St. Croix Retirement Questions

Congratulations on choosing St. Croix as your destination. I used to live on St. Croix and loved it. There is a Kmart and something called Cost-U-Less, simular to a Costco. A lot of other name brand companies are there too. I used to live in a house with no locks on the doors in the Teague Bay area near the Yacht club. Depending on the area crime can be a factor, but isnt that in every city or town in america? Building materials are a little more since we have to import everything in. I wouldnt consider building since there are a lot of beautiful homes to choose from. Both Pivar and Re-Max are good companiesto work with regarding purchasing homes. There is a Trish at Re-Max that I hear is wonderful. Please feel free to contact me directly with any further questions. Yours, Lucinda

Eddie,

As Lucinda said: we do have a K-Mart and Cost-U-Less. Crime is not as bad as some of the media make it out to be - like so many places you just have to be aware. When it comes to the cost of living, when national statistics are printed, we are always up there with Alaska, Hawaii and Washington DC, but they don't take into account that we don't pay for heat in the winter (the sun is free). AC is not as necessary as many warm places because of the tradewinds. You only need one wardrobe (no winter coats, etc.) and the island is only 26 miles long so you end up[ putting a lot less milage on your car than in most places.

There are many cultural differences that you will deal with down here, but if you leave your own baggage at home and accept the local style of life, you will find it a delight rather than a frustration.

I had a friend who came down here after years in the graphics business in the states. "You know," he said to me, "I was making 4 times the money in the states, but I was blowing it all on Caribbean vacations. Now every day at 4:30, I'm on vacation."

I couldn't say it any better.

PDJ