Want to be a St. Thomas Resident!!!

What kind of work do you do?

I am a customer service rep for a local paper and office supply company. I've been a Police dispatcher before here in Ohio as well as Florida, been a medical assistant - although that wasnt my cup of tea, and I've worked in the retail (Hallmark Store) and fast food industry. My current CSR job has been good for the past 10 years so I think I should stay with that.

This is just my "take" on the issue of work down there... My wife and I are planning the same thing you are so here it goes...

We are ready, willing and ABLE to accept a "lower" class lifestyle down there if that is what it takes... I'd love to make on STT what I make in Atlanta, GA, but I'm certainly not expecting to. My wife and I are perfectly willing to sell our 3br/2bath house and move into a 1br apartment if that is all we can afford at first.

I've been told not to move down there without a job first, but that certainly has it's difficulties. Not a lot of employers are willing to hire people or even consider them if you don't already live down there. I've got one really good prospect for a job that I am working on, but I let them know that I'd like to interview on my next PMV and I am willing to STAY there if the interview goes well and they want to hire me. Normally, that would be a PIA, but this job would be worth the hassle of me staying while my wife handles a lot of the logistics of selling/shipping what needs to be done.

Our other plan, should the above not work out, is to sell what we have and rely on about 35K cash money to "tide us over" until we get settled into jobs that will afford our lives.

I think the most important discussion my wife and I have regarding the move down there is the willingness to let go of the lifestyle we have here in Atlanta and settle for less on STT. Of course, we would love to have a million-dollar house or condo overlooking the water, but we don't see that as being possible for quite a while.

We'd rather move down there, work for 30+ years but live the island life, being more happy and content with the lifestyle down there (with "less") than the life we have here with more "material" things.

We just love STT, the water, the climate, the atmosphere and we'd be happier there than we are here. We see it as an early retirement we have to work in.

I hope my point of view helps! Good luck!

I agree with DukesFin! My family is currently in Atlanta, also, and we are SOOOO ready to get back to the island. (STX). We are saving, selling, and purging in preparation to move.

Good luck with your decision.

Thank you to all for your input and help! My current lifestyle isnt what I would consider "grand". As I mentioned, I live pay to pay and I'm content with that. I have all I need and even a little extra here and there.

I will have at least one of my daughters with me (she's only 13) so I really need to make sure I can feed her!! I dont think she'd be to happy if I couldnt keep her belly full!! 🙂

I'm more than willing to work at whatever it takes. I cleaned houses here in Ohio years ago. I'll do what it takes - within reason of course! 🙂 I've heard you should have a job first, but also that it's very difficult to do when not on the island. I'm working on a trip in December to just that - job hunt and just check everything out.

I sat here in Columbus, Ohio today at lunch freezing my butt off, stressing over sales being down in our little 12 person office and thinking to myself, "how great would it be to just go to work - enjoy going to work - and be at peace with yourself and just be happy and content". My company sells paper. You wouldnt believe how many people get thier shorts in a bunch over a 20# sheet of copy paper. Copy paper!!! C'mon! I know your island life is so much more rewarding and wonderful and I long to be a part of that. Sooner than later, but I'll take what I can get!

Thanks again to you all! I look forward to chatting with you this weekend! Think about all of us under the snow and ice! 🙂

Take Care!

Tracy

Tracy: With a 13 year old, you will need to think long and hard about school. Private school will add to your cost of living significantly.

I have thought about that. I figure she'll be a Freshman/Sophmore by the time we make it there, although, I'm shooting for a little sooner than that. I thought about Home Schooling her last few years, as I have read about the schools and such.

It was a concern. I am currently waiting on a call from a local "home school" type company that a friend uses, to see if USVI is a place to which they'd ship supplies. Sounded good when I spoke to them, but since the gal wasnt sure and I haven't heard back, I may have to wait another 3-4 years. 🙁 How sad does that make me?! She is my last one by the time I'm ready to make the move.

I'll be checking out the other posts about schools and stuff. Thank you for advice. That would be the only reason I have to stay here under ice a few years longer.

Thanks again! I do appreciate everyones comments!

The most stressful jobs I've had in my entire life are right here on STT & that includes my current one. I've never found living here to be stress-free at all but I still prefer it to everywhere else I've lived. Good luck! Hope it works out for you.

True. Nowhere is stress free, but where you all are HAS to make it so much better. Stress with a smile! 🙂 How's that? God, I just can't wait!!