Things To Bring

If I had it to do over again I would bring a generator. Good, wooden outdoor/patio furniture is also a handy thing to bring. I would think twice about bringing any upholstered furniture. Also, if you have room, any canned or packaged food that you cannot live without.

I would bring a nice supply of my preferred toiletries. Somethings are hit and miss here, and I have grown to like certain products. When they are available here I buy a few of them. If afforded the luxury I would have a years supply of toothpaste, shampoo, etc. Anyway its just nice to have those products on hand, so it might as well be what ya like.
Dan

The one thing I really wish I'd brought now (rather than leaving it in storage) is my Hoover FloorMate. Dust, ash, and miscellaenous debris quickly coat the floors. Mopping just dilutes and spreads the grime, unless you dip the mop in a clean bucket of water after each pass (major waste of water). I was suprised that no one sells these on STT. Found lots of vacuum cleaners, though (who has that much carpet???). I'm not that fastidious a person, but for some reason I really dislike getting out of the shower and having dirty feet within minutes. The dirt then transfers to my shoes and then cycle cannot be broken.

LOL, this post makes me sound REALLY anal.

Don't worry about sounding anal, Jules...I step out of the shower and into flip flops, which I rarely take off while I'm inside. I can't stand to have dirt sticking to my feet, and with two dogs, it's hard to keep the floor spotless. My boyfriend thinks I'm crazy, and he may be right 🙂

Jules,

The reason you see a lot of vacuums in the stores are because a lot of people use a canister vacuum for tile, linoleum, vinyl, and hardwood floors. Upright vacuums are primarily for carpet but canister vacuums are primarily for hard surfaces. Obviously vacuumed floors aren't as clean as if they were mopped using a clean bucket of water after each pass but they're acceptably clean by most people's island standards.

Andrea,

I also wear flip-flops everywhere except the shower and have taken some ribbing for doing so but we have scorpions and one stung a barefoot family member last week and nobody has hassled me since!

We live and learn while here and not one of us is really crazy in the long run. Idiosyncratic yes, crazy no.

Honestly I laugh at all these posts about what to bring here. My shopping options upon arrival here over two decades ago (and WAY before the new airport terminal!) were limited to Pueblo Supemarkets (two at that time) a downtown Woolworth's store (now KMart.) The Tuto Park Mall wasn't even envisioned and neither was "Market Square" which now houses both a multi-plex cinema facility along with the ever-expanding, "CostULess" food warehouse store, Home Depot and some minor retail outlets which, like many others, come and go.

Make-up problems and demands? Yes, I'm an old fogie to which I admit and I never was into high-end make-up, Botox, tit jobs and liposuction, pouty lip jobs and/or all else. Simply not an issue here.

You may not be able to find here all that you are you used to on the mainland or at the price that you're used to. You come here to the islands to experience some difference in your life. Ninety four percent of you will leave within five years, five percent might last for seven years. A miniscule percentage might stay over for max 10 years.

Come here with an open mind and minimal preconceptions. Enough for now. Cheers.

Jules: Another idea is to become Japanese and take off your shoes at the door. No dirty shoes, no dirty floor!! HI!

STT Resident,

I enjoyed your post a lot. It made an excellent point. If individuals worry about what they should be bringing to the VIs or any other non US mainland location to live, the move will probably short lived. Individuals must adapt to their new location and embrace their new surroundings even if there are some inconveniences. What I am saying is not rocket science but it is how my wife and I look at everything.

An example is my wife lived for many years in Hungary. She had to bathe in a tub of water in her room and use an outhouse all year round. Family is happy and eight children grew up in that environment and are quite normal. My wife has been in the US now for 14 years and has of course adapted to the US mainland lifestyle. She misses the slower pace and the less materialistic environment.

We strive to relocate to the VIs. We have looked at Mexico, Puerto Rico and the VIs. We do not desire to switch to Spanish as the Primary language and my wife does not want to learn a third language also. The VIs feel like the best choice for us. We have no children so we have flexibility and most of our immediate family still live in Europe.

This website is something I look forward to reading every morning and every evening to gain insight about the islands, learn even a little about the regular posters and it also educates me about how to evaluate the move that I am considering.

Stu

STTResident and Stu,
Ya we get it. Those ideas are probably why we have made our decision to be here. You are not enlightening us. Yet the fellow just wants advice as to how to take advantage of his extra room. Please be more helpful. "tit job" very charming. Oh how time flies when your having rum hu?
Dan

Mango,

I would never try to enlighten anyone. I am just not that smart I was putting thoughts down and I agreed with some of STT Resident's comments. When moving anywhere, people should bring items that they really feel they can not live without and items that are scarce wherever they are moving to. If they love sports, bring their sporting goods with them. If they enjoy board games, bring their games, etc. Also, If they have a large container, they will have an easier time bringing whatever they need or feel they need to bring.