So island life is not for everyone...

Yes, island life is not for everyone. If you visit the Caribbean again, you might try a different island, because they are all very different.

I commend you on the careful thought and consideration you put into this decision, and were true to what your heart told you. FOG has a terrific point about checking out some other islands if the urge returns. Like you, I was not at all turned on by Carlotte Amamlie, nor with much of the rest of St. Thomas, and coulodn't stand to think of living there but I absolutely adore my life here in St. Croix. Changing islands alone won't solve some of your concerns, but it mayv alleviate enough that you find a nwe home and get inspired to involve yourself in improving the quality of life for everyone.

Thank you for sharing this -- I'm sure it will help many.

HC

I also thank you for posting. There are many reasons why a look-see visit is important, and I think you discovered this. What seems lovely and quaint on vacation may not be so when you take off your tourist glasses and put on resident glasses. I know a guy who came here on vacation, called back and had his stuff shipped down and he still is here 20+ years later. I also know of a lady who came down for a job on Friday and flew back on Sunday. Most are somewhere in the middle.

I continue to say: Come for a visit to see if you could live here. When you make your move, don't burn your bridges back home. Give yourself some period of time; 6 months, a year, to see if it will work out for you. There is a period of "settling in" that you have to go through; learn the local customs and lingo, get accustomed to a different routine, meet new friends. Don't make any snap decisions (well, the kind of people who make snap decisions probably won't be happy here, anyway.) Bring plenty o'money so you don't panic about all those little charges that seem to pile up on you when you step off the plane. And stop to smell the frangipani and marvel on the sunsets.

Fredrik and Heather,

I am so sorry to not have met you. I believe Heather had an offer to work at my husband's company. I do understand your concerns. Not to harp on the negative, but...the first time I came here I was crossing the bay from the Marriott and saw what I assume was a homeless person throwing their trash in the ocean. Styrofoam and tissues and such. I know things like that happen other places, but in such a beautiful sea made me sick. I made up my mind at one point in this process, that no matter what I came across living here, I would adapt. Don't get me wrong, I love this place and am in the learning process, but it is very hard. Chris's coworkers have been super helpful. I think they have learned that if they don't help new families than they have higher turn over.

If I were in your shoes and considering the expansion of family, I might have made the same decision as you. This place is wonderful, but so different from the continental U.S. that it really isn't for everyone. I wish you all the best and if you ever decide to come here for another trial, please contact us. Happy trails to you.

Teresa and Chris

Fredrik,
You done good, son. When you come to the islands on vacation, they all look like paradise. When you come here to live, some of our warts show up. Linda & I left enough stuff in storage in the states to outfit a one bedroom apartment. We were quite certain that St Croix was for us, but you're never completely sure until you've been here a while. Last month we went back to KY and shipped it all down here. We are now here for the duration. But...we took a year to make that decision. How many times have you seen on this board people say to "come and take a hard look". Now you know why. You came and looked and didn't feel comfortable with what you saw. What if you hadn't looked? If you didn't move here, you would always wonder "what if?" If you had moved here without looking first, you might have ended up miserable. Life's too short for that. You're right. Sweden is different from here. I hear they get snow armpit deep on a tall giraffe there. Brrrr. I get cold just thinking about it. But then, I'm not going. Good luck.

Hi Fredrik

I'm glad we all got to hang out when you were here, though wish we could have found time to do so more. Its not the same here without you and Heather, and Ben and Diane.

Take care and let us know how Sweden turns out...

Dave, Brian, and Amanda

Good luck on your move to sweden. I am one of those people who just up and move but this time it was a careful decision as this has been a life long dream that finally came true and I will arrive sept. 8 and it will be the last move this old man makes so good or bad I will live and enjoy it to the best of my ability. My advice is go for your dream while you are young enough to find a new one if the first one doesn't work out.