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kaySTX
I arrived on St Croix two weeks before Omar, which was thankfully milder than expected and I'm an experienced camper so being without electricity, as long as I have ability to cook, have good books and candle light - oh and STRONG insect repellent, I'll be fine. Since moving here I've known many people who came on a whim and some who never left from a business trip. They are exceedingly happy here and cannot imagine moving back from whence they came. I've met others with rosy colored glasses who didn't last the year. I've met people from all over the world with all sorts of expectations or none from island life. Those with no expectations seem to be the most content. From the beginning I was hoping this would only be a temporary move, I'm still hoping....
I personally never wanted to be here. Growing up in southern California and living in 9 different states coast-to-coast, I knew instantly on my first visit island life is not for me. I prefer small town living and think the island is too over crowded and dirty. Not enough personal pride in the natural beauty of the islands and it's the worst area for crime I've ever lived in. Still have problems remembering to lock my doors and cannot get use to bars on the windows. Where I grew up the neighborhoods we passed through with trash, graffiti and barred windows and doors were known as ghettos. I have many acquaintances, but no close friends as everyone is busier here on the island than the small towns I've lived in. So to fight isolation I took a job, any job, since they are difficult to come by. I am bored and over qualified. I enjoy the people I work with and meet in church and community events, but still there is no time to build close relationships. I really miss the small communities I've lived in and most importantly being able to join family for birthdays, holidays, camping and just plain old picnics and shopping. In a perfect life, I'd learn how to make money on-line so I could spend time going back and forth to visit family and friends in the life I sacrificed to be here with my husband, who was brought here for employment in a secure position and loves the life. The only thing I finally found relief in is we now live on an isolated beach where I enjoy being next to the water. The consistent action of the waves and the color of the water brings me some peace from an otherwise high-strung life driving, shopping and trying to "survive" daily encounters on the island. I work only to afford more escape trips "home". I even found Omaha in the winter more peaceful to drive and daily encounters with people easier and more relaxed than any of these islands. Like other places I've lived, I enjoy the many people I've met, appreciated the new experiences and would consider coming back to visit WHEN I finally get to move away, but this isn't "home" and I can't wait to leave. I'll take small town America, fresh water lakes and rivers, snow and most of all FAMILY over the high-stress of daily living on the islands.
Parts of your lament ring familiar, and should be required reading for all couples thinking of moving anywhere, but especially to an island. My wife found it harder to adjust than I did, in part, because we had two different types of jobs, and in her job she experienced much more of the island's dysfunction than I did. Whereas, in our previous location, she liked the town and I didn't, but both our jobs were fine. (This is why there are different perspectives on the board. Some are lucky to be retired or have few ties to the mainland, while others need island economics to make it work for them, --and therein lies the rub!)
Over time, the dysfunction WORE HER DOWN. Also didn't help that prices rose and wages were cut.
But... we kind of EXPECTED this might happen, and thus, never came with the expectation that this was our last move. We
always referred to it as our "adventure." This understanding between us, and my lack of whining about wanting to stay, made it work.
So now we're adventuring elsewhere and looking back with many fond memories (both of us).
