STX vx STT

Nikki:

May I suggest that you spend several hours reviewing past posts concerning your questions. All of the answers are here.

F.I.

Having just returned from STT to STX for a business day trip last week, I can tell you that the contrast is startling. It is still the USVI but STT is a markedly more urban environment with all that goes with that term--- hustle and bustle, traffic jams, sprawl, congestion, cruise ships, steeper hills, beautiful gorgeous views and traffic jams. I'm sure that STTers will defend their island to the max. It is beautiful but it is not for me that's why I'm here on STX. Yeah, they've got more businesses there- Home Depot, Office Max etc. To me STT is everything you've left the mainland for but with palm trees, beaches and views. That may be just what you want ,but I prefer the more laid back lifestyle we enjoy on STX. We have great views but fewer little islands to gaze upon. We have great beaches, history and culture.

There is only one way to make a truly informed decision. Come down and stay for a while. That's the only way to know. Yeah, crime exists here. It does on STT too. There are no guarantees- same as home- be smart and try not to be a victim is about the best anyone can do. Schools- there's good ones and bad ones and great ones- but you'll have to pay for the great ones. The people are a wonderfully diverse group. The mainlanders are from just about everywhere you can think of back home. The afro-caribbeans are also diverse with more than half of them with roots down-island and there is a large hispanic community primarily Puerto Rican and Dominican Republic.

Jobs-- we have jobs here. Unless you are draswing a retirement check or are independtly wealthy you'll have to work. I work for myself. You can use all the traditional job search methods here that you use back home plus word of mouth. Or, create your own.

Read the past posts on STT vs STX and remember the islands are different-- supposedlt that's why you want to live here instead of someplace else on the ever more homogenized mainland.

Hello there. If you are registered on this board, I would suggest not only doing a search, but for postings that are of interest, try doing a private message to the individual. You may get a lot of information about the comparative differences that may not be written in a post.

My experience is just that -comparative differences. On the whole, not good or bad, but certainly different. I believe that what makes the difference is YOU. What you enjoy, whether you want a larger island that is more rural, or a smaller island with more creature comforts.

For me, it was the hills. Having a back problem, I only made it for a very short while driving up the hills of STT. As such, I then returned and experimented with STX. I found the hills to be more managable, and most of the roads go around the hills rather than up them. So just as who YOU are will probably be the deciding factor, who I am made the decision for me.

I am glad to report that I am coming up on the end of my first year of living here, in the USVI, specifically STX, and love it more each day. No polyanna here, just a fact. As it was such a drastic move, I am glad to be able to report that, and cannot speak highly enough about the contributors to this board and how much assistance they have been in 'finding my way'.

Best wishes to you,

Dan