Considering Relocating.

It would be helpful to understand a little more about why you’re interested in moving and what you want to do on the island.  Most people will tell you living in the USVI’s isn’t for everyone so having you eyes open about what to expect is important.  

@jaldeborgh, 

I visited ST. Croix a few years back and absolutely fell in love with everything about it. My girlfriend and I are looking for some new adventure and she loves the beach! I have bar tending experience so I was hoping to grab a bar tending gig down there. 

If you don't burn every bridge behind you in Oregon AND you both can come down here with a significant bankroll available you can decide if the move was a PMV or a relocation in the Airbnb and rental car.

Finding an apt. would be the priority - can always buy a car later and getting a job should not be the deciding factor since you can look for that if you are reasonably capitalized upfront.

@exit-zero,

       How hard is it to find an apartment on the island in July or August? I plan on using my GI bill for my income once I'm there, maybe picking up a part time bartending job if it is available. 

Thick bankroll should get you housing no problem. Think $10K in your roll.

 July through November is considered off season here so hospitality jobs tend to dry out. 

Posted by: @deven

@exit-zero,

       How hard is it to find an apartment on the island in July or August? I plan on using my GI bill for my income once I'm there, maybe picking up a part time bartending job if it is available. 

 

it depends on how much you want to spend. rentals are at a premium , few and far between. you could be looking at close to 2k for a rental. can you be comfortable with that. 

i suggest bringing your paid off car with you. 

bring what you need-but store the rest for a year to see if island living is even for you.

any job prospects or do you need to worry about that at all?

kids in school? health issues?

I think the attributes of someone who wants to relocate and thrive on any smaller island are similar: independence, entrepreneurial mindset, extrovert, free sprite and adaptability.  Vacation and day-to-day life are not the same thing.  Some people will do very well, most will not.  Then again, nothing good in life is easy. 

@speee1dy

   my income would be around $2,500 a month from using my GI bill to go to school. I am also planning on picking up a part time job bartending or somewhere else. No kids, no health issues. just my girlfriend and i. 

@speee1dy

   my income would be around $2,500 a month from using my GI bill to go to school. I am also planning on picking up a part time job bartending or somewhere else. No kids, no health issues. just my girlfriend and i. 

Posted by: @deven

@speee1dy

   my income would be around $2,500 a month from using my GI bill to go to school. I am also planning on picking up a part time job bartending or somewhere else. No kids, no health issues. just my girlfriend and i. 

 

Well, you'll use half of that on your rent, $200 minimum on electricity, maybe $500 on food, and of course you'll need transportation...

Not to be a Debbie Downer- because I want to get to STX within the next year or two, but with recent events with COVID-19 I would be very hesitant to go without a second job lined up first- especially since your monthly $2500 *will* be spent mostly in rent and the rest in bills. 

I'm currently looking for a fully remote stateside job in IT Security and even I'm feeling the strain in the job arena. 

We left STT recently on vacay, and I can tell you that this will probably put that island and maybe the others into a huge recession. It's heartbreaking.  I know STX isn't as dependent on tourism as STT and STJ, but this is going to cripple the hospitality industry on all of the islands. Local businesses in STT are struggling to even offer to-go options (power and staffing bills exceed the income they're bringing in) and the beaches (along with bars and restaurants) are all closed now on all the islands. There are no bar-tending jobs or hospitality jobs currently and lots of people in that industry are now without work but have to pay for somewhere to live. So you'll probably be one in a pool of many once things can open back up. Local people will be flooding the businesses that survived to try to get back on their feet. 

We talked to several jewelry shops and other businesses on STT and it was more cost effective to just close than it was to stay open and try to sell anything. They said being open wouldn't even cover their power bills. The worse part? This is their high season. This was the year that was supposed to bring the islands back from the devastation of Irmaria. 

Just being honest with what I've seen. You could always come with a large bank roll and supplement your income that way but I wouldn't depend on just finding a hospitality job once you're there. It might be really hard right now. 

The beaches are NOT closed currently and if social distancing is being practiced the Governor has no plan to close beaches.

@exit-zero

It's really weird you say that....When we went to a couple major beaches on STT and over to STJ they told us they weren't collecting money because the beach was closed due to being a state park and COVID-19. The uniformed park attendant said we could still go even though it was actually closed? 

No idea but we got in for free.... Guess I assumed it was everywhere? 

Magens Bay Authority Suspends Beach Admission Fee Until Further Notice in Response to Covid-19

As the beaches won’t have their usual complement of staff, Magens Bay Authority advised that the public will be swimming at their own risk until further notice.

There was one or two lifeguards yesterday. A few tourists.