Living in the VI

coolblueswing · Post by **coolblueswing** » April 30, 2006 8:56 pm

Anyone got any advice for someone contemplating relocation to the VI? (St. Thomas or St. Croix) There are travel assignments there and I have been thinking about going recently. I have lived in Hawaii and been a travle nurse in my previous life. Just wondering if anyone has any experience or good advice. Thanks!

big hat carmen · Post by **big hat carmen** » April 30, 2006 9:11 pm

My selfish vote is to stay in Cincy, but I could come to visit.

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » April 30, 2006 9:24 pm

Hmmm...don't quite know how to vote. Learn about the options (those 3 and perhaps some others) and then follow your heart....

coolblueswing · Post by **coolblueswing** » April 30, 2006 9:28 pm

Quiet and Shy wrote:Hmmm...don't quite know how to vote. Learn about the options (those 3 and perhaps some others) and then follow your heart....

Yes there are a few others, but for simplicity I kept it at 3.

Brown Eyed Girl · Post by **Brown Eyed Girl** » April 30, 2006 9:32 pm

I have to say follow your heart...that's what I'm doing. Best of luck, CBS!

coolblueswing · Post by **coolblueswing** » April 30, 2006 9:36 pm

Brown Eyed Girl wrote:I have to say follow your heart...that's what I'm doing. Best of luck, CBS!

Thanks, BEG!

Now if I only knew how to tune into it...

Harbor Baby · Post by **Harbor Baby** » April 30, 2006 10:10 pm

Hey CBS....I voted for St. Thomas because I have been there and loved it......but, can you take me with you?!?!?!?!??????? PLEASE!!!!!!!! Hahaha

Tiki Bar · Post by **Tiki Bar** » April 30, 2006 11:21 pm

coolblueswing wrote:Anyone got any advice for someone contemplating relocation to the VI? (St. Thomas or St. Croix)

I suggest you talk to "Minty" on BN...

I have no experience with these things, but... what would Jimmy Buffett do??

"Island I see you in the moonlight
Silhouettes of ships in the night
Just make me want that much more
Island I see you in all of my dreams
Maybe someday I'll have the means to reach your distant shores..."

Crazy Navy Flyer · Post by **Crazy Navy Flyer** » May 1, 2006 7:56 am

Big difference between ST T and St C. St Criox is more isolated and rural, around 60 miles from the other USVI and BVI. You may like that. No blizzards there but you do have the annual hurricane problems. St Thomas is crowded, very commercial, big cruise ship port. I've been to both many times, pm me if you have any questions.

I can't recommend you stay or go but if I had the opportunity I'd be sippping island drinks by now.

PalmTreeGal · Post by **PalmTreeGal** » May 1, 2006 5:52 pm

I am with BHC on this one. I voted selfishly. At least stick around until after our Buffett adventures this summer!

But as a parrotsister, I have to say you need to do what you think is best for YOU! We'd all miss ya but I support whatever decision you make 100%!

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » May 1, 2006 5:55 pm

coolblueswing wrote:
Brown Eyed Girl wrote:I have to say follow your heart...that's what I'm doing. Best of luck, CBS!
Thanks, BEG! Now if I only knew how to tune into it...

Ummm...welcome to the club....

And of those 3, I'd vote for St. Croix because I'm not a big cruise shippy port type of person; I think I'd appreciate the feel of St. Croix more...but that's me.

But, the BVIs are the coolest and being on St. Thomas may make a visit or two over that way a lot easier....

(((CBS)))

Minty · Post by **Minty** » May 1, 2006 6:12 pm

I've lived on St. Thomas since Nov. I don't know you, so it's really difficult for me to advise you. How material how you??? Living on the island is very different than living in the states. The attitude and the people here is so different than you are used to. Many people who move here from the states get "island fever". The island is small and the cocunut telegraph moves faster than you'd realize.

My husband and I love it here. We fit it. We don't make waves, except when we dive!

The people here are mostly west indians. White people are few. There are many here, but, the darker the skin, the better the fit.

I tend to like it. It's nice to be the outsider.

Like I said, I don't know you. Only you would know if you could live here. Have you visited the island?

I have not been to St. Croix, so, I cannot give any input on it.

I would suggest that you come to the island. Stay and try not to be a tourist. Talk to the locals, see how you fit. Will you miss the states and the material things???? Or will you like the simpler things of life? Like, waking up in the morning by roosters?

Email me if you have any more concerns or questions. I'd love to talk to you more about it. Like I have said, we love it here! If you need anything, please ask. We'd love to help you if you plan on visiting or if you move here. We have alot of experience in it and are willing to help.

Good luck in any decision you make. You sound like you already have the "attitude" to change your "latitude". You are SO there!

Coconuts · Post by **Coconuts** » May 1, 2006 6:13 pm

You may also want to talk to Lundah- he's temporarily somewhere in the BVI, I think, and I'm pretty sure he's not so keen on actually working there for any longer than the project he's on.

coolblueswing · Post by **coolblueswing** » May 1, 2006 6:26 pm

Thanks to everyone for their input. It is a really huge move to even think about, considering my current circumstances. I spoke with my headhunter today and applied for a few jobs stateside in addition to the VI thing. Plus, I think I need to wait until at least July. There are losts of places I would like to go. My biggest concern is economic. It is seemingly difficult to eat and pay the bills on the salary they offer on the islands. I am not hugely material and living in Hawaii really did teach me to appreciate the things in life that money can't buy. My soon to be ex significant other said the best thing about me was I didn't like to shop! I said the best thing about him was he didn't like sports. I will continue to think about it. The state side offers are really much better financial options right now.

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » May 1, 2006 6:35 pm

coolblueswing wrote:Thanks to everyone for their input. It is a really huge move to even think about, considering my current circumstances. I spoke with my headhunter today and applied for a few jobs stateside in addition to the VI thing. Plus, I think I need to wait until at least July. There are losts of places I would like to go. My biggest concern is economic. It is seemingly difficult to eat and pay the bills on the salary they offer on the islands. I am not hugely material and living in Hawaii really did teach me to appreciate the things in life that money can't buy. My soon to be ex significant other said the best thing about me was I didn't like to shop! I said the best thing about him was he didn't like sports. I will continue to think about it. The state side offers are really much better financial options right now.

Don't know what the options look like...but could there be a shorter-term option? E.g. a year contract just for the experience and change of scenery and then moving back to "reality" where things are more financially predictable? I hope I'm not complicating things for you....

coolblueswing · Post by **coolblueswing** » May 1, 2006 6:47 pm

Quiet and Shy wrote:
coolblueswing wrote:Thanks to everyone for their input. It is a really huge move to even think about, considering my current circumstances. I spoke with my headhunter today and applied for a few jobs stateside in addition to the VI thing. Plus, I think I need to wait until at least July. There are losts of places I would like to go. My biggest concern is economic. It is seemingly difficult to eat and pay the bills on the salary they offer on the islands. I am not hugely material and living in Hawaii really did teach me to appreciate the things in life that money can't buy. My soon to be ex significant other said the best thing about me was I didn't like to shop! I said the best thing about him was he didn't like sports. I will continue to think about it. The state side offers are really much better financial options right now.
Don't know what the options look like...but could there be a shorter-term option? E.g. a year contract just for the experience and change of scenery and then moving back to "reality" where things are more financially predictable? I hope I'm not complicating things for you....

When you go, you sign for 6 mos at a time if it is to the VI or Hawaii. Stateside, you can go for as little as 3 mos. So, yes, that is an option. There are several places staeside that I have always wanted to experience on a short term basis, so those are the options I am exploring. They include NY, Chi-town, Miami and Baltimore. Maybe I should start a new poll?

I can also keep a UBI position in Cincy as long as I work 40 hours every 6 mos. So, I can keep my foot in the door, in case I would want to come back (I know, why would I want to come back

) The parents are here, though and although for now they are holding their own, that is subject to change at anytime. My dad is an amputee and my mom has COPD and emphysema.

Liminone · Post by **Liminone** » May 1, 2006 8:03 pm

Great advice so far here and you might want to check out this other forum that can answer more of your questions. http://www.vimovingcenter.com/talk/list.php?4

Minty brings up some Great points. If you can adjust to the culture you'll do fine. If not you'll probably be looking to go "home" after a month or so.

We've been visiting the USVI since 95 and are working to move there someday soon...Soon come.

Give the website a shot.
Liminone

Lundah · Post by **Lundah** » May 1, 2006 8:33 pm

Coconuts wrote:You may also want to talk to Lundah- he's temporarily somewhere in the BVI, I think, and I'm pretty sure he's not so keen on actually working there for any longer than the project he's on.

Yep, I'm here until at least the end of June. And while it's a beautiful place to visit & I'll definitely come back for a vacation, I'm not sure I could handle living here, at least on St. Thomas. If I could have my pick, I'd be on St. John. St. Croix is also less crazy, but also a little rougher around the edges. Traffic on St. Thomas is *INSANE*, it took me a good 40 minutes to make my 6 mile commute today. St. Croix has far less traffic (as long as you stay off Centerline Road), and with St. John being mostly parkland (2/3 of the island is a national park), there's not much traffic anywhere there. There's definitely a different culture here, things tend to run at a much slower pace; which is refreshing at first, but it wears on you after a while. Most statesiders I've run into here either just got here or are planning on moving somewhere else.

Lundah · Post by **Lundah** » May 1, 2006 8:38 pm

coolblueswing wrote:
Quiet and Shy wrote:
coolblueswing wrote:Thanks to everyone for their input. It is a really huge move to even think about, considering my current circumstances. I spoke with my headhunter today and applied for a few jobs stateside in addition to the VI thing. Plus, I think I need to wait until at least July. There are losts of places I would like to go. My biggest concern is economic. It is seemingly difficult to eat and pay the bills on the salary they offer on the islands. I am not hugely material and living in Hawaii really did teach me to appreciate the things in life that money can't buy. My soon to be ex significant other said the best thing about me was I didn't like to shop! I said the best thing about him was he didn't like sports. I will continue to think about it. The state side offers are really much better financial options right now.
Don't know what the options look like...but could there be a shorter-term option? E.g. a year contract just for the experience and change of scenery and then moving back to "reality" where things are more financially predictable? I hope I'm not complicating things for you....
When you go, you sign for 6 mos at a time if it is to the VI or Hawaii. Stateside, you can go for as little as 3 mos. So, yes, that is an option. There are several places staeside that I have always wanted to experience on a short term basis, so those are the options I am exploring. They include NY, Chi-town, Miami and Baltimore. Maybe I should start a new poll? I can also keep a UBI position in Cincy as long as I work 40 hours every 6 mos. So, I can keep my foot in the door, in case I would want to come back (I know, why would I want to come back ) The parents are here, though and although for now they are holding their own, that is subject to change at anytime. My dad is an amputee and my mom has COPD and emphysema.

Well if you can go for 6 months at a time, I'd tell ya to go for it, if it's not for you, you can come home in a relatively short amount of time. I would recommend putting off arriving until October or November; hurricane season starts next month. I'm guessing the cost of living in Cincy is about the same as Milwaukee, and most things here are at least 15-20% more expensive than back home.

carey24 · Post by **carey24** » May 2, 2006 8:10 am

My vote is def head to the islands. Whichever one. Any of 'em. If I could I'd have been gone years ago.

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