How did you find the forum - Short story

[jclampet]

Here is a cool little story. I was sitting at my computer listening to some KC one day and was searching the internet looking for pictures of St John. I came accross a collection of wonderful photos taken by folks named Bob and Anita, known best as...well..Bob and Anita here on the forum. I was thinking to myself as I looked at the photos "that is where I want to be". So I emailed those folks and told them I was looking for info and advice and they directed me here. To this day if I am on a computer that is not mine I type in the search (bob and anita usvi) and up pops the VIOL. I bet those two fine folks never thought they would have such a long lasting effect on my life...Ok that sounds mushy but hey, true story....Not only that, but Anita's pics in the Bikini!!! Bob you lucky dog....

Thanks Bob and Anita..You sent me to the right place.
and if anyone doesnt like me...It's thier fault....Just kidding.

You guys are awesome...use this thread to tell some nice stories.

[augie]

After coming over to STJ on the ferry while visiting STT on a cruise ship my wife and I fell in love with the place, but the prices to stay at the resorts were out of our budget range, particularly at that time in our lives.

Several day trips later we decided to do a day sail from STT instead of the ferry/taxi trip we usually did. I mentioned one of the beautiful homes to the captain who told me that it was a rental villa and a seed was planted/obsession was born.

When we got home I looked up STJ rental villas, using the agency recommended by the captain, and again, most were out of our league. I also visited VINOW to give him props on our daysail. I saw a number of references to "the other site" and found my may here.

Within a year Leslie and I had completed our first STJ visit/villa stay and were (are) hooked. Some of the folks that were here during that first year can attest to how excited/annoying I was as the trip neared (some things never change!)

Not as mushy a story as jclampet's, but it's mine!

[Lulu76]

My brain is getting old, so I cheated and went back to my very first post.

Right before I went to St. John for the first time in 2007, I started to panic about our rental villa because it was new to the market. I looked everywhere to find more info and stumbled upon it. What I learned was that I was probably the first forumite to stay there.

However, I liked the people here and they embraced a stranger and gave her vacation tips. I'm glad I ended up here.

[BAILEYBAY]

Ruth has it listed on her St.John Spice home page as
her "favorite". What's good enough for Ruth is good
enough for me Anyway, that's how I found the
forum.

[dewey78]

I found VIOL recently while searching for reviews of Sago Cottage. After reading the villa reviews I checked out the travel forum and came across a TR by Agent99 who I knew from a local forum - what a wonderful surprise!

Funny thing is that, even though I knew we shared a love for St. John and Gibney Beach, we never discussed it the one time I had the pleasure of meeting her. We got together last year for lunch with a woman we knew from the other forum who had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and we were there to support her, so St. John never came up. I'm happy to report that out friend is now cancer-free.

My BF and I booked Sago and will be on island November 1-9 and look forward to meeting some of you at the Beach Bar. My first visit to St. John was 20 years ago, when Grumpy's Almost-by-the-Sea was a hot spot.

[Anthony]

This is a great topic - keep it coming - love to hear these types of stories.

[waterguy]

I was sitting in the hospital had my laptop Laurie was sleeping I was searching for our favorite place when I came across it. You all were there for me in some rough times. For that I want to say thank you.
Tom

[Boston Mike]

I honestly can't remember. WAIT! I think it did have something to do with the St. john Spice website (PROP ALERT).

clampet..what did I tell ya bout stalking people..

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

Marcia and I migrated here from the old AOL forum, along with many others who were looking for a place where we could be free to live the forum dream.

[Jo Ann - VA]

One word - Google.

[Wakey]

One word - Google.

Same with me.

Prior to my trip I read for a couple days to familiarize myself with the island. I knew NOTHING about the VI!

I think one of the first things I found was the Bongo Boys site, possibly from the Wiki page for St. John.

Glad I fount ya!

[vi lover]

I, too, was a long-time active poster on VINOW and kept hearing about the "other board". I eventually found this forum and am glad I did!

[aroobagirl]

Got married in STT, daytripped to St John. Realized our error... while researching our return trip, found "The Forum". First trip stayed at Westin, then spread our wings thanks to the forum. 7 years 4 villa rentals aand 1 child later we are returning in November. Trip 6 can't come soon enough!

[Xislandgirl]

Marcia and I migrated here from the old AOL forum, along with many others who were looking for a place where we could be free to live the forum dream.

White clogs and all, we made the switch....

[Wolfhound]

I was an avid follower of the Bongo Bongo building blog. In a series of entries, Jeff was stressing over what was being said about them on the forum. They had to turn away some renters because the house wasn't complete when they expected it to be. Anyway, I came over to see what he was taking about. Actually, most of the folks here were being very kind about the whole situation. So, I stayed.