Relocating during Pandemic

I been through a number of 6.5+ earthquakes in Japan and they will get your full attention but never experienced any real damage.  This should be true as long as the buildings are constructed to handle the movement, unless things get much over a nearby 7.0+ magnitude quake.  The good news is they rarely last more than a minute or so, although sometimes 30 seconds of shaking feels like forever. 

Posted by: @linzbb

@vicanuck That’s quite a statistic, didn’t realize the level of seismic activity. Last time I visited Jamaica, (last January, seems like forever ago lol), there was one offshore close to a 7 and everybody else I was with felt it but me. Difference was they were on lounges and I was standing on sand. 

 

The Danish West indies were struck by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami in 1867 destroying charlotte amalie and the frederiksted waterfront.

https://viconsortium.com/vi-top_stories/virgin-islands-in-1867-a-magnitude-7-5-earthquake-caused-tsunamis-in-usvi-that-destroyed-charlotte-amalie-and-the-frederiksted-waterfront

The port royal Jamaica earthquake and tsunami were in 1692 and reset the pirate economy affecting all the islands.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/earthquake-destroys-jamaican-pirate-haven

And of course the Haiti earthquake in 2010 killed over 300,000 people.

Welcome to the Caribbean.

There is a great app called "QuakeWatch". It will tell you latest, biggest, and closest quakes. There have been 9 quakes since the 5.4 on October 7th. That isn't including the ones closer to Puerto Rico. You won't feel most of them. The VI is a very active seismic area.

Posted by: @east-ender

There is a great app called "QuakeWatch".

Thanks, I had no idea how many quakes there are daily and the ability to zoom in on any one area is nice.

Hello again to all !  We took our first post-Covid flight out of JFK, with our cocker spaniel in tow, and it was the easiest flight we’ve taken in a long time. No lines, TSA was a breeze, we did the V.I. portal with negative test results to show at the Charlotte Amalie airport, and got a rental car (from a local resident, who rents several vehicles out to visitors). Yes , the roads are quite interesting and sort of roller coaster-like. First two days there was a squall which brought refreshing rains, no problem. Used the time inside to clean up the condo ( was used extensively as an Air BNB until we closed on the property in March). 
Impressions so far : yes food can be pricey, we first tried Moes Market which was double the price of New York area grocery stores. Okay, there is a price for paradise, to be sure. But we are just so over the moon about the views, the blue water all around us, friendly welcoming neighbors. The vibe is just so wonderful, and so far, for the first time since the whole coronavirus pandemic unfolded, it almost feels normal. Yes the crowds are conspicuously missing, no ships in town, but to be honest, it’s really special to experience STT this way. Today we swam in the velvety waters of Sapphire Beach, yeah I still feel like I’m dreaming.

So glad to hear things are going well and the flight was good. I know my mom likes to send people to Moe's if she needs give them a reality check but once you find a groove you can spend less by shopping around - CostUless, Pueblo, Fruit Bowl, some mail order. 

@scout77  We have already tried several of the local grocery stores, including Food Center, Plaza Supermart, Cost U Less. Each have their strengths and weaknesses. I know that people do order from Amazon foods but I still think it’s important to support local businesses. By all measures, STT’s tourist industry has been hit very hard by the pandemic, and it is very sad, but there are still some newly marrieds having honeymoon trips here, and some brave ( and fed up) folks traveling by air again. I still feel as though the beauty here is a balm for some of the defeat from the virus’s impact.

@linzbb Yes, my grandmother used to drive me crazy going to 4 stores to get her weekly groceries haha. Island life! She drove herself until she was 99 years old, even after she lost an eye to skin cancer. I drove her for another few years until she passed at 103. Who says STT isn't a good place to grow old? Haha

I know people order from Vitamart and there is also a new online farmer's market I am very excited about. You order online and pick up by Mandahl market. 

My parent's Air bnb has started filling up for January and Feb so hopefully the new year will be better and tourism can start to come back in a safe way. 

I am still in the States, can't wait to be there. It's getting too cold for me already. 

Posted by: @scout77

@linzbb Yes, my grandmother used to drive me crazy going to 4 stores to get her weekly groceries haha. Island life! She drove herself until she was 99 years old, even after she lost an eye to skin cancer. I drove her for another few years until she passed at 103. Who says STT isn't a good place to grow old? Haha

I know people order from Vitamart and there is also a new online farmer's market I am very excited about. You order online and pick up by Mandahl market. 

My parent's Air bnb has started filling up for January and Feb so hopefully the new year will be better and tourism can start to come back in a safe way. 

I am still in the States, can't wait to be there. It's getting too cold for me already. 

Oh, I love that bit about your Grandma! Brave lady for navigating these hills and winding roads until 99! Gives me motivation to not be such a wuss, even when riding as a passenger lol. Good to hear about the Abnb picking up. I think when ships are coming back things should pick up too.
We must return for a few weeks to the cold, not looking forward to that at all. Next time will be one way ticket at least until late spring?

@linzbb Congratulations on your return!  The information regarding the portal is very helpful.  I will be traveling to St. Thomas in November and I wasn't aware of the portal.  I have kept abreast of testing requirements.  I'm looking for a long term rental as I am starting a job there in January.  Can't wait to see those beautiful skies and blue waters.