STX or Rincon PR?

i dont know anything about pr. but welcome to the forum.

When I was last in Rincon, which was about 10 yrs ago, I could not believe how overly developed it was.
It was nIght and day compared to the sleepy little town with great surf that I remembered from the 70's when I lived in PR and would surf there on weekends. I hardly recognized anything. Of course, that's true for the changes in the VI as well and the costs of living in PR is much less than it is here. You should probably do a couple PMV's to see what suits you.

...and the costs of living in PR is much less than it is here.

Is that really so? I regularly read a very active PR forum and there doesn't seem to be that much disparity between COL in PR and the USVI, unless you live in a rather remote area of PR where housing is much less expensive.

Food and electricity costs (29 cents per KWH) are much less than ours.

Your island living experience looks real strong to me. You should not have too many surprises. To me, the difference between PR and STX is day and night. I love the Virgin Islands.

The cost of living is about the same, though electric rates are much higher in the VI. English is the language on STX and Spanish in PR, if that makes a difference. Crime problems are , in my opinion, about the same. The crime problem in the Virgin Islands is way over hyped on this forum. I see little difference from my arrival in 1990. STX is having it's own economic problems, but I would still rather live here than on the busier STT.

Best of luck with your move.

I have never been to Rincon, PR, however, adore St. Croix and you will find lots of opportunity for your dream. Regarding PR's economic health read this. There has been mass exodus from PR because of crime and drug running, and same for large extend in STX, however, STX, PR, you can't go wrong in terms of growing food and preparing for economic collapse, which we are not out of but is just rearing its real head. GROW food! Teach us how to do it! I started a small Yoga Farm in St. Croix, but am now in Florida. I just got my Puerto Rican Farmer friend, age 72, into Whim Gardens Public Housing on STX. I'm sure he'd love to hear from you, as he is starting a community garden. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-09-10/detroit-contagion-spreads-widely-held-puerto-rico-muni-bonds-collapse.
Virgin Islands has these same bonds. They were sold "with enthusiasm." Yeah, right. BUbBBLE< BUBBLE

Puerto Rico is much less expensive. Food, energy, housing. All less expensive. Anyone who thinks differently obviously has not been there. There is much more to do day and night and access to normal American shopping such as grocery stores that actually carry a normal amount of food choices and other shopping luxuries.

The people are much more friendly than St. Croix. If you don't have to work directly with and among Crucians you may not have the same experience, but many of my friends had to leave island because of such poor treatment at their place of employment. Racism here is a big problem. No where else on earth have I been called a "white c*nt" at work, or white this and white that. If I had known what I know now about the crime and hatred, I would have moved to PR and am in the process of doing so. Have you ever heard of just trying to eat dinner at a restaurant and being robbed, then oops, no one can seem to find who did it? The police here are the criminals, but that is probably not much different than PR either.

The island itself, in my opinion is unmatched in beauty. I love the green rolling hills, rainforest, diving, beaches. However, western PR is rather remote and beautiful too....

Finally, I would miss the slow pace that I can't find anywhere else that exists on St. Croix. Not in PR either. None the less, hoping to be in Rincon in a year or so...

It's always interesting to read such very divergent points of view. Islandpuma's very first post just 6 months ago was:

"Wow hope I never have to move to St. Thomas because I had no idea people could be so rude, racist and evil until I moved to St. Croix. All the PC people on this site either don't have to work with locals or are just in denial. I wish people would have been honest with me about this before I moved here. This site is full of BS."

The tone was evident from the start and it would be interesting to know how PR works out ...

Ok...well thank you all for your input. I would love to hear from others as well and if those that have written have anything further to add I would greatly appreciate it. Take care all. I will contributing and updating this as things progess...

i dont even think she/he let us know what happened? i seem to remember someone complaining and when asked what happened, never heard another word.

I love stx and it sounds like you would too.

i dont even think she/he let us know what happened? i seem to remember someone complaining and when asked what happened, never heard another word.

I think it was all to do with "attitude" in the workplace and some racist comments being thrown around so the poster decided that all locals were rude and racist. Funny, when I first came here I worked with all Virgin Islanders for the first 10 years and then again for another company for two more years before I opened my own business. Never had anybody even look at me sideways in the workplace and the only people I've ever seen having these sorts of issues have their own attitudes to blame. Funny how that works!

You reap what you sow. I have also seen the racism here, however, it very much depends on how you treat people. I worked with a large group of both locals & transplants. One transplant consistently had issues with the locals but she was the only one. It was how she treated them that was the issue. Not that their responses were OK - just that the rest of us didn't have those issues.

The Hibiscus Resort could use a new owner/management. The place could be so amazing with the right people backing it up.. I believe they are looking to sell and for a great price. I thought I heard $800k. The property alone is worth that.

oldtart, i have worked with many locals i love the ones i have worked with.

I really enjoy the great people I get to meet everyday here on St. Croix. However, I also love Puerto Rico with its great nightlife, shopping and friendly people. There is a lot of positives for both places and a lot of negatives too. But, there are some real advantages to Puerto Rico right now with super cheap real estate and very low cost of living. Opportunity abounds in both places!

i just heard that lots and lots of people are leaving P R ( more than usual ) possibly due to their high crime. Is it true they have crime higher than anywhere stateside?

foursandybutts, I sent you a PM.

I will say that between the VI and PR, I prefer driving here any day over PR!

Hi Margaritegirl...Thanks for thr PM. We will not be in a financial position buy at that amount. We are however VERY open to and have experience in working with owners to build their touriam based business especially if it is accommodation based. So we are very interested in consulting/joint venture type opportunities that may lead to a purchase...

foursandybutts, tourism needs all the help it can get. Let us know if you decide STX or PR.