research

Do you have a USCG Masters license?
Many people do relocate and find that 'island time' does not suit them and are frustrated and move on - it is more of a culture change than island time.
The search function here is invaluable and has many Q+A 's already asked and answered and can save you a lot of time doing your research.

Hey, if you can get Allstate to underwrite here (like USAA and AARP for example) I think you'll have your own private gold mine given typicaly island rates for insurance. Barring that, a qualified auto mechanic worth his salt is hard to find around here - especially for foreign or dare I say foreign luxury cars. Someone qualified to fix European luxury cars for example would be good demand since there are scant alternatives on island (I'm talking about STX.)

A potential part-time role for your wife is for her to offer office staff training classes/seminars. So many of the local staffs don't have proper skills to keep an office running, do account billings (especially medical billing), understand a 'customer service' attitude, etc. She'd have to find the business proprietors (e.g., local doctor's offices, attorneys, etc.) to sell her services as employees would never pay on their own (maybe she could get some sponsorship from the Tourism department for the tourist-facing local business on STX that aren't accustomed to large numbers of tourists that come on occasion on the cruise ships.)

Overall, I don't want to sound too optimistic. The need here is great but the ability to sell yourself and make a living is much tougher - not impossible, just hard in my opinion.

You should check the Lieutenant Governor's website to find out about a VI insurance license. Boats and cars always need insurance. ALFLAC is advertising on the radio for sales.

There are always ads for medical office staff, but I don't know if anybody here is doing it from home. Will she be able to work outside the home at some point?

As far as island time, it all depends on planning. Each place has its own rhythm, so if you can figure it out, you'll spend less time waiting. Also, do as many things as possible in person and compliment the provider on something. That'll set you apart from everybody else who's complaining. Take a book, magazine or smartphone everywhere so you'll have something to do when you wait.

---delete---

bob: Not sure what the health issues are, but you might want to search here re: health care. We do not have every specialist that you all have up in PA. You are prime suspects for the highly recommended "PMV" in which you come down here for a longish period of time with an eye to researching your needs for living here vs visiting. 😉

I know people who moved down here on a Friday and moved back to Big America before the weekend was over. I also know people who came down here on vacation 25+ years ago, never went back and had family ship their stuff down. You never know unless you try.

I'd be happy to have you sail with me on my Hunter 376 out of St. Croix. 🙂

Edward: Are you paying a reasonable wage? Heck, I'll come over and sail with you! 😉

As soon as I can get the fuel tank cleaned, we'll be sailing again. 🙂