Should we consider moving???

I know the original poster (sealdog) just posted that they have decided not to move, bummer, in my opinion, strictly from my experience, but obviously what they feel is their best choice and all the best to them either way. I would like to continue the thread if we could but I'm going to start a new thread it will be "Why I love living in the islands". I am very encouraged, (as I nodded while reading) and touched by many of the posts. Dougtamij, it was wonderful to read that your child's experience has been a fruition of what I have felt, and witnessed, on every one of our visit to the Caribbean, especially since the majority have been BVI. Please all, post all the best on the new thread.

As always, thanks ever so much

I think it is very unfortunate that so many people discourage others from living in the Virgin Islands. If it was as horrible as so many people thing .... why are they still living there? I can understand giving advice but what was done to that lady was not advice at all..

Let me make myself clear it is not all of the people on this board. Some give their experiences. I am not talking about them I am talking about the rude ? Stay in atlanta comment

I agree, Sauceress but besides the rude remark, sometimes folks get offended if everyone doesn't immediately say everything's wonderful, come on down, life is great down here, you'll love it, etc. when often the opposite is the case i.e. the people looking to move have little to no money to bring with them or skills that there are no jobs to be had or health issues that might not be taken care of in the best way in the V.I.

There are many reasons so many leave here after less than a year &: it can save a lot of money & effort to warn people that they won't be in Kansas any more but I agree there wasn't a need for that remark.

Sauceress: I bet most of us who live here were warned by the people who came before us. I was told absolutely that I should not move here, in fact. There is really no way someone who comes on vacation can know what it is like to live here. And most people do NOT stay more than 6 months or so, so those of us who are still here are carrying on a grand tradition. 😉

I agree with you on the Atlanta satementl. Unkindness is never called for.

Y'all seen the movie REVOLUTIONARY ROAD with Leonardo D'Caprio and Kate Winslet?
I believe she won an Oscar for it.
If you occasionally like thoughtful, well-acted movies that aren't about weddings and happy endings, rent it.

It's about an unhappy 1950's era couple who buy into the American Dream (on Revolutionary Rd.) then decide to chuck it all to move to Paris. I won't spoil the ending or the rest of the plot ...but part of the movie hit close to home. (the part about chucking suburbia and their neighbors reaction to it, not about being unhappy 8-))

We talked about the movie afterwards, and I said that I wanted to get this couple into therapy and the wife on anti-depressants. Moving wasn't going to solve their problems.

I have a theory that it doesn't matter if you move here for six months, six years, or sixty. Life is an adventure, -and as long as you're not hurting anyone with your move, and aren't trying to run away from things that will simply follow you, --and as long as you are open to self-discovery and new experiences, you have little to lose and much to gain --no matter how long you stay.

In general, I agree with Neil, life is too short not to take a few chances every now and then. My main concern about the original poster was the 2 children. Moving here with children is a LOT different than moving with a spouse and a retirement income like I did 6 years ago. We would be remiss if we didn't make sure Sealdog knew that.

Saucress said

" I think it is very unfortunate that so many people discourage others from living in the Virgin Islands. If it was as horrible as so many people thing .... why are they still living there? I can understand giving advice but what was done to that lady was not advice at all.."

If all the people that moved here stayed, we be an island of wall to wall people and wouldn't be able to lay down at night to sleep for fear of someone falling in the ocean. There are difficult things about living here. Are you suggesting a relocation board should warn people about them? We are not being mean or rude we are telling them the things they need to know before moving here.

Many people react as you do because they feel their dream is being attacked and its not and its insulting that people say that. We're helping you PREPARE to make your dream a SUCCESS. Just like when you make a business plan you want to know the good and bad. All the good on the islands is obvious. The negatives people get blindsided with, so we are helping.

Frankly the islands just are not a good fit for everyone. Its expensive to live here. Its hard to find a good job. Public education is awful, private is god awful expensive. Police and judicial system are corrupt and inadequate. Its expensive to get off the island, not for vacation, which I hardly ever take a real one because I want to see my family instead. And on top of all that people expect it to be like stateside with a beach but the islands have a very real and different culture and what seems charming on a vacation can be different when you live here.

All of these things do mean don't come, it means come with your eyes open. Don't stomp your feet and close your eyes to reality though. I honestly think people should be grateful for all the help people on the board give potential relocators and am more then a little chaffed to see this kind of attitude.

Saw that movie, Neil. thanks to Netflix. I hadn't heard of it before but really enjoyed it.