usvi-on-line
For all of you who live on STJ.
For all of you who live on STJ.
I am really curious how/why you all made the decision to move to STJ and if you are happy with your choice. Did any of you move with children? How did your families (back in the states) handle the move? Do they visit you often? How often do you go "home"? Did you have jobs lined up before you got there? Housing? Would you do it again?
Julie
Live from St.John
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Xislandgirl
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- Location: Slightly left of center
How about someone that used to live on STJ?
I am really curious how/why you all made the decision to move to STJ and if you are happy with your choice.
I moved to STJ when I was 28, I had an ex boyfriend that lived there, we got back in touch and I went for a visit. I was single and just out of a 7 year relationship. It was time for something new. I do not regret a single moment of it. I maybe would have done a few things differently but in the end, I was very happy with my choice to live there. I moved back to CT for a multitude of reasons, but it was part of the plan the stars held for me and I am glad that I followed that path.
Did any of you move with children? I did not and I know that would have changed my mind about the move. I think that you need to have your child in a private school on STJ and there is no way that I could have afforded that.
How did your families (back in the states) handle the move? Every family is different. My family was shocked because no one ever moves away in our family, but they understood my need to try something new.
Do they visit you often? My brother once, my parents once and that was it in 5 years. That being said, I am the only one in my family that has the travel bug, so it was not expected that they would visit
How often do you go "home"? once a year for about a month
Did you have jobs lined up before you got there? I did not, but I had a some money that I went with. I was also moving in with someone that had a job and enough money to cover the rent in case I did not find something. I did not work for 2 months. It was hard to find something, my first job was a temp waitressing job; covering for someone while they went to the states for vacation. It was off season and dead and I am so thankful I did not need the job, but took it to make some on island friends to help me find a job when I really needed one. Finding a decent paying job on island can be challenging.
Housing? I moved in with the ex-bf, but I was almost shocked when I saw the apt. It was barely an apt and it had 2 walls of just screens. It was the cistern apt below a vacation rental.
For me, adapting to the island living situation was the hardest. This was before cell phones and it took me 3 months to get a phone.
I had never seen an apt. sized stove and I missed having a bath tub. That was all in the beginning. Island life has a way of lower your expectations on the things that don’t really matter in the big picture. Where I lived did not reflect the kind of person I am.
I would not move there without a very firm lead on a few places.
Would you do it again? In a heartbeat. I think that Chip and I would move there if we could find a way to make the money that we need to keep the house in CT.
There is so much about the island and the lifestyle that is just the “good stuff”, it isn’t really the beach or the weather, but the community and the lifestyle.
It is not for everyone, and I tell anyone that is considering it to spend a week or two on island and not doing the tourist thing. Stay at Tamarind Court, hang out with the locals, stop by Connections every day and look at the apt board and the job board. Talk to people.
I am really curious how/why you all made the decision to move to STJ and if you are happy with your choice.
I moved to STJ when I was 28, I had an ex boyfriend that lived there, we got back in touch and I went for a visit. I was single and just out of a 7 year relationship. It was time for something new. I do not regret a single moment of it. I maybe would have done a few things differently but in the end, I was very happy with my choice to live there. I moved back to CT for a multitude of reasons, but it was part of the plan the stars held for me and I am glad that I followed that path.
Did any of you move with children? I did not and I know that would have changed my mind about the move. I think that you need to have your child in a private school on STJ and there is no way that I could have afforded that.
How did your families (back in the states) handle the move? Every family is different. My family was shocked because no one ever moves away in our family, but they understood my need to try something new.
Do they visit you often? My brother once, my parents once and that was it in 5 years. That being said, I am the only one in my family that has the travel bug, so it was not expected that they would visit
How often do you go "home"? once a year for about a month
Did you have jobs lined up before you got there? I did not, but I had a some money that I went with. I was also moving in with someone that had a job and enough money to cover the rent in case I did not find something. I did not work for 2 months. It was hard to find something, my first job was a temp waitressing job; covering for someone while they went to the states for vacation. It was off season and dead and I am so thankful I did not need the job, but took it to make some on island friends to help me find a job when I really needed one. Finding a decent paying job on island can be challenging.
Housing? I moved in with the ex-bf, but I was almost shocked when I saw the apt. It was barely an apt and it had 2 walls of just screens. It was the cistern apt below a vacation rental.
For me, adapting to the island living situation was the hardest. This was before cell phones and it took me 3 months to get a phone.
I had never seen an apt. sized stove and I missed having a bath tub. That was all in the beginning. Island life has a way of lower your expectations on the things that don’t really matter in the big picture. Where I lived did not reflect the kind of person I am.
I would not move there without a very firm lead on a few places.
Would you do it again? In a heartbeat. I think that Chip and I would move there if we could find a way to make the money that we need to keep the house in CT.
There is so much about the island and the lifestyle that is just the “good stuff”, it isn’t really the beach or the weather, but the community and the lifestyle.
It is not for everyone, and I tell anyone that is considering it to spend a week or two on island and not doing the tourist thing. Stay at Tamarind Court, hang out with the locals, stop by Connections every day and look at the apt board and the job board. Talk to people.
Thanks so much for your detailed response X I love hearing stories from people who live or have lived island life. We have met many normal everyday folks who seemed to have adjusted well. I watch the kids having gym on Cinnamon Bay beach and they look like they are enjoying themselves. I know private school is the way to go on STJ. We once met a woman who must have big $$$-- she hired a school teacher to move to STJ with her and her husband.
Gina-I'm not going anywhere-yet
Gina-I'm not going anywhere-yet
Julie
Live from St.John
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mindehankins
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greyhoundmom
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greyhoundmom
- Posts: 978
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 3:06 pm
- Location: Columbia South Carolina
Can I chime in here even tho we've only been here a few months? The 2 of us moved to STJ from NJ when the economy fell apart last winter. We had visited once or twice a year for about 5 years. We are grateful to many locals we got to know during those visits- they've helped us acclimate and with jobs.
Did any of you move with children? No children. Married about 25 years (ok, 26).
How did your families (back in the states) handle the move? Do they visit you often? They aren't travelers either but weren't real shocked. Most of them have Skype or some on-line video now- which is good for all of us.
How often do you go "home"? We have no plans to go "stateside" yet but figure it will be once a year or so.
Did you have jobs lined up before you got there? No, but have friends. We heard that if you can stay sober at work, get there on time and work hard, the work will find you. It is true and it has. Some weeks we've worked 6 even 7 days- at times there are no weekends.
Would you do it again? In a second. Got tired of racing down backroads of NJ to sit on an interstate like a big parking lot. If you come with little money, you will have to rethink and adjust your "needs". Also during high season we went a month without going to a beach-- must enjoy the very different lifestyle.
Anyone else?
Did any of you move with children? No children. Married about 25 years (ok, 26).
How did your families (back in the states) handle the move? Do they visit you often? They aren't travelers either but weren't real shocked. Most of them have Skype or some on-line video now- which is good for all of us.
How often do you go "home"? We have no plans to go "stateside" yet but figure it will be once a year or so.
Did you have jobs lined up before you got there? No, but have friends. We heard that if you can stay sober at work, get there on time and work hard, the work will find you. It is true and it has. Some weeks we've worked 6 even 7 days- at times there are no weekends.
Would you do it again? In a second. Got tired of racing down backroads of NJ to sit on an interstate like a big parking lot. If you come with little money, you will have to rethink and adjust your "needs". Also during high season we went a month without going to a beach-- must enjoy the very different lifestyle.
Anyone else?
wow...you sound like what we almost became. If we hadn't had our daughter, we'd have considered going that far south in 2005. Instead, we gave up on NJ and I-80 and came to NC.mickyb wrote:Can I chime in here even tho we've only been here a few months? The 2 of us moved to STJ from NJ when the economy fell apart last winter. We had visited once or twice a year for about 5 years. We are grateful to many locals we got to know during those visits- they've helped us acclimate and with jobs.
Did any of you move with children? No children. Married about 25 years (ok, 26).
How did your families (back in the states) handle the move? Do they visit you often? They aren't travelers either but weren't real shocked. Most of them have Skype or some on-line video now- which is good for all of us.
How often do you go "home"? We have no plans to go "stateside" yet but figure it will be once a year or so.
Did you have jobs lined up before you got there? No, but have friends. We heard that if you can stay sober at work, get there on time and work hard, the work will find you. It is true and it has. Some weeks we've worked 6 even 7 days- at times there are no weekends.
Would you do it again? In a second. Got tired of racing down backroads of NJ to sit on an interstate like a big parking lot. If you come with little money, you will have to rethink and adjust your "needs". Also during high season we went a month without going to a beach-- must enjoy the very different lifestyle.
Anyone else?
We don't regret any of it (Except when the kids misbehave and the cattle prod is low on batteries), but your story and ours sound horrifyingly similar. Best of luck! If I remember, I'll see if our NJ friends can fly down with a Taylor Ham.
Taylor Ham? How about Taylor Porkroll????
We brought down (I don't know the poundage), but the huge ones, 5 pounder? One for us, one for Molly Mallones. Reason we brought it down is the owners are originally from outside of Philly. They actually kissed it when we brought it down.
We brought down (I don't know the poundage), but the huge ones, 5 pounder? One for us, one for Molly Mallones. Reason we brought it down is the owners are originally from outside of Philly. They actually kissed it when we brought it down.
"Paradise...it's a state of mine"
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StJohnRuth
- Posts: 1989
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:42 pm
- Location: St. John, VI
Did any of you move with children?
We did not move with children.
How did your families (back in the states) handle the move?
They thought we were nuts.
Do they visit you often?
My father and his significant other visit every year. My mother has been here a few times. My brother came for one day one time.
How often do you go "home"?
I used to go home for at least a month or more every year. Since 2004, I have been home once, for six days (including the two travel days). Ron hasn't been anywhere since 2004.
Did you have jobs lined up before you got there?
No.
Housing?
No.
Would you do it again?
ABSOLUTELY!
http://www.stjohnspice.com/ourstory.htm
- Ruth
We did not move with children.
How did your families (back in the states) handle the move?
They thought we were nuts.
Do they visit you often?
My father and his significant other visit every year. My mother has been here a few times. My brother came for one day one time.
How often do you go "home"?
I used to go home for at least a month or more every year. Since 2004, I have been home once, for six days (including the two travel days). Ron hasn't been anywhere since 2004.
Did you have jobs lined up before you got there?
No.
Housing?
No.
Would you do it again?
ABSOLUTELY!
http://www.stjohnspice.com/ourstory.htm
- Ruth
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Pete (Mr. Marcia)
- Posts: 1471
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- Location: Madison, Wisconsin