉

Sorry, Onika - yes, I meant community....my words get tangled in my head sometimes!

Gold Allen wrenches? LOL!

Is the grass greener or is the grass not greener, that is the question.

I don't mind putting the stuff together. I Just hate the little tool they give you it hurts my hand. Maybe I need some of those gold Allan's.

I love the Palmetto Score. This thread has given me the most insight into what it may be like to live in the VI's. Hasn't made anything more clear for me, but definitely given greater perspective.

michelleje -

Glad you found the information useful sometimes it is not easy but I think if you can focus on the things that you really like to do then it makes the transition easier.

I am just now putting together a draft message that recounts the experience we just had this past Wednesday when we closed on our property (you wouldn't believe me if I told you...luckily I got photographic evidence). However, I am not sure if I can post it on this board because we purchased in Culebra, although I think the information is relevant and useful for anyone who is considering trying to buy in the USVI, BVI Puerto Rico, Culebra, and Vieques.

ADMIN, can you let me know if it is okay to post...Subject: Closing on a property, one couple's experience

Best,
Palmetto

The Palmetto score is catching on - I described to a group of my friends up here in the Pac NW and they loved it. The consensus of opinion was that here in Port Townsend, those of us from England went to stage 3 within days and have remained there(some for 40 yrs)...it must be the gardening (it is isn't wet and dreary here like Seattle and other parts of the NW) and the scenery - fatal combo.
My daughter (raised mostly in Colorado, PR and StX ) never left stage 1 and 3/4 here, and is now happily living in TX.
It seems to be a scale that everyone grasps immediately and can relate to. It could end up as a meme.

I'm curious to know...for those of you who got stuck in the 2 range was there any one thing that prevented you from crossing the hurdle into the 3's? And those of you who made it to 3, any one thing that made it all worth it or just generalities?

I stayed in stage 2 a lot on St. Thomas. Moved to St. Croix three months ago and jumped into stage 3. I suppose it is possible I am really back in stage 1, but I prefer to think not. STX just feels right.

I am really happy to know that my (and my wife’s) experiences of psychological pain and the stress associated with the cultural challenges one faces when moving, living and working overseas, as described in the three stages of adjustment post, have been found beneficial by some...almost makes it worth it 🙂

We must be really crazy because we are about to add owning a business overseas to that list.

you are a very brave soul Palmetto! 🙂

a little ps I started a thread attempting to get more info regarding living on STT, but no one has responded. Did I ask silly questions? Word something incorrectly? I'm now wondering if there's some message board etiquette I'm unaware of.

Oh, sometimes we have the happy police - but I think everyone may have segued off and lost track of the original conversation - it happens quite frequently! So why don't you start a new thread and title it whatever the original title was with STT at the end and see if you don't get some answers. I'm sure the STT folks will be happy to help, we just got lost in space - We're sorry - we tend to hijack a lot!