Why did you move to the Islands? And how is it working out for you

If you can't adjust to the ways of Rome then don't move to Rome.

I love walking into a room or store and saying "Good Morning" to the people there - it always eases any transition - letting cars into traffic and hearing the little beepThank You or the wave is gratifying and gets paid back all the time -- saying "Good Night" as a greeting in the evening always gets a smile - I have always thanked anyone who is wearing a name tag by name and they remember that when I see them again - the ladies at Pueblo smile and wave to me even when I am not in their line now - what is standard as common courtesy here goes a long way towards showing our residents that you have been brought up correctly and gives me great pleasure on a daily basis.

I carry these traits and habits with me when I travel and it seems to open a lot of doors and bring good feelings all around -- although letting people into traffic in the States sometimes takes a bit more care because it is so unexpected. And the way we use our horn here for communication is grossly misunderstood up there!

Does anyone else find the spellcheck inoperable?

It's kinda funny how a "sence of place" gets in your blood and shapes your indentity.

Years ago, I enrolled my daughters in thier frist stateside school. A week into the school year, they earned a reputation with teachers and other other partents as the "polite new girls", mainly because they always greeted with "Good Morning, How are you, Ms. ma'am" ect." I found it truly hilarious that they fooled so many people... Good manners come in very handy in and out of the VI.

The spell check thing is a drag....

Move here with little to no expectations and you won't be disappointed.
🙂
We didn't even know that STX existed when we moved here (yes, that means no PMV) - but we moved here for a great job for my husband.
I got a great job working with LindaJ (tu)
And 3 years later we're moving to STT for new jobs.
My husband's job was only supposed to be a year contract by the way.

We have many many friends who have come and gone over the past few years.

I think one of the things that drives me batty is living in fully furnished apartments (as so many on STX are rented this way). After 3 years of living in other peoples' furnishings, I miss my own stuff!

Forgot to mention.....even though I used Deep Woods Off as perfume.....I got Dengue Fever from a mosquito bit.....not fun!

Dear Newme,

After reading all the negative post, I feel I should give you my two cents too. I have been interested in moving to St. Croix since my first visit about 12 yrs ago. My first trip here was full of so disasters and mishaps that i couldn't wait to get on that plane, but after several weeks back home I start to laugh about it all. So the very next winter, I thought I would give it another go and I then fell in love with the island. Fast forward about ten years, I was finally able to move here and I'm so glad I did!!!!!!!

So many people move here before they really try to understand the islands and their way of life or culture. Change is very very slow to come here, so if you visit and feel frustrated please look for another island. BUT if you visit and think "I can live with the island and and all its craziness" than give it a try.

I lived a very comfortable life before moving here, but I have adjusted to the lack of my old comforts. (I do fly over to San Juan for all the food and luxuries when I need a break from small town life!) Remember, you have to adjust to the island as the islanders don't adjust for you.
My childhood helped me as I was born in a small Southern town and this island is so similar. St. Croix is a complicated mix of love and hate; noise and peacefulness; poor and rich...but it works and thousands and thousands of people live very happy live here. So don't let a few bitter people and their post stop you from exploring your dreams.

MGW, just because some people don't like it here does not mean they are bitter-only one bitter poster and she has her reasons.

The thing that bothers me more than anything is the dirt and dust. i just can not keep up with it and i never had that problem living anywhere else.

Dear Speee1dy...

You and I are both freely entitled to express our opinions...so if the comments are not bitter, then some are at best trivial!!!

Granted your Marathon has a great Publix, CVS, and Walgreens (AND NO CRIME) , but in no way does it even begin to compare to the Caribbean wonders of beautiful, historic, culturally rich St. Croix. I will take the dust of St. Croix (and crime) over the dusty, trashy Keys any day! I owned a home in the Keys for years, and couldn't wait to sell it so I could have a house here. But, if you are happy there, that's great.

Sorry you don't love St. Croix as much as I do, but I wish you luck in finding a place that makes you happy...with no dust!

All new comers need to remember St. Croix is Paradise, but not Heaven!

your post was much more bitter than anything i posted and in no way was it necessary for you to be rude.

You are right, so sorry for any offense...I guess we all just have different definitions of what makes an island paradise!

I think I noticed the dust more because our life on STX was very "open air". We had no A/C. Our windows were open 24/7 unless wind or storms dictated closing them. Even with screens and being on a grassy hill with very little sand or dirt nearby, we had dust. And the wonderful breezes that kept us cool also carried dust. I'm old enough to remember growing up without A/C and I think dust was a bigger problem then than it is now.

But now I'm here in Louisville with heat and A/C and still I get some dust - lol.

linda, i just cant get rid of it. we have no air conditioner either and we live near the bypass, so all of that was coming into the house too.

honestly, that is my biggest complaint about living here. lol

If you're lliving near the bypass - well, I don't know how you do it, the dust must be unbearable!!

No, you go!

Have to agree with Jamison on the letting people in traffic (again, with the exception of town). I wouldn't call it rude though, just kind of pointless a lot of the time. I would add (to town) the Sunny Isle area as necessitating a lot of yielding to cars that need to pull into traffic, or make certain turns at uncontrolled intersections.

Also, I think that the greeting business is generally friendly and courteous, and easy enough to do - but it can sometimes be employed a bit agressively. I've had people visiting me who omitted using the proper greeting at a store check-out, for example, and gotten such snarky, sarcastic treatment by the employee. It's either a sign of courtesy or it isnt - it doesn't make sense to huff and puff over not being greeted in a particular way, does it?

i think its funny when it is 12.01 and you say good morning and you are corrected and they say good afternoon to you.

I agree with everything displacedbrooklyn said. I've been in a rush before & forgotten to say good morning. I got my head ripped off! I don't get the point of that???

I agree with everything displacedbrooklyn said. I've been in a rush before & forgotten to say good morning. I got my head ripped off! I don't get the point of that???

I've never even come close to figuratively ripping off anyone's head over it but I have hesitated and then responded with a "Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening/Night" followed by another little pause before answering a question. And I've had the same thing done to me when I've had a temporary oops and forgotten my manners and been in a rush.

It's all about basic good manners and is also a HUGE icebreaker. Just as a simple "fer instance", I had to go to the bank today to do something that couldn't be conducted via the ATM. I walked in and there was a long line and only two tellers working. It was obvious from all the disgruntled expressions that the line had been held up for quite a while and the mass was restless - the animosity palpable. I hadn't even picked up the Daily Snooze to occupy me. I immediately let out a cheery, "Good Morning!", the response in kind was immediate, a few people soon started chatting with each other and, as some of us started nicely sucking our teeth, the tellers started moving faster.

It's so hard to try and explain this to a newbie or an outsider. Again, it's one of those, "when in Rome" things.

It's worth noting that, not all interactions are preceeded by "good morning" ect. "OK" is used frequently for greetings in passing. Sometimes even a head nod (more of "guy" thing). "Ok" is rooted in plantation days of poverty and strugle.... Look it up for a better understanding of west indian culture.

The whole passive agressive method of ignoring/dismissing, is more of "class" thing. I find the dismissive 'tude more off putting than the lack of a "popper greating". Hello, how ya doin', a big smile, excuse me, all work. The idea is to great first, ackwoldge the other party, then get donw to business.

I also find it ammussing when transplants insist on the whole good morning/afternoon thing.... If good night doesn't just roll out, then stick to hello/whats up. Being authentically curtious is more improtant the an effected "know-it-all respect me or else" faux west indian attitude.

like most folks, I can smell a poser from a mile away....

Who knew a greeting could be a weapon or needed so much thought?

If only people really meant what they said, and followed it up with acts of kindness and service. The island is full of contradictions.

OK? I safe. That is a common greeting here. 😛

If only people really meant what they said, and followed it up with acts of kindness and service.

BINGO!

mgw, thanks but remember, not all experiences here are positive and it does no good to berate someone for what has happened to them
and what they feel about the island. the op asked why we moved here and how is it working. he deserves honest opinions from those of us who live here regardless of how long they have been here.

none of my posts on this thread have been bitter. i stated my preference and you jump down my throat. why? makes no sense.

the only thing i did was state that one poster seemed bitter and that she had her reasons.

like you said-we all have opinions on this subject. and they are all different

Additionally, 'theeth sucking" is just plain old bad form and downright rude. If you got someting to say, then just say it--Maybe tack on a please or thank you or wulod you mind or may I please and healthy genuine grin. Theeth sucking doesn't win friends or infulence people around here. Remember basic good manners (with or with out local dilact or trun of phrase) get you places in the VI.

i have practiced "teeth sucking" seems i am not good at it, cant get it just right. not all teeth sucking that i have come across especially where i work is not bad, some of it is funny. but i d o know what you mean.

dont you love it when you are purchasing something and they just look at you. it is a guessing game on what you owe.

I suppose when it's done among friends, like light hearted teasing, that's different story... I'm famous for misplasing my keys. "where are my keys?" always brings a theeth sucking reponse around here..no offense taken. other situations are different. personally I would never theeth suck, eye roll, huff and puff, stomp feet as a subsitute for words...

Speee1dy,

Oh please Honey...give it a rest!!!

You are the one that called me out first; I DID NOT address my original post to you...AT ALL!!!!!!!

You are the one that started this by taking offense to my use of the word "bitter", and I just defended myself with my reply.
So please leave me alone...I also did not "jump down your throat"...I just stated that Marathon, Florida is no "prize pig" compared to beautiful St. Croix! I think you really need to read my original post again.

May all your dreams come true in your future location......