How long could you stay?

BillVT · Post by **BillVT** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:32 pm

I personally think this is an interesting topic and it came to me when I was responding to Bigcheese's comments about how lucky we were to have two weeks on STJ. I know, some of us like to call it the Rock, but I am old enough to think of San Quentin when I hear it and after all, the two are nothing alike. Anyway, next year we could be able to spend three weeks on our favorite island next to the one where we live. We will have two weeks on our own and one with a friend. The two on our own does not discount either of our adult children and their better halves joining us. (They are working adults now, they can pay their own way and they are more than welcome.) So we were discussing this with our STJ obsessed friends and the consensus was that three weeks would be perfect. Not too much, not to little. We may be lucky enough to find out.

Now some of you long to live there and some of you do. I celebrate you both. But how about the rest of us? I am delightfully retired on a modest budget with STJ a high priority in the budgetary process. But let us dream for a moment. With unlimited time and a reasonable budget how long? A month? The winter? Just curious how really obsessive we are.

I am reminded of a bumper sticker I saw on a local resident's jeep a few years ago. It said, "Everywhere you go, is someone you know." That is certainly true of winters in rural Vermont and it might be something to keep in mind.

PA Girl · Post by **PA Girl** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:42 pm

Our most recent trip was 10 nights and we both said we would have liked another couple of days. I could do three weeks. Not sure about my husband, he needs to work (like a border collie needs to run around) and I think by day 15, he would get a little stir crazy.

News of St. John · Post by **News of St. John** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:48 pm

We spent 11 days there over the holidays. I could have stayed longer but I definitely didn't think the trip was too short. If I had unlimited funds, I could easily stay for several weeks.

My husband and I are hoping to have the ability to buy a second home there some day...Only time will tell.

Teresa_Rae · Post by **Teresa_Rae** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 4:08 pm

We usually go for 10 nights and always wish it was longer. We always end up not doing certain things that are on our list when we're only there for 10 nights. I think 2 weeks would be great, and 3 would be even better.

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 4:22 pm

Blaine is limited to being gone from his job for no more than 9 days, so our vacations are always limited by that

If that wasn't so, I think 3 weeks would be perfect - not so long that I'd forget all my work passwords and procedures, but long enough to really, really relax. I do have the feeling on island, that we shouldn't be "wasting" any time sleeping in or just sitting around the pool.
If we were retired, I'd say December 26- Mother's Day would be perfect.

Joppa · Post by **Joppa** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:57 pm

We have stayed for 18 days the last couple of years. We don't stay in a glamorous villa but we are on St.John for 18 glorious days. We could definetly stay longer, possibly forever.

michigan girls · Post by **michigan girls** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:16 pm

Forever, and hope that will be the case eventually.

Until then, unfortunately my work doesn't allow me to escape for more than a week at a time

Ah, the joys of owning your own business

If I didn't have that restriction, I think 3 weeks would be perfect.

Lovermont · Post by **Lovermont** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:30 pm

Our longest trip was two weeks, our shortest was one week. We've sort of settled with a 12 day stay as our normal length. But, I think three weeks would be awesome, and I bet we'd find fun things to do every day. I seem to have so much more energy for playing outdoors when I'm on St. John.

loria · Post by **loria** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:48 pm

i could do a few months -- and maybe more--but that wouldn't really be vacation- it would be more of a second home situation, right? - but in terms of the reality of the situation presently 3 weeks is great-- you get totally relaxed and are more ready to come back from a vacation-- unfortunately we are generally limited to a week or two (9-10 days is generally the thing) because of the kids schedule-- but three weeks was awesome (pre kids !)
and will be again...someday!

Caw954s · Post by **Caw954s** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 7:10 pm

I would stay January thru mid April, then go back in August...those are the worst months in KC! I love being outdoors and the swimming, snorkeling, hiking, sunrises, sunsets in STJ make you feel alive and healthy. The people and the culture are great too...

Mrs. B · Post by **Mrs. B** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 7:13 pm

Having just returned from a one week stay, I can say without a doubt that one week is NOT enough time. Three weeks sounds wonderful but I can't stop thinking of how great it would be to live there. I confess that I have already been looking for teaching vacancies in STJ online - shhhh- don't tell my current principal!

PaminMaine · Post by **PaminMaine** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 7:37 pm

mindehankins wrote:Blaine is limited to being gone from his job for no more than 9 days, so our vacations are always limited by that If that wasn't so, I think 3 weeks would be perfect - not so long that I'd forget all my work passwords and procedures, but long enough to really, really relax. I do have the feeling on island, that we shouldn't be "wasting" any time sleeping in or just sitting around the pool.
If we were retired, I'd say December 26- Mother's Day would be perfect.

haha I get that guilt feeling too if I sleep beyond say... 6:00-6:30, or if I spend too much time in the villa relaxing. My vacations have always been go, go, go.

My dream would be to live there, but I couldnt stay away from my kids for that long! I would love to do a winter ( after the holidays) to spring rental !

ColumbiaSCTraveler · Post by **ColumbiaSCTraveler** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 8:07 pm

We did a week for our honeymoon (our first visit) five years ago. Since then, each year, we've done 2 weeks. It's never long enough!

So maybe 3 weeks is the perfect length of time. Hopefully one day I can find out!

We also fantasize about retiring on STJ (we're in our early 30's, so we have a WAYS to go), but I don't think we'd appreciate it as much if we lived there day in and day out.

lprof · Post by **lprof** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:24 pm

Every week an activity pops up on the STJ calendar that prompts an "I wish I could be there for that" thought... I'd like a year to try them all.

My longest trip has been twelve days... two days my shortest. Both were just right at the time!

jimg20 · Post by **jimg20** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:53 pm

We made our first stay on STJ 8 days/7nights. It wasn't long enough. Then we went to 10days/9 nights. Also too short. We got to 12 days/11 nights and found it to be OK. We'd love to stay longer, but there are the time (work) issues and the cost.

Living there would be a whole other thing. I think that when one lives there, it is different than when we are there to eat, drink and be merry. There is only so long that one can sit on a beach, take day sails and sit at a bar. Then there is the cost. Our first host told us that we should expect to earn half as much money and spend twices as much to live there as we do in the US. Although we are more or less able to keep up now, I can't see what a future would look like earning half as much and spending twice as much.

JIM

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