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Topic starter
As stated previously, my wife an I will be moving to VI in ~3 yrs. We have 2 houses to settle with and much to downsize.
I have a lot of tools and equipment, she has a lot of shoes.
My questions are: What did you get rid of pre-move that you wish you had brought along? Was there something that you need and found that you had to re-purchase at a higher price in the VI?
Posted : February 9, 2016 11:45 am
the shoes-i had some nice shoes. they disintegrated-the rubber parts.
i brought everything i had.
i do not wish i had brought something else or something more. what you need can be bought. either online of on island
Posted : February 9, 2016 1:21 pm
Bring your tools, if you plan on using them.
They will be expensive to replace.
Don't bring any furniture that is not real wood.
The press board stuff disintegrates.
Posted : February 9, 2016 1:32 pm
Best advice I can give is to travel with only what you absolutely NEED and leave the rest in storage until you've had a chance to settle into island life and (a) decide whether or not this will be a longterm adventure and (b) what of your stored stuff will fit into daily living here. If island living doesn't work for you, shipping things back is uber-expensive (but residents benefit from picking up nice stuff at really inexpensive prices from "leaving island" house sales!).
Posted : February 9, 2016 1:38 pm
Do bring a few cold weather clothes. It can get cool, at night, during the winter, and a pair of jeans and a sweater feel good. Also, you will want them for trips to visit family back in the states (or wherever you may go that's cooler).
Posted : February 9, 2016 5:23 pm
If you like to cook, bring your cooking gear... pots, pans, utensils, gadgets. Hard to find the quality items here. You can always order, but that takes time and it's hard to tell the quality of the items without touching them. Same goes for linens. I like nice bed linens and towels. Took me awhile of ordering online to find linens and towels that I liked without feeling them first.
Posted : February 10, 2016 7:07 am
Bring the tools...leave the shoes.
You'll be wearing sandals everyday.
Posted : February 10, 2016 11:11 am
We brought lots of stuff we thought we needed and left lots that we needed.
Brought lots of shoes that now are history, leave them, replacements are easy to get.
The ranches, homes, shops, equipment and tools we sold in California. Of the tools I left behind (and there was plenty of room in the container) I have over the last four years replaced about half of what I had and always am kicking myself in the backside every time I find that there was special tool I USED to have!
BRING THE TOOLS!
CD
Posted : February 10, 2016 11:23 am
If you are frequently using tools now where you live -- then bring them - you will likely find you will be using them even more often here.
Posted : February 10, 2016 2:05 pm
Topic starter
If you are frequently using tools now where you live -- then bring them - you will likely find you will be using them even more often here.
Yes, I do a lot of home, auto, equipment repairs. Can't live without my compressor and attachments. Also have lent out a lot of things that I will need to get back.
Posted : February 10, 2016 5:06 pm
A small SUV or two.
Posted : February 12, 2016 3:38 am
Bring a nice "quiet" generator
Pia
Posted : February 12, 2016 11:49 am
I lose at least one pair of shoes here a year to disintegration, corrosion, and elastic wearing out. Would be more, except I've become a master at using Gorilla Glue to reattach soles and straps. I'd sell or donate those, and use the money to stock up on good flip-flops and cheaper sneakers and sandals. 🙂
Husband brought most of his tools. I was pretty ticked about that at first. But it actually ended up saving tons of money. That was before Home Depot arrived on STX and brought the prices down a bit. But it still beats buying them new all over again.
We also brought most of our pots and pans, and lots of other durable kitchen stuff. The prices here for equal quality, when we could find it, made the shipping worth it. We brought lots of linens too. Don't regret it, and buy more when we go back to the mainland. Not as much variety here for the good stuff.
We brought far too many jeans, sweaters, jackets and sweats with us. We only wear them one or two days in the winter, and for trips back to the mainland.
The only other thing I regret not bringing down was my sewing machine. Prices were very expensive here.
Posted : February 12, 2016 1:48 pm
i bought my sewing machine at walmart. not the best but it works for me. and i think it was free shipping. this was years ago
Posted : February 12, 2016 3:12 pm
Bring a nice "quiet" generator
Pia
A Honda or little Cummins diesel, nice and quiet.
Posted : February 13, 2016 2:39 am
I've become a master at using Gorilla Glue to reattach soles and straps.
Been using assorted goop and contact cement and even some leftover rubber flashing to patch up sneakers for years past their natural lifetime. Use them mostly for beating around the house so the good ones last longer and don't have to buy new as often.
We also brought most of our pots and pans, and lots of other durable kitchen stuff. The prices here for equal quality, when we could find it, made the shipping worth it.
Walmart Tramontina-free shipping. Couldn't find anything local either.
We brought lots of linens too. Don't regret it, and buy more when we go back to the mainland. Not as much variety here for the good stuff.
Macy's- free shipping
Posted : February 13, 2016 2:54 am
Good pillows! A sweater and jeans for traveling back to the States- doesn't take long for your blood to thin and you will need it for airport and flight!
Posted : February 13, 2016 10:06 am
Topic starter
Bring a nice "quiet" generator
Pia
A Honda or little Cummins diesel, nice and quiet.
I have a honda gas now that is used for hurricane season and the outages around here. not the quietest but I will enclose it in a shed.
Posted : February 13, 2016 12:49 pm
I think bringing any back-up generator would be a mistake. For you to get one that would be of any use, it would be too heavy to bring on the airplane with you.
Wait till you get here and know what size you'll need. Amazon has a Honda 2000 watt for around $1000. Read the reviews before you buy. I don't think the little Honda would solve the problem and your money would be better spent elsewhere.
I'd suggest a Generac back-up system. you can buy a 8000 watt generator that should be able to handle anything in your house, its like having 50 amp service. Also it has a automatic transfer switch that starts the system when there is a power outage. It runs off of LP Gas and costs around $2500 not including installation
Good luck, I'll most likely be getting a back-up system myself, unless the place I rent already has one. There is a Generac dealer on STT.
Posted : February 13, 2016 5:14 pm
2000 watts is too small to be of any real use, especially in a prolonged outage
that storms can bring or the WAPA meltdowns that can occasionally occur.
The 8000 unit is a much better option.
Of course there's always candle light, flashlights, propane stoves and hauling buckets of water out of the cistern when all else fails.
Posted : February 13, 2016 9:31 pm
Good luck, I'll most likely be getting a back-up system myself, unless the place I rent already has one. There is a Generac dealer on STT.
Just bear in mind that when you rent, the unit doesn't belong to you and the LL may well not allow you to hook up a back-up generator. A major storm where power is out for months is a different kettle of fish but we haven't had one of those for over 20 years now.
Posted : February 13, 2016 10:04 pm
