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People hear only what they want to hear Linda. I do think it is nice that you took the time to try and help this person understand.

Miss you guys alot.

Miss you too.

If life is so bad.....crime, poor education, high cost of living,poor healthcare, long waiting lines, bad roads, etc......whydo you long timers live here? Why do you stay?
What is the reality of the bright side? What keeps you staying on island?
Don't want to start any drama, just curious.

the beaches and the sunshine ( and for us the lack of funds to move back ) most people i have met are nice too.

whydo you long timers live here? Why do you stay?
What is the reality of the bright side? What keeps you staying on island?

I stay because of the weather, the people, the "free" rent (it's a caretaker position), and inertia. I like being here far more than I like the nice things I left behind in the states.

If life is so bad.....crime, poor education, high cost of living,poor healthcare, long waiting lines, bad roads, etc......whydo you long timers live here? Why do you stay?
What is the reality of the bright side? What keeps you staying on island?
Don't want to start any drama, just curious.

Hard to put one's finger on as it's so subjective. Maybe you just get used to the downsides? But that's way too simple. It's not that you don't understand a need for change and not that you necessarily sit back waiting for someone else to effect it. As you slowly become more enmeshed in the community you do what you can to continue to expand your network and become involved in local matters - pretty much the same you might do when moving into any small community anywhere in the world.

Earnestly listen before even thinking about criticizing. Your opinion as a newcomer is something we really don't want to hear because we've heard it all before and a good proportion of you don't even know anything much about politics in your own Hometown USA or in the USA in general. Most of the newbies won't be here a year from now anyway! Read the news, get involved in community activities. It all falls into place eventually in this fascinating mix of races, colors and creeds which make up this incredibly vibrant and varied community. For however long you stay here, make a difference in some small way to the community in which you live and don't keep carping on what you miss.

Why do I personally stay here after now 28 years? At this particular point in time: (1) because I need a lobotomy or at least a partial one; (2) because I can't think of anywhere else where I'd really fit in. I'm probably at one of the toughest points in my life right now where living here is concerned as circumstances beyond my control have severely depleted my income ability. Never mind all that, St Thomas and the islands are my home for better or for worse and I'd rather spend my twilight years here than anywhere else and will fight to that end!

I love it here so far. I'm still very newbie, 7 months, but it keeps getting better for me. I meet so many nice people. I love the slow pace, easy living, camping feel here on STX. I love the weather and the fruits, oh they are are great. The local farms and the energy from the people who are trying to make it better every day. I really like island life. I feel free as a bird. I want to learn to sail and dive. I have been reading and waiting. I knew two other people who moved down when I did. One is gone and the other about to go. One got caught up in the under life, the other I have no idea. I'm taking my time with everything, just trying to ease in and make it work and just do the things that make me happy. Life can be hard, it's a lot easier to roll with it, than push it up hill.