USVI-On-Line

I just try not to bring it up anymore. I know they are SO over it and think I am one of these crazy people. Like the kind who go to Disney 3 times a year???

We were away for a weekend with our brewing and winter sports friends. One couple was just back from sailing Tortola, VG and Anegada. After long conversations about the fun, we had another group ready to plan a trip. These folks are seriously travelers, so I would consider another group trip... maybe.

The rest of our friends just know that if they ask about our next trip they will get an earful.

The folks here are on the forum are the best ones to share the obsession with.

Cheers, RickG

I think they think we are so $$loaded$$, but really it isn't much different than a domestic trip-if you plan it right....

Amen to that Jo Ann from VA. our friends think that because we travel to St. J every year that we are loaded. We live very conservative in a nice small 1600 sq. foot ranch. Alot of our friends felt the need for the 3 plus thousand sq. foot homes that priced the environment into the scandals of today! I would much rather the tranquility of Trunk Bay than the stresses of a "jumbo" mortgage. I enjoy sharing our love for this beautiful Island with fellow forum members. Have a great day!

cool breeze

Joanne I couldn't have said it any better myself. We save so we can go on our trips to St John. We don't wear designer clothes...we drive nice cars but their paid for...don't eat out every weekend...Thankfully my husband and daughter love it as much as me...so being thrifty throughout the year is something our entire household does and nobody seems to mind...

cool breeze wrote:Amen to that Jo Ann from VA. our friends think that because we travel to St. J every year that we are loaded. We live very conservative in a nice small 1600 sq. foot ranch. Alot of our friends felt the need for the 3 plus thousand sq. foot homes that priced the environment into the scandals of today! I would much rather the tranquility of Trunk Bay than the stresses of a "jumbo" mortgage. I enjoy sharing our love for this beautiful Island with fellow forum members. Have a great day!

cool breeze

That is exactly it for us. Someone at work asked me how much I made. I, of course, declined to answer and she said that she was sure that I made at least double what she did since we travel to STJ all the time. The truth is, she makes more than I do (I do the comp planning for my area) but she lives in a McMansion and drives a new car every 2 years.
I live in a small ranch and drive a 1993 4runner.
That is why I can go to STJ every year,

I totally agree Jo Ann...it's all about how you spend your money.

I would love to take my best friend and her husband to STJ, but they could never afford it because of her husband's many hobbies...his boat, his four-wheeler, his motorcycles, his fancy hunting stuff. Don't get me wrong, all those things are great, but when you've got to have the best of everything, nice vacations aren't a possibility unless you're loaded. When we'ved talked about them going with us before, my best friend's husband always says it's too expensive and that they'd never be able to afford that kind of vacation...meanwhile he spends over $10,000 a year on his hobbies while she mulls it over for a week before buying a $20 sweater...

Really though overall I keep the STJ chatter to an absolute minimum. It's getting too crowded.

Cheers to living in a small ranch...we do too...lol...

When we planned our last trip, I didn't even tell people until we were getting ready to leave. I do make it very clear that we pay for these trips and don't just charge them up. Like has been mentioned, we live more frugally the rest of the year so we can afford our trips. My friends constantly are upset that they can't afford trips, but yet throw down thousands of dollars to go to concerts each year. It just all depends on how you choose to spend your money!

I too have stopped telling people about planned vacations. Same deal ~ they think you make a ton of money and always give the "it must be nice" comment. Just like the rest of you are posting, we live below our means so the extra can take us to STJ once (or twice ) a year.

XOXO
Bug

You guys are taking the words right out of my mouth. All of my friends spending beaucoup bucks to get their hair highlighted every month, nails done, going out to lunch twice a week or whatever.

Here I am looking like crap and I get the heat (the "must be nice") commments about my once or twice a year vacation.

I don't comment to them about how "nice" it must be for them to always look put together, have their massages, whatever! If that is what they want, fine, I am happy for them, really.

I feel like I am having to defend myself, so I do just what you guys do, and that is don't bring it up.

Interesting direction for the conversation, I think a lot of folks' expectations for the cost of a Caribbean trip is driven by advertising from places like Sandals in Negril - $600 per night. They think we are talking crazy when we tell them we can get a two bedroom place with a pool for $2K in the summer. That's cheaper than Ocean City, MD rates for a vacation from DC.

We had a family join us for a trip in 2006. They take a two trip to Ocean City, MD ever summer for two weeks. Their observation was that they could afford for the same money, with airfare, two weeks every other year to St. John. That's about right for them with three kids.

Cheers, RickG

It's all about priorities.

but yeah, our adult kids are sick of "on the island . . ."
I try to keep my mouth closed. (not an easy feat!)
I just quietly send an e-mail with travel details right before leave home.