The Virgin Islands Diaspora

Beautifully written and so very true. I had to leave STX for surgery after the storms. While I was off island my best friend and her husband moved back to the states. I just wish I could've hugged her good-bye. It just seems as if she should've been here when I returned. I know our relationship will never be the same again.

Replace & Harden the Infrastructure.
Get every government agency farmiliar with the term Preventative Maintenance.
Secure some kind of reasonable Health Insurance for all residents!
If we had those, plus good hospitals, better roads, a stable source of electricity and internet service, the amount of people coming would exceed those leaving.

But is that what we all really want?
Do we want every vacant lot built upon?
How many of us could afford the massive tax increase it would take to pay for it all?

More people = More problems.
Be careful what you wish for.

But is that what we all really want?
Do we want every vacant lot built upon?
How many of us could afford the massive tax increase it would take to pay for it all?

More people = More problems.
Be careful what you wish for.

I agree. But, lucky for us that will continue to stay here, many will discover their "dream" and "reality" conflict too much for them to stay.

My take was that this is more about the constant renewal of residents. If you live here, you just get used to people leaving. You may not get close to anyone until they have been in your life for quite a while. And then there are times when people leave in droves, and your heart just breaks.

I know I have posted this from "Don't Stop the Carnival" before, but it bears repeating:

The West Indians do not know what will cause the frantic whites to leave the next time. Perhaps a bad earthquake: the entire chain of drowned mountains rests on a shaky spot in the earth's crust. Or a tidal wave; or a very bad hurricane; or an outbreak of some dormant tropical disease; or the final accidental blow-up of the white man's grumbling cauldron in the north, which will send the Caribbean white remnant scurrying to-where next? Tasmania? Tierra del Fuego? Unlike the natives they cannot subsist, if the ships and planes stop coming, on crayfish, mangoes,coconuts, and iguanas.

There's always a population churn in the islands. Always has been, always will be. Few of us will live here until we die. I know I won't be living here forever and already have my exit plan in place. Sure, I'll still visit in the winter from time to time, but, there are lots of choices for warm winter locales with the advent of AirBNB.

Making the decision to move is always a difficult thing to do. Often times you put it off for a few years in the attempt to wait out whatever personal tramas you are experiencing. My decision to move from the islands was a mixture of many factors including but not limited to cost of living, healthcare, family condiderayions, crime aND what I perceived yo be a lack of positive change to the Islands. I still miss the wonderful people I was fortunate to meet during my stay and I miss those absolutely beautiful sunsets I had living in F'sted. This past winter was a little bit of a change for me but my kids loved plain in the snow and making them happy is the number 1 priority in my life.. it's finally warm weather in metro nyc so now I can stop wearing winter clothes. I keep in touch with my st. Croix friends while I get jealous of their ability to go to the beach on a daily basis they get jealous when I tell them I am only paying 99 cents for a dozen eggs and 3 dollars for a gallon of milk.

My advice is to try to stay in contact with all of your friends who have left the Island.

Bought one dozen lg.eggs today at West Bay STT for $.99!
Having friends move away was hard on the kids every year in Sept.when school starts and friends were gone.
The transitory nature of the relationships here has always been a downside for family life.
Now many of my friends have been leaving after decades of living here, health reasons and healthcare proximity coming into focus as we age.
What's up with N.Carolina anyway??
The past storm disaster and economic slowdown since has even prompted me to explore a future elsewhere, and the lack of infrastructure returning in a timely manner is getting frustrating.
Food shopping has become an expensive disappointment, Government agencies are more inefficient than I have seen in 40+ years here, no cable TV or home internet yet at my neighborhood is really an example of shameful planning and poor execution , another season of no NFL or World Series may force me into a massive house sale and take my suitcase to the airport -- with no winter clothing my choices are limited, maybe a simple sailing life is the answer?

Simple sailing life?

I can’t image that would be easier or less expensive.

I have sailed 1000's of blue water miles, it can be easier and less expensive than maintaining my house here --- *** depending on the boat you own.

Exit Zero: LOL about North Carolina. I know many former Virgin Islanders there, especially, interestingly, sailors- charter boat owners and cruisers. I don't get it, but maybe they know something I don't know.

I lived for three years without cable after Marilyn, and looking back, I don't think I missed much. I'm thinking of not signing up now, but I missed curling in the winter Olympics and it looks like I'm going to miss the royal wedding. 🙁

North Carolina is the land of "half-backs". Northerners move to FL to escape the harsh winters, find out the summers are just as harsh in FL, then move halfway back home and land in NC.

It really is a beautiful state. Headed up there next weekend to visit relatives.

It's hot as FL up here in NC right now.