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G-day Crucians this post is to make sure that I have assimilated all the information required to make an honest decision about whether or not to move to the beautiful island of St. Croix. So Let’s recap. After 20 hours of reading this message board this is what I have come up with.
1. Bring bare essentials for the first 6 months
2. Bring 2 cars and sell one to offset the costs of moving
3. Make sure you dog could scare off rappers that are pack’n
4. The nest egg should be substantial in case of island induced expedient departure
5. Relinquish drivers license for VI substitute to increase local persona with better tan hopefully
6. Driving on the left hand side of the road is annoying, but it’s better than LA traffic at rush hour
7. If you want something done, it’s better to do it yourself as no one else is going to do it for you.
At least not in a timely fashion
8. Find housing when you arrive on the island
9. After finding housing install cameras for surveillance and theft deterrence
10. Get multiple police officers on your payroll as soon as possible
11. The Governor could care less about my problems
12. If you are going to shop after dark it’s better to do it with a fully loaded AK47 worn about the
shoulder than take your chances with it concealed
13. It’s going to take twice the time to find something and cost twice as much
14. Time Life’s series on home repair would be a good book to start your new library with
15. Lots of Rum = Less mosquitoes (that bother you anyways)
16. Electric sucks, Internet sucks and water falls from the sky, unless you pay 600.00 for 3,000
gallons on it to be delivered. So you can flush your toilet
17. And last but not least, flexibility and patients is the name of the game
So with the list above withstanding is there anything you think I might have missed?
Jeff
Posted : December 10, 2006 6:20 pm
It doesn't snow here.
Less expensive than New York City
Less dangerous than major stateside cities
The ocean is beautiful.
You can grow fruit and vegetables all year long
Housing is less expensive than most oceanfront or view in the states
Less crowded
Mostly friendly people
The air is pure and clean
The tradewind breeze feels like velvet on your skin
Your skin is not dry and chapped here.
In my opinion government is corrupt everywhere. If new people coming to this island don't like the schools then pitch in and help. Go paint some classrooms. Buy a few books. Volunteer your time. People change things. Not politicians. Become part of the community. Adopt the local customs and culture. It is different here. If you can't live without walmart and target, don't come. I know that there are problems here. I'm not trying to whitewash it, but I sure wish that people would quit complaining and try to be part of the solution. If you hate it here. Go somewhere else. I once lived in California. Hated it. Couldn't leave fast enough. No shame in that. Sometimes you think you will like a place and you find that it isn't for you. Enough said.
Posted : December 10, 2006 9:03 pm
You're getting close! I'm sure there are at least 102 additional items to consider...LOL.
I did like that you got number 13 correct. Most mistakenly think it will take twice the time OR cost twice as much. You discerned it takes twice the time AND cost twice as much. Good job!
Posted : December 10, 2006 9:07 pm
Dougtamjj,
Just curious? How many classrooms have you painted? How many books have you bought? How much time have you volunteered?
Posted : December 10, 2006 9:10 pm
Hi Island Ed,
On STX, none yet. State side lots and lots of time. San salvador, Guatamala, lots and lots of time doing those things and much more. Helped fill containers to ship to schools in St. Kitts. Anyway, just getting started in STX. I had no clue that there was even a need here. Anything else you want to know? By the way the name is Tammy. Friends call me Bo
Posted : December 10, 2006 10:04 pm
Tammi,
That's great! It sounds like you are the perfect person to take the lead in positive change for the community. Keep up the good work and keep us informed of your progress in improving STX. We would all sincerely love to hear how it goes.
All the best,
Posted : December 10, 2006 10:24 pm
Hi again,
I definantly won't be taking the lead in trying to change STX. My point was if you don't like something try and change it. If you can't deal with it get away from it. I am not a crusader at all. Raised 5 kids, all a year to two year apart. Helped out in my community because I liked it and lived there. My brother is a missionary and pulls me in to help when he needs it. I always try to be positive but I'm not trying to change or save the world. It is what it is. Sorry, I just didn't want to misrepresent myself in the earlier post. Have a good night.
Tammy
Posted : December 10, 2006 10:47 pm
If you want a forum to have your voice heard about how much you do like it hear you will have to get used to us who have been here long enough to be feed up with some of the more serious problems Tammy. Those of us who have tried to fix things for the better and been burnt out. I would never refrain from telling someone whos thinking of moving here what the problems are. You sound like you have done some world traveling. But the majority of the transplants coming here have not lived outside the US and think this is some vacation holiday. And I am in no way a new person. Most of the people pointing out the problems on the islands are not new to them. I know you are new by the fact that you think no one has tried to pitch in and fix things.
Posted : December 11, 2006 12:37 am
Tammy,
Aaahhhh... too bad.
I think I get your point though.
'It is what it is, so like it or leave'.
Fair enough.
Hey...
You just gave me a great idea!
We can raise some money to buy books for the schools. We'll sell tee shirts!
I think I can get Promoguy to put that slogan on some tee shirts for us....
ST CROIX
It Is What It Is... (front of shirt)
So Like It Or Leave. (back of shirt)
Posted : December 11, 2006 2:45 am
I want one...perhaps with a matching pair of fluffy mongoose slippers.
I guess that's where I went wrong -I tried to change..."what it is" .
How silly of me, after all what is a little bit of pollution, reef killing, drug addiction and trafficking, gang violence, hunger, child sex, egregious Government practices, HIV, animal abuse, out of control obesity and diabetes..............fill in the blanks.
I should just have had a few cocktails, gazed out over the sunset and put on my Tshirt!
Posted : December 11, 2006 7:09 am
Tammi,
We've been here 3 1/2 years and like it a lot. I hope you do too. As you say, there is plenty one can do without being obnoxious about it.
I can't understand why someone would come here and think they were going to make BIG changes and then be unhappy/angry when their efforts are not appreciated.
And it is not fair to dismiss those of us who do like it as people who are casting a blind eye at the problems here.
Bottom line, it will either work for you or it won't. And there is no shame either way.
Linda J
Posted : December 11, 2006 7:54 am
Betty, I am very new here. I do think people who have come here have tried to change things.
Posted : December 11, 2006 9:06 am
Island Ed,
Great idea. How about bumper stickers too? Jane, you didn't go wrong. I got a lot of good info before I moved here by reading your post. You were a great help. So was Becky R and Danieljude. Linda J, I think you said it best. Anyway guys, I am a newbie that found this message board so helpfull. In fact it was a life saver. It just seems like it got very negative. I was just trying to add a little good with all the bad. Who knows, I may leave after a year. So far I love it even though our move and our house were a disaster.
Posted : December 11, 2006 9:20 am
Of course! Bumper stickers too! We can do this....
I missed my earlier tee shirt slogan epiphany some years ago when I first moved to Arizona.
SEDONA my face (front of shirt)
and tell me that you love me (back of shirt)
I could have made a million with that one!
Posted : December 11, 2006 11:45 am
Topic starter
I love to see more of a comedic tone to this board finally. Sure there were some serious posts in this thread, but I think you learn more about a community by it's humor. I was trying to lighten things up and I appreciate those who followed suit.
Moving to the rock is a serious choice to be sure, but hell if you can't laugh about things then you are left with being upset about them instead.
Life happens while you are busy making plans.
I look forward to sharing some laughs with Betty, Jane, Ed, Marty, Tammy, Linda and last but not least jnrhome or Jeff (as I like to call him) as my story of moving (or at least considering) to the island unfolds.
After reading almost all of you posts this weekend...and trust me I read almost all of them...I feel like I know you already. Have a great Monday and be glad you are not where I am (30 degrees)
Jeff
Posted : December 11, 2006 12:02 pm
Just wait till you guys read my moving story. I'm going to wait a month before I write it as the story is still unfolding. I will be having about 20 house guest coming in and out over the next 25 days in my disaster of a house. It has been one griswald adventure after another. I just have to keep laughing. Frogs in the toilet in the middle of the night has one house guest totally messed up for life. Grasshopper stuck in my moms hair yesterday. My house is totally open in the middle. All kinds of critters. It's great fun watching everyone freak out.
Tammy
Posted : December 11, 2006 12:26 pm
Tammy - you have me wondering which house you moved into! I've sold a couple "open" houses and it does take the new owners a while getting used to the change in lifestyle, not to mention all the new "pets". Happy Hunting!
Posted : December 11, 2006 3:24 pm
Hi Alexandra,
I hate being inside so the design of the house is perfect for me. I love it. What I don't love is the state of disrepair that the house is in. We had a home inspection and an appraisal. Everything came back perfect. The house was also advertised as professionally decorated. It all disappeared. In any case we were very taken in and having to make expensive major repairs. Good thing we brought all of our tools. LOL. We are fine. Just another adventure for the griswalls. The house is in cotton valley with the pool in the middle. I'm sure you know of it. Have a good day.
Tammy
Posted : December 11, 2006 3:49 pm
Didn't Tom Hanks do a movie about that house??? I think it was called "The Money Pit". LOL just kiddin.
Posted : December 11, 2006 11:38 pm
LOL i thought every VI home is a money pit...always laugh when people complain about condo fees 😉
Posted : December 11, 2006 11:58 pm
That's so funny. We were just comparing our whole experience to that movie. Right now I am at the point when Tom Hanks is staring at the hole in the floor where the bathtub just fell through, laughing hysterically. That's me laughing hysterically. I can't wait until tomorrow. The family wants to take the trip to buck island. If you hear of a bunch of tourist that sunk or got left on buck island, that will be us. Murphy's law will prevail. Hoo rah
Posted : December 12, 2006 2:20 am
ROFLOL
Posted : December 12, 2006 7:44 pm
Where does one get fluffy mongoose slippers? I want some!
Posted : December 14, 2006 12:31 pm
ahhh--must be Jack and Pam's house...nwever been inside, but hubby said it was "different"
Posted : December 14, 2006 2:20 pm
