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Hello Everyone!
I just returned from St. Thomas for a visit. To update you, my husband is living and working there currently. I will be moving in August. We have three children 6,5, and 4 months old. Our plan was to spend time with each other and the baby and look into houses. He is going to live in a one bedroom until we find what we want for all of us to live in. Anyway, we looked at tons of condos and homes near the beaches on the South end and East end of the island. We were both frustrated with the high price and lack of room. We really wanted a three bedroom, two bath home with lots of space. Most of the condos are two bedroom and two bath or smaller. So, in going thru the Island Trader we found a few three bedroom homes to call about. One in particular was near perfect. It was called an apartment, but it was the top story of a home. Three large bedrooms, two baths, and lots o' space. It was way up on a hill, but the breeze up there is wonderful and no need for air conditioning. The view was beautiful. We loved it and were happy to find that there were three bedroom homes available. It didn't have laundry access, which we are wondering if that is common. The landlord seemed to be more interested in renting to a family with older kids or no kids. He was concerned with the balcony and safety. However, we are in no rush to move right now, so we are going to keep looking. The cost to rent was the same as the smaller two bedroom condos.
I 'discovered' Cost-U-Less, the movie theatre, and Home Depot. They pretty much have everything I need to live, combined of course with K-mart. So I felt a lot better about living there. K-mart has formula that I need for the baby, Cost-U-Less has meat and food and stuff that I am used to. The movie theatre was showing Troy so it is pretty much up to date. Cost-U-Less has Kirkland brand bottled water - for those of you who know, that label is exclusively Costco's brand, so I am assuming that Costco ownes Cost-U-Less? They also have the cheapest price on Cruzan Rum that I found. Important to bring back to the people that I will eventually be leaving behind. I figured if they are drinking they will be less likely to show out the envy. 😉
I am still not used to driving. When turning I am always looking the wrong way for cars. I kept driving on the right in the parking lots. I forgot to reverse that as well. Thankfully people are very nice and somewhat forgiving. Here at home I would have been hit just out of spite for driving incorrectly. You are not forgiven here in the States for making a driving error like you are there. People will stop and let you thru an intersection on the island even if they have the right-of-way!
We spent Sunday morning at Magen's Bay. Beautiful and the hot dogs tasted wonderful (we were hungry). If you have ever seen the movie 'The Beach' with Leonardo DiCaprio, you feel like you are on that beach because you feel like you are surrounded by land.
Anyway, enough of my rambling, I have officially fallen in love with the island. The people are so friendly and the views are awesome. I found that the stores have all the essentials that I need. St. John is a 20 minute ride away if I need a beach with less people or more shopping. I feel more confident that we will find a home that we will like and my husband loves his job. The worst part of the trip? Flying! I had flights canceled, delayed, and the ones I did get we ended up sitting on an airport runway for three hours. Newark was a mess last night. San Juan cancels every other flight to St. Thomas or back (an exaggeration, but I won't fly thru San Juan unless I have too) I spent three hours in San Juan airport so I don't need to do that again. My advice is to have as few connections as possible and fly straight to St. Thomas. I have a moving company coming to give me an estimate so I have to go get ready. So now all I have to do is pack and move - no problem right? 😉 Glad I have two and a half months.
Teresa
Island Wantabee
Posted : May 18, 2004 12:41 pm
Hello Teresa,
Thanks!! Sounds like you covered a lot of ground in a weekend. Did you have a chance to take a peek at the schools while driving around? Laundry facilities as far as I have seen are not generally part of apartments; some homes that are rented might have laundry hook ups - but not often the apartments. You might ask the landlords next time you are looking whether you can buy your own machines and put them in - some landlords don't even want that - because of the water usage concern. How is your husband adjusting, as he has now been there a few weeks.
--Islander
Posted : May 18, 2004 1:52 pm
Topic starter
Hello Islander and all the daily readers,
I did drive by the Antilles school which by appearances was pleasing. It seemed secure and has a lot of space. We tried to find the Episcopal (All Saints) school, but we didn't have the address on us and may have passed by it without knowing. I was only out and about on Saturday and Sunday so didn't have time to see the schools 'in action'. However, if I don't find a school in August, my backup plan is to homeschool. So hopefully that will all work out. I am getting more relaxed about the whole move now that I know more about it.
My husband is driving like a pro and seems to be loving the whole island experience. He gets a lot of support from his co-workers and is working a lot. He also has my 'to do' list that I gave him, so he is never bored. 😉 We have Sprint cell service and can call each other long distance with no extra charge and we have email, so we are able to communicate and keep the move progressing without much restraint. He has a lot to do there on the island to get things set up, but I have all the packing to do and clean up. We are pretty much even, except it is cold and rainy here and it is warm, some sun and warm rain there. Much rather be there!!!
The laundry thing is not a big deal. I don't mind laundry facilities and can go during the week day so it shouldn't be crowded. Small price to pay to live there.
I will try to get my husband on this board to give his opinion. I may learn something!
Teresa
Wantabee Islander
Posted : May 18, 2004 2:53 pm
Teresa: A few comments- yes, most places are smaller than you are probably used to, and more expensive!! And apartments are usually a section of a house (lots of folks look for apartment buildings, of which there are few...) About labels...You can buy Craftsman tools at Western Auto- don't think you can in the states, but we don't have a real Sears... More shopping in St John?? They all come here to shop, as do the folks from Tortola. Laundry- there are a few places where you can drop off your stuff in the morning and pick it up folded and bagged in the afternoon!! If you are out in the east end, look at Montessori School, too. Great update!
Posted : May 18, 2004 7:15 pm
Hi Teresa,
May I ask what your husband does on Stt? We're moving down in August, just trying to get ideas for employment.
Good luck with the housing thing. We really lucked out and found a three bedroom, two bath place - probably around 1800 square feet. It does have a spiral staircase and large deck (with large drop off) - so child proofing will be a concern when the time comes! Our house never even went on the market - our realtor knew what we wanted and had an interested seller, so she kind of played matchmaker. We would never have had the opportunity to buy it had we not been there that week to see it. Have your husband keep his ears and eyes open, I'm sure something will come along.
Good luck!!
Janelle
Posted : May 18, 2004 8:24 pm
Topic starter
Hi Janelle,
My husband is an engineer in wireless technologies. More specifically he was hired to expand the wireless internet availability on the virgin islands for an existing company. All I know is that when we find a home - I hope he gets us access. I don't really enjoy a dial-up service. 😉
That was fantastic luck to find your home. We are really the cautious types as far as housing goes. We decided to rent first until we decided we wanted to buy a home. Moving to the Virgin Islands was kind of thrown on us fast. We had never considered it before and then my husband was offered a job. So here I am in 'Island shock' trying to get it all together. Good luck with your move!
Teresa
Going to be an Islander - still in shock.
Posted : May 18, 2004 9:06 pm
